Dell Dimension E521 PSU GPU upgrade

[robkewley]

Hi,

Has anyone managed to squeeze an ATI 4850 card into a dell E521 case with an upgraded the PSU? Originally I was going to rebox my whole PC, but I quite like the look of the case and the icy cool of the BTX form now that I have added an exhaust fan. Any tips would be welcome.

[handscombmp]

As long as the 4850 isn't a double slot card it should fit. I've got a E520 (same case just intel) and i've fitted a 8800GT into it which is a long card.
One like this will do fine but just make sure you DON'T get one like this with a bigger heatsink.

As for another PSU a standard atx one should do fine. I'd personally get a modular one as i'm tight on space by the psu (couldn't fit another dvd drive in as all the cables are taking up the space) but you'll be fine.

Persoanlly though i'd be quite tempted to get a new pc as i'm regretting not doing it as i'm running out of upgrades and can't overclock

Also welcome to Hexus

[robkewley]

I know what you mean about going for a new PC, the motherboard and chip are a bit weak, but at the moment I'm just using it mostly for the net and watching movies. The upgraded GPU/PSU are purely to get the best out of eve-online at 1920x1200 and I figured I could move both into a new box in time.

[handscombmp]

I assume that the psu is only being upgraded becausce of the new gpu so you woulnd't need a very powerful one. Just make sure you get a good quailty one like Corsair. I only got a 620w one as i'm planning to put it into my new sytem once i get the funds to build it.
What are the rest of the specs of your pc as you may find a cpu may be a better upgrade.

[robkewley]

The original AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000 and motherboard. 4GB DDR2 800Mhz RAM (memory kindly donated by my little brother) and an additional 320GB HDD

[handscombmp]

As im probaly not the best person to ask about if its worth while i would set up a new thread in the hardware fourm and see if the others think its worth the upgrade.

[Pob255]

I'd have to trrack down the details on the psu and case to know for sure
But if it takes a standard ATX psu, then any half decent 450w psu will be fine

[cynand]

If you have a Dell Dimension E521, and are planning to put in a Radeon 4850, you need to know a few things:

(1) You only have one PCI-E slot. This should be OK as long as you only want one card in there.
(2) Yes, upgrade that PSU. Dell's default PSU is something like 305W or 350W.
(3) Make sure that if your card has a heatsink/fan/other type of cooling added on, it will not bump into the heatsink for the Southbridge (Northbridge?) chip. I bought a HIS IceQ4 Radeon HD 4850, and didn't realize that the whole enclosure for the fan and heatsinks on the card would be too tall to fit.

I ended up removing all of the heatsinks and the fan on the video card and installing a cooling block for a water cooling pump.

[robkewley]

PSU upgraded. I just need to pickout a 4850 now. Even the single slot cards look a bit of a squeeze with the cooler intake sitting just underneath the CPU shroud. I've found lots of posts from people saying they have done it but no pictures as yet.

[handscombmp]

As long as its a single slot it should be fine. I've got a 8800GT and that was meant to be a squeze but it fitted in fine

[String3R]

I have the dimension E521 ordered a 4850 today and a 520w PSU upgrade

they should arrive and be fitted by monday.

Ill let you know asap