dell xps 8300 looking for upgrades

[Anderson29]

hi, im looking to upgrade my system like many of the guys here and need some help.
i have experience building computers but that was like 12 years ago and the new tech has left me in the dust and my memory isnt what it use to be.
the last video card i installed was a voodoo if that tells ya anything...

anyways, my specs are as follows:

windows 7 home premium

processor - intel core i5 - 2320 @ 3gbz

v - card - Radeon 6450 1 gig

Ram - 6 gig

onboard sound card

hard drive - 999 gig

power suppy - 460w D460AD-00
Ref # - DPS 460DB - 4B
Max Power 460w
+12 / 18A
+12 / 16A
+12 / 8A
+5 / 25A
+3.3 / 17A
-12 / .3A
+5 / 2A

then it also said on the sticker
max combined power on 12VA, 12VB, 12VC output is 385

i think i have a weak video card and that is the main problem, so i am hoping that is all i need to buy and i am mainly looking for something that will not blow up my pc.

price range is around 100 bucks idealy but i could and would be willing to spend double that amount based on you guy's advice.

thanks.

oh and i would possibly like to know some option in the sound card area....

[Anderson29]

well i have been looking at cards and it looks like the best i could do without changing out the power supply would be the 6670

7770

or the geforce 550 ti

anyone know what would be best for me? these are all in my price range, just wondering if these cards would even make a noticeable difference better than my current one?

[mangeface]

Video Card Comparison - GPUReview.com

It's kind of a toss up between the 7770 and GTX 550 ti.

[Anderson29]

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now i am thinking about upgrading my powersupply here is the cable i have

[Psyrus]

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now i am thinking about upgrading my powersupply here is the cable i have

Unless I'm mistaken due to extreme blur, that's a SATA power cable... not suitable for graphics cards.

I would recommend a small, newer PSU as well. Do you have a budget for this little upgrade foray?

I assume you'll be keeping the same case??

[Anderson29]

ya i got the budget...and i think i am going to want a good one...because i plan on keeping this thing around for a while....just wondering which psu to get now and one that will actually work....

i ended up buying the 6770 and i can play bf2pr maxed out but everyonce in a while the resolution become shit, not during game but just randomly and i can bearly read anything on the screen so i am thinking its because of the psu.

[Pedz]

By the looks of the photo, it looks like you're holding the wrong wire. The black and yellow wire behind looks like a 6pin cable it should be already connected to your current GPU (which you'd replace)

[Anderson29]

yeah this is turning out to be a hassle. i had the gpu unplugged already...i needed help IDing that wire...its a sata i believe. so i went out and got a tr2 600w made by thermaltake. and now that didnt have a 4 pin for my mb but it had an 8 pin that fit into it....
so i put all the wire in there respective holes and everything should be ready to go....just wondering now if that 8 pin that fits in the 4 pin hole in my mb will work fine? any knowledgeable guys that know? i await ur response before i power this thing on....


oh silly me...that 8 pin splits in half.....

[LITOralis.nMd]

Using a 8pin plug in a 4 pin connector is not a problem as long as the extra 4pins do not touch anything on the motherboard, like a capacitor, or you'll short your ground (possibly fry the mothertboard).

If the extra 4pins doesn't have anything near it, you are good to go.

You can exchange the PSU, or buy a cheap 8pin to 4pin molex converter if you so desire.

Your new 600W PSU says "1 x 4+4-Pin ATX 12V" in the specs, are you sure you there isn't a crease in the middle of the 8 pin connector that allows it to split in half? If so, always a good idea to tie down the extra 4 pin connector so it doesn't tuoch anything in the case.

[Anderson29]

alright.....looks as though everything works.....this is how u learn new things i guess....just do it, nike

[Anderson29]

good idea on the tie downs....i think ill do that now....i had them all tucked away where other optical drives could go...