I've been pondering this dilemma for awhile now. I have a new Dell 8300 and I installed a Radeon 9800 Pro and have since been worried about the amount of heat coming out of that thing! I just got a new computer for my flight sims but was severly dissapointed to learn that the Dell 8300's only have a measely 250w power supply. Some people sticking up for Dell have said that because Dell is "Dell" and they know what is going on, their case and 250w power supply and cooling fan can handle such stuff. (They even offer the 9800 Pro on the 8300 from the factory.)On top of that, you need an adaptor on any non-Dell power supply's and so I'm really thinking about paying $150 for this "ultra-quiet" 460w power supply with adaptor so that I won't have to worry about such potential problems with my card and the system.I can get a 460w power supply plus an adaptor for the Dell 8300 motherboard for about $150. I called back Dell and they said they would credit me the $150 so I'm thinking that might be acceptable, but then again it would probably void the whole year warranty on the system.http://www.endpcnoise.com/cgi-bin/e/Qtech460watt.htmlDoes anyone know what can be done to the stock Dell 8300 cases to help them expel the hot air a little better?Should I be just fine with the stock 250w Dell power supply or should I upgrade to the unit described above?I'd love to get one of Dell's new XPS gamer systems which comes with a better case in that it has a 460w power supply and a couple extra cooling fans, but I can't afford the difference. Does anybody know where or if a guy could get their hands on a new Dell XPS case and power supply? As it stands, I'm just not comfrotable running a Dell 8300 with a 800mhz FSB P4 @ 3.0 Ghz with a Radeon 9800 Pro with a 250w power supply. Especailly when they ship the same componets in an XPS gaming case with a 460w power supply.

Whilst I can't comment at present, I will be interested to see what replies you get. I ordered the Dell Dimension 8300 3.0 Ghz today, and like you, thought that the 250 watt unit was somewhat below par for such a high end system. Only time will tell I guess, but like I said, I will be interested to see what people have to say about it.Kind regards,Al Summers.

I got the 8200 with a 9700Pro last fall and was concerned with the 250W power supply too. There hasn't been any problems yet, and my home is not air conditioned and it's been regularly over 100 degrees here lately (I have a big evaporative cooler in the other end of the house). From everything I've been able to find, Dell's 250W units actually are very underrated and equal to other companies' power supplies that have higher ratings. I also read on a forum recently that Dell had switched back to using standard power supply configurations (ATX?) now but I don't know that to be fact yet.The forums at Dell are as much help for Dell computers as AVSIM is for FS2K2. Go to www.dell4me.com and select the support tab, and then go to community forum. You'll get very good help and answers there.

I have the Dell 8300 with ati9800pro and it runs all day and night with no probs at all, i was also a little worried about the powersupply when i bought it, but so far all is great.OHN

Hi.These 400+ W supplies, are nothing but myth. While I am not fond of DELL, your supply should be fine. A good power supply is designed to control and supply the initial surge on power up, and they will supply at least 2X the continuous steady state spec. After the initial power up, most of the systems will vary very slightly, depending on the way it is setup. A lower /the lowest you can get away with, Power / Watts supply is best for the system, since it gives you better regulation, if you stay away from the rail, and higher efficiency / lower dissipation, and less noise. TV

Well, I still think the power supply IS a very important part of one's computer and that a 250w supply is just not enough juice for a P4 3.0gHz and Radeon 9800 Pro. Even ATI reccommends at least a 300w power supply stated right in their manual.Still, I don't think Dell would be shipping as many as they are if the power supplies at 250w were too terribly bad, so who knows. My biggest concern was in the longevity of my componets perhaps being reduced by inadequately satisfying the power requiremetns.If none the less other than just to help let me feel better, (after I had searched the Dell forums and someone said that the 8300 will accept a standard ATX 20 pin power supply) I went ahead and ordered a COOLMAX 470W CT-470 power supply from www.newegg.com for $90 including shipping. If anyone is interested, there were 3 very positive reviews on this particular item as well.I even got Dell to credit me back $150 after I complained enough to them about the inadequate 250w power supply. I think they figure it's better to give a little back rather than have to issue an RMA number for a computer that is still within the initial return policy! :)

>Hi.>These 400+ W supplies, are nothing but myth. While I am not>fond of DELL, your supply should be fine. A good power supply>is designed to control and supply the initial surge on power>up, and they will supply at least 2X the continuous steady>state spec. After the initial power up, most of the systems>will vary very slightly, depending on the way it is setup.> A lower /the lowest you can get away with, Power / Watts>supply is best for the system, since it gives you better>regulation, if you stay away from the rail, and higher>efficiency / lower dissipation, and less noise. TV>What a way to post useless information. Sorry to be so rude but you are severely way off base w a majority of your info.A power supply is used to convert an AC voltage to a DC voltage. Not to suppress the sudden rush you speak of. The 2X spec you state I don't know where that came from but...Yeak OK.Dell builds a good machine but they do it w parts that are going to just cut the mustard so to speak. Good for them is good enough. Personally, just good enough is not good enough for some people.A lower wattage power supply will give you better regulation than a higher wattage one? Where do you get your info. If I listen to you a 250 watt power supply is going to regulate my power better than a 400 watt? What basis do you have for this claim?So all those people who bought a nice Antec true power or Enermax power supply wasted there hard earned money?.Frankly the power supply is perhaps the number one concern a person should have when purchasing/upgrading a machine. Like I said don't take offense but to post such info is doing a big disservice to the forum.Bottom line...Yeah dells 250 will do. Just do. Personally I wouldnt run a P4 Machine w anything less than 350 watts. I've built enough to know based on experience.Hope this clears things up a bit....Bobby

Hi.Before you give out advice, go to school and learn something about designing, it may help the next user, hopefully you will be able to speak from an knowledgeable stand point. It's obvious that you have only a superficial understanding of what you are talking about. Good luck to you. TV

I'm driving an old Dell 8100 with an upgraded processor at 2.6 gigs (original was 1.4), a fan on the CPU which is not part of the original Dell build or design, power requirements for the adapter that allowed me to put the Northwood processor in the 423 pin socket, a Radeon 9700 pro with its fan connection, along with two hard drives. It works just fine. The ducted CPU cooling system is quite efficient (even the XPS model has a passive heat sink on the cpu and a fan in the case) and the Dell power supply is doing quite well.I am also confused about your fear of connectors that are not standard. I have not had that experience - though I know that the connector to the motherboard is not standard. My machine has a number of extra, large 4 pin power connectors. And you can buy a large 4-pin to a small 4-pin at Nu Egg for $5 bucks. Don't think you have much to worry about. Colin

Thats the best you have to offer for an explanation of your thoughts and advice in your post?. As an ATSS ( Airways Transportation Systems Specialist ) w an EXIDE PCS and Power module certification as well as being A+ and Net+ Certified, I think I have attended enough training to understand and backup my claims. I was just asking you to do the same..Just so those here can have a little better understanding of the importance of the Power SUpply to there machines as well as show support for my statements try checking this article out.....http://www.informit.com/content/index.asp?...ED4582636CF2%7DBobby

Hi.I can see that you are the type of person that is overly educated to accept any explanation. I recommend that you go to school and learn something about Basic Electronics, then read my message again, and I will assure you, it will make a lot of sense to you then. TV

Bobby,Every thing TV said is right on the money (if I read him right), there are plenty of "Dirty" 350-430W PS etc. that will perform much worse than a "Clean" 250-300W PS. Poorly designed "high power" PS's will offer nothing except heat and noise as he said and IS a problem that is showing up more and more as the market is flooded with imitators of good clean PSs of the like that you mentioned (Antec etc.).However, as you say Good clean continuous higher watt power becomes more and more necessary as you Add Pro cards/CD-burner/DVD/multi fast HDs/ cooling fans etc especially if you are trying to run with the fastest CPU/memory and like to O/C.Point is clean is better than dirty any day of the week. :)Me?Nice and quiet Antec true power 430W PS. :)

>Bobby,>>Every thing TV said is right on the money (if I read him>right), there are plenty of "Dirty" 350-430W PS etc. that will>perform much worse than a "Clean" 250-300W PS.I re-read it again and I'm still trying to get that out of it...Lol>>Poorly designed "high power" PS's will offer nothing except>heat and noise as he said and IS a problem that is showing up>more and more as the market is flooded with imitators of good>clean PSs of the like that you mentioned (Antec etc.).Won't argue that at all..:)>>However, as you say Good clean continuous higher watt power>becomes more and more necessary as you Add Pro>cards/CD-burner/DVD/multi fast HDs/ cooling fans etc>especially if you are trying to run with the fastest>CPU/memory and like to O/C.>>Point is clean is better than dirty any day of the week. :)Depends on what kind of dirty... >:-bla >Me?>>Nice and quiet Antec true power 430W PS. :)Same exact thing here...>>Jeez, now that I read my intial post I almost sounded like you.. LolHave a good one :)Bobby