Need help buying powersupply unit

[Bronxkid]

I have a dell dimension 4550 so I went to pcpowercooling.com as someone had recommended. There, I specified my computer and it told me to buy the silencer 410 dell-2. This is $119. I emailed them to ask why i couldn't purchase the less expensive silencer 360, which is $79. The dimensions and cables are the same so it would fit and be able to connect also. The response was that the voltage was the difference and the 360 would fry my motherboard. I was wondering if someone w/ knowledge about psu could look at the specs and tell me if the guy was full of it or telling the truth:

Silencer 410

Silencer 360

Thanks.

 

[pkme2]

You got it right. PC Power & Cooling has the replacement PSUs for your Dell.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Originally posted by: Bronxkid
I have a dell dimension 4550 so I went to pcpowercooling.com as someone had recommended. There, I specified my computer and it told me to buy the silencer 410 dell-2. This is $119. I emailed them to ask why i couldn't purchase the less expensive silencer 360, which is $79. The dimensions and cables are the same so it would fit and be able to connect also. The response was that the voltage was the difference and the 360 would fry my motherboard. I was wondering if someone w/ knowledge about psu could look at the specs and tell me if the guy was full of it or telling the truth:

Silencer 410

Silencer 360

Thanks.

pkme2, note the portion I bolded in the quote...That is the question. *sheesh*


Bronxkid, I was born in Queens and will tell you in a NYC second, NO, he was not pulling you leg. The pinouts are different between your model and some of the others. Your board would get hit with the wrong rails. I have no idea what the pinouts are for your 4550, but will offer you something other than a whorah! for pcp&c.

You might find the pinouts here http://pinouts.ru/

Both those pcp&c units are standard ATX size of 86x140x150, so any ATX PSU will fit. There are several FSP Group, Sparkle, Enhance or Enermax units at http://www.ewiz.com/ that would do just fine in the 350~450 watt range, your call. A pcp&c unit is not requiored.

So, how do you hook up the wiring of a standard ATX to your 4550? You buy one of these or make one using your Dell's cabling shells. http://www.endpcnoise.com/cgi-bin/e/std/sku=dellconverter

I tend to be hard core and would just switch the pins around to meet the Dell spec for pin placement. It does take special tools though.

You can find standard pinouts at http://www.formfactors.org/ and the wiring's color code for the voltages. Good luck.

EDIT: You might want to do a Google on Dell ATX adapter/converter to find a better deal if you need/want one.


...Galvanized

 

[MWink]

That doesn't make sense to me. I replaced the power supply in my uncle's Dimension 4550 with a standard Sparkle 300W ATX and it worked fine. The only reason the average ATX PSU wouldn't work in the Dell was because there is no room in the case for the hard power switch that is on most current ATX PSU's. I just removed it from the Sparkle and it fit perfectly. It's been running fine for months.

 

[Ken90630]

Originally posted by: MWink
That doesn't make sense to me. I replaced the power supply in my uncle's Dimension 4550 with a standard Sparkle 300W ATX and it worked fine. The only reason the average ATX PSU wouldn't work in the Dell was because there is no room in the case for the hard power switch that is on most current ATX PSU's. I just removed it from the Sparkle and it fit perfectly. It's been running fine for months.

Yeah, this has been discussed on this site many times. Reportedly there are some Dells that will accept any ATX PSU, while there are others that will not. The issue is model-specific.

FWIW, I think the main compatibility problem with some Dells relates more to the PSU's wiring / pin assignment than its actual dimensions or 'physical fit' (although that does reportedly come into play with some models). I happened to ask a PC P&C guy about their Dell replacement PSUs on the phone awhile back, and he said they "copy Dell's wiring." Those were his exact words.

While I wouldn't call myself a "fanboy" of any PSU company, I think it's kinda cool that PC P&C offers high quality Dell replacement PSUs. Sure, you can buy another brand and rewire/re-pin it if you wanna go to all the trouble, but why bother just to save a few bucks? (Remember, time is money.) Their PSUs are high quality and they're ready to roll right outta the box. I guess if you have nothing better to do with your time and actually enjoy rewiring PSU harnesses & re-pinning connectors (good grief), knock yourself out.

 

[Bronxkid]

Thanks for the help guys. Both psu's I linked are supposed to be for dell computers. However, if you choose specifically my computer only the 410 watt shows up. The 360watt is listed as the recommended psu for other dell computers. what I was unclear about is why, if they're both for dells and have the same dimensions, would the 360watt one not work. And the computer tech guy said it was the voltage. Looking at the specs, i can't find the difference between the two. That was what I was hoping someone could tell me if there really is one.

 

[Newf]

Originally posted by: Bronxkid
I have a dell dimension 4550 so I went to pcpowercooling.com as someone had recommended. There, I specified my computer and it told me to buy the silencer 410 dell-2. This is $119. I emailed them to ask why i couldn't purchase the less expensive silencer 360, which is $79. The dimensions and cables are the same so it would fit and be able to connect also. The response was that the voltage was the difference and the 360 would fry my motherboard. I was wondering if someone w/ knowledge about psu could look at the specs and tell me if the guy was full of it or telling the truth:

Silencer 410

Silencer 360

Thanks.

The Tech support person says the voltage is different.
The posts in this forum say the pinouts are different.
Both are trying to say the same thing.
Both agree that unless you buy the Dell specific psu you will fry your mobo.
How hard is this to understand?
Buy the 410 and don't even ask about a mobo replacement!

 

[Ken90630]

Originally posted by: Bronxkid
Thanks for the help guys. Both psu's I linked are supposed to be for dell computers. However, if you choose specifically my computer only the 410 watt shows up. The 360watt is listed as the recommended psu for other dell computers. what I was unclear about is why, if they're both for dells and have the same dimensions, would the 360watt one not work. And the computer tech guy said it was the voltage. Looking at the specs, i can't find the difference between the two. That was what I was hoping someone could tell me if there really is one.

I think GY answered your question in the second paragraph of his post. He seems pretty knowledgeable about this kind of stuff, so I'd have no reason to doubt him.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Ken...I don't know that much, I just read alot. Bought my first soldering station two weeks ago because using several pencil irons is a pain, plus the station is ESD safe. I do crimp Molex pins because i eschew adapters for power connections. Rachet crimper from jab-tech.com is $18 and VG kit. Molex pins from action-electronics.com, $6~$8 per 100.
ATX pins are a royal pita to remove until you self learn the tricks

Bronx...Plz read the link from endpcnoise about the adapter. It states the ATX pinouts on some Dells are different.

Dell does have a support forum, you might want to give it a look-see


...Galvanized

 

[Bronxkid]

Thanks guys for the help. Galvanized, sorry I must have been drunk or something when I first read your post, as it makes sense now.

Newf, don't post if you're only going to act rude. I didn't understand it so I wanted to clarify before spending over $100 on a psu which I wasn't sure was necessary. As I stated in my initial post, I looked at the specs and didn't understand since my knowledge is limited and people here like Galvanized were nice enough to post helpful info.

 

[John]

Originally posted by: MWink
That doesn't make sense to me. I replaced the power supply in my uncle's Dimension 4550 with a standard Sparkle 300W ATX and it worked fine. The only reason the average ATX PSU wouldn't work in the Dell was because there is no room in the case for the hard power switch that is on most current ATX PSU's. I just removed it from the Sparkle and it fit perfectly. It's been running fine for months.

I concur. There is no reason to get the PCP&C when there are other units that will work fine and cost less. Other than the lack of an on/off switch on the back of the Dell psu there is nothing proprietary about this particular unit.

Dell? Dimension? 4550 Series psu info

 

[Bronxkid]

Thanks John. I guess I can make a small hole in the case where the on/off switch is and buy a standard atx psu from newegg.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: Bronxkid
Thanks John. I guess I can make a small hole in the case where the on/off switch is and buy a standard atx psu from newegg.

according to this pinout supplied by gy regarding a regular pinout and this one supplied by john it appears that pin 18 is different, thus the reason to get the one pc&p suggest

i have read many times about people putting standard psus in their dells and having serious issues.

 

[Bronxkid]

The adapter is only $15 so even if a spend $40-50 on a decent fotran, antec, or sparkle psu, that's not too bad. Then, when i decide to buy a new computer later on, i can remove the adapter and put the psu in the new one.

 

[John]

Originally posted by: bob4432
according to this pinout supplied by gy regarding a regular pinout and this one supplied by john it appears that pin 18 is different, thus the reason to get the one pc&p suggest

i have read many times about people putting standard psus in their dells and having serious issues.

Just a heads up, but pin #18 on the 20-pin ATX power is typically the -5v and n/c means no connect (missing). The Dell page labels it incorrectly. Most of your newer psu's exclude this wire altogether. I've replaced several Dell 4550 psu's over the years using a standard non-proprietary 300-450w psu.