Upgrading Dell Studio XPS 435MT

[ProShock]

Hello,
I am working on upgrading my XPS 435 MT. This is my first attempt to upgrade a computer.

> Main board : Dell 0R849J
> Chip set : Intel X58
> Processor : Intel Core i7 920 @ 2666MHz
> Physical Memory : 4 gig
> Video Card : ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series
> Hard Disk : Western Digital WD6400AAKS-75A7B2 ATA Device (640GB)
> Hard Disk : WD 5000AAC External (500GB)
> DVD-Rom Drive : HL-DT-ST DVD -RW GH30N
> Network Card : Intel 82567LF-2 Gigabit Network Connection
> Operating System : Windows (TM) Vista Home Premium Home Edition Media Center 6.00.6002 Service Pack 2 (64-bit)

I am looking to upgrade the the memory as I only recently noticed how abysmal it was. I am also looking to upgrade the graphics card.
For the graphics card I have around a $100 budget and have been looking at several like the following:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004YJBMB4/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER or http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004X6AOVM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Oh and I realize I need to upgrade the PSU so I was figuring something along the lines of http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0067SJC80/ref=ox_sc_act_title_6?ie=UTF8&m=A3LQH8A7KV2A6P

I am also wondering about the Memory: Will this http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-PC3-10666-1333MHz-Processors-CMX16GX3M4A1333C9/dp/B0054KPK9C/ref=pd_cp_e_2 work in this build? My processer can only handle 1066, a saw a comment that said these default to 1066 unless you manually change them. Is that correct?

Thoughts?

 

[Helltech]

Don't get that power supply for sure.

The 100 dollar budget is for all of your parts?

You want triple channel memory, not dual channel, so no don't get that kit you were looking at.

 

[ProShock]

They 100 budget is rough and only for the graphics card. The others parts are not tied to that budget.

Would you suggest something else for the power supply?

For the memory, I thought it said it was DDR3. Is that not triple channel or am I more computer illiterate than I thought I was?

 

[DM186]

^+1
The PSU's should be a Corsair, Antec Seasonic, and XFX brands. You buy a cheap PSU and you could be buying a whole new system. I will link you to a few to choose from. I would not get the 1066 speed of ram.

In stead get the 1600 one and your i7 will handle any speed of ram. Your two GPU's you are picking from are a good upgrade from what you have. But I would go with the 6770 over the 6670.

What is your PSU now in your system? Dell has some good OEM PSU's and since you are only upgrading to those two cards you might not have to upgrade your PSU.

If the amps on the 12v rail high enough then you might not have to upgrade it and you might be able to use the extra money for a better card. The Dell XPS is a good PC for gaming and other stuff.

Let me know what your PSU watts are and the amps on the 12v rail are. The numbers are on a sticker on the PSU and they look like this 3.3v = 14a + 5.v = 16a + 12v =15a.

If you could copy the numbers from your PSU then I will be able to tell you if you can or not. So here are some links. The first 5 are for PSUs. The three after the five are the cards and the last two are just to show the difference in the cards. I hope this is helpful and I wish you good luck.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139033

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139033

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207018

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=q4f7gow2jyhr
6670
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&N=100006519&isNodeId=1&Description=hd+6670
6770
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&N=100006519&isNodeId=1&Description=hd+6770
6750
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&N=100006519&isNodeId=1&Description=hd+6750

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4296/amds-radeon-hd-6770-radeon-hd-6750-the-retail-radeon-5700-rebadge

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4278/amds-radeon-hd-6670-radeon-hd-6570

 

[ProShock]

As nothing on my PSU looks quite as neat as what you requested here is essentially what I see other than what is in a foreign language.: It says it is 360w PSU
Output +12va15/a +12vb/15a
Max Power +5v/18a +5v/2a
360W + 3.3v 17a
The combined power on +12va & +12vb total 300w max
+12va & 12vb 300w
The combined power on +5V & +3.3V &12VA & 12VB total 350 Max
+5V & +3.3V & 12VA & 12VB

Just to clarify for the memory I can ignore that it said my processor can only handle 1033? So would something like the following be better? http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Vengeance-Channel-240-Pin-CMZ16GX3M4A1600C9/dp/B004E0ZKLQ/ref=pd_cp_e_1

Thank you for your help!

 

[noobnasty]

What did u upgrade it with OP?

 

[ProShock]

What did u upgrade it with OP?

I went with Corsair Builder Series CX V2 500-Watt 80 Plus Certified Power Supply Compatible with Intel and AMD Platforms - CMPSU-500CXV2
and
XFX AMD Radeon HD 6770 Graphics Card (HD677XZNFC)
and
Corsair XMS3 12GB ( 3 x 4GB ) 1333mhz PC3-10666 240-pin DDR3 Triple Channel Memory Kit for Core i7 12 Triple Channel Kit DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) 240-Pin
and
Antec Cyclone Blower, Expansion Slot Cooling Fan

The memory is overkill, I know.

Comp is running great! Graphics card is rocking all my games at their highest level, (SC2 and Total War Series mostly) and I can finally multi-task to my hearts content.

 

[ProShock]

Best answer selected by ProShock.

 

[Hoku]

^+1
The PSU's should be a Corsair, Antec Seasonic, and XFX brands. You buy a cheap PSU and you could be buying a whole new system. I will link you to a few to choose from. I would not get the 1066 speed of ram.

In stead get the 1600 one and your i7 will handle any speed of ram. Your two GPU's you are picking from are a good upgrade from what you have. But I would go with the 6770 over the 6670.

The Studio XPS 435MT is equipped with an Intel Nehalem "Bloomfield" Core i7-920 processor using an LGA 1366 socket. All of the Bloomfield Core i7 processors are spec'd for DDR3-1066 memory modules with a nominal voltage of 1.5V and a max of 1.6V. Faster memory modules can pull higher voltages than the 1.6V maximum which runs the risk of burning out the processor's on-die memory controller. While speedier memory modules will fit in the slot they won't run any faster that 1333. The simple truth is that faster memory modules have a negligible effect on real world performance. There are too many other bottlenecks that impact overall system speed.

The main issue with the 435MT is insufficient cooling due to its single 92mm fan and no easy way to mount any additional fans internally. For that reason, as well as the anemic 360W PSU (More like 300W really), I chose the Sapphire 6670 GPU with 1GB GDDR5. Since it draws less power it is also produces less heat.

After I experienced a soft failure with the stock PSU where it wouldn't put out enough wattage to boot, I went with a cheap OCZ 600W dual-rail modular system that cost less than $50 and has worked fine for some time now. Considering how old the Studio XPS 435MT is, it makes no sense to put much more money into it than you absolutely must. It has too many limitations, most notably the BIOS as well as a lack of updated drivers from Dell.

 

[DM186]

The Studio XPS 435MT is equipped with an Intel Nehalem "Bloomfield" Core i7-920 processor using an LGA 1366 socket. All of the Bloomfield Core i7 processors are spec'd for DDR3-1066 memory modules with a nominal voltage of 1.5V and a max of 1.6V. Faster memory modules can pull higher voltages than the 1.6V maximum which runs the risk of burning out the processor's on-die memory controller. While speedier memory modules will fit in the slot they won't run any faster that 1333. The simple truth is that faster memory modules have a negligible effect on real world performance. There are too many other bottlenecks that impact overall system speed.

The main issue with the 435MT is insufficient cooling due to its single 92mm fan and no easy way to mount any additional fans internally. For that reason, as well as the anemic 360W PSU (More like 300W really), I chose the Sapphire 6670 GPU with 1GB GDDR5. Since it draws less power it is also produces less heat.

After I experienced a soft failure with the stock PSU where it wouldn't put out enough wattage to boot, I went with a cheap OCZ 600W dual-rail modular system that cost less than $50 and has worked fine for some time now. Considering how old the Studio XPS 435MT is, it makes no sense to put much more money into it than you absolutely must. It has too many limitations, most notably the BIOS as well as a lack of updated drivers from Dell.

I don't mean to rain your parade but it is not allowed to bring up closed threads you can start a new thread and refer to this thread. But onece they become old and best answer chosen it is done. Here are the rules since you didn't read them in the first place.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/283384-33-read-first

 

[Hoku]

Please excuse my ignorance. I didn't realize the thread was closed. From the tone of your message I think you very much meant to rain on my parade. No need to be such a dick.