Dell Dimension E521 Questions

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: deutschlander16
hm, this is an old topic, but my question matches with it, so here we go. I'm going to upgrade my dell E521 with a new video card, i'm personnally thinking about the BFG geforce 8600 GTS OC2 256mb ddr3, along with a new power supply. now, i think this card is just a single slot, so, should can this card work in a dell E521 w/ a new power supply? i was also looking at some cards that take up one slot, but use two external metal slots? can i do that? or are those cards too much for this computer?

thanks for your time, any comments are appriciated

Yes, the 8600 GTS card will run fine in the E521. And you don't need a new PSU either. The current 305W will be fine, as it does 18A on each of two 12V rails.

You will need something like this though...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16812201004
... because there is only one free 4pin connection available.

 

[deutschlander16]

thank you, bamarce, i appriciate it

 

[deutschlander16]

i just have one more question, since i can't put anything bigger in my computer, i was wondering if i could put this card, 8600, and a physics accelerator, will that work, both of them together with a 305 power supply, or do i have up upgrade that too?

thanks

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: deutschlander16
i just have one more question, since i can't put anything bigger in my computer, i was wondering if i could put this card, 8600, and a physics accelerator, will that work, both of them together with a 305 power supply, or do i have up upgrade that too?

thanks

Why would you buy a physics processor?

 

[deutschlander16]

wouldn't that boost my overall graphic along with the 8600 video card? or can i only have one?

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: deutschlander16
wouldn't that boost my overall graphic along with the 8600 video card? or can i only have one?

Not likley. Games actually have to be programmed to make use of physics cards, and there are very few that are. It is also not likely that many more will make use of physics cards, as dual and even quad core processors are much more available. Games like Crysis will be coded to make use of multi-core processors, but not be coded for physics processors.

Your best bet is to wait. Nvidia and AMD (ATI) are working on creating GPU's that use less power, and create less heat. Much the same way that Intel and AMD have done with CPU's. It is quite possible that we will again see single-slot cards that are quite powerful.

 

[deutschlander16]

i see. so it was a bad decision to get a E521 for graphics. i appriciate your help. hopefully they'll come out with some soon.

 

[saberceltan]

This is a fairly old topic, but i have a dell E521 with an AMD athlon 4200 64 X2 dual core processor and an XFX Geforce 8600 GT video card. My card runs fairly hot because i have filled the two pci slots directly next to it, leaving little airflow. My question is, would it be possible to take most of the components from my E521 and transfer them to a new case with a new power supply? Would the BTX mobo in it be compatible with an ATX case? And if i bought a new mobo, which parts would i be able to transfer?

 

[RebateMonger]

BTX motherboards won't fit into ATX cases.

When dealing with Dell, HP, eMachine, etc. PCs, trying to re-use a motherboard or a case is almost always a bad idea. There are incompatibilities with connectors, motherboard mounting, and many other things that make it very difficult.

Buy a standard ATX motherboard and case and, if you want, move your other components over to the new PC. NEXT time you want to upgrade, you can buy industry-standard ATX components and upgrade them at will.

 

[saberceltan]

Ok thanks, so i could move my cpu and video card, but are the dell hard drive and the dvd burner proprietary, or would they fit standard into a new case and motherboard?? And i would probably have to buy new RAM, correct?

 

[outlawarrior781]

hey im new to this forum and i have a lot of questions for the dell dimension E521. i have a E521. i bought it around august '06. i have the integrated video card, but im planning on buying a new video card. i've narrowed my choices down to the geforce 7950 GT or the radeon X1950 Pro. the radeon is cheaper and a little bit slower than the 7950 GT, but i like it. its affordable. costs around $170. i checked out the requirements for the radeon and it said that i should a 450W power supply. it also said i should have +12V rails at 30A. im planning on getting the dell silencer. its compatible with the E521. here's the link.
http://www.pcpower.com/product...wproduct.php?show=S47D
though its output is at 12V rails at 26A. i kno its just a 4 Amp difference, but is it that important.