Bigger Power supply needed?

Quote from callpocket : I agree -- the only reason I said anything about checking it was that I've seen the Bestec problem. Since you have a Delta, you should be just fine. But if you want to check the specs, see my post above and take a look. As long as you keep the machine dry and cleaned out of dustbunnies, hair and smoke, you should be just fine with what you have. Keeping the machine on a surge protector is a good idea as well.

It gets cleaned out at least once a month and no one in the house smokes so no issues there and it is plugged into a surge protector.

If i went with upgrading the power supply what would be the recommendations for it?

Id like to keep it how it now on the inside as far as connections(4 sata/1 floppy) go for the hard drives and dvd drives that way i am not having to buy any converted cables.

Quote from icebrg5 : Only one it shows is a dell refurb of the exact same power supply that is currently in my desktop. Off to the side there are some customer recommendation ones. Those the ones you talking about?

Hopefully, there will be a link to specifications somewhere?

It may be "tech specs" on that page -- something like that in the listing.

I looked there and it shows nothing for specs at all.

After doing some google searches i came up with these measurements.

Dimensions: 5 7/8 W x 3 3/8 H x 5.5 D - Inches

That is going off of the model # from the pictures i took

I searched for delta dps-300ab- 24 b


Any recommendations on a power supply? I have no idea of what the good brands are versus the bad brands.

I just want something that will work,have the same connections as my current one ( more if possible) and doesn't cost to much


Also wanted to say thank you to everyone who's helped me.

Ok, going to support.dell.com and just looking for model 530 power supply -- it looks like an ATX power supply. So, you can buy one of a good brand and replace it. If you are determined to do so, I would look for a Corsair or Antec ATX PSU of about 500 watts. Antec has some builder series on sale for around 40 or 50 quite often at Newegg and Fry's. Not sure how old this system might be? Thinking about 3 years or so? But, if you are not having issues with it, I'd wait to replace it if it was mine. Your Delta should be just fine unless you are already having some boot ups that don't go thru the first time or other issues.

No boot up issues currently and the system is 3 1/2 years old I just looked it up on dell.

I will look into the power supplies you suggested. I'm not sure if i will replace it soon or not but if the price is right then i might do or i might just get the 3.0 internal hub first and see how that works with my current one before buying a replacement.

Perhaps you'd be better served with a self powered USB 3 hub [amazon.com], so that it takes its power from the wall and not your power supply.
It'll be cheaper than buying the hub you were looking at, along with a new power supply, and the user ratings are way way better.

The photos indicate you have a standard ATX PSU, so about all PSUs on the market will fit, except maybe very high power 800W+ monsters that are slightly longer, front to back.

Also unlike some Dell cases, the Inspiron 530 case won't interfere with the rear on/off rocker switch that almost all aftermarket PSUs have but that Dell PSUs lack.

But that's not to say you need an upgrade because a 300W Delta PSU is a very solid unit, and I have a different model made in 1999 that still works fine and has never needing any parts replaced (just soldering when I first got it -- rough handling during shipping cracked some joints on the heavy transformer), and I did measure capacitor ESR and capacitance just 2 years ago. More importantly, your computer probably never, ever draws more than 200-250W, as the following real life measurements indicate:

XbitLabs measured power consumption for several types of computers: [xbitlabs.com]



Silent PC Review measured power distribution in three PCs [silentpcreview.com] (note DC watts, not AC watts)

The measured numbers were always far lower than those given by power estimation worksheets -- that's how different actual vs. theoretical can be.

You should be fine. Remember that USB3 only delivers 900mA at 5V which is not even enough power to charge an iPad (Requires 2A) at the same speed the wall charger does. Dell builds a decent amount of headroom in to your computer. Worst case scenario (Super unlikely, to impossible) is you install it and plug every usb thing in known to man and discover you need to upgrade your PSU, or just unplug a few things.

Was looking at this power supply although i will probably wait before getting it and get the internal 3.0 hub installed first to see if i have any issues with power.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Pro...llFullInfo

I looked it up online and other people have used it in the Inspiron 530.


Is that a good price for it? Or does it go on sale for cheaper sometimes?

Quote from icebrg5 : Was looking at this power supply although i will probably wait before getting it and get the internal 3.0 hub installed first to see if i have any issues with power. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Pro...llFullInfo I looked it up online and other people have used it in the Inspiron 530. Is that a good price for it? Or does it go on sale for cheaper sometimes?

The 430 watt version of that goes for $30 on rebate quite often. I would go for that one. Its plenty of power for this computer.

the 500W power supply has the following

1 x 4+4 Pin EPS 12V where as the 430 W power supply has 1 x 8 Pin EPS 12V

I think the inspiron needs the 4 pin connector. I know from reading online that people have said the 500W power supply you can remove the extra 4 Pin from the EPS and make it a 4 pin like the inspiron needs. Not sure if you can do that with the 430 W though.

EDIT: I looked at the user manual from corsairs website and it also says that the 8 pin is removable on the 430W as well to make it a 4 pin.

Why do you still think you need to upgrade your power supply?