Dell Dimension E520

Hey guys I just bought a Dell Dimension E520 and upgraded it as much as I could but the graphics card options were not the best. I got a NVIDIA GeForce 7300 LE at 256MB and I definitely need to upgrade. I play games like Empire at War and Command and Conquer and want to run them on full graphics. Right now they are running in the mid range. I am a big gamer but not really familiar with the technical side of it all. It has a dual core processor at 2.13GH and 4GB of RAM. It also has Vista. I really don't want to spend more than $350-$400 either. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

Dell PSU's are under-rated, but don't supply the amps to support higher end cards so you are limited in your choices. Ones that should work and would give you better performance are: 7600GT, 7900GS, 7950GT and the 8600GTS or lower.

If somebody blows out their psu on a E520/521 they probably were doing something they weren't supposed to. I would stay away from that. Anyway the stock psu can run anything that will fit in it with the execption of the higher X1xxx's. Nvidia series up to 7900GS and 8600GTS are ok.

So I wouldn't be able to run the 8800GTS then?

ok thanks. i have been reading up on the 8600GTS and it seems like it would work for me anyway

It has actually been done. There were modifications made to the case and heatsink shroud to allow the card to fit and it was powered up with the stock psu. According to the guy who did it he had no problems running the card full tilt and overclocked.
The 8600 is the better option, not requiring any case mods or having the fear that the psu may crap out and take other components with it.

I thought it was done on a 350 or 375 watt unit. Those I would believe. I have a harder time with it working on a 305.

NO problem whats THG forums are for to HELP THE NEEDY!

Good luck with the card. One thing though, with your psu you need a connection from the card to the psu with the GTS. The GT you don't.

Thought I'd bring this back from the dead. My cousin has a Dimension 520 and wants a graphics card to run L4D.

Anyone know if this 4670 will fit and if the Dell's PSU can run it? Thanks guys!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product

If not what GPU would you recommend?

I was able to install an XFX Radeon HD 4870 (HD-487A-ZWFC, which is a single slot design) in my friends Dell E520. I had to remove the plastic cover from the 4870's FanSink. Even then the 4870 was a tight fit since the E520 is a BTX motherboard, and the 4870's memory heat sinks are right against the Dell's CPU shroud. I also replaced the stock power supply with an Antec EarthWatts 750. Then to improve case cooling I simply reversed the direction of the stock Dell Fan so it now pulls hot air out the front, and cool air in from the back, right to the graphics card. All temperatures stay well below max, and this old E520 can now play all the modern games.

I have an E520 and spare PSU (200watt i think) If i could fit in a 8800GS (or GS) would there be any problems just to power the card from a that PSU? just running the right connectors through the the spare slots in the back?
Or I've seen seperate power supplies with molex connectors, would that do it?

I have a Dell e520 used for my movie player on my big screen. It fit my Nvidia 9500gt just fine. Not sure how big that card is compared to the ones you're getting. though.