Inspiron 530 Upgrade -Older model

[beyondsight]

I have an older model Inspiron 530, 300w power supply unit .The motherboard is Pentium 4 Prescott DT, 3.0GHZ, 1 MEGB, 800FSB it has 1 gb ram installed. Intel dual E2180 processor running windows xp. I would like to upgrade this computer to run a graphics application.I called a local computer store and they state that any ATX power supply unit will work.I'm looking in the range of 500w-700 w. and I would like to know which items you might recommend . (tiger direct says a diablotek phd550 would be ok.) I also need help with the video card . the software rep states the nvidia video cards from 8800-9600 will work .do you thing the 9500gt with wither 512 or 1024 is a good card if not which card would be a good card for my unit with a larger power supply. this model has one pci express port .. i believe it's PCI 1.0 .I have only installed ram in my other computers before . The video card experience is new as well as replacing a power supply unit. Again, I appreciate any help that anyone can provide. The dell rep told me that I could run a 350 w video card on a 300w power supply ...I didn't make much sense to me . I would rather be safe than sorry! Please Help ! thanks !

I know that it isn't as hard to upgrade this machine as dell makes it.

 

[delluser1]

You can only be running one cpu, I have a feeling it's the E2180.

You can use almost any standard ATX power supply as an upgrade , but you definitely don't need an upgrade to run a 9500 GT.
Stay away from Diablotek power supplies.
A 9500 GT with 1 gig of ram is a waste.

 

[beyondsight]

I 'm upgrading the ram anyway because the program requires at least 2 Gigs of ram to work. So a re you saying that I don't need a power supply upgrade .I can upgrade the memory and but the card and it should work fine ? If you have a better suggestion or suggestion for a card , power supply .I am listening. I will stay away from the Diablotek.

 

[delluser1]

A 9600 GT would be better , an ATI 4670 better still and still no psu upgrade neccessary.
More powerful cards would get choked by your cpu.
What program are you going to be running that is causing you to upgrade ?

 

[beyondsight]

A 9600 GT would be better , an ATI 4670 better still and still no psu upgrade neccessary.
More powerful cards would get choked by your cpu.
What program are you going to be running that is causing you to upgrade
Toon Boom Animate 7.6

The software rep states the Nvidia 8800 thru 9600 series will run well with the software.however it's probably as you state the 9600gt is probably better.

The program system requirements are as follows :
* Microsoft Windows XP or
Vista (certified for 32 bits)
* 2GHz Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core processor
* 1 GB of RAM (Minimum),
2 GB (Recommended)
* 300 MB of available
hard disk space for the software
* NVIDIA® or ATI® Video card fully supporting
OpenGL with 128 MB of RAM
* Monitor supporting 1280 x1024 resolution
* Wacom tablets for drawing (Optional)
* Internet connection required for product activation
* QuickTime® Player

 

[delluser1]

Those look like minimum requirements.
Without getting to crazy, here are my upgrade reccomendations;

CPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115206

GPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150323

Ram
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145184

PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371006

 

[beyondsight]

Those look like minimum requirements.
Without getting to crazy, here are my upgrade reccomendations;

CPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115206

GPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150323

Ram
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145184

PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371006

I will keep this in mind for later. I can't afford to do all of this .I know that eventually I will need a new computer but I hadn't planned on buying or building a new computer for this program to work. and by the looks of it It has the minimum requirements but there is a leeway between minimum and maximum . I can only afford ram and possible a new power supply unit. at the moment.

 

[beyondsight]

Thank you for all of your help and information delluser