Dell case replacement

[djayriv]

I have a new dell desktop I was wanting to put in a custom case, but a friend told me that the dell motherboard and hardrive could not be put in another case. He said that dell has a setup that will cause everything to shut down if it is changed out. Is this right or can I change cases with no fear of having to purchase a new copy of windows?

[Luke122]

Hehe..

The only limitiation for moving a Dell system into a new case is the possibility of the motherboard and CPU cooler mounts not lining up correctly. I've moved a Dell system into a new case with no issues (other than the cpu cooler, which was solved by replacing it with an aftermarket cooler anyways).

Be careful, take your time, and triple check everything before trying to power it up, and you should be fine.

[Airbozo]

I have a new dell desktop I was wanting to put in a custom case, but a friend told me that the dell motherboard and hardrive could not be put in another case. He said that dell has a setup that will cause everything to shut down if it is changed out. Is this right or can I change cases with no fear of having to purchase a new copy of windows?

I have also moved parts out of a Dell case with the only issue being the heatsink for the CPU. Like Luke, I just used an aftermarket cooler with aa back plate. I did have to drill and tap 2 holes for stand offs that were not in the normal "ATX" locations. It was very simple though. Check the hole locations on the current motherboard to make sure they align...

[mDust]

Dell does have a nasty habit of using proprietary parts in their builds, which means they have been designed to work in Dell systems but not necessarily any other system. My 5y/o Dell XPS was 90% proprietary. I could only reuse the CPU, RAM, HDDs, ODDs and 1 fan. The motherboard was not an atx standard size and didn't have standard screw holes, so neither could be reused without heavy modding. They even notched the cabling so that was left as scrap too. All heatsinks, drive attachment systems, and misc. goodies were all proprietary and were unique to that case...they're all still sitting inside it.
I think one day I'll get the time and money and mod the case into something functional again, but until then, thanks Dell.
I'm not sure how the motherboard could know which case it is screwed into...but google your model + atx standard. You should be able to find out from there if it will fit in a regular case. (atx standard=yes; not atx standard=no)

[Luke122]

The XPS towers looked great, but yeah.. monsters to work with. :P

[Bopher]

Wasn't there a mod here a couple months ago where someone was using a Dell Desktop case and kept running into a short somewhere because of the way everything was designed to fit in the Dell case? Or am I just crazy, as could easily be the case.:D:D :suspicious: *who said that, shhh!*

[SXRguyinMA]

I'm using a Dell case in my Monster project and the only reason I havent done anything with it is because its proving to be a bitch to get everything to work right!

Dell went and used a mini IDE-style cable to connect the mobo and the front panel buttons, so that limits its placement, and I'd have to find/make custom lights and buttons for it. I'm trying to do it on the inexpensive side so who knows. Eventually I'll finish it. I may just pop his dell back together and pick up a cheap P4 system off ebay to put in it or somethin

[Luke122]

I'm using a Dell case in my Monster project and the only reason I havent done anything with it is because its proving to be a bitch to get everything to work right!

Dell went and used a mini IDE-style cable to connect the mobo and the front panel buttons, so that limits its placement, and I'd have to find/make custom lights and buttons for it. I'm trying to do it on the inexpensive side so who knows. Eventually I'll finish it. I may just pop his dell back together and pick up a cheap P4 system off ebay to put in it or somethin

1. Are the front panel items all attached to a PCB? (buttons, leds)
2. Is the ribbon cable soldered on to the front panel PCB?

1. If so, then just replace the ribbon cable with a used hdd cable, and mod down to the size needed. :)

2. If so, then just desolder, and see #1.

:)

[SXRguyinMA]

1. Yes
2. No

its not standard IDE size. its maybe 75% of the size of a floppy cable even. Even if I were to trim the cable it'd still be too thick. I'll get a pic sometime and show you :up:

[chaksq]

Mine old dell was like that, I put it in a NZXT Apollo case for a short time, I actually was able to trace the wires from the stock front panel PCB, figure out the pins on the mobo and connected the power button and LEDs.

[djayriv]

:)Thanks for all the responses! Its been awhile since I could sit down, (finals week). On the bright side though I have just acquired the first computer I ever worked on back. An e-machine I bought new in 06. So now along with the Dell I can play with the e-machine too. heheheheh.