dell XPS 410 stock PSU not providing enough power, need upgrade

yackaro

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May 5, 2014
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well, here's my story:
i've had my dell XPS model 410 computer with the stock 375 watt PSU running like this for a while now, but i'm kind of freaking out since it is pushing so close to the limits of it.

about a month ago, I was running myself an PNY NVidia GeForce 210, with a max. system pull of around 250 watts. I got this great deal on an XFX Nvidia GeForce 9800GT and couldn't resist purchasing it. After checking with NewEgg.com's PSU calculator, with a final result of 361 watts of pull (getting real close to 375, am i right?) i decided to put it in. because when i put it in and set it up, some problems that i never had before began appearing. specifically i can point out minecraft having frame lagg when i move the mouse. i think that my problem is that the card isn't able to pull well from the pushy PSU, and when i do other things, the grapgics performance reduces because i dont have enough power to use both mouse/keyboard and GPU simultaneously without having problems with GPU wattage pull.
I want to upgrade my power supply to help reduce issues (if not solve them completely) with my card, but i have heard so much about dell's PSU wirings not working right with different PSUs. less of an issue, but still mentionable, is I've also heard things about dell's PSU size being nonstandard. can anyone point me out to.... i don't know, maybe a 500 or 750 watt PSU that could work with my system?
 
Solution
Look at the link I gave you. On down the page it has the exact cables, P4 is a Dell Proprietary connector. If i recall correctly, that cable and the 24 pin cable do not have standard pinouts.

In other words, if you plug in a standard ATX PSU's cables into your DELL motherboard "bad things" will happen as the song goes. The adapter below will alow you to use a normal ATX PSU. (incidentally for further proof, your model is listed on the adapter's applicable models).

http://www.tested.com/forums/please-help/452542-dell-proprietary-24-pin-connector/

Dell PSU Adapter
http://www.atxpowersupplies.com/Dell-P10-connector-adapter.php
Yes - we've had a lot of problems caused by Dell PSU's here. If it's an ATX size psu, then the world's your oyster. Sometimes they're not and old ones especially have odd motherboard connectors. If you can find a make and model no. on the psu we might be able to help you. Otherwise you might need to compare connectors and size with a modern atx psu
 

yackaro

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well, all i know is it is the stock XPS 410 PSU. i'm going to google up the model number since it's the middle of the night here and i dont feel like dragging it out. i DO know that it outputs 375w if the rating is accurate. it probably outputs less, though...... (meaning 361 may be too much for it) i'll either come back tonight with my PSU model using google but if i cant find it i'll put the number up tomorrow when i pull out my rig to check.
 

yackaro

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i take back what i said 2 comments ago. pulled out my desktop anyway. the sticker said it was model number L375P-00. friggin Amazon trying to give misinformation..........
 

yackaro

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the one i found on amazon was probably an imitation that barely runs right XD well i'm pretty sure the dell psus are like name brand PSUs- constant. unless you find an imitation brand, like Genuine, or just some plain old off-brand, like the ones that case manufacturers produce, you're getting a constant wattage, not a peak. pretty sure that the PSU in my rig was once being assembled in the dell autofacturing robotics plantation, not some chinese ripoff (e.g. Genuine) manufacturing slave plantation (i think slaves are legal in china?). still doesn't answer my question whether i can fit a better PSU in there, because I have a 500w PSU standing by at my father's house for the next time i go there, and if i can use it, I'll grab it to put in my dell.
 
Look at the link I gave you. On down the page it has the exact cables, P4 is a Dell Proprietary connector. If i recall correctly, that cable and the 24 pin cable do not have standard pinouts.

In other words, if you plug in a standard ATX PSU's cables into your DELL motherboard "bad things" will happen as the song goes. The adapter below will alow you to use a normal ATX PSU. (incidentally for further proof, your model is listed on the adapter's applicable models).

http://www.tested.com/forums/please-help/452542-dell-proprietary-24-pin-connector/

Dell PSU Adapter
http://www.atxpowersupplies.com/Dell-P10-connector-adapter.php
 
Solution

yackaro

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May 5, 2014
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well, terry, you are right yet you are wrong. i chose you as answer anyway because it still kind of solved my question. you were right by there ARE bad things that can happen on those model PC's, but you were wrong about the listing of the Dell XPS 410 being listed there. thanks for the help though
 
I may have been thinking of this model list. But I thought it was on the adapter list as well.

This is a, Genuine Dell 375w P8401, K8956, WM283, Power Supply PSU For Dimension 9100, 9150, 9200 Upgrade for Dimension 5100, E510, 5150, E520, E521, E310, 3100 For XPS 410, 400 For Precision Workstations 380, 390 Identical Part Numbers: P8401, K8956, WM283, UP173, L375P-00, N375P-00, PNL375P, PS-6371-1DF-LF

Features/Specifications

375 W Max Output

100-120V or 200-240V Input

For Dimension 9100, 9150

For Precision Workstations 380, 390

For XPS 400

Upgrade for Dimension 5100, E510, 5150, E520, E521, E310, 3100

Compatible Part Numbers: P8401, K8956, WM283, UP173

Model Numbers: L375P-00, N375P-00, PNL375P, PS-6371-1DF-LF

Connectors:

P1 - 24-pin ATX Motherboard Power

P2 - 4-pin ATX Power connector

P3 - 4-pin SATA standard power connector

P4 - 6-pin Dell proprietary connector

P5 - 4-pin SATA standard power connector

P7 - 4-pin Floppy connector

P8 - 4-pin Molex power connector

P9 - 4-pin Molex power connector

P10 - 4-pin Molex power connector

P11 - 4-pin Molex power connector

P12 - 6-pin PCI-E power connector
 

krf

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Feb 26, 2013
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Hello yackaro,

I've updated 3 dell xps 410's. One was mine and the others belonged to my son and a friend of his.
Here are the builds.
(PSU is by High Power "HP-500-G12S" AC INPUT : 100-240V (Full Range) Frequency: 47-63Hz.
cpu- q6600 / q6700 / qx6800
Ram - 4x2gb ddr2 6400
OS - Windows 7 pro 64 bit
1 - SSD 240gb / 1 HDD WD blue 500gb
GPU's Power Color AX7770 / Gigabyte 550 ti
I'm sure there are multiple psu you could purchase for your upgrade. Be smart!!! and research. and yes you will have to use the 20+4 pin (still 24... they just have it separated)
Sold the q6700 with Gigabyte 550 ti build. Still own the qx6800 build with the Power Color AX7770. Works great! Love it!

 

yackar

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Aug 27, 2011
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Well, now that I look back, I was really stupid. Since I did this, I've upgraded both the PSU and the GPU to a non-reference model GF GTX 750 that took a 6-pin connector and a C2Q Q6600, and guess what went first? The motherboard. I started having problems one day, and I tried to take it apart, and several of the capacitors had blown. Of course, I didn't help that any when Ihad to soak the whole motherboard in a bathtub for two hours because my father, who thinks he knows more about computers than I do, just so HAPPENED to convince me to buy thermal ADHESIVE for the new processor because it was five dollars cheaper. I did get that processor out after two hours of soaking. At least I can say the the adhesive did so happen to pull of ALL the dirt off of both the processor top and the heatsink copper plate. At least I have a clean processor out of it lol. I guess I'm rambling now though. Good times, good times.
EDIT: I accidentally logged onto my old account? How did I do this? Wat? My password was supposed to be different; something I didn't remember! How TF did I do this? Well whatever; me and the me+o are one and the same...