Old Dell Opteplex 520 DT PSU Upgrade

Turb0Yoda · Jun 24, 2014

Hello. I am converting an Old Optiplex 520(medium) to an HTPC. To do this, I am planning on adding a low powered GPU and a new PSU. These are the current specs.
I am posting pictures of the PSU and the area for the GPU.

i7Baby · Jun 24, 2014

They're not specs we can use eg make and model ram, make and model power supply and form factor eg atx or other.

That's what happens with Dell (and HP). Hard to get info on their stuff.

What max vga card length will fit in the case? On other case specs it's spelt out eg http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=25_31&products_id=25387

Your going to have to measure stuff and go through specs to see what fits.

Turb0Yoda · Jun 24, 2014

Ah, I have measured out the size of the GPU. I have space for one 12 inches long(11.5 because otherwise I cant put is inside the case. I have 2 inches of width(card and fan) before it hits the HDD and CPU heatsink. Also, the PSU is some weird form factor and the same with the mobo.
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9UIH3UN_d2FRDktdjBiSTJ0Ums/edit
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9UIH3UN_d2FckQ3RTFKc1hvcms/edit
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9UIH3UN_d2FSl9ITkpzMmpWYTQ/edit

i7Baby · Jun 25, 2014

The you can fit a big card eg Gigabyte R0 290 - http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=193_1575&products_id=26600 294 mm long, 41mm thick.

But it'll need a 650W power supply. And a good one at that. Per - http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1804779/power-supply-unit-tier-list.html

So can you fit an ATX power supply as well? And are the connectors on the motherboard and elsewhere all ATX standard? see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_supply_unit_(computer)

Turb0Yoda · Jun 25, 2014

The connectors are ATX standard, but the PSU itself is custom made. Also, I have to cut holes and add fans to the case because there is no ventilation besides small vents at the back, with no fans.
I need to find one what looks like that, but with atleast 500 watts.
http://www.discountelectronics.com/product?gclid=CjkKEQjww6SdBRDls9vxsf7EoM0BEiQART_xPjXG23fupx0MKB2i1___0t_Z5yZDzSosgL3xaRByyN7w_wcB&product_id=16850&product_model=12

i7Baby · Jun 25, 2014

That's not ATX or any variation. Even variations are just normal boxes. It's custom built for Dell. It probably won't have the standard mother board 24pin connector either. And that psu is probably made by Delta. Yuuuuuuuuck as someone said last time one of these came up. It will probably also have multiple 12V rails which will rule out using it for any decent graphics card. Even with a fudge factor.

Be good if you could borrow a standard ATX and see how close it comes to fitting.

Turb0Yoda · Jun 25, 2014

i7Baby :

I have seen replacements of the PSU, and I can barely see a standard 24 pin ATX. ATX does not even come close to fitting. Can I transfer everything to a new case? A very cheap one.

i7Baby · Jun 25, 2014

Yes. But don't do cheap please. Dell does cheap and you can see where it gets you.

What sort of money (I gather USD) do you want to spend on case+ psu + graphics card)?

Then I'm not sure if the Dell motherboard is standard size either. Hopefully it will be. But it'll also have an odd 24 pin connector.

Can you see why these sorts of things get complicated? Dell and HP. Both do this sort of stuff.

Turb0Yoda · Jun 25, 2014

i7Baby :

I have and HP AND a dell. One can't be open the other cant. Both are crap. I don't know my exact budget, but I am guessing 200-250, because this is more of a side project. I don't need an OS as I put Linux on it.

i7Baby · Jun 25, 2014

If the Dell motherboard has a non standard (ATX) 24 pin connector, then you'd have to get another motherboard too. Or you could solder the connector from the 24 pin Dell power supply onto a standard ATX power supply. You'd have to be 100% sure of the pinouts of both tough. ATX pinout is easy to find. I'm not sure with Dell.

Turb0Yoda · Jun 25, 2014

i7Baby :

As usual with insecure OEM's, the HDD is locked to the CPU/mobo.

i7Baby · Jun 25, 2014

Gee -this gets worse and worse. Ready to give up yet xxd?

Turb0Yoda · Jun 25, 2014

i7Baby :

At this point, I am just turning this into a legacy Hackintosh. No, I'm not ready to give up. Besides, the HDD is an 80 gb Maxtor

i7Baby · Jun 25, 2014

OK. So what's the plan now?

Dark Lord of Tech · Jun 25, 2014

Seagate bought out Maxtor in 2006 , Maxtors use to fail at a high rate.

Turb0Yoda · Jun 25, 2014

i7Baby :

HELP ME FIND A NEW REPLACEMENT PSU WITH HIGHER WATTAGE. oops, forgot caps.

Figured that out from the really bad reviews I saw. Too bad this one was for free.

i7Baby · Jun 25, 2014

Any idea what graphics card you want to use? or How many Watts psu?

Turb0Yoda · Jun 26, 2014

i7Baby :

As this is for an HTPC and some steam games(team fortress 2), I only need 400 watts, 350 MIGHT do. I was thinking of some sort of 650 ti that would fit and not over heat as there is little/no ventilation save me leaving the case open slightly. A card with a passive cooling systems with a small or no fan at all would be nice. Also one that does not use any sort of direct line from the psu, and draws its power from the mobo. I had a card, but it was very, very old. I can get a hold of a geo-force 210-230, but still old.

i7Baby · Jun 26, 2014

Well for a low power gpu, you can't go past a GTX750Ti.

Then get a Seasonic 360W psu.

Turb0Yoda · Jun 26, 2014

Can I move these parts to a new case, seeing as it is a custom dell Mobo. I believe it is of the BTX form factor.

i7Baby · Jun 26, 2014

Probably. But you might need to move the motherboard standoff to non standard locations. If BTX is smaller than ATX, then get a case that can take an ATX motherboard.

Turb0Yoda · Jun 26, 2014

i7Baby :

Ok so I found the Amperages for the PSU. How many watts can the thing REALLY output? Not expecting more that 180

100-240V ~ 8.0A - 50-60 Hz
200-240V ~ 4.0A - 50-60 Hz
+5V -_-_-/17.0 A
+12V -_-_-/12.0A
+5vFP -_-_-/1.0A
-12V -_-_-/ .5A
+3.3v -_-_- 1.0a

Well, I'm off to bed. It is 10 in the night in Sunny California here.

i7Baby · Jun 26, 2014

Yep 180W all up. Only 150 for the cpu and gpu etc. The GTX750Ti will take 5A (60W).

Turb0Yoda · Jun 26, 2014

So I cannot fit a GPU in there, even with a crusty single core Pentium and 1 HDD. That is all that is connected. I disconnected the DVD drive.

Question: If I fully format the HDD and put linux on it, can I move it to a different computer.

i7Baby · Jun 26, 2014

Old Dell Opteplex 520 DT PSU Upgrade

Expert

Titan

Expert

Titan

Expert

Titan

Expert

Titan

Expert

Titan

Expert

Titan

Expert

Titan

Retired Moderator

Expert

Titan

Expert

Titan

Expert

Titan

Expert

Titan

Expert

Titan

Share this page