Power Supply Needed (compatibility)

[annabytes]

Hello everyone!

I was in the forums a while ago looking into upgrade my computer with a new video card and power supply.

I purchased what was suggested, only to discover that the power supply was not powerful enough for the new video card. I purchased a Radeon R9 280, which needs a minimum 750 watt power supply.

I currently own a Dell XP3 8300 that hasn't yet been upgraded due to this personal oversight.

My question is, is it possible to get a power supply that will be compatible with my machine for under $300? My current option is a Dell 750 watt power supply at about $312.

If I need to provide any other information please let me know!~

 

[wizkingxx]

http://www.comwales.co.uk/store/COOLER-MASTER-V-Series-V850-Power-supply-internal-850-Watt.html?gclid=CPHe-ujWkcQCFcXItAodL14A5w

DO NOT BUY A DELL POWER SUPPLY!

Buy from brands:

Corsair
Coolermaster
Antec
EVGA
And other trusted brands

 

[George Mulligan]

You can find many high quality PSUs for half that money. Check out the link below and go shopping online. I also linked to one example PSU, but again there are many.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-1804779/power-supply-unit-tier-list.html

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139084

Oh, and I second wizkingxx's warning. Do not buy a Dell power supply.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

How old is that Dell?

Does it have a UEFI BIOS?

 

[annabytes]

Thank you for your quick answers. I had a feeling I was being swindled.

I purchased the computer in 2011 but it is from 2010. I am not sure about the BIOS but I can check when I get off work.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Because a lot of the newer cards need a UEFI BIOS.

 

[ko888]

If the Dell XPS 8300's motherboard has a UEFI BIOS you may need to go into the BIOS Setup and disable Secure Boot to get the card to work.

If the video card's BIOS does not support UEFI, the card may not work with the Dell XPS 8300. You can contact the graphics card manufacturer to determine if they have a BIOS update for their card that supports UEFI Secure Boot.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Exactly ^

 

[annabytes]

Thank you for that warning. I will check it out when I get home!

 

[annabytes]

I forgot to ask, but if I don't have a UEFI card what do I need to do?

I meant BIOS. I need to read what I type

 

[ko888]

I forgot to ask, but if I don't have a UEFI card what do I need to do?

I meant BIOS. I need to read what I type

For your motherboard you can download the last BIOS that Dell released for the Dell XPS 8300 here:

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=R318123&fileId=2731121903&osCode=W764&productCode=xps-8300&languageCode=EN&categoryId=BI

If your motherboard's current BIOS version is older than the one from Dell, above, then you will need to flash your motherboard's BIOS to the one you've downloaded.

What is the brand and model number of your Radeon R9 280 card?

 

[annabytes]

Thank you ko888

It is this one
http://m.newegg.com/Product?itemNumber=N82E16814121867

 

[ko888]

Thank you ko888

It is this one
http://m.newegg.com/Product?itemNumber=N82E16814121867

ASUS doesn't have any video BIOS updates available for the DirectCU II R9280-DC2T-3GD5.

You'll just have the motherboard's BIOS to be concerned with.

 

[annabytes]

I Am looking through my computer's information and all I can find is that my BIOS version is A06.

Which ...doesn't seem to tell me anything.

 

[ko888]

I Am looking through my computer's information and all I can find is that my BIOS version is A06.

Which ...doesn't seem to tell me anything.

What that tells you is that your motherboard's current BIOS version is the same as the very last version that Dell released for that motherboard.

You don't need to update the BIOS since there is no later version to update to.

 

[annabytes]

I Am looking through my computer's information and all I can find is that my BIOS version is A06.

Which ...doesn't seem to tell me anything.

What that tells you is that your motherboard's current BIOS version is the same as the very last version that Dell released for that motherboard.

You don't need to update the BIOS since there is no later version to update to.

Will this be a problem with my new video card?

 

[ko888]

I Am looking through my computer's information and all I can find is that my BIOS version is A06.

Which ...doesn't seem to tell me anything.

What that tells you is that your motherboard's current BIOS version is the same as the very last version that Dell released for that motherboard.

You don't need to update the BIOS since there is no later version to update to.

Will this be a problem with my new video card?

It shouldn't, if you disable Secure Boot.