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Customize a Dell?

AutoScizAutoSciz Registered User regular
edited March 2007 in Help / Advice Forum
I want to take everything out of a Dell computer I have and keep the case. Will a motherboard, power supply, etc fit inside the case? As far as screw holes lining up for a new motherboard and a power supply fitting correctly?

AutoSciz on

Posts

  • zhen_roguezhen_rogue Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    Depends on the case - what model do you have?

    I've had several dells in the past - and all of them had proprietary cases, which made upgrades/replacements difficult or impossible.

    zhen_rogue on
  • Darth WaiterDarth Waiter Elrond Hubbard Mordor XenuRegistered User regular
    edited March 2007
    zhen_rogue wrote: »
    Depends on the case - what model do you have?

    I've had several dells in the past - and all of them had proprietary cases, which made upgrades/replacements difficult or impossible.

    Lime it, bold it, and italicize it.

    Yeah, find out the model number and see what's what online with a case modding site or some such. If you have a dremel, your life wil be a lot easier. Trust me on that one.

    Darth Waiter on
  • David BlaineDavid Blaine __BANNED USERS regular
    edited March 2007
    Why do you want to keep the case and throw everything else out?

    David Blaine on
  • ZombiemamboZombiemambo Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    David Blaine wrote: »
    Why do you want to keep the case and throw everything else out?

    Because that's an extra 50-100 dollars he can save and spend elsewhere?

    Zombiemambo on
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  • KyzenKyzen Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    Since you're talking about junking everything inside the case, I'm going to assume it's an older model, in which case the above advice is dead on. You're pretty much hosed when it comes to re-using the case; every Dell I've seen uses a stupid custom mobo mounting form, so you won't be able to get a new motherboard in there.

    Look around online, you should be able to find a cheap (or free after rebate) case somewhere.

    Kyzen on
  • AutoScizAutoSciz Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    It's a Dell Dimension 8100. I probably won't junk the old parts, just keep them stored away somewhere since there isn't really anything wrong with it.

    The main reason I wanted to keep the case is because I wanted to surprise my parents with a new computer.

    Sort of like:
    Me - "I got you a new computer"
    Them - "Where?"
    Me - "Hehe, suckers."

    I show my mom cases all the time (not ALL the time) and she hates them all. So I figured what the hell.

    AutoSciz on
  • PheezerPheezer Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited March 2007
    You could probably upgrade the hard drive, RAM and optical drive and it'd be just as good as giving them a new computer, only you wouldn't have nightmarish problems with the case. I doubt your parents are being limited by the CPU when they're opening their e-mail or typing in Word.

    Pheezer on
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