Power Supply on an old PC

Amy_Amp · 03-07-2010 06:54 PM

XPS/Dimension 200/5150C. It's a slim case as well so normal sized ones won't work. I believe I have a mere 220w/250w power supply. I've had zero luck on Dell's web site and initial Google search didn't offer much hope either. I would love anything even in the 350w range, but again, initial research got me nothing.

Power supply is being upgraded in vast part due to how much CoH seems to push my system now and looking at upgrading my graphics card. While CoH used to run fine for long periods of time, it currently locks up after around 3 hours without fault. I'm guessing the little tweak here and there with graphics in CoH has slowly caught up with my system. Large teams with graphic intensive sets do a number on my PC and Cimorea always gives me issues and the ITF gives me consistent choppy lag for every single one I have been on.

Luminara · 03-08-2010 04:07 AM

I haven't kept up on Dell's hardware in the last three or four years, but when I was working as a tech, Dell PSUs used proprietary pinouts for the motherboard plugs. Which means, basically, plugging a standard, off-the-shelf PSU into a Dell motherboard typically results in a lot of smoke.

Unless you're replacing the motherboard along with the PSU, or can find a pinout schematic for the motherboard header to tell you which wires to swap on a standard PSU plug, I'd recommend contacting Dell for a replacement/upgrade. As I said, I haven't followed Dell's hardware profiles in a while, so they may be using standard PSUs and motherboard headers now, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

Quote:

I would love anything even in the 350w range, but again, initial research got me nothing.

Here.

It looks like the best you'll be able to get is 275w. If you still want to go higher, you'll probably have to replace the case, PSU and motherboard all together.

Quote:

While CoH used to run fine for long periods of time, it currently locks up after around 3 hours without fault. I'm guessing the little tweak here and there with graphics in CoH has slowly caught up with my system.

That's more likely to be something like a build-up of dust causing components to gradually overheat, or faulty memory, or a memory leak in the game itself, or perhaps even something in your OS or drivers. Start with the simplest solution first, get a can of compressed air and clean the dust out of the entire computer, see if that fixes the problem.

Father Xmas · 03-08-2010 10:43 AM

That hasn't been the case for a while Luminara, custom pinouts. The major problem recently (as in several year old Dells) is the lack of a punched out rear opening for power supplies to stick through. This is where PC Power and Cooling and others are still making money on Dell replacements. Newer Dells have the rear panel punched out which bypasses that issue.

As for slim line cases I have absolutely no idea what to look for, from a size and mounting PoV to assist.

Father Xmas - Level 50 Ice/Ice Tanker - Victory
$725 and $1350 parts lists --- My guide to computer components

Tempus unum hominem manet

Amy_Amp · 03-09-2010 10:53 AM

Already went and did some dusting and it still can lock up after about 3 hours. This considering the side panel is completely off of the tower. Granted, when it's sitting there doing nothing the fan seemed to run all of the time and now it doesn't. It only really kicks in when I play CoH, but that has always been the case.

With limited power supply options at least getting a graphics card with a fan would also help, correct? Current card doesn't have one, and I can get a newer one that does. Probably would hardly touch my game settings to be honest, so I don't think the higher power card would be much of an issue. Looks like going to a higher power supply beyond my current limitations would be easier done with a new PC if I start going, a new this, and a new that...

Soulwind · 03-09-2010 01:37 PM

Honestly, you're going to have a ton of troubles trying to upgrade that machine.

It's a Pentium D, with 1 gb of DDR2-533 memory, with a barely adequate power supply, in a slim-line case that uses 1/2 height risers (meaning finding a video card that will fit is going to be as much of a pain as finding a larger power supply is).

You're not going to be able to put anything even remotely modern into it. Anything you find is going to make very little difference in how you are running, although you might get more stable than you are now.

I know it sometimes comes off as a flippant answer, and finding spare cash isn't easy, but in this situation the answer really is "get a newer/bigger machine".

Check out Father X-Mas' sub-600 dollar build for good ideas. And you can even go a bit cheaper if you're willing to sacrifice a bit of performance.

6000+ levels gained and 8 level 50's
Hello, my name is Soulwind and I have Alt-Itis.

Back_Blast · 03-09-2010 02:27 PM

I'd have to concur. I deal with Dells at work all the time and they're just not built to be upgraded. Certainly not much in any case. I'd definitely say just abandon the idea of making your current box better and save up for a new machine. You'll save yourself a lot of frustration and largely wasted effort.

It is known that there are an infinite number of worlds, simply because there is an infinite amount of space for them to be in. However, not every one of them is inhabited. Therefore, there must be a finite number of inhabited worlds. Any finite number divided by infinity is as near to nothing as makes no odds, so the average population of all the planets in the Universe can be said to be zero. From this it follows that the population of the whole Universe is also zero, and that any people you may meet from time to time are merely the products of a deranged imagination.