Dell Dimension 2350

[Ryan]

I am getting a the following video card for the Dell Dimension 2350 1.19ghz PC in our basement (a Pentium with Windows XP Home Edition).  I have a question about how many watts the video card is going to use.  The PC has a 200 watt power supply.  Here's a link to the eBay page where I am getting the card from.  (I have not paid yet.  I'm going to pay through Paypal on Monday using my credit card, so that charges won't appear on it until Thursday.)

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-64MB-NVIDIA-GEFORCE-2-MX400-PCI-VGA-VIDEO-CARD_W0QQitemZ370090614246QQihZ024QQcategoryZ3762QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The card is the 64MB NVIDIA GeForce2 MX400 PCI video card (VGA output)

Do you know if the power supply will be able to handle this card?

[drmsucks]

I can't find the power requirements for this card but the PCI spec is limited to 25 watts. What video are you now using - onboard or a different PCI video card?

You're wise to consider power, but, remember, you're looking at the difference in usage between your current video and the new card - and that difference has to be less than 25 watts. If you currently have a PCI card, more than likely you'll not have a problem.

But, remember, if you change power supplies, Dell is notorious for non-standard PSU's. Check with them before replacing.

Best of luck!

[Ryan]

The current video is onboard, and it isn't good enough to be able to run Jedi Outcast in high quality.  I'm getting one of the cards that the game supported back in the year it was launched.

The onboard video is Intel Extreme Graphics.

Yesterday I checked the bios to be sure that I could change the video mode from integrated to PCI, and it allows me to.  I'll still need to disable the onboard video in the device manager once the video card is installed and detected.

[drmsucks]

Ryan - Going from onboard to a discrete video card will be close with a 200 watt PSU, I think. Give it a try and see what happens. For an idea, you may want to take a look here: http://www.extreme.outervision.com/powercalc.jsp.

[Ryan]

I got the PCI card installed yesterday, and got it working properly.  (No PSU problems.)  However, I'm experiencing choppiness in Jedi Outcast in very high resolutions.  I need more RAM.  (I already checked with Crucial.com and know what I need.)  I can't buy anything until next Thursday.

At any rate, I'm going to get a pair of 512MB PC-2700 DIMM RAM sticks.  I'd like to maximize this computer's RAM capacity.

[drmsucks]

Adding RAM will also increase the computer's power requirements; keep aware of any system malfunctions that may be caused by being underpowered - random re-boots, system hangs, trouble starting, etc.

Let us know how you make out.

[Ryan]

How much power is required for 1 gigabyte of RAM?  Maybe I should get the 400 watt power supply first?  I currently have no trouble starting, and the system never hangs or restarts.

[drmsucks]

Figure on a power consumption of 3 - 5 watts per module of DDR or DDR2 memory.  Not significant if you add two modules; but, on top of the incremental power required by the video card, probably in the range of a 20-30 watt total increase. That's 10 - 15% of your PSU's capacity.

Since you're not having any problems now, I would suggest that you add the RAM and see what happens. If you experience PSU issues, go for a bigger PSU.

BTW, there is no need for a 400 watt PSU for your system if you're running fine with a 200 watt PSU. If you upgrade (and remember the caveat pointed out in Re[ly #1), a GOOD QUALITY 300 watt PSU ought to be fine.

Best of luck!

[Ryan]

I'll go for the modules first then.  I had searched Dell's forums regarding replacing the power supply, and saw something.  I'm registering with them now and am going to ask them a question about trying to upgrade enough to be able to play Doom 3.

Can you send me a link to a site I can use to scan the Dell for power usage?

[drmsucks]

Can you send me a link to a site I can use to scan the Dell for power usage?

Look at Reply # 3.

[Ryan]

I got a reply from Dell.  They said that the 2350 isn't worth any money to upgrade, and to get a new system.  Therefore they won't help me.  I'll be buying the RAM from Crucial on Tuesday using a credit card.  I'll get the graphics card two weeks after that, along with the 300-watt power supply.

[drmsucks]

I thought that you had the new video card installed.

[Ryan]

The video card I installed last Thursday is the NVidia Geforce2 MX400.  I was looking to upgrade to the NVidia Geforce4 MX4000.  But now after I looked online, I can see that the Geforce4 MX4000 can only run Doom 3 well at the lowest video setting.  I'm attempting to upgrade the computer to make that Doom 3 playable on the Dell.  I'm also trying to increase the performance of Jedi Outcast and Jedi Academy.  Speaking of cards, maybe I should go for the NVidia GeForce FX5500 PCI card.  How does that sound?  I think that should be powerful enough to run Doom 3 decently.  I'm going to get the 300 watt power supply before that though.

[Ryan]

Yesterday I added the new RAM to the Dell, and there was a big increase in performance.  I especially noticed this in Jedi Outcast.  (No slowdowns.)  However, in 1024x768 or higher, there's still a drop in frame rate.  This is obviously the graphics card's limitation.  My next objective is to get the 300-watt power supply, and an NVIDIA Geforce FX5500 PCI or better.  (The card must be a PCI card.)