Hi .. I just bought a Dell 8300 (I know not the most highly regarded brand) i7-2600 with 8GB RAM, 1TB 7200RPM HDD, AMD Radon HD6450-1GB graphics, 2 USB3.0 ports that use 1 of the PCI-EXI slots (sort of the standard 8300). I have had the cover off to look around a bit seeing the following: 460W power supply, 2 open SATA sockets, 2 open PCI-EXI slots, 1 open PCIE minicard slot (about 1" x 1" size capacity).
Mostly, I would like to use this system to convert a variety of home videos capturing the "raw" video from the camera or tape player (VHS, SVHS, 8mm VHS, mini VHS - all analog) and then making the best quality DVD (of course as appropriate for the native resolution).
#1: I was going to add: 2TB HDD (easy enough), a BlueRay DVD burner (easy enough) and change out the RAM for 16GB (4x4GB again easy enough) - thoughts on the appropriateness of these changes?
#2: any suggestions on a video capture card and/or USB video capture device (would need s-video port, composite ports, standard video port and audio L/R ports and firewire 1394 would be desirable)?
#3: is there an easy way to determine how much of the power supply is being "used" - i.e. adding up the watts of the components (and where can I obtain that info)?
#4: eventually I might want to upgrade the graphic card but I am unclear how much more "powerful" I can go with the current power supply and the items I want to add above (#1 and #2)? From what I have read so far, the power supply could be swapped out but it is not exactly easy on this frame.
#5: I was also thinking of adding wifi-bluetooth hoping to use the PCIE minicard slot but I'm unclear how to select an appropriate card (it seems they usually do not provide the dimensions on-line) - there does seem to be an antenna wire already in place (not an antenna rod but the Dell style wire that sits under the top of the case plastic cover) - suggestions?
Thanks
Mostly, I would like to use this system to convert a variety of home videos capturing the "raw" video from the camera or tape player (VHS, SVHS, 8mm VHS, mini VHS - all analog) and then making the best quality DVD (of course as appropriate for the native resolution).
#1: I was going to add: 2TB HDD (easy enough), a BlueRay DVD burner (easy enough) and change out the RAM for 16GB (4x4GB again easy enough) - thoughts on the appropriateness of these changes?
#2: any suggestions on a video capture card and/or USB video capture device (would need s-video port, composite ports, standard video port and audio L/R ports and firewire 1394 would be desirable)?
#3: is there an easy way to determine how much of the power supply is being "used" - i.e. adding up the watts of the components (and where can I obtain that info)?
#4: eventually I might want to upgrade the graphic card but I am unclear how much more "powerful" I can go with the current power supply and the items I want to add above (#1 and #2)? From what I have read so far, the power supply could be swapped out but it is not exactly easy on this frame.
#5: I was also thinking of adding wifi-bluetooth hoping to use the PCIE minicard slot but I'm unclear how to select an appropriate card (it seems they usually do not provide the dimensions on-line) - there does seem to be an antenna wire already in place (not an antenna rod but the Dell style wire that sits under the top of the case plastic cover) - suggestions?
Thanks
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