Desktops: Dell Dimension 8200 Upgrade Issues
Dell Dimension 8200 Upgrade Issues
by Jennerator - 5/5/05 8:37 PMI just bought a new graphics card and memory for my Dell 8200 and I am beginning to think it may not work out. Here is the stuff I bought:
Apollo Geforce FX5500 256MB 128-bit DDR AGP 4X/8X
(2)SimpleTech 128MB 184-Pin RDRAM (16bit) Unbuffered PC 800 System Memory
I am upgrading from a GeForce 3 Ti 200 and 256 MB RDRAM.
My questions are:
Will these fit in my computer?
Will my power supply handle it (250 Watts)?
My manual say my AGP is 4X, and the system requiremnts for the card says it requires AGP 8X, so is this incompatible, even though it says 4X/8X?
I thought I had done enough research before I bought this stuff, but once I got it I got nervous and now I am not so sure. I am upgrading with the intention of seriously cranking up my hardcore gaming experience.
Thanks to anybody who knows whats up with these old rigs.
RE:
by damasta55r - 5/5/05 8:48 PM In reply to: Dell Dimension 8200 Upgrade Issues by JenneratorCompatible, but psu not so good and you can't upgrade dell psus unless you buy from their original maker. Very expensive, but good. I forget the website. Ask ozos.
ROger
Used to have a Dimension 8200
by twesterh - 5/5/05 8:49 PM In reply to: Dell Dimension 8200 Upgrade Issues by JenneratorHad a p4 2ghz and Nvidia Geforce4 4600ti. I tried to upgrade the RAM but found out the hard way that it takes proprietery ram from Dell.... which is not cheap...
Be interested to see if your's fits.
trw.
Used to have a Dimension 8200
by banistersmind - 2/3/08 7:57 PM In reply to: Used to have a Dimension 8200 by twesterhI am looking at upgrading the RAM in a Dell Dimension 8200 and have been discouraged to find that a) PC 800 RAM seems to cost a lot and b) I have noted a number of places where it says that the 8200 will only take proprietry RAM from Dell.
Is this actually true? To date I cannot get this information confirmed.
Not true...
by FoxyFire1 - 2/23/08 7:02 PM In reply to: Used to have a Dimension 8200 by banistersmindI have a Dell Dimension 8200, and it does take RAM that isn't from Dell. Right now, I have 4 128MB Samsung PC800 modules in there. I have also tried some Toshiba ones, which also work.
RDRAM is really expensive now, always has been, yet-- it's an obsolete technology that shouldn't exist in the first place and to which I believe doesn't merit that much of my money. Therefore, the best, cheapest, and only place you should buy it from-- Ebay. I just bought two sticks of 128MB's (256MB) for just $20 bucks!
Dell Dimenstion 8200 Upgrade
by Taz Dax - 7/17/05 10:05 AM In reply to: Dell Dimension 8200 Upgrade Issues by JenneratorFor anyone needing information on upgrading a Dell Dimension 8200 computer, go to this website:
http://www.spongebobsupgradesite.com/index.html
Regarding your power supply issue for your video card, on the website above it states that Dell uses the mean power supply as a rating for its power supplies, while most other companies use the maximum.
The Dell Dimension has a power supply rated at 250 Watts, but again this is the median, and not the maximum that the power supply can handle (which should be around 375 watts.
I have installed an ATI Radeon 800 XL video card which requires a power supply of 300 watts or greater, and so far no problems.
If you want to purchase a 450 watt power suppy (just to be on the safe side), on the web site above, there is a link to a company that sells power supplies directly to Dell and will fit in your Dell Dimension.
The Dell 8200 has a 4X AGP port, and since the Apollo GEForce is a 4X/8X card, it will work.
Dimension 8200 Upgrade
by wittba - 7/19/05 11:42 AM In reply to: Dell Dimenstion 8200 Upgrade by Taz DaxThanks for these threads. They have given me good info to work with.
I have done my own research and found that all of the info in these threads checks out and is reliable.
I do have a question, in regards to to video card 4X/8X issue.
When using an 4X/8X video card to upgrade, how much of a decrease in quality is noticed, if any?
I am soon to be going from 64MB factory card to BFG 256MB card that is 4x/8x and was just wondering the effects.
I am also adding 512MB RAM, which is cheapest on www.zipzoomfly.com, unless you find it on Ebay cheaper.
I think this combination should bring the 8200 up to speed for at least another year!
ps-the spongebob site is great!
Dell 8200 Upgrade
by Taz Dax - 7/19/05 3:23 PM In reply to: Dimension 8200 Upgrade by wittbaYou should notice an increase in performance when upgrading to the BFG 256MB in most games. Much better than your 64MB card!
However, the Dell Dimension 8200 only has a 4X AGP port, which will limit the performance of your new card.
Increasing the RAM will definitely increase the performance of your Dell.
When I went increased from 256MB up to 768MB of RAM, my Dell 8200 immediately loaded faster, and performed much better!
Glad you liked the links!
DVD Burner?
by wittba - 8/9/06 2:27 PM In reply to: Dell Dimenstion 8200 Upgrade by Taz DaxThe Dell documentation shows that the 8200 has the following available drives:
Available devices
ATA-66 or ATA-100 Ultra DMA hard drive, CD drive, Zip drive, DVD drive, and CD-RW drive.
What do I need to look for when shopping for a DVD burner for my 8200 system?
Perhaps some examples would be useful.
Thanks.
Ben
8200 Upgrade
by Dreammender - 9/2/06 6:21 PM In reply to: Dell Dimenstion 8200 Upgrade by Taz DaxMy wife has an 8200. I bought it for her for 2 reasons:
1. I was experienced with Computer and Network Operations, not hardware, etc.
2. She had heard all the hype about Dell this and Dell that, and she WANTED a Dell.
Now, since making the mistake of purchasing it 3-4 years ago, I have learned ALOT about PC hardware, and will forever prefer to build my own (cheaper and fully upgradable).
Like most of you, I hate the price for the PC800 RDRAM DIMMs. I can upgrade my PC2100 266MHz with 2 - 1Gb sticks for about the same price as a 256Mb of RDRAM.
However, since she 'loves' her dell and I can't get her to part with it, I have resolved myself to finding ways to upgrade it.
Here is what I have done to her original Dell Deminsion 8200 that came stock with P4 1.8GHZ (478 pin), 256Mb (2x128Mb) PC800 RAMBUS RDRAM DIMM memory, nVidia GeForce 2MX 64MB AGP 4x video, 80Gb ATA 7200RPM.
(1) P4 2.6GHz 400MHz 478 pin CPU - $65 US
(4) 256MB PC800 184-PIN 40ns Non ECC Unbuffered RDRAM RAMBUS - $248 US ($62 US each)
(1) GeForce FX 5500 256MB DDR 4x/8x AGP TV,VGA,DVI - $49 US
I also threw in a 120Gb SATA I had laying around from one of my old toys. (Had to add the SATA PCI adapter, cause the MB doesn't support it.)
So, I spent $362 US for a SERIOUS upgrade on her 8200 and it runs like a scalded cat on XP. Her online MMORPG (Everquest) never lags (even in heavy zones) and her video/graphic editing (web design) applications scream.
I could have built her nearly twice the machine for the same money, but like I said... she LOVES her Dell. It is very nearly maxed out for upgrades, except that it will hold max 4Gb RAM... but I am NOT paying the price for that. I told her her 'baby Dell' was maxed out and that if she needed another 'upgrade' I would have to order the parts to build her a new machine. She sees how mine runs and is impressed, but for now, she still has her Dell. =)
Hope this little story of my Wife and her 8200's upgrades helps you and/or someone else.
My advice - If you own a Dell computer, especially an 8200 (or other model that uses RAMBUS RDRAM DIMM memory) ~~~ Toodle on down to Fry's Electronics or to your favorite online shopping site (see http://www.pricewatch.com for some nice comparison shopping) and build your own. There are too many sites that can help you figure out what Motherboards fit what cases with what power supply with what memory, etc. You can have a monster machine (see http://www.alienware.com for some examples of monster machines) for under $500 US.
Later.
Re: 8200 Upgrade
by wittba - 9/4/06 7:47 AM In reply to: 8200 Upgrade by DreammenderGood report on your upgrades. Thanks for getting that information out there. Do you know of any specific websites that are especially good at describing how to build your own machine and what parts are recommended to do so?
Thanks again.
(NT) Just 'Google' it.....you'll have enough to read for months
by VAPCMD - 9/12/06 5:15 PM In reply to: Re: 8200 Upgrade by wittbaUpgrading the Dell Dimension 8200
by W2CQMron - 9/28/08 11:49 AM In reply to: 8200 Upgrade by DreammenderIt was suggesed that a P4 2.6mHz 400mhz 478 pin CPU for about $65 would speed up my computer. Haven't been able to locate a source of supply. Can anyone help? Already have additional RAM on order. Thanks
Better to start a new thread than tag onto one thats 2 years
by VAPCMD - 9/28/08 5:25 PM In reply to: Upgrading the Dell Dimension 8200 by W2CQMronold.
VAPCMD
thanks for the suggestion
by W2CQMron - 9/29/08 4:24 AM In reply to: Better to start a new thread than tag onto one thats 2 years by VAPCMDI'm new to the group and your suggestion to begin a new thread makes sense. Thanks, I'll do that.
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