Nvidia GTS 250 with stock Dell 375w PSU

[rayfloyd]

Hello,

i have dell precision workstation 390 with 375watt stock psu (model Dell WM283). i wanted to upgrade the stock cpu to Intel Q6600 and also the pci-e video card to Nvidia GTS250 1Gb ddr3. I only have 2GB ddr and 1 dvd drive plus 1 floppy drive and 2 fans for the board and cpu.

i am wondering if my psu can handle this as i learned from other forums that dell's wm283 stock psu rated at 375w could take as high as 400w of max load.

also when i checked at http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculator.jsp

my recommended psu is just about 340-360w depends on the load if i add something on the pci slot and usb ports... i just have 1 hdd..


hope you can help since i dont want to spend another buck if my current psu is just sufficient.

 

[clutchc]

Dell always put under-rated PSUs in their PCs. If yours has two +12V rails rated at 18A each, you should be OK. The card draws 145W at max load. That's about 12A on the +12V rail(s). And you will rarely if ever use it at max load, even gaming. I would go for it. If you experience shut downs or re-boots when gaming, that will be a sign the PSU can't keep up the voltage. Then you'll have to consider a larger PSU. But I doubt you'll have an issue.

Does your PSU have a 6 pin PCIe power connector, or will you have to use an adapter with a Molex connector?

 

[rayfloyd_170]

Hi Clutchc,

Thanks for the detailed info you got there... Atleast if you are right then i wont spend another $$$... I am also reading plenty of forums and they say this Dell wm283 PSU is well under-rated meaning it can handle more than 375watts as some would say they even run their systems above 425w or more... i just dont know till when it becomes unsafe though... but i will try... i will cross my fingers until then.... this comes with (2)+12V rail i guess i am not so sure about it so i put the powersupply details below.

psu marking at the side:

input: 100-120V ~9A 50-60Hz
200-240V ~4.5A 50-60Hz

output: +5V 22A Max -12V 1A Max
+5V(FP) 2A Max +3.3V 17A Max
+12Va 18A Max +12Vb 18A Max

Combined Power on +3.3V and +5V rails not exceed 150W
Combined power on +12Va and 12Vb rails not exceed 360W
Max continuous total DC output power shall not exceed 375W

Ambient: 50 deg C Max (NO prob with ambient since all year A/C is on in Saudi except winter)



Thanks,

Ray

 

[clutchc]

Hi Clutchc,

Thanks for the detailed info you got there... Atleast if you are right then i wont spend another $$$... I am also reading plenty of forums and they say this Dell wm283 PSU is well under-rated meaning it can handle more than 375watts as some would say they even run their systems above 425w or more... i just dont know till when it becomes unsafe though... but i will try... i will cross my fingers until then.... this comes with (2)+12V rail i guess i am not so sure about it so i put the powersupply details below.

psu marking at the side:

input: 100-120V ~9A 50-60Hz
200-240V ~4.5A 50-60Hz

output: +5V 22A Max -12V 1A Max
+5V(FP) 2A Max +3.3V 17A Max
+12Va 18A Max +12Vb 18A Max

Combined Power on +3.3V and +5V rails not exceed 150W
Combined power on +12Va and 12Vb rails not exceed 360W
Max continuous total DC output power shall not exceed 375W

Ambient: 50 deg C Max (NO prob with ambient since all year A/C is on in Saudi except winter)



Thanks,

Ray

Yes, the PSU does have two +12V 18A rails as I suspected. You won't have to worry about its safeness, the worst that will happen is it will shut down or re-boot the PC if it can't keep up. But you will be fine. I seriously don't see that happening. Ever.

But I wanted you to be sure it came with a PCIe power cable because you will need to power the card's 4 pin header to make it work.If it doesn't have one, you will need to use a Molex to PCIe adapter. They usually come with the card.
But again, I'm pretty sure that PSU will have a PCIe power cable available. The pic below shows a typical Dell wm283 PSU

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[rayfloyd_170]

yes it has 6 pins pci-e connector the one below black color...so i will definitely try this.. thanks alot...

 

[rayfloyd_170]

i am still not getting my new processor and videocard... it will arrive early next year.
Can somebody tell me the Actual Power Output for this Dell WM283 Powersupply? they rate it at 375W but i think it should be way above that if it has double 12v rails with 18A each...

see powersupply details:

input: 100-120V ~9A 50-60Hz
200-240V ~4.5A 50-60Hz

output: +5V 22A Max -12V 1A Max
+5V(FP) 2A Max +3.3V 17A Max
+12Va 18A Max +12Vb 18A Max

Combined Power on +3.3V and +5V rails not exceed 150W
Combined power on +12Va and 12Vb rails not exceed 360W
Max continuous total DC output power shall not exceed 375W

Correct me if I'm wrong, it should atleast be rated at 450W psu... or Dell just rated it low as a safety factor...

 

[delluser1]

i am still not getting my new processor and videocard... it will arrive early next year.
Can somebody tell me the Actual Power Output for this Dell WM283 Powersupply? they rate it at 375W but i think it should be way above that if it has double 12v rails with 18A each...

see powersupply details:

input: 100-120V ~9A 50-60Hz
200-240V ~4.5A 50-60Hz

output: +5V 22A Max -12V 1A Max
+5V(FP) 2A Max +3.3V 17A Max
+12Va 18A Max +12Vb 18A Max

Combined Power on +3.3V and +5V rails not exceed 150W
Combined power on +12Va and 12Vb rails not exceed 360W
Max continuous total DC output power shall not exceed 375W

Correct me if I'm wrong, it should atleast be rated at 450W psu... or Dell just rated it low as a safety factor...

It's the fact that so much of the unit's power is available on the 12v rails that make people think it's under-rated ( it's rating's are similar to the original Antec EA430 )
As far as actual output, someone would need to put one on a load tester

Back to the card, GTS 250 spawned from the 9800 GTX, which came from the 8800 GTS 512
GTS 250 has a TDP of 150w, 8800 GTS has a TDP of 145w
2 years ago I spent a couple of months beating on a pair of 8800's , using a modified 5 year old Dell 375w to run them