Help with video card upgrade

I just got the OK from the wife to upgrade my graphics card, YEA HAAA. Only thing is I am on alimited budget around 200-250$

I am running a dell XPS 400 Pent D 2.8ghz 820,W/ 2g (4/512)DDR2 @533 ram. I am not sure what other specs will help assist the IT pros for some advice. Oh yea I am now running a ATI x600 256mb hypermemory PCI. My moitor is 1704FTP Digital.

I was just on the ATI web site and noticed a refurb ATI x800 pro for 149$. Is that a good option or should I stay away for any refurb.

If anyone can help with some ideas I would greatly appricate it.

the pwnage

Nice, I like the specs from that card compared to the cards I have been looking at around that price.

Thankx

no problem

I just found out that I only have a 375w PSU and the saphire recommends at least a 450w. Any recommedations on a new PSU also.

Anything made by PC Power and cooling should suffice.

I have never done any thing other than install some ram or exchange a disk drive so I'm thinking maybe I should just get a graphics card that is compatable with my PSU. Is it to much to risk if I ran the spahire x1800xt with the psu I have now and if not what would be the best GC I can use with my PSU at 375?

If you continue to use the 375w you will have stability problems. Changing out a power supply is just as easy as changing out a video card.

A problem you may run into is that Dell uses proprietary parts and an after market power supply may not fit.

It is a shame Dell is using 375W power supplies in their XPS systems.

I just had a online chat with a dell rep and was told that my rig cant handle a bigger PSU. Is that right?

That is straight up bull$hit.

A 375W power supply is nothing. You could hook up a 600W supply and be fine.

Now he might of meant that the case cannot handle a bigger supply due to Dell's need to use proprietary parts.

Here is a link to PCPOWERANDCOOLING.com which shows what power supplies will go in what Dell's.

I don't see the XPS 400 listed but if you look at the bottom it says for all other models call... and a number.

I would give them a call, I bet they can tell you which one you need.

http://www.pcpowercooling.com/products/ ... r/dell.htm

Dangles

Nice, thinks I gonna give them a call right now.

I did think that was a load of bull even with the miniamal knowage I have.

That is soo nice to here I though I was doomed. When I was chatting with the rep he told my flat out my rigs motherboard and other devisces coundn't withstand anything higher than the 375w that it comes with.

On another note after I finally get this all done I am wondering what will be the biggest diff I will notice. I mean will it slap my in the face with eye poping graps or speed. With what I have now I guess I am second guessing myself as to the benifits of the new card. The card I have looks as if it were 150$ and by buying on just 80-100$more would that be a noticeable diff

AGAIN THANKS

I just took a look at that site and all of the other XPS models are given a 360W power supply which is 15W less than the 375W Dell. Hopefully, when you call them they have a bigger power supply to offer you.

I just talked to a guy named bob there. He said he hasn't seen a dell XPS system yet and asked it I would take a few pic of my PSU and email it so he can referance it.

My question is in order for me to make all this worth the trouble now how much or to what upgrade do I need to go to in order to make a big diff where I can jusitfy spending the loote.

Thanks

dell is just trying to make this hard for you so that you go back to them and buy again. i would go through the trouble, save a lot of money [upgrading psu and gfx card, instead of buying new computer] and suck it up.