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Thread: Reforming a Dell

  1. #1
    Entangled Lee`'s Avatar
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    • Lee`'s system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P6X58D
      • CPU:
      • i7 950
      • Memory:
      • 4Gb DDR3
      • Storage:
      • 250Gb SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 8600GT
      • PSU:
      • 700W
      • Case:
      • Antec 300
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2407fpw + samsung 205BW
      • Internet:
      • 8Mb unlimited

    Reforming a Dell

    I recently ran 3dmark06 and for my spec of computer is one of the worst performing, so I was thinking of replacing the GPU fan and overclocking the GPU (7900GS) and replacing the mobo so I can overclock the CPU. (E6600)

    Should the PSU the dell shipped with be able to handle overclocking (as I've read that all the components will play a part in how much I can overclock) and I was thinking about which mobo to go for. I don't plan on setting up a sli confige, and it's only really so I can get the most out of my current config. Any suggestion would be appreciated.

    Lee

  2. #2
    Señor Member Flewis's Avatar
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    • Flewis's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI P45 Platinum
      • CPU:
      • Intel E7200 @ 3.5GHz
      • Memory:
      • 4x1GB Corsair PC5400 @ 720MHz 4-4-4-11
      • Storage:
      • 2 x Samsung Spinpoint 500GB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 2 x ATI HD4850
      • PSU:
      • 750W Silverstone Zeus
      • Case:
      • AOpen H700B custom watercooled
      • Operating System:
      • Vista HP x64
      • Internet:
      • Plusnet fibre
    Dell psu's are notoriously bad, but have a look at what its rated for, firstly the total wattage but also the combined amps on the 12V rails. Post details for more advice.

  3. #3
    Entangled Lee`'s Avatar
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    • Lee`'s system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P6X58D
      • CPU:
      • i7 950
      • Memory:
      • 4Gb DDR3
      • Storage:
      • 250Gb SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 8600GT
      • PSU:
      • 700W
      • Case:
      • Antec 300
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2407fpw + samsung 205BW
      • Internet:
      • 8Mb unlimited
    Shall I find these details from looking at the sticker on the PSU or is there a program so I don't have to pop the side panel off.

  4. #4
    Señor Member Flewis's Avatar
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    • Flewis's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI P45 Platinum
      • CPU:
      • Intel E7200 @ 3.5GHz
      • Memory:
      • 4x1GB Corsair PC5400 @ 720MHz 4-4-4-11
      • Storage:
      • 2 x Samsung Spinpoint 500GB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 2 x ATI HD4850
      • PSU:
      • 750W Silverstone Zeus
      • Case:
      • AOpen H700B custom watercooled
      • Operating System:
      • Vista HP x64
      • Internet:
      • Plusnet fibre
    the sticker on the psu should have it

  5. #5
    Senior Member Tobeman's Avatar
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    PSU details are on the side of the PSU and you won't be able to use software to obtain them.

    Have you removed all the crap-tacular free software Dell provides that often has startup entries? These are obviously loaded and eat memory that could otherwise be dedicated to games and benchmarks.

    If you're thinking about salvaging parts from it, remember the case and motherboard is more often than not custom Dell spec and won't fit in standard kit.

  6. #6
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    • FInalD's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus M2N32-SLi Deluxe
      • CPU:
      • AMD AM2 4600+ 2.0GHz
      • Memory:
      • Corsair XMS2 2GB Matched Pair
      • Storage:
      • 3x Seagate Baracuda 7200.10 320GB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • PowerColor X1950 XT
      • PSU:
      • Hiper 580 Type-R
      • Case:
      • LianLi PC7 Plus II
      • Monitor(s):
      • ViewSonic VX922
      • Internet:
      • 2.2MB DSL
    You'll want to be very careful with this, as Dell like to produce their own motherboards on a different form factor to most. Unfourtunatly I don't know a huge amount about this as I've always avoided prebuilds.

    FinalD

  7. #7
    Entangled Lee`'s Avatar
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    • Lee`'s system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P6X58D
      • CPU:
      • i7 950
      • Memory:
      • 4Gb DDR3
      • Storage:
      • 250Gb SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 8600GT
      • PSU:
      • 700W
      • Case:
      • Antec 300
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2407fpw + samsung 205BW
      • Internet:
      • 8Mb unlimited
    The first thing I done was format and partition. After this episode of sopranos I'll check the PSU ratings. Thanks for the advice.

  8. #8
    Flat cap, Whippets, Cave. Clunk's Avatar
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    Will the bios on the Dell even let you adjust anything for overclocking?

  9. #9
    Señor Member Flewis's Avatar
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    • Flewis's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI P45 Platinum
      • CPU:
      • Intel E7200 @ 3.5GHz
      • Memory:
      • 4x1GB Corsair PC5400 @ 720MHz 4-4-4-11
      • Storage:
      • 2 x Samsung Spinpoint 500GB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 2 x ATI HD4850
      • PSU:
      • 750W Silverstone Zeus
      • Case:
      • AOpen H700B custom watercooled
      • Operating System:
      • Vista HP x64
      • Internet:
      • Plusnet fibre
    I think he was planning on changing the motherboard.

  10. #10
    Flat cap, Whippets, Cave. Clunk's Avatar
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    Missed that bit

  11. #11
    Entangled Lee`'s Avatar
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    • Lee`'s system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P6X58D
      • CPU:
      • i7 950
      • Memory:
      • 4Gb DDR3
      • Storage:
      • 250Gb SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 8600GT
      • PSU:
      • 700W
      • Case:
      • Antec 300
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2407fpw + samsung 205BW
      • Internet:
      • 8Mb unlimited
    Quote Originally Posted by Clunk View Post
    Will the bios on the Dell even let you adjust anything for overclocking?
    Just double checked and the bios won't let you overclock the CPU so if I want to do any overclocking I will need to change the mobo which is what I thought initially.

    Just check the sticker on the side of the power supply, and from what I could make out it's a 375W PSU and +5V on a rail on a 22A max output and a -12V with a output wattage of 350W, I'm not completely sure though. I had a quick google it's the same PSU as this one;

    http://www.centrix-intl.com/details.asp?productid=1097

  12. #12
    Señor Member Flewis's Avatar
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    • Flewis's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI P45 Platinum
      • CPU:
      • Intel E7200 @ 3.5GHz
      • Memory:
      • 4x1GB Corsair PC5400 @ 720MHz 4-4-4-11
      • Storage:
      • 2 x Samsung Spinpoint 500GB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 2 x ATI HD4850
      • PSU:
      • 750W Silverstone Zeus
      • Case:
      • AOpen H700B custom watercooled
      • Operating System:
      • Vista HP x64
      • Internet:
      • Plusnet fibre
    seems a bit low to me, overclocking the processor increases power usage significantly. The system may become unstable due to lack of power if you oc.

  13. #13
    Entangled Lee`'s Avatar
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    • Lee`'s system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P6X58D
      • CPU:
      • i7 950
      • Memory:
      • 4Gb DDR3
      • Storage:
      • 250Gb SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 8600GT
      • PSU:
      • 700W
      • Case:
      • Antec 300
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2407fpw + samsung 205BW
      • Internet:
      • 8Mb unlimited
    Right, so I would need new;

    Motherboard, PSU and probably case

    I may have to weigh up costs etc. to see if this is worth my time, money and effort.

  14. #14
    Señor Member Flewis's Avatar
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    • Flewis's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI P45 Platinum
      • CPU:
      • Intel E7200 @ 3.5GHz
      • Memory:
      • 4x1GB Corsair PC5400 @ 720MHz 4-4-4-11
      • Storage:
      • 2 x Samsung Spinpoint 500GB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 2 x ATI HD4850
      • PSU:
      • 750W Silverstone Zeus
      • Case:
      • AOpen H700B custom watercooled
      • Operating System:
      • Vista HP x64
      • Internet:
      • Plusnet fibre
    probably not worth bothering, leave it at stock

    An example of how shop bought computers give you little or no room to upgrade. People should take note.
    Last edited by Flewis; 18-01-2007 at 03:47 PM.

  15. #15
    Entangled Lee`'s Avatar
    Join Date
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    • Lee`'s system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P6X58D
      • CPU:
      • i7 950
      • Memory:
      • 4Gb DDR3
      • Storage:
      • 250Gb SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 8600GT
      • PSU:
      • 700W
      • Case:
      • Antec 300
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2407fpw + samsung 205BW
      • Internet:
      • 8Mb unlimited
    Yes, I was fully aware that anysort of overclocking etc. to get better performance out of this computer would be difficult but considering how much it cost me, I'm not bothered at all.

  16. #16
    Flat cap, Whippets, Cave. Clunk's Avatar
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    might be worth taking out the good stuff, cpu etc, replacing it with lower spec stuff and selling as a full system on fleabay.

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