Updating a dell t3400 power supply

[topgun_86]

Hello,
trying to put in a ATI fire gl V8600 video card in my dell t3400 and i get no video out put at all. my local computer guys say the 525w power supply is too small. Just trying to upgrade my machine to perform better using solidworks 2011. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[clarkjd]

According to the AMD website:
http://www.amd.com/us/products/workstation/graphics/ati-firegl-3d/v8600/Pages/v8600-specs.aspx
they recommend a 650 watt PSU for that card. Your local computer guys are right.

 

[djabhi003]

Hello,
trying to put in a ATI fire gl V8600 video card in my dell t3400 and i get no video out put at all. my local computer guys say the 525w power supply is too small. Just trying to upgrade my machine to perform better using solidworks 2011. Any help would be appreciated.

Here is the total power consumption of a system at full GPU load(using the V8600):

http://hothardware.com/Reviews/ATI-FireGL-V8600-1-GB/?page=3

So it all depends on what other components you use, CPU, Ram, No. Of HDD's Etc. The +12V Railing Of A PSU is the one which powers the CPU,GPU And Mobo etc. So u will Need a PSU that has atleast 500W On Its 12V. Or maybe a higher PSU if you want to do upgrades in future.

If You're on a budget, then this is a great PSU( i use the same series 600W PSU):
Corsair GS700 - 700W With 80 Plus Certified,
http://www.corsair.com/power-supply-units/gaming-series/gs700w.html

If You Have Money, then this is one among the best:
Corsair 850 HX,
http://www.corsair.com/power-supply-units/professional-series/hx850w.html

 

[topgun_86]

Thanks for the reply, do you think this is why i have no video output at all?

 

[djabhi003]

Yes.. a card needs ample power to work properly. For example cards that need an extra 6 Pin PCI-E Connector Will not work unless the PCI-E power is connected as well.

 

[topgun_86]

Thanks for your help, put i am pretty much a dummy when it comes to upgrading a computer, so......will that power supply you mentioned fit in a dell T3400 stock computer and will the ATI v8600 video card work without any other modifications? I got people telling me all kinds of different stuff......like the mother board wont work with that video card, and you cnat change the power supplies, etc. If its spelled out for me i can handle it. Thanks again!

 

[djabhi003]

Yes both the power supplies i mentioned will fit in your case, because all PSU;s are of the same size(unless mentioned otherwise) and mount in the same slot with the same screw holes.
while taking off your old psu, just note down where and which cables were connected to the motherboard/HDD etc. Mount the new PSU and connect it in the same way.
You can also make use of your motherboard manual which shows where the power cables need to be connected.

The Vl8600 is a PCI Express graphics card, so it will need a PCI-E X16 slot to function,And a good power supply. Apart from that i see no reason why the card woudn't work on your setup.
Anyways, could you just post your specs here? just to check it.

 

[topgun_86]

Yes both the power supplies i mentioned will fit in your case, because all PSU;s are of the same size(unless mentioned otherwise) and mount in the same slot with the same screw holes.
while taking off your old psu, just note down where and which cables were connected to the motherboard/HDD etc. Mount the new PSU and connect it in the same way.
You can also make use of your motherboard manual which shows where the power cables need to be connected.

The Vl8600 is a PCI Express graphics card, so it will need a PCI-E X16 slot to function,And a good power supply. Apart from that i see no reason why the card woudn't work on your setup.
Anyways, could you just post your specs here? just to check it.

Processor Q6700, 2.66GHz
1066, 2X4mb l2, 375W
nvidia, Quadro FX 570, 256 MB (old video card)
250 GB SATA 3.0 gb's with ncq and 8mb data burst cashe
I already upgrade the ram to 8 GB with 4 seperate 2mb sticks, that worked fine.
FWT9HF1 build code
The card i bought was a PCIexpress x 16 (ATI #100-505519)
Thanks again for all your help.

 

[delluser1]

Which power supply do you have ?
First post says 525w, last says 375w.
That system was sold with SLI FX 4600's and the 525w psu ( manufacturer reccomends 750w for this configuration )

Lets look at the power consumption chart that was provided by djhabi003
363 watts full system power under load, they used an HX620 ( ~85% efficient at 364 watts http://www.plugloadsolutions.com/psu_reports/SP124-CORSAIR-CMPSU-620HX-REPORT.pdf )
363wAC*.85 = 306 wDC
That's less than a 60% load on a 525w psu

Other than needing a 6 pin to 8 pin adapter ( if you have the 525w ) you should be fine with the stock psu.
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=34_186&products_id=28077

 

[topgun_86]

Which power supply do you have ?
First post says 525w, last says 375w.
That system was sold with SLI FX 4600's and the 525w psu ( manufacturer reccomends 750w for this configuration )

Lets look at the power consumption chart that was provided by djhabi003
363 watts full system power under load, they used an HX620 ( ~85% efficient at 364 watts http://www.plugloadsolutions.com/psu_reports/SP124-CORSAIR-CMPSU-620HX-REPORT.pdf )
363wAC*.85 = 306 wDC
That's less than a 60% load on a 525w psu

Other than needing a 6 pin to 8 pin adapter ( if you have the 525w ) you should be fine with the stock psu.
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=34_186&products_id=28077

My mistake, i just opened up the case and its a 375w psu...........and that matches my dell build sheet.

 

[djabhi003]

well, bingo theres your answer! Get any of the power supplies i mentioned OR:
i use the Corsair GS600 600W 80+ certified, which has 576W power on its 12V and also has 2 x 2+6 Pin PCI-E power connectors. If you're on a budget,then get that Psu.
i got it for 84$.

 

[topgun_86]

Thanks for the help, im going to order up the power supply and adapter cord tomorrow.....if you dont hear from me i got it to work.!

 

[topgun_86]

just an FYI everything is hooked up and working, one problem remains and that is the drivers.........the ATI came with no instructions or discs and online all i get are fake driver scan companies, where can i get the correct drivers??

 

[topgun_86]

ok, sorry i found it, downloading right now

 

[clarkjd]

Try here:
http://support.amd.com/us/Pages/AMDSupportHub.aspx

 

[topgun_86]

ok, the drivers are in and seems to working fine, is there any way to turn down the fan speed? it sounds like a jet engine on my desk......... also what is the best way to blow out the old nvidia drivers i had installed without messing anything up?

 

[djabhi003]

Yes u can reduce fan speed. open catalyst control centre, go to perfromance(left side bar), click on AMD Overdrive.
Unlock over drive by clicking the lock icon, den in the window tick "Manual Fan Control",
and then reduce the speed to whatever you life(30%,50% etc..)

don't close the window yet, load some programe that stresses the GPU and use the prog. form 15 - 20 mins and watch the temps on the GPU. if its within the specified limits than your good to go with the new fan speed( 85 - 90 Degree Celcium Max Temperature For any GPU, 100 and 110 C are used by oders but i dnt recommend that).

Just use the default windows programs and features uninstaller to uninstall the nvidia drivers, it wudnt cause any probs. it didnt for me when i switched to ATi From Nvidia!

 

[topgun_86]

I am trying to do that but those options are not there, only:

welcome
information center
desktop and display
desktop properties
display options
3d
video
video cinversion
workstation
I checked inside of each of these and performance is not there???? possibly the wrong driver??

 

[djabhi003]

No, i gues workstation GPu's dont support AMD Overdrive.. i will give another program.. let me search!

 

[djabhi003]

here are a few softwares you can try,
ATi Tray Tools, ATi Tools, Evga Precision, Riva Tuner.