So I got some "old" Dells...

[skulls]

Recently, my neighbors gave me two of their "old" Dell Dimension 4600's. Apparently, they weren't plugged into surge protectors during a recent storm and they were fried. Well I tested the harddrives, and they both work, as do the floppy and cd-rom drives. When I plug in the power supply, the motherboard power LED even lights up, but when I hit the power button, nothing. So what I'm figuring is that the motherboards are dead, so I come here with a question. Would it be a better idea to just buy completely new motherboards and stick them in some old cases I have laying around, or should I try to hunt down some motherboard's on eBay? I'm pretty sure the processor in it is a P4 2.8, so It'd definitely be worth fixing for me, but I'm wonedering which way would be more cost efficient.

-Thanks guys

 

[ScHpAnKy]

Recently, my neighbors gave me two of their "old" Dell Dimension 4600's. Apparently, they weren't plugged into surge protectors during a recent storm and they were fried. Well I tested the harddrives, and they both work, as do the floppy and cd-rom drives. When I plug in the power supply, the motherboard power LED even lights up, but when I hit the power button, nothing. So what I'm figuring is that the motherboards are dead, so I come here with a question. Would it be a better idea to just buy completely new motherboards and stick them in some old cases I have laying around, or should I try to hunt down some motherboard's on eBay? I'm pretty sure the processor in it is a P4 2.8, so It'd definitely be worth fixing for me, but I'm wonedering which way would be more cost efficient.

-Thanks guys

1.) Test out the psu independently

If it works:

2.) Short the PWR_ON jumper

If it works:

Motherboard is fine

If it doesn't:

Scrap the case/psu and get an aftermarket case/psu/mobo.. you'll still end up being cheaper than a dell replacement motherboard

 

[TheAcorn]

If the PSUs are cooked, you need Dell-style replacement PSUs for them anyways.

If the motherboards are cooked and the PSUs work (unlikely) you need Dell Mobos to work with the Dell PSUs.

Seeing as you can get cheaper PSUs, and cheaper mobos than you can get Dell PSUs or Dell mobos, you should probably look for a cheap 478 board so you can at least test the CPUs before investing in more stuff, i.e. other PSUs, other mobo. And that way if the stuff inside is fried, RAM/CPU etc, you're only out the cost of one el-cheapo 478.

Also, just because you can short the PSU on (paperclip - green wire to black wire) and it runs, does not mean it runs well enough to supply voltage to your rig.

Just my spare change on the subject!

 

[lithium726]

If the PSUs are cooked, you need Dell-style replacement PSUs for them anyways.

If the motherboards are cooked and the PSUs work (unlikely) you need Dell Mobos to work with the Dell PSUs.

wrong. dell hasnt used proprietary PSU's since the p3 days, and some claim up till s423. all current 478 dell boards take a standard atx unit.

 

[TheAcorn]

wrong. dell hasnt used proprietary PSU's since the p3 days, and some claim up till s423. all current 478 dell boards take a standard atx unit.

News to me, but good news! Thanks.

 

[Intel_Inside]

I'm using my Dell 4600 now. The PSU and Motherboard got fried in a storm too, so I put a MSI one in it. Planning on getting a better case later Ah, and getting rid of that POS FX5200

 

[tazman4]

I'm using my Dell 4600 now. The PSU and Motherboard got fried in a storm too, so I put a MSI one in it. Planning on getting a better case later Ah, and getting rid of that POS FX5200

This sounds like the basic info I've been trying to find out. So you replaced the psu & mb in the dell case & kept everything else? If so, then I should have no/few problems putting my Dell guts, minus the psu & mb, into a new case?
Did Windows give you any problems? Need to call M$ & reactivate? Boot up OK?

 

[Javelin3o4]

installed a antec psu in a dell a couple weeks ago, just had to cut a notch out on the back because the original dell psu didnt have the on/off switch on the back and the antec did. No biggie.

 

[Malogato]

wrong. dell hasnt used proprietary PSU's since the p3 days, and some claim up till s423. all current 478 dell boards take a standard atx unit.

I'd like to point out that I'm sitting right next to a pentium 4 dell with a very proprietary powersupply right now (it's 20 pin, but the psu shape is sort of flatter and longer - like in a shuttle, but big like atx). It also has a proprietary ribbon cable coming from the front of the case going to a proprietary header on the motherboard. The "split" board design for the 2 additional pci slots is even more unusual in my opinion.

 

[lithium726]

I'd like to point out that I'm sitting right next to a pentium 4 dell with a very proprietary powersupply right now. It also has a proprietary ribbon cable coming from the front of the case going to a proprietary header on the motherboard. The "split" board design for the 2 additional pci slots is even more unusual in my opinion.

socket? model? pic? ive never heard of anything like that.

 

[Malogato]

socket? model? pic? ive never heard of anything like that.

Optiplex - Can't read the model #, it's worn off the button.

want to say it's a GX240

Actually, the psu is "extra long" atx. - I should have been more specific. Extended ATX, pre specification methinks.

Since it's i845 chipset.. I'm gonna have to go with s478.



http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx240/en/sm/pwrsply.htm#1099156


http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx240/en/sm/sysbrd.htm#1099156

http://cgi.ebay.com/Dell-OptiPlex-G...ameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

Looks unusual to me. (and it is 478)

Draw your own conclusions.


This is not to say that the 4600 has a proprietary design..
Just that the statement that "dell doesn't use proprietary design" is inaccurate.

 

[ND40oz]

Optiplex - Can't read the model #, it's worn off the button.

want to say it's a GX240

Actually, the psu is "extra long" atx. - I should have been more specific. Extended ATX, pre specification methinks.

Since it's i845 chipset.. I'm gonna have to go with s478.



http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx240/en/sm/pwrsply.htm#1099156


http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx240/en/sm/sysbrd.htm#1099156


Draw your own conclusions.


This is not to say that the 4600 has a proprietary design..
Just that the statement that "dell doesn't use proprietary design" is inaccurate.

That's an optiplex sff, I don't believe dell made a gx240 SFF, most likely a 260 or 270, if you post the processor, I'll tell you which. Edit: you said 845 chipset, that should be a GX260.

The dell gx sff use a long rectangular shaped power supply to fit in the case. It kind of slides into the case and semi overlaps the mb. Pain in the butt to get out. All optiplexs (of the same generation) use the same motherboards, from the sff, desktop and mid-tower and all newer ones "should" be able to use a standard ATX powersupply if installed in a different case that has room for a standard ATX powersupply. I believe all of dells mid-towers can fit an ATX powersupply with very little modifications. Now the front panel connectors to the case are a different story, they do use a ribbon connection that is proprietary, this actually integrates the power button, lights and usb ports into one connector on the mb.

 

[Bullitt]

I'd like to ease the OP's mind a bit. I replaced a PSU in a 4600 (2.4ish P4) model a month ago. PSU got fried. Standard ATX replacement PSU was all that was needed. I double-checked the dimensions before ordering and all was kosher.

 

[name]

installed a antec psu in a dell a couple weeks ago, just had to cut a notch out on the back because the original dell psu didnt have the on/off switch on the back and the antec did. No biggie.

Did the exact same thing with my 8200, worked just fine.

 

[BIGDADDY51]

I was in a similar situation, with a Dell notebook that got drowned. I just bought a cheap ECS socket 478 motherboard, and used that to test the cpu and hd with. I needed to get a hd adapter also, but you get the idea. If everything was bad, I still had the new mb to do something with.Both the cpu and harddrive (with XP loaded) worked well. BD51

 

[elm669]

wrong. dell hasnt used proprietary PSU's since the p3 days, and some claim up till s423. all current 478 dell boards take a standard atx unit.

Yep my dimension 2400 S478 is standard ATX but I don't think this old P2 dell board I have is. Anyone want to donate a old atx psu for testing?

 

[swatbat]

wrong. dell hasnt used proprietary PSU's since the p3 days, and some claim up till s423. all current 478 dell boards take a standard atx unit.

This is half true. Voltage wise yes they use standard connections but that doesn't mean the PSU is not proprietary. Many dell systems will not take a normal psu. As Javelin3o4 said you can make a normal psu fit in a lot of dell cases but since you have to cut the case I would still call the psu proprietary. Also didn't the first gen dell gaming systems have a long flat power supply in the bottem of the case? Also some of the thing dells will use non standard power supplys but then again a normal ps would not fit in the case.

As far the quesion about dell motherboards I would just buy a normal matx/atx board depending on your spare cases. The only reason I would hunt down real dell motherboards is if you wanted to use the dell windows cds to install xp on the fixed system.

 

[lithium726]

I was talking about the pinout of the ATX connector on dell boards and their compatablity with standard ATX supplies, not fitting in a dell case.

 

[Gabo]

Most of the Dell models like the GX270 or GX280 use weird weird hardware. I also have seen that 2 PCI extension on their mutant boards. However I think the newer models (non optiplex) can suport a standard power suply? I could be wrong

 

[mavalpha]

This may or may not answer the question of which "newer" Dell models use proprietary PSUs. At least this way you'll know how they're grouped, and from there I'm sure you can find out which one uses which supply.