Jmac0127

5150/E510 systems do not use a Dell proprietary power supply, you can install most generic ATX power supplies with either a 24-pin or 20+4-pin main motherboard power connector. As the D-5150/E510 has an open back panel, a power supply with or without the on/off switch can be used and can be purchased from most local or online computer stores.

A power supply with a minimum of two SATA power connectors is needed.

Bev.

I have the same desktop model and found out this weekend that I only had a 305w power supply. I bought a nVidia GeForce 9800 GT video card and I believe it's not working because of lack of power.

What power supply did  you end up going with?

Evening,

I'm working on upgrading a Dimension 5150.  I purchased a NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT which requires at least a 425 W power supply.  Being how the 305 W OEM power supply wasn't enough, I also picked up a ANTEC power supply.  Here are the results... I was able to get the power supply into the chassis but when I went to power up the PC, I had a blinking amber light.  When refrencing the LED code with Dell's website, the amber blinking power button indicates an issue with the power supply.  I've been looking for ways to get around this by means of alter the POST but haven't found anything yet.

marc0011

As far as I know there is no procedure to change post LED codes.

Have you checked that all the power and data cables are connected properly inside the case?

Bev.

Have you tried it with the stock PSU, i am almost certain that the dell PSU is suffient for a 9600GT as it was for a 3850.

I got it to work.  The power supply that I purchased is one of those modular power supplies (this module setup is nice).  Everything was connected correctly BUT the supplied PCI-E connectors from the power supply was setup differently than the NVIDIA supplied PCI-E connector.  What I mean is, there six pin connector was the same.  It is just that the pins were located in different locations.  When I used the NVIDIA supplied PCI-E connector, everything worked fine.  The machine is SO much faster and the graphics card works GREAT!!!!

I got it to work.  The power supply that I purchased is one of those modular power supplies (this module setup is nice).  Everything was connected correctly BUT the supplied PCI-E connectors from the power supply was setup differently than the NVIDIA supplied PCI-E connector.  What I mean is, there six pin connector was the same.  It is just that the pins were located in different locations.  When I used the NVIDIA supplied PCI-E connector, everything worked fine.  The machine is SO much faster and the graphics card works GREAT!!!!

marc0011

Pleased to hear that you resolved the problem and thank's for the heads up.

Bev.