Need Help: Upgrading the Graphics Card and PSU on a Dell XPS 8000

[grozeng]

Just saw the sticky on how to ask - I don't know much about computers so sorry if something is not right:


APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Want to get it this week. Planning on using points from my credit card so I can't afford the top of the line - but can get pretty close.

USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Want to play Dragon Age Inquisition

CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY:I have what came with my system. It is a 1024MB nVidia GeForce GT220

OTHER RELEVANT SYSTEM SPECS: I have a Dell XPS 8000 Intel Core i5-750 processor(8MB Cache, 2.66GHz) with 8GB of RAM

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: My Credit Card points uses Best Buy

PARTS PREFERENCES: No preference - just something that will work

OVERCLOCKING:I don't know what Overclocking is so I will say no

MONITOR RESOLUTION: I believe 1920x1080

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Really I just want something that works with my system and can play the game

Include a list of any GPUs you are currently considering or would like opinions on.

I can get a GeoForce 970
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/nvidia-geforce-gtx-970-4gb-gddr5-pci-express-3-0-graphics-card-silver-black/9855169.p?id=1219441201895&skuId=9855169

GeoForce 660
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/evga-geforce-gtx-660-2gb-gddr5-pci-express-3-0-graphics-card/6820043.p?id=1218808244387&skuId=6820043

Radeon R9 270x
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/xfx-radeon-r9-270x-2gb-ddr5-pci-express-3-0-graphics-card/2091002.p?id=1219068840893&skuId=2091002

Radeon R9 290
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/xfx-radeon-r9-290-graphic-card-947-mhz-core-4-gb-ddr5-sdram-pci-express-3-0-x16/4681112.p?id=1219101162748&skuId=4681112

For power supplies I was looking at:

Corsair cx 750W
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/corsair-cx-series-modular-cx750m-750w-atx-power-supply-black/8324202.p?id=1218872214205&skuId=8324202

Corsair RM 650W (I saw a YouTube video where someone had one of these in an XPS 8000 - I can also afford the 750W RM)
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/corsair-rm-series-650w-power-supply/2878007.p?id=1219080297963&skuId=2878007

So which would be best for me? I have enough points to get any of the cards and the power supply.

 

[RCguitarist]

Did you measure the inside of your case to make sure those power supplies and graphics cards will fit? They might not.

I personally think it would be pointless to get anything more powerful than a GTX 750ti for that pc. You cpu, pci slot, motherboard, etc will bottleneck a graphics card beyond that.

 

[grozeng]

Did you measure the inside of your case to make sure those power supplies and graphics cards will fit? They might not.

I personally think it would be pointless to get anything more powerful than a GTX 750ti for that pc. You cpu, pci slot, motherboard, etc will bottleneck a graphics card beyond that.

So the more powerful graphics cards would actually be slow? What about a GTX 760 then? I can get one of those as well (for about 1/2 the points of the GTX 970) or is that too powerful as well?

 

[Andybenham]

I've got an 8000 and have repeatedly tried to upgrade the PSU and have tried numerous units, none of which have worked, which leads me to think that some versions of the Dell use something non standard in their power supplies. The only solution to upgrading the graphics card I could find was to add 750Ti, which was a very tight fit, but runs well within the existing power budget.

 

[grozeng]

I saw a You Tube video of someone using the Corsair RM 650 in an 8000. So I was planning on getting that one and then upgrading the card

 

[Andybenham]

Funnily enough I've got an RM650 sitting in my cupboard it was the last one I tried, and it didn't work, neither did the CX750 you mentioned earlier, I've seen the videos as well. All I can say is that in my machine they didn't work, spent ages trouble shooting with Corsair tech help, but in the end we gave up and decided the machine must have a bespoke motherboard.

 

[grozeng]

So does the 750ti work with Dragon Age Inquisition? I saw a site that said you want to get at least 30 PS and the 750ti only got 21. I think that is on Ultra settings. I am OK playing at a lower setting, I just want to play the game. I don't know anything about computers, so the less I have to upgrade would probably be better.

 

[Andybenham]

I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that, I was playing Civ V, and adding the 750 Ti made a huge difference, but I can't comment on other games - sorry.