Dell xps 720 case

[douglasb]

Firstly does anyone actually have one of these & if so what do you think about it? Have you converted it to take an atx mobo?

There is a small computer shop I walk past on my way to & from uni with one in the window. I can't tell if it has anything inside it (hopefully not though) & I'm tempted to ask how much they want for it, does anyone know how much they tend to sell for?

[Pob255]

I've not got one, hard to say on cost, I'd say around £30-60, it depends on the condition of the case, colour and if it has a psu.
I've seen a bit battered ones without PSU go for around $40 in the US but I've also seen them go for around $100

Converting it will require some work.
Best bet, you'll need to cut out the rear section where the motherboard is, get a normal ATX back panel to replace it.
Simplest solution here is to buy a separate removable motherboard tray, remove the dell btx motherboard tray and just put the new one in, add a couple of holes to screw it in.

There's nothing you can do with just "off the shelf" bits it will require some modding but not a great deal.
Here's a log that shows what need to be done http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2240071

I've found only one for sale in the UK for £160 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DELL-XPS-7...item563bf47ad5
I'm guessing the xps 720 was more common in the US so they cannot price gouge so much.

[douglasb]

I've not got one, hard to say on cost, I'd say around £30-60, it depends on the condition of the case, colour and if it has a psu.
I've seen a bit battered ones without PSU go for around $40 in the US but I've also seen them go for around $100

Converting it will require some work.
Best bet, you'll need to cut out the rear section where the motherboard is, get a normal ATX back panel to replace it.
Simplest solution here is to buy a separate removable motherboard tray, remove the dell btx motherboard tray and just put the new one in, add a couple of holes to screw it in.

There's nothing you can do with just "off the shelf" bits it will require some modding but not a great deal.
Here's a log that shows what need to be done http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2240071

I've found only one for sale in the UK for £160 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DELL-XPS-7...item563bf47ad5
I'm guessing the xps 720 was more common in the US so they cannot price gouge so much.

That was the kind of range I was hoping for. The one you found on ebay I'd found too (bit too expensive!) but I found another one for £30 (plus p&p).
I eventually asked in the shop I walk past every day and they said it wasn't for sale because it was one of their systems that they were using... despite it being up on a table on display to passers by, switched off and, as far as I could see, not even plugged in!

I knew the work it would require and had read through that thread before my original post, I found another one where the guy had kept the original back pannel as intact as possible and re-built it around the new atx mobo tray and back panel so that the case looked like it hadn't be touched. I'd like to go with that approach bit obviouly it would require more work & time. Before I can do anything though I need to actually get hold of one!

[dave87]

If I was going to put the effort into modifying a PC case, I'd go for one of the Mac Pro (G5?) cases. Probably a lot of work, but they are getting cheaper!

[Pob255]

I was never that big a fan of the Pro G5, I did love the G4 Cube

[douglasb]

The pro G5 is a nice looking case, I prefer the xps 720 though because I think I'll be able to do more with it. Finding one is still proving a challenge though...