Upgrading a Dell Dimension 4600 3.06Ghz

[paplu007]

I was wondering if you would require a cooler with everything that is being bought. I have a Dell Dell Dimension 4600 and can't stretch my budget too much to get new mobo and etc.

Firstly, which psu would work with my Dell..I would want min 550W..So would the Corsair 620W work with my Dell Dimension 4600. I did initially want the Corsair HX 520W as I read somewhere that it works with the Dell Dimension 4600 even though it was a tight squeeze. As for the graphics card I think the Radeon HD3850 as min psu has to be 550W. But please feel free to recommend me others. As long as they are cheap.

Would I require a cooler then for my dell? Because all the graphics card, hard drives, processor etc will heat up the mobo? If so would you please recommend one that will work with the dell dimension 4600 please?

Stats at the moment are

Intel Pentium 4 3.06Ghz
256MB Ram
XP Home Edition Service Pack 3
MX440 with AGP8X
PSU standard 250W

RAM will be upgraded just looking for the cheapest in pound sterling. Also the PSU to either the Corsair I stated earlier or a cheap one that can handle 550W. The graphics card upgraded to either the HD3850 or something great but cheap. They must all be compatible with the Dell Dimension 4600.

I need;

RAM-
PSU-
Graphics Card-
Cooling Fan(?)-

Please give links of the items that will work with my Dell Dimension 4600 or just state them.

Thanks for your time.

[osprey4]

Your 4600 has an open back panel, so you can use most standard generic ATX PSUs, with or without the on/off power switch and with either a 20-pin or 20+4-pin main motherboard connector. Replacement instructions are HERE.

For RAM, go to Crucial. Don't waste your money on Kingston Valuejunk.

The HD3850 is seriously overpriced for a system that old. The GeForce 7600 GS is a good upgrade and does not require a PSU upgrade, so you can save the extra money toward a new system.

[paplu007]

Thanks for posting to my thread.

I still not sure about the graphics card/ PSU/ and potential cooling fan.
Here are the graphics card. I found.

Amazon.co.uk: Sapphire Radeon HD2600 Pro 512MB AGP Graphics Card - 11115-01-20R: Electronics & Photo

Amazon.co.uk: Sapphire RADEON HD 3650 - Graphics adapter - Radeon HD 3650 - AGP 8x - 512 MB GDDR3 - Digital Visual Interface (DVI), HDMI ( HDCP ) - HDTV out - retail: Electronics & Photo

Amazon.co.uk: Sapphire RADEON HD 3850 - Graphics adapter - Radeon HD 3850 - AGP 8x - 512 MB GDDR3 - Digital Visual Interface (DVI) ( HDCP ) - HDTV out - lite retail: Electronics & Photo

Please explore the link below and advise me which one is best. I am really looking to upgrade PSU so want a really good graphics card with it. Please recommend from this the graphics card from this link;

Amazon.co.uk: agp

Thanks for the advice on the RAM. I will be buying the 2GB pack(£50 though :l)

I have no idea which power supply unit I will be getting the only manufacturer model that will work is the Cosair HX series. Please advise me on the best PSU and if i would need a cooling fan.

I have seen everything in total will cost around £200 so that ideally is my maximum budget.

Thanks.

[paplu007]

I found a power supply unit. Im sure it will work on my dell. But it does only have one review...so dont know in detail its efficiency and reliability.

Amazon.co.uk: Sumvision Power Supply Unit 550w: Electronics & Photo

Yes I use amazon uk. I dont use ebay. I will have to use crucial for the RAM I know.
Please explore amazon.co.uk for all the products; PSU/ Graphics card/ Fan cooler etc.

I'm reluctant to buy the PSU above as my Dell mobo has only two SATA ports. If I use the PSU for it I will have to decide between more ROM and a second Drive. I only have 80GB and a CD/DVD combi. I was planning to add second for each to utilise both SATA ports. I can write CD's but not DVD's. Is there like a mini hub i cant get for the limited SATA ports I have? So then I will have 4-5 SATA ports?

Taking all this into account I will definately need a fan cooler wont I?

Thanks for your time.

[osprey4]

My suggestion would be to pick the graphics card you like, then determine if you need a PSU.

Your system is built for two SATA hard drives and two IDE optical drives, so you can still accomodate a second hard drive and a DVD burner.

[paplu007]

Ok I have decided that I will buy either the the HD 2600 or HD 3650. Therefore I will defiantly need a psu of 550w.

The psu I will buy is most probably the Sumvision 600w off Ebuyer than the Sumvision 550w from amazon. From what you have informed me both should do the trick.

I have only found optical dvd burners that are really cheap. But the optical hard drives are hard to find. Any suggestions?

Thank you

[osprey4]

I have never heard of "Sumvision", so I can't make a recommendation either way. Either of those cards should be fine.

The term "optical drive" refers only to CD and DVD drives. There's no such thing as an "optical hard drive". At least not in 2008. Are you looking to update your hard drive? If so, the 4600 can take either SATA or IDE drives.

[paplu007]

In that case I will be getting an optical dvd burner and a second IDE drive. But they are last on my list as I don't want to go into second DVD/ Hard drive as all this primary, slave connector, ghosting and stuff has already baffled me on the net. However, I will make a new thread for that after I have got my PSU, graphics card and RAM. Which hopefully you along with other members will help me with

Could you tell me a suitable PSU please. Between 550w-600w and as cheap as possible yet reliable? That is the only thing in my priority list I haven't put the thumbs up for.

Thank you

[osprey4]

Originally Posted by paplu007

Could you tell me a suitable PSU please. Between 550w-600w and as cheap as possible yet reliable? That is the only thing in my priority list I haven't put the thumbs up for.

Thank you

What, and rob you of the joy of discovery? Here's where a bit of searching really comes in handy. For example, a quick search of this very forum revealed this thread, which seems very much worth your while.

Take care and good luck with all your upgrades. My most important suggest is that you not go hog wild on that old system.

[RamonGTP]

Crucial ram is good but over priced, especially if you get it from the Crucial website. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Kingston value ram. It's just as good as Crucial or Corsair value ram.

Also, since you're upgrading the PSU, video card and ram, why not just spring for a new board and chip while you're at it? A new system will use DDR2 memory which is actually cheaper than DDR and it will also use a PCI Express video card which are generally less expensive than their AGP counter parts, so the additional cost associated with a whole new system could be as low as an extra $100 or maybe less over what you're going to spend anyway, and the difference will be huge in any of the games released in the last year or two as well as future games beucase you'll have a dual core vs a single core CPU.

As it stands, even after you do your planned upgrade, you're going to be severely CPU limited in many of todays games. You also don't need anywhere near 550-600watts for these specs. Any decent 450watter will provide plenty of power with room to spare.