I am experiencing constant terrible excruciating stuttering, files being randomly corrupted (causing windows to decide to run the diskcheck utility everytime i start up), some have actually gone missing, if I decide to download something for too long then the USB slot that my wireless adapter is plugged into switches itself off and well its just a bit shit and unusable really.

It's a Dell C521 with a bad power supply that can't really support the graphics card (8600GT) that I installed last month. I mean really its only an 8600GT it shouldnt be that hard to support, what a pathetic computer, jesus christ

I now have several options
-Install my old graphics card and hope that it works (i dont know if i can be bothered really, and I think i might have broken it by pulling it out too hard anyway). Also I hate opening up my computer as its rather dusty and then i sneeze and then the motherboard gets covered in mucus and dust goes everywhere and i accidentally almost swallow the small battery that powers the bios by pulling it out too hard

-I tried taking out the DVD drive, didnt really help much and I cant figure out how to put it back in. I hope I havent broken it

-Find a new power supply, which I hear would involve taking a saw to my computer case (oh god!)

-Take out the RAM, graphics card, hard drive, dvd writer and memory card reader, buy a new case with a new power supply and processor and some fans then slot it all in and hope i haven't wasted £200

What should i do, and if I take the latter option can anyone recommend a good case/motherboard/fans/processor combination?

I think I'm right in saying that dell use proprietry PSU's and motherboards.

This means that upgrading/replacing the PSU is only possible if you get it from dell. It also means that you cant fit a dell motherboard into a generic case (at least not without modding the case to move the board mountings to match the odd dell arrangement).

You can get PSUs that fit in a drive bay to power just your GPU if u need extra power. This might be your only option if dell dont have an upgrade option on your PSU.

Whats your buget, and what can you salvage from the Dell?

On another note, if the MB covered in dust you can end up with shorts on the board and heating problems.

Sam you're like Mr. Bean.
If I were you, I would take the old useful parts (DVD driver memorycard reader, harddrive(s)) and buy a new processor, motherboard, powersupply and a new case.
That's what I did when I upgraded my Pc.

I want to reuse my
- AMD 4200 X2 CPU
- Two 512mb ram sticks (specs are here)
- 160gb hard drive
- SD card slot
- DVD burner
- 8600GT graphics card

And get a new
- Case
- PSU (500w)
- Motherboard
- CPU fan
- Front fan
For less than £200 if possible.

Patch has recommended the following parts to me
- Antec Basic 500w PSU (£45)
- Mesh ATX PC Case with Super Size 250mm Fan (£40)
- MSI K9N Neo V3 nForce 560 (Socket AM2) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard (£47)
- Akasa AK-862 CPU Cooler (Socket 754/939/940/AM2) (£8)
- Akasa AK-170GN4S Crystal 4x Green LED Fan (£3)
Which comes to about £150. Though someone said in the reviews of the PSU that it doesnt have the right cable or something so I'll have to look into that

Questions
- Will the CPU fit the mobo
- Will the RAM fit the the mobo
- Will the mobo fit the case
- Will the case fit the PSU
- Are all these parts quite reliable
- Anything else i might need to know?

Get atleast 2Gb ram. I got 4

Cpu should fit right socket and all and you can keep the heatsinkfan aswell no ponit getting another unless its screwed, your ram presuming its the one on the left should support it as its 533 mhz speed from what i can tell but with it being dell who knows, the case should be fine and so should the rest i wouldnt bother with the 40 quid fan either'

Although getting 2gb of ram for better speeds shouldnt be hard at all http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showprodu ... B%20(2x1GB)%20DDR2%20PC2-5300C5%20Dual%20Channel%20Kit%20(CT2KIT12864AA667) that might be quite good corsair etc higher speed and 2 gb of it

Tagen 500w =£53.70
Coolermaster Centurion 532 black =£43.42
MSI K9N Neo-f V3 =£40.98
Corsair Value 2gb =£27.01
Artic Cooling Freezer 64 =£14.24

Total=£179.35

Just a quick idea, but sell the memory and go 2gig, its worth it.

You have run a Virus check, a defrag and got all your new gpu drivers etc right?

Stupid and potentially intelligence-insulting question I know- but not if it was working ok before.

Also (carefully) get that dust outta there!
Hell on my secondary rig I have to get the hoover in there once in a while!

The only issue you're going to have Sam is getting a case to fit the Mobo.

Dell Mobo's are screwed up in that the mount on the opposite side of the case to normal ATX board.

I'm quite certain that your Mobo will not fit that case. Best bet is to buy a new Mobo too.

Sorry!

P.s. try taking the 8600 out first, it could well be you're drawing more than the PSU can handle, resulting in unstable behaviour all over the place.

There is a 300w PSU that fits your case available, from AcBel. If you search for 300W supplies, TFX form factor you'll be on the right track. I think you can get one from Scan.co.uk but I'll confirm when I get home (it's in my favourites, sadly).