[lukeeep]

Okay here is my issue, i have a dell xps 710 desktop, i bought an nvidia 9800 gx2 graphics card. I can't use the power supply that came with the dell because on the graphics card i need an 8 pin and a 6 pin plug from the power supply, the power supply that came with the dell only has an 8 pin.
so i bought a new power supply from corsair and everything worked fine with the graphics card, but i need a 24 pin plug that powers the main board and a 24 that powers the mother board, and the corsair only has 1 24 pin plug. After all that said, which power supply do i need to get to be able to use my nvidia 9800 gx2 graphics card with my dell xps 710?

[AcaCandy]

Hi and welcome.

When in doubt, check the manufacturer's website Or read the manual


http://www.nvidia.com/object/geforce...wr_supply.html

With a card that expensive you'll probably find the power supply to be expensive as well. I'm not sure I'd try to upgrade a Dell machine that much though. You'd be better building your own.

[AcaCandy]

Heavens, how old is that Dell machine? I found a review dated 2006.

[Triple6]

You only need one 24 pin power connector, the mainboard is the same thing as the motherboard.

[Compiler]

Yeah, that is a FUNKY PSU and motherboard to have a 20pin and 24pin power connectors?! (Im gauging by the photo I have) - very completly non-Standard.

There is no standard ATX PSU or motherboard that has that arrangement. Don't they have an adaptor for powering up the video card (going from a standard 12v molex connector)

[win2kpro]

This looks like an experiment in bad engineering to me.

They use a 24 pin connecor with a standard ATX pinout, then add a 20 pin connector where every pin is +12v or ground then throw in a BTX cooling arrangement. I'm sure the engineers that designed this "thing" are the only ones who could explain why and how they came up with this design. I would love to hear the rationale for this design.

If the power supply size is standard ATX I feel sure that PC Power & Cooling could modify one of their units to provide the extra 20 pin plug and any other connections you would need. They offer custom wiring, but I hate to guess what the cost would be.

[Compiler]

Oh, we know WHY Dell came up with SUCH a non-standard design. Besides being BTX...

Impossible User Upgradability. Remember the previous XPS gamer design (off their workstation) in which the PSU is its own module on the bottom of the case. Completely useless for upgrading... look interesting on the inside- high tech, etc. But sometimes a cheap door that POPs off with 1 lever is really enough.

So, by going with that funky PSU and motherboard in a non-standard BTX case - the user is forever stuck. If you look at the picture of the PSU - its rather long.

There is only one option left for lukeeep: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817153069

That SHOULD work. And ONLY if an adaptor can't be used from a MOLEX. The PSU that comes with that DELL should have enough power - what is it, 750watts? Depending on what you're adding, you may need more power anyways.

PS: Here is the photo of the Dell XPS 700: http://www.dell.com/downloads/global...terior_300.jpg

[win2kpro]

Here is a pretty good article on the XPS 710.

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/...2058400,00.asp

[AcaCandy]

It supposedly has a 1000 watt power supply.......

[win2kpro]

The Dell specs indicated that it was available with either a 750 or 1KW power supply. If these video cards keep getting more outrageous a 1KW PSU will become ordinary.

[Compiler]

That Extreme Tech review is about 18months old. We see someone who posted having a nightmare spending $6000 for that Dell.

In 18 months, a lot has change and we can get a lot more for the money. That review Dell was $5300 with 2x ATI 1950XTX cards.

Lets start with this top end case - its silent with the included 5 fans and the CPU runs very cool.

$250 = case. super light weight: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811133027
$250 = Quad Core 2.6Ghz
$ 90 = 4GB 1066Mhz memory (Dell has 668Mhz)
$250 = SLi Motherboard
$250 = 1000 Watt PSU by Corsair
$100 = 500GB HD (just as fast as the RAID 0 with 300GB max)
$ 60 = 2x DVD burners.

$300 = Ati 4870 Card (Smokes 2x ATA 1950XTX and most other cards)
$100 = Windows or Vista
--------------------------------------------
$1650 = TOTAL


Top end $3000+ computers always devalue faster than anything else.