Upgrading dell inspiron 531 psu

Im pretty sure my graphics card just bit the dust (Nvidia 8600GT) so removed it to run the onboard one. when looking for a new one (chose Nvidia 9800GT) I found I needed another PSU as the one that comes with the Inspiron 531 is only 300w. Dell said I can't get a new one as it would fry my motherboard and processor but i have read on other forums that ppl have done it. They were old forums so i dont know if things have changed since.

Does anyone know a bigger psu that is compatible with the inspiron 531?? or if the motherboard will handle an upgrade?? and what max what can the board handle 400w, 500w?? or just 300 as the dell person said.

I believe the board is an Asus M2N61-AX made specifically for Dell.
running duel AMD Athalon 64 x2 Duel core 6000+ 3.0 GHz with 3 Gig ram. Vista 32 bit.

 

There is this one
http://www.supernotebook.com/power-supply.php?psupart=3697
From the model number, it appears to be a 460W.

It appears to be a standard PSU. To be certain, look in the "system" manual if there a diagram of the motherboard power "pin-out ". Compare that to a standard pin-out. The other factor is the shape, in case that is not standard.

Matt

 

Thanks Matt. I'll definately take a peek. I also found this link while scouring some old forums
http://www.pcpower.com/products/description/Silencer_500_Dell/

says it it is compatible with many dell models (check list) including my inspiron 531.

Just have to find a seller in UK that doesn't want mega bucks for it....

EDIT: been googleing all day, still yet to find one avail in UK...bah

 

but doesnt dell have a different pin layout (the 24 pin power one to m/b) to normal psu's??

 

They stopped making them different after several models. Yours is most probably just a standard pinout.

 

was thinking about something like http://www.dabs.com/products/ocz-te...xstream-power-supply-4ZWQ.html#specifications
dimensions are the same id like something quiet. dimensions are the same i think... hope to my current psu

 

I saw this one
http://www.amazon.com/Cooling-PPCS5...upply/dp/B0017XEGCM/ref=tag_tdp_ptcn_edpp_url
which has Dell in the description and is made by OCZ (rebranded as PC Power?) and looks a heck of a lot like the one you linked to.

I started to panic that it may have a "proprietary" pinout, but apparently those stopped after the 2000 models.

I've just purchased an OCZ myself. My machine seems quiter and my new hardware is running fine.

Matt

 

Ye i linked one of them in my earlier post but have been unable to find one avail on the UK and have been told by one supplier that it has been discontinued but have still seen it for sale in USA and Canada. I weighed up the option but decided the shipping costs to UK would have made it a tad too pricey.

Cheers for the help this one. I still reckon i'm gonna try a standard psu, most likely a OCZ 500w. will post if it all works out....unless everything blows up and i cant get online ofc