[kevin_tsoi2000]

I have finally decided to attempt to upgrade my computer. I don't quite have the money to buy a case, so I'm just going to stay with my Dell microATX case (plus it will be funny when people are saying, "Dude, Dell sucks", then I pwn their computer). I'm going with a the biostar TForce6100, as I have heard it is the best mATX board there is. I'm hoping to pair it with a AMD64 3200+, but if I find a good deal in the next few days (this is where you guys become all generous and offer your 3700+ at an extremely discounted price

) then I'll go with something better.

So, finally to my question. Has anyone swapped a Dell mobo out and put another mobo in? I'm just afraid Dell managed to make their parts non-compatiable with other motherboards. I'm still using the original HD and DVD drive. I probably will have to upgrade my power supply eventually (will a 300W even power a 3200+?). Thanks for helping take the first step guys!! lol

 

[Evolutionsentra]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevin_tsoi2000 I have finally decided to attempt to upgrade my computer. I don't quite have the money to buy a case, so I'm just going to stay with my Dell microATX case (plus it will be funny when people are saying, "Dude, Dell sucks", then I pwn their computer). I'm going with a the biostar TForce6100, as I have heard it is the best mATX board there is. I'm hoping to pair it with a AMD64 3200+, but if I find a good deal in the next few days (this is where you guys become all generous and offer your 3700+ at an extremely discounted price ) then I'll go with something better. So, finally to my question. Has anyone swapped a Dell mobo out and put another mobo in? I'm just afraid Dell managed to make their parts non-compatiable with other motherboards. I'm still using the original HD and DVD drive. I probably will have to upgrade my power supply eventually (will a 300W even power a 3200+?). Thanks for helping take the first step guys!! lol

Only thing I have noticed with most Dell's is that the case opens on the right (if look at the front) instead of the left like 99% of the aftermarket cases. Other than the fact that all your PCI/PCIe devices will be upside down, it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[kevin_tsoi2000]

If you look at my case from the front, it opens from the left. I haven't paid much attention to other Dells, but as for as mine, it's from the left.

Has anyone or anyone you know done this operation before? Still kinda nervious that Dell my screw me over.....

 

[soloz2]

hey, my concern with just swapping out the mobo is that you probably won't have a powerful enough psu to run your new system. Dell often cuts corners to keep costs low for things like psu especially on their lower end systems or the small form factor rigs. A small case doesn't have the room for things to be added so it typically gets a smaller psu.

with this in mind... you need to take a good look at what you will be running and what the spcs on the psu are.

Also, will you be running a gfx card or integrated... if you will be using a gfx card there really isn't the need to buy a mobo that has integrated.

Your best bet would proably be to get a cheap mid tower case and a good psu... then you can get a atx mobo and have greater expandability and options

 

[kevin_tsoi2000]

I don't have the money to buy a case, ATX mobo, CPU, and power supply. I'm getting this motherboard because it got good review and is suppose to be a decent overclocker, I don't care about the intergrated graphics.

How much power is recommended for the 3200+? I have 300W with [email protected], which is pathetic, but will it at least run until I do get a new power supply?

 

[NOS---]

NVM, I saw that you have a rosewell Power supply

 

[soloz2]

well since you're overclocking you need a new psu. 18a on the 12v rail just will not cut it... especially since it is not a name brand. Rosewill while they make some good entry level psus... they are not near the quality or even in the same league as FSP, Antec, Enermax, Seasonic and others.

If you do not care about integrated graphics then you might want to look at Nvidia's 6150 chipset. I believe the graphics are a bit better... I'm not sure of the price difference though.

I just bought this psu earlier this week to put in a 3200+ system I built a couple days ago.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104954
dual 12v rails w/ 18a each. this is what I put in it.
Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe
3200+ venice
160gb Seagate SATA 300Mb/s hd
DVD-RW
Floppy
ATI HDTV tv tuner card (still coming)
the case came w/ an Antec smartpower 2 350w but I just wasn't comfortable w/ that small of a psu.

you should look for a psu that has a minimum of 24a on the 12v rail.

Also, since you will be getting a new mobo it will have a 24pin atx connector instead of the old 20pin. so you will need to buy a new psu regardless because most motherboard maunfactures state that you can use a 20pin psu in a 24pin mobo, but you have to have a minimum of a 500w 20pin psu. I had problems w/ my bro's Asus mobo (ATI Express 200 chipset) and he was running a 420w 20pin psu and Asus didn't even want to talk to me until I was able to get through to them that I knew the problem wasn't psu related bc I hooked my Seasoic up to his system to check.

 

[guitarzan24754]

I was planning to do the same thing with my dell 5100. I cant afford a new case/cd drives/hd so i was planning on upgrading to an amd 3700 with new mobo and possibly more ram. I also want it to be a pretty good overclocker and im not sure how compadible everything is gonna be. I dont know what kind of mobo i'm gonna get so any suggestions would be helpful. im looking at something hopefully cheaper than $120-ish

 

[kevin_tsoi2000]

Is the 5100 a microATX or ATX? If it's ATX, look to MSI or ASUS, I don't think DFI makes any boards that cheap. If it's mATX, go with the biostar TForce, thats what I'm getting.

 

[guitarzan24754]

i was thinking

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131530

 

[soloz2]

you can get the dfi lanparty nf4 ultra board for 130. their infinity board is just under 100

 

[NOS---]

OK, after reading this a few times....

Are you using the DELL Power supply with the DELL motherboard? or did you put the 300W in yiour siggy for fun?

As I have said 50 BILLION times, dell is almost completly non standered, as in, DELL Motherboard, DELL PS, DELL RAM.... If you plan on using the DELL PS, kiss the new motherboard goodbye, becuse dell is non standered, SO,

Dell motherboard+Reg PS=POOF
Aftermarket Motherboard+Dell PS=POOF

Get my point? Also, the ram is usally non-standered to...

Kinda funny, My Antec 350w SPII blew up, so I have to use my HP 250W, which is desent, but I had to go back to stock speeds on my CPU.

SO, Save a little more, get a good PS, Geting a non-name brand is a hit and miss game.

 

[soloz2]

actually it depends on what dell model you get. yeah, dell uses different motherboard headers... for like fans and stuff, but a lot of their mobos are standard atx or mini atx so you can swap the case... and some of them even have standard 20 or 24pin psus

 

[kevin_tsoi2000]

I have an aftermarket PSU with my dell mobo and I haven't had any "poof"ing. I haven't tried my dell PSU with any other mobo, but it looks to be a standard 24-pin PSU. Also, the RAM, I've tried it in other computers and it works fine, I also have aftermarket RAM running in my Dell mobo. So not everything is non-standard, but a bit below standard...

 

[soloz2]

yeah, Dell uses regular RAM... sometimes they use ECC RAM though