Ok, so I am getting a new computer for a freind who wants to do light gaming...

I have found a Dell Vostro 220, specs are:

Intel Core 2 Duo E7500 2.93GHz CPU
2x2GB DDR2 RAM
320GB SATA Hard Disk
DVD+/-RW

According to what I read it has a 305 watt LiteOn powersupply, and I have an nVidia GeForce 9500GT not being used atm, so would it work in it? The box states that it needs a 350 watt power supply, yet if you google GeForce 9500 GT 300 watt psu it comes up with lots of people saying it will work on a 'good' 300 watt power supply..

Will it work? It will have at most 2 HD and 1 DVD drive that it comes with it.

I dunno about Dell but most chepo pre-builts don't come with a "good" power supply imo. (Better chance of failure, not modular, etc.)

Also core2duo? That tech is last last gen......of course for most GOGs it would suffice.

What kind of light gaming are we talking about here?

Also link to the system you found so i can check the price and specs?

(I DO know that if the card you want to put in is compatible and you run games at higher settings the power draw from the card could cause system problems from low power.)

The max load wattage for a 9500GT is 50W according to NVIDIA. My parents had a 9500GS (scaled won GT but roughly the same max wattage) and a 300W power supply without issue. Of course adding another hard drive means more power needed thus lowering your safety margin.

If the power supply is in good working order, you should be fine.

I wish we could get a link to the proposed system and verify everything........the psu could be good but who knows what the OEM put in it? :\

It's a build your own tower they used to sell. That means no unwanted crap. Of course they don't sell them in North America anymore so I politely ask sloganvirst for more info or a website selling the thing.

http://www.dell.com/us/dfb/p/vostro-220s/pd

That site doesn't even list specs like mobo or psu, sadly.

Also since when has DELL been a good manufacturer/OEM in a good long while?

We need more info imo...like what is "light" gaming to him, the person that's going to use the new pc, and what the full specs are.

http://gallery.ijhedges.com/gallery/d/5058-1/vostro_220.jpg

There's a picture of the mobo.

According to the discussion on it, it's a Micro ATX mobo http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/271040-28-case-vostro-slim-tower-motherboard

There's certainly a liteon PSU (probably the 300W listed in the Dell specs page I saw) in that picture as well.

Vostro 220

[url=http://www.dell.com/us/dfb/p/vostro-220/pd?~ck=anav&c=us&l=en&s=dfb&cs=28&baynote_bnrank=0&baynote_irrank=1&redirect=1]http://www.dell.com/us/dfb/p/vostro-220/pd?~ck=anav&c=us&l=en&s=dfb&cs=28&baynote_bnrank=0&baynote_irrank=1&redirect=1[/url]

My last post was getting too cluttered so I'll right another one.

Judging by that picture, if need be that power supply can be removed fairly easily.

The video card fits at the bottom in the PCIe 16 slot and a second hard drive can be placed in the bottom right slot.

Again if the 300W power supply is in good working order, there shouldn't be a problem.

The ram configuration is fine for that mobo and you can fit two hard drives in that case.

This all begs the question what is "light" gaming with OP
s friend. This will make the purchase either amazing or not so amazing depending on their needs.

I think that the business line tends to be better.

Both of the last Dells I bought lasted for like 4 or 5 years each. Apart from the HDD which both went bad and had to be replaced, I don't think that was Dell's fault though, I blame dirty power.

In general though, you'll find components missing if they aren't listed. The surprising thing I found missing on those computers was a temperature sensor. Which was annoying at times.

Looking up the specs for the Vostro 220 motherboard it looks capable of supporting a 9500 (although the case will definitely be a bit cramped, as you're dealing with a micro-ATX setup). I'd definitely be a bit worried about the PSU though. LiteOn is a second-tier supplier, and manufacturers like Dell typically go for the bare minimum PSU that will run the stock hardware. I also wouldn't be surprised if that PSU underperforms a bit compared to the stated wattage. Ultimately it would probably run things initially, but I'd be very worried about how long it would manage to hold up.

Ok, sorry for late reply, I have been busy.

Light gaming, is for instance, I could run games like Bulletstorm and Portal 2 on my 9400GT on low settings, all smoothly, and even Crysis Warhead (this is with 2gb ram)

Here is the 'proposed' system: http://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/desktops/no-monitor/auction-441154979.htm

I may or may not get it, from what my friends tell me Dell is not that good a brand for gaming...

Sorry if I forgot someones question, I am a bit sleepy atm..

EDIT: hm, what about this system with my GeForce 9500? http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=WKSPB1404&name=PB-1404-UG-Box-AMD-Dual-Core-X2-260-3.2Ghz--4GB--5

It'll work with a 9500. You've got a bit more power with the 350W PSU, although it looks like it's still an off-brand one so you'll probably be looking at lower output that what's stated. CPU only draws 65W, so you may be OK with not getting too close to the PSU's limit. Take note, though, that that PC doesn't come with a copy of Windows, so unless you have a spare license key sitting around or plan to install Linux on it you'll need to add $100-200 to the overall pricetag (depending on whether you get a standard or OEM version of Windows).

Alright, forget that crap, I found a much better pre-lenovo IBM one (I prefer IBM) with decent CPU and plenty of RAM and HD, I just have to wait for the seller to tell me the model number so I can be extra sure it has PCI-E... and how good the PSU is. I'll keep you informed!

A bit ot, but don't want to open another thread for a similar question: I'd like to build a computer from 0. Where can I find useful advice, expecially because its the first time I try to do this?