slu77er Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 Hi again, this rig so far... Acer (Veriton 5600GT) F89M MOBO, Intel Pent.4 (Prescott) 3Ghz, 4Gb DDR Dual Channel 200Mhz RAM & ATI Radeon 9600 Gfx. Anyone who has read my previous posts will know that I am on a mission with this rig (on a students allowance) that is gradually taking shape. I am at a point now where Gfx card and PSU are the focus of the day so here goes... As previously stated (in other post) I am very interested in the Radeon 3850 AGP but before parting with my meagre $$$ I wish to be certain of a thing or two, namely:- ~ I have read that I need a 450W PSU to run this card (presently 250W no-name, 125w x 85h x 125d) and am having plenty trouble trying to find one to fit my case. ~ I have also read (although cannot find picture of) that there is a power connector on the card and wonder what type of connector this may be. Can anyone advise me on where I might find a PSU that will fit my present tower case? Above-mentioned has a mounting face 85mm x 125mm, depth can go as far as 180mm.Any ideas on the power connector on the card?Any (realistic 4 student) alternate theories or solutions? That will do for the moment,Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IamBatosai Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 The 3850 AGP card requires an 8 pin PCI-E power connector. However it comes with a power splitter thingy (can't remember what its called sorry) that converts 2 4 pin molex connectors into one 8 pin PCI-E. So as long as you have two free Molex connectors. Or an 8 pin PCI-E connector you are fine. As for the power supply. Is the dimensions you listed of your current power supply? Or the compartment itself that your power supply rests in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bben46 Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 A standard power supply is 150mm wide, 86 mm high and 140 mm (or a little more ) deep. The important dimensions are the 150mm wide and 86mm high. The depth can usually be extended at least a little. My current Cooler Master 600W supply is still 140mm deep and there is more than enough room behind it in the case for another 100mm or more. It sounds like you have one of the non standard cases that dell, hp, compaq, and other 'name brand' manufacturers like to stick their buyers with. These are perfectly acceptable in an office environment, but don't make good gaming rigs as they are difficult to find upgrade parts to fit. They save a small amount of money by making the case, motherboard and power supply non standard with the idea that when you grow out of that system you will buy a whole new computer rather than trying to upgrade what you have. Bare cases are cheap. There are many places where you can get a decent case with a power supply for less than $50 US. if you are not in the US, it may cost a little more. If you need a list of suggested sources PM me. If you have one of these proprietary cases you might want to check and see if the new MB will fit. Remember to allow for the height of the required cooling fan on the processor. Some of those cases are a little narrow. The normal power connector for a graphics card is the same as for a Hard drive, 4 pin molex. Some use a different connector but provide an adapter to fit the 4 pin molex. Check the specs on the card you are looking at to see if an adapter is supplied or if a standard 4 pin molex will plug into it. A word of warning. Once you start building your own, its a never ending project - you will want to keep adding and replacing parts always looking for that little bit of extra performance. It can be cheaper to build your own, but it can get expensive too. I just dropped another $100 US into mine this morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slu77er Posted May 9, 2008 Author Share Posted May 9, 2008 ~ IamBatosai- The given dimensions are of the PSU currently fitted. Thanks for the tips on the connectors.~ bben46- Thanks for the 'warning' lol, but I can't help it. I'm continually looking for the next best item to plug into the damned thing! lmao... I think I might look around for a case+psu that will suit my set-up. Thanks again for the tips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IamBatosai Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 If you were to buy a new Case and PSU what would your budget be? I can make some suggestions if I have a price range. Or if money is no matter. Prepare to have some wicked things. :cool: ~Battosai Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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