ATI 9800 in a Dell with only 250W PS: possible ?

[Omer]

ATI recommends a 300W PS for their 9800 line of video cards.

The machine I'd like to put it in is a Dell 4600 with a 250W PS.

I've read some threads that Dell under rates their PS, so a 250 is really more like a 350.
link

I've estimated my wattage at around 275 currently by just guestimating my components wattage.

I currently have a gainward gf3 ti 200 and everything is running fine.

Should I be concerned about this ?

 

[Zoinks]

I'd like to know about this too.

 

[tallman45]

It is unlikely that dell underrates their power supplies, why would they when it would be a bigger selling point to say 275 or 300 if it really is. Do they sell you a 9600 but give you a 9800 instead ?

A 250watt supply will likely be ok, but you may run into problems if yoy try to overclock it, or start adding more drives

 

[Omer]

it's not so much underating per say .... the claim is that the measurement they use is different.

Some claim that it's rated 250 on median output, for example, where other PS are rated on maximum output.

 

[Omer]

I've gone ahead and ordered a 9800 pro.

I'll post here with my results in a few days.

 

[jiffylube1024]

I'd get a new PSU (ie an Enermax 350W) just to be safe. I don't like to gamble - all it takes is one fried component (ie the PSU/HD/Mobo/etc) and then the PSU would have paid for itself.

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: jiffylube1024
I'd get a new PSU (ie an Enermax 350W) just to be safe. I don't like to gamble - all it takes is one fried component (ie the PSU/HD/Mobo/etc) and then the PSU would have paid for itself.

i dont think you can just slap in a new PSU in a dell case. arnt they proprietary?

 

[Omer]

exactly the problem ...

dell uses some custom PS and connectors to the motherboard ...

I may look in radioshack to see if they have some wattage meters. I've seen these things you clip onto the power cord and it tells you how much juice it's consuming.

 

[Torghn]

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: jiffylube1024 I'd get a new PSU (ie an Enermax 350W) just to be safe. I don't like to gamble - all it takes is one fried component (ie the PSU/HD/Mobo/etc) and then the PSU would have paid for itself.

i dont think you can just slap in a new PSU in a dell case. arnt they proprietary?

Yeah, it's the same connector, but the pinout is different. I watched someone blow up a normal PS by plugging it into a Dell MB. It was kind of funny, the MB didn't have anything in it, not even a CPU. He plugged it in, didn't even turn it on, and about 10 minutes later the PS made a loud pop and smoke filled the room. :Q

 

[hemansd]

omer, i have a dell 4600 too. i too was concerned about the 250W PS when i bought my 9800 non pro. i installed the 9800np and everything seems fine. except that certain games don't perform as well as i think it should (this is with all the latest drivers and correct settings). im thinking its the lack of power from the PS. more wattage more power right? if my 9800 is not getting enough power than performace go down no? i dunno. im going to put my 9800np in my friends computer to see how it perform. i was thinking about getting a new PS too. i don't know that dell uses custom PS and connector though. Im hesitant to install a new PS now after hearing about dell mobo blowing up PS hahahaha. let me know how ur wattage test turns out

 

[Omer]

hmm.

definately don't want to give up performance ...

one other option is to get a new PS from these guys: link

they claim it's Dell comptaible.

If I run into problems, I will most likely just build a new PC with all my components, but get a new case/ps.

 

[Mingon]

I have an aiw9800 + p4 2.4c in my htpc with only a 180watt psu, but thats as much as i can have .

 

[CraigRT]

Try it... the worst is that it won't run right and you need to upgrade.

I bet fine.

 

[BFG10K]

ATI 9800 in a Dell with only 250W PS: possible ?

Possible but highly unlikely to work.

 

[MicroAMD2k1]

yes its possible. my boss son use Dell with 250Wattz, and he was using ATI 9800 pro 128MB..

 

[Omer]

quick update: ati 9800 should arrive tomorrow.

I went to 5 different radio shacks and they were all clueless about any kind of wattage meter.

<off topic rant > when did radio shack replace their staff with complete idiots who only want to sell you a new cell phone plan ? </off topic rant>

Is there any other way to test the system and see if it has enough juice ?

And what are the characteristics of a system running with too low a PS ? Will the system restart during heavy load ? will the PS really fry itself ?

thanks!

 

[modedepe]

Just pick up a voltmeter. Then after you install the card just check the rails on the power supply to make sure they're fairly close to what they should be.

And, I feel for you with the radio shack employees. They've been idiots for about as long as I've gone there. Just the other day they sold my mom the wrong battery, but the employee insisted it was the correct one and that he knew since he had be working there for 5 years. *sigh*

 

[jhbball]

yeah, this should work fine. i ran an aiw 9800 pro on a 200w shuttle psu

 

[myn]

It will work fine.

I am running a Dell 4400 (250 watt PS) with the following devices and have 0 probs with my 9800 NP:

2 HDs, 1 DVDR, 1 CDR, 1 TV Tuner, 1 envy24 7.1 sound card, 1 smart media reader, 1 scanner, 2 Web Cams and 1 ATI Radeon 9800.

I was concerned like you were.

I haven't had any issues yet.

 

[Omer]

got my 9800 pro last night.

haven't done much testing - but so far so good.

What can I run to stress out the power ? 3dmark2003 ?