Dell 435MT and HX650W

[THP]

Same issue with my 435MT and a new Modular HX620 Corsair PSU. However, my new CMPSU-400CX Corsair PSU powers the system just fine. My HX620 works in my other system.

 

Very odd. I guess if you have a 435, you've don't want a HX/TX supply. Any other theories? I'd really like to use my nicer modular PSU.

[RAM GUY]

Have you contacted Dell to make sure that their system supports a standard off the shelf PSU? The specific spec that our PSUs are designed to meet is ATX12v 2.01 or newer.

[THP]

I haven't been able to find any ATX info out on the Dell PSU, but I did find a post on the Dell Forums that talks about the Corsair PSUs being incompatible with the 435MT. That's odd though, because my 400w Corsair boots it fine.

 

I'd be more than willing to send my Dell PSU to Corsair for eval. It'd be nice if they could figure out what's making my CX400 work for my model, and incorporate that into the HX/TX line. I know I RMA'd one PSU due to this 'issue', and I would think it'd make business sense for Corsair to nail down the issue and see if it's worth addressing.

[Wired]

Dell changes parts constantly (and usually proprietary in one way or another). Doubt it's worth their time.

[RAM GUY]

THP, Since you have another one of our PSUs which is working, there is a chance that the HX620 could be defective. Both PSUs are built to the same ATX spec and should share compatibility. To be sure, I would test the HX620 in a different machine and make sure you can duplicate the same results. If so, please Request an RMA.

[THP]

I had a modular hx 500-series that was RMAd, since I too through it was the PSU. They sent me a hx650 as a replacement, and that does the same thing. The new HX650 will work fine in my old machine.

 

Here are the possibilities as I see it, since Dell claims they are ATX compliant:

 

1. My dell is defective. Not likely, since there are other stories of the same issue.

 

2. There is a spec difference between the HX-series and the 400CX. Though they are the same on paper, only one clearly works in my machine, meaning that the specs between the two PSUs I have are not the same.

 

3. There is a defect in my 400cx with CAUSES it to work. I can't rule that out...I'd need another 400cx to test.

 

Still, I think it would be worth researching on Corsair's end. I can send in my old Dell PSU if you'll cover shipping, and your R&D can see what it's outputting.

[THP]

Dell changes parts constantly (and usually proprietary in one way or another). Doubt it's worth their time.

 

Ehh, I'd argue that one. How much does a tech make? Surely not more than $50/hr? What's the cost of 10 RMAs or xx lost sales due to folks questioning compatibilty? WELL above that.

 

Whether it's worth a design modification to address the issue fora niche market (Dells) is debatable. There are about a half dozen users on the board posting about this issue, so there's MANY more who don't bother to post here. Knowing what the actual issue is and writing up a tech sheet on it is surely worth $50.

[Wired]

They come out with new models so often that they'd just be repeating themselves over and over. Dell should conform to the ATX standard, not ask others to conform to them.