Transferring to a new case [Noob]

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madflava54

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jun 18, 2004
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For a long time, I've been building my computers myself until last year my mom at her own liberty decided to buy me a HP computer b/c she has $250 off coupon. I didn't complain since it was a P4 2.6 and I was running on an Athlon 1G. However, I really hate the case and it's the only thing that shows that my computer was pieced by HP.

If I buy a new case, can I simply transfer the mobo and all other components to the new case? Should I use the new PS or use the one it comes with? And what about the wiring (I've always had a problem with the wiring). Wiring as in the Reset, etc, I don't think it's labeled in the HP case.

Thanks
 
throw it off a cliff

seriously, you might be screwed unless the backpane can come out, and even then, youre only screwed if you insist on using one (i dont). HP has weird configurations. also you probabily cant use a new PSU as HP does its own weird pinout that will cause chaos if you mix and match HP and good parts
 
No. You can't. Retail PC's (Dell, HP, Gateway) all have their own parts. They don't apply to any case standard like ATX. So the screwholes for the motherboard won't be the same and the PSU will be different also. Your stuck with the HP case or you could make your own.
 
What if I just replace the mobo? And then take out the processor, I already added a faster HDD, and all the other components?
 
swoop56 said:
No. You can't. Retail PC's (Dell, HP, Gateway) all have their own parts. They don't apply to any case standard like ATX. So the screwholes for the motherboard won't be the same and the PSU will be different also. Your stuck with the HP case or you could make your own.
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yes. you can

Dell, HP, Gateway all gave up making their own parts... well, not dell... but the rest did...

dell dropped their majic psu's also

the only thing that may be different is the front panel connectors

also every HP mobo ive seen in the last few years is basically a re-branded ASUS board

check the rating of the psu, if its <300 you should probably get a new one... dont buy crap tho... $20 PSU = not good

Sparkle/Fortron hell even Antec makes good PSU's
 
FLECOM is correct but if that doesn't work just cover the thing in Bondo and shape it, preferably like a rock, so it doesn't look like an HP.
 
madflava54 said:
What if I just replace the mobo? And then take out the processor, I already added a faster HDD, and all the other components?
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i dont know about HP but with dell, the processor doesnt always work with other motherbaords... no clue

my friend wanted to "upgrade" his p4 dell and i hooked him up with a nice motherboard... some chaintech with springdale chipset and ICH5 or something... we put in the dell p4 and it wouldnt work... after a couple hours of testing, which lasted til midnight, we pinpointed that his dell p4 processor was the culprit because nothing else had a problem... my processor was a 2.0ghz and his is a 1.6 being the nice guy i am, i made a deal with him saying we can trade processors but he has to pay me the price difference which i estimated on pricegrabber, of $45

by the way, while i m at it... whats the price difference between a 2.0Ghz Northwood "A" and a 1.6Ghz Willamette?
 
So the mobo is a standard ATX? I looked at the PS and it's 250Watts =/ Front panel connectors = those colored wires? I.E. Reset, HDD, etc. I really hate this case and it's a fairly new HP since it's a P4 2.6. Thanks for all the replies .
 
My parents bought a p3 667 HP years back and a few years later I transfered it out of the case and eventually bought a new mobo for it. I used my own ATX psu and everything worked fine. The front panel headers might be different than what your used to...so take note what wires lead where because you probably can't find any docs on it. FLECOM's right about HP's boards being rebranded ASUS boards, this one was.

Good luck.
 
swoop56 said:
No. You can't. Retail PC's (Dell, HP, Gateway) all have their own parts. They don't apply to any case standard like ATX. So the screwholes for the motherboard won't be the same and the PSU will be different also. Your stuck with the HP case or you could make your own.
Click to expand...


Yeah back in the noob days, I tried putting a emachines mATX system into a ATX case with an ATX PSU. My comp sat there for days, because I couldn't figure out where all of the led connectors, power switch went.

And just to think... that was only 5 months ago! the big [H] has taught me a lot!!! :D
 
I would not reccomend this. HP has this special protection, its like when someone robs a bank the teller throws a stack of cash with exploding dye into the bag with all the money to void it. As soon as you take the mobo out of your old case, something will explode and ruin everything. Its this special electricity conducting glue pack they jam between the mobo and the back of the case. Its hps way of sayin f**k you your stuck with us b1tch!
 
LOL! that would be pretty funny actually :p

anyway, i can vouch for the fact that putting hp/compaq/gateway/emachines and a few other oem's in a regular ATX case will be fine... just note the front panel connector
 
yep. put my p3 800mhz gateway in a atx case, and use an antec PSU with it. it did take me a few tried to figure out the power switch config, but i got right eventually. the IO plate on the back was propretary though, i just too a standard one, and cut out the spots that i needed, and put a coushin that came with the case (it was one of those book PC things, MATX mobo)

even back then, all the mobo was, was a custom job by msi.
looked it up on the MSI website.... nothing what-so-ever about that mobo. it was top secret. lol. but it was still atx

lets wait around for djnes to comment on this matter
 
I had an old micro-atx hp case. I got a new motherboard for it and was going to use the old case. well it didnt work, the cpu heatsink hit the case. wires wouldnt fit and i chucked the old case in the trash, dont waste your time!
 
I've done some recent swap outs for some people recently - compaq / hp, gateway, and a couple e-machines - just moved them into a different case and bigger / better power supply with out any hassles what so ever. The compnents arent' bad at all - the HP's had quaility parts except for the power supply.. cheap crap. The only ones that are "no-go" are still the Dells - had to drill / tap mounting holes for the motherboard in the new case, and the powersupplies are still propiretary - haven't spent anytime trying to figure them out tho...

Some of the front panel connecters aren't labled on the mobo and were tough to figure out, but after doing the first one, I traced the wires to what it went to, then made a diagram of which pins are what - takes a small amount of time, but well worth the effort.

Peace,
Tim
 
Dell does not use special Psu's anymore, from P4 forward...

they still have special boards tho
 
Wow, Dell is gay then. Hmm, Asus motherboard in disguise, not bad :D. Thanks for all the help guys.
 
Hell recently I put in a new mobo/cpu in a gateway case that had a p3 733 in it. Put some base board with a 2600+ and the little ole lady couldn't be happier. That was around 4 months ago and she says everythings still running fine.
 
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