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Dell Computers

T

thejawn

Weaksauce
Joined
Jun 25, 2007
Messages
77
What kind (and by kind i mean atx, itx, so on) do most dells use? I know its not something to be proud of, but I'm looking for a case for my old dell.
The case looks like this : case but I'm not sure what kind of new case to buy for it.
 
All mATX boards fit in standard ATX cases as well, so you can buy any ATX case and the motherboard will be conmpatible.
 
You might want to be careful... sometimes those are proprietary I/O layouts and won't fit in a regular case.
Regardless if the mounts are standardized. But hey... thats what this forum is about... modding ;)
 
I have a couple year old Dell 1.8ghz Optiplex and I went to mount it in a standard ATX case and the motherboard standoff holes did not line up. Am I missing something?
 
As mentioned Dell is uses proprietory components so getting components to match each other isnt very good sometimes. Considering the Dell mobo in question is mATX your best chance is probably best to stick with another mATX case. Yes, all standard mATX should fit in standard ATX cases but being this is Dell we're talking about its hard to say if it'll work or not in just any standard ATX case.

Another case to consider is the Qpack. You might want to check the SFF section. I think someone there has done something like this before. Its been a while though and I'm not really sure what thread it was in. Cant hurt to ask your question there though.
 
Thanks again for the info, I was considering buying a standard ATX case but now I'll probally just go to the mATX.
 
That looks like the Dell Optiplex GX50 or later model. The motherboard you have probably looks something like this:

 
older dells used their own design, i dunno if it would be an easy swap into a new case.

whats wrong with the original case?
 
KrylonArt said:
That looks like the Dell Optiplex GX50 or later model. The motherboard you have probably looks something like this:

Click to expand...

I have an Optiplex GX260. That looks very similar to what I have. It has that goofy ATX PCI slot add on that can clip in on the bottom. I still would like to swap. I may have to take another look.

My main issue is I am using it as a server and HD space is very limited. Cooling is another factor.
 
marley1 said:
older dells used their own design, i dunno if it would be an easy swap into a new case.

whats wrong with the original case?
Click to expand...

Theres 1 bay for the hard drive (2 if you include where the floppy drive should be) and only 1 5.25 bay. I'm really limited to what I can do.
 
thejawn said:
What kind (and by kind i mean atx, itx, so on) do most dells use? I know its not something to be proud of, but I'm looking for a case for my old dell.
The case looks like this : case but I'm not sure what kind of new case to buy for it.
Click to expand...


YOU CANNOT BUY ANY CASE FOR IT, DELLS CASES AND MOTHERBOARDS ARE PROPRIETARY, even the ones that do follow atx format, dell motherboards use ribbon cables and other non standard atx front panel connectors and often require a proprietary power supply as well, compaq and hp also do this nonsense. Forget about it..........
 
Woah thanks, I was just about to buy it but I double checked this thread first.
 
Anyone know of a way to still get a new case? I'm really dieing with the 1 hard drive limitation.
 
HP and Compaq don't do this I have transfer several HP's into new cases for my friends recently. You could probably get it in there if you had a drill and tap.
 
The new Inspirons use standard mATX motherboards (manufacturered by Foxconn). The only thing proprietary about them is the frontpanl headers, but it's nothing to get that working. The last generation or two of Dimensions were BTX. Before that they had a completely proprietary motherboard layout. Some had 3 slots, others had 5. I/O sheilds were attached and bigget than the standard one on some as well.

Standard ATX psus often wouldn't fit in the Dimensions models because the case would interfere with the plug on them. Earlier Pentium 4 systems had ATX PSUs with a non-standard pinout on the main power connector, which would cause immediate failure of a new motherboard or new PSU when mixed an original Dell part.

You're best bet is to open the case and take some pictures of the motherboard, its mounthole locations, and the back panel area. This will allow others to offer more accurate advice.
 
Some money shots...
The case (and lack of space)
The Red lines represent the cables that go to the front of the PC where the USB, Audio, Power button, and hard drive LED are located.
hard.jpg

I/O panel
100_0574.jpg

Broken Ribbon cable That has a USB logo on it
100_0578.jpg

The other cable that looks like what alot of cases have.
100_0583.jpg
 
Just from the motherboard shot I can tell you that you're almost certainly stuck with the case you've got.
 
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