Dell c521 Ugrade Help!-Desperate

I've got a Dell c521 and I wanted to upgrade a few things.
I wanted to upgrade my video card, but i found out that my power supply is about 280 watts or something like that.
I want:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150322

But there is a 350 watt min on it.

Is there anyway i can upgrade my power supply?
Also, would you suggest any other video card, I dont want to spend over $80 on it.

Another thing, i really want to upgrade my RAM, the motherboard has four slots, but i dont know what it will accept, i also dont know how much each slot will take(max of 4gb), 1gig in each or 2 in 2...HELP.... I believe it is DDR2 but im not sure, there are 2 different types.

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Hey Single, welcome!

AFAIK, the C521 only uses ATI video cards, so I don't think your NVIDIA card can fit. Regarding the RAM, I'm assuming that the 4GB max is only possible by sticking in 1GB DDR2 stick into each slot.

Honestly, upgrading your current PC to levels you want sounds like too much trouble. I really think you're better off starting from scratch.

C521 specs:
http://www.dell.com/content/produc [...] l=en&s=dfh

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to r_manic

^ Not entirely true! I have a Dell C521 and I have upgraded it beautifully! Yes the 9500GT will fit and work with the 280W PSU, they're really underated from peak watts. There is also a GeForce 9600GT made by two companies Galaxy Tech and Sparkle. Your slots accept DDR2 533Mhz and 667Mhz, but i think it could also work with normal 800Mhz RAM, alot of people have got it to work. Max capacity is 4GB.If you want there is a Thermaltake 430 PSU that you can put externally outside your case if you want.

Vid. Card Choices:
GeForce 8400GS
ATI HD3450
GeForce 9400GT
GeForce 9500GT
GeForce 9600GT

Make sure whatever card you buy is low profile and PCI-e 16x. 1.0/2.0

PS: If you have anymore questions feel free to ask!

Reply to Axeon

Here are the links I forgot lol, :

GeForce 8400GS : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814127368

ATI HD 3450 : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814121259

GeForce 9400GT : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150353

GeForce 9500GT : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814187063

GeForce 9600GT: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814187060

Kingston 2 x 1GB Ram 667Mhz DDR2 : http://www.tigerdirect.com/applica [...] CatId=1651

Message edited by Axeon on 04-08-2009 at 05:30:49 AM

Reply to Axeon

Thanks so much, Axeon, I ordered before anyone replied because i was anxious-probably a bad idea but heres what i ordered.

1 x ($59.99) VGA XFX PVT94GZAFG 9400GT 1G DR2 R - Retail
$59.99:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150353

1 x ($54.99) CPU AMD|A64 X2 5200 2.7G AM2 65N R - Retail
$54.99:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103210

1 x ($40.99) PSU TT | W0070RUC 430W RTL - Retail
$40.99:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817153023

1 x ($26.99) MEM 1Gx2|A-DATA ADQVE1A16K R - Retail
$26.99:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820211066

Will all this work?

Reply to single entendre

Also do you think the 9400 will work better than the 9500 because of the extra memory?

Reply to single entendre

Yes everything should be compatible, no the 9400GT won't be much different from the 9500GT, what are you intending to use for this system? Here is also the link for the PSU (look through till bottom)

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] -dell-c521

Reply to Axeon

PS: Nice find on that 9400GT, i didn't know that XFX made the card in low profile lol.!!!

Reply to Axeon

Sorry to bump but I wanted to know if you (Single Entendre) successfully got everything working as I also have a C521 and would like to upgrade it.

Reply to ZereoX

It worked great, however if you are looking to upgrade your processor, expect to chuck the provided heat sink out because there is no proper mounting area provided, and there is no vent on the side.

It runs pretty smooth and installation was quite simple ask for detail I suppose

Reply to single entendre

But if you really look at it the dell heat sink is much better.

Reply to single entendre

9400GT/9500GTs both kinda suck.

Try a 4650 or 4670. I don't think they're much bigger but they're much better

------------------------------ i7 920, E5300
GTX260, HD4870, HD4830
Reply to Bluescreendeath

Single Entendre- Since I also have to buy a new PSU, Graphic Card, Ram Sticks I want to know if it's really worth it or should I just buy a new PC to play games?

What are the highest games you can run? (Far Cry 2, Crysis, Supreme Commander)

Reply to ZereoX

I was thinking about buying a new PC but my budget was around 200 and it was all i could get. If i had about 500 or 600 upgrading would be no problem but you need to count everything.

For instance:
Mobo: Around $100
CPU: $50-$150
RAM: 4gigs= $60
Case w/ power: $90
Hard Drive: About $50
Optical Drives: $30-$70 depending on what you want
OS: $200-Vista home premium- microsoft is dropping support for xp very soon
Dependable vid card: $100

Gaming PC: $680-$820

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to single entendre

Thanks. I will just keep my money then. I will have to save like 800$. Here is what I'm thinking of buying:

Case
HDD
Motherboard
Video Card
PSU
Ram
CPU
I already have a copy of Vista & DVD Drive.

Do you see any conflict in Hardware in what i stated above?

Reply to ZereoX

consider getting a Raidmax simolodeon:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811156062

it is really good for starting on a new pc and set up is simple-power supply is included
also, get an ATX mobo, a micro wont withstand upgrades very well

It is more expensive but the main thing you want is upgradability

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to single entendre

How is your Del C521 recognizing the AMD Athlon 5200? Mine kept seeing it as a 2.6GHz Windsor Core

Reply to AKM880

single entendre wrote :

I was thinking about buying a new PC but my budget was around 200 and it was all i could get. If i had about 500 or 600 upgrading would be no problem but you need to count everything.

For instance:
Mobo: Around $100
CPU: $50-$150
RAM: 4gigs= $60
Case w/ power: $90
Hard Drive: About $50
Optical Drives: $30-$70 depending on what you want
OS: $200-Vista home premium- microsoft is dropping support for xp very soon
Dependable vid card: $100

Gaming PC: $680-$820

OS = $200?

Naw, at most, pay $100.
Or get yourself a free version from charitable sources online...

------------------------------ i7 920, E5300
GTX260, HD4870, HD4830
Reply to Bluescreendeath

^ Isn't that for the retail version of Windows Vista.

Reply to AKM880

single entendre wrote :

consider getting a Raidmax simolodeon:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811156062

it is really good for starting on a new pc and set up is simple-power supply is included
also, get an ATX mobo, a micro wont withstand upgrades very well

It is more expensive but the main thing you want is upgradability

Thanks for the info but I can't seem to find a ATX motherboard that will support AMD Athlon 64 X2 and have a PCI Express 2.0 x16 on newegg.ca (I'm from Canada).

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to ZereoX

ZereoX wrote :

Thanks for the info but I can't seem to find a ATX motherboard that will support AMD Athlon 64 X2 and have a PCI Express 2.0 x16 on newegg.ca (I'm from Canada).

You don't need a PCI-e 2x16 since most video cards don't use all that bandwidth. PCI-e 2x8 should be more than enough

Reply to Bluescreendeath

r_manic wrote :

Hey Single, welcome!

AFAIK, the C521 only uses ATI video cards, so I don't think your NVIDIA card can fit. Regarding the RAM, I'm assuming that the 4GB max is only possible by sticking in 1GB DDR2 stick into each slot.

Honestly, upgrading your current PC to levels you want sounds like too much trouble. I really think you're better off starting from scratch.

C521 specs:
http://www.dell.com/content/produc [...] l=en&s=dfh

His motherboard will recognize any ram regardless of speed. Should the Ram exceed the maximum speed indicated by the motherboard, the motherboard will automitcally downlock the ram to make it ocmpatible. For Example: If you stick a piece 800mhz ram in it will run at 667Mhz no matter what, thus buying this ram is useless considering ur motherboard. Also if you have a 32bit operating system i would not recommend 4 gigs of RAM. Windows XP 32bit will work best with a max of 3gigs.

------------------------------ Enermax Liberty 400W, AMD Athlon 64 3800+ X2, BFG 9600Gt, Seagate Barracuda 250GB, 1GB DDR2 Kingston Hyper X 800Mhz, Asus M3A78-Em
Reply to sven878

yeah you are right if your using vista 32bit operating system it will not recognize 4gb of ram as i put it in it will only recognize 3gb.as for graphics cards i just put the galaxy 9600 gt low profile low power in mine and its works like a dream , also running the amd 6000+ so chuck them in the pc can handle it even on the little psu

Reply to Anonymous

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