Upgrading the case

[panicos70]

Hi,

I have a Dell PC and I am very happy with the specs of it, but not so happy with the case. Its starting to shake rattle and roll! Is it possible for me to take the lovely innards of my case and put them in a new case?

Hope someone can help.

[Stubzz]

Unless Dell use some proprietary case system I can't see why you wouldn't be able to. I know back in the old PII days they used some really funky cooling which had to be replaced when the case was changed. Dunno about now days. Have you looked inside it, does anything look difernt to a normal pc/case?

[panicos70]

Yeah, The fan is attached to the case, nothing on the chip at all. They have this tube that floats over the chip to suck the heat away from the haet sink.

Apart from that though all fairly normal.

[Lord Kordir]

I'm not totally certain but from previous experience Dell don't use standard ATX m.boards. I would suggest giving Dell a ring but I would expect them to be less than helpful with regards to this.

[Stubzz]

Sounds like the cooling needs to be changed then. Never knew that about the motherboards if it's true.

[ed^chigliak]

I don't know much about Dell computers. If everything is standard kit inside it won't be a problem to transfer everything over to a new case. If you have the mother board manual it will tell you where all the wires should go or alternatively take digital photos or make notes and refer to these to put it back together. Can sometimes be a bit tricky wiring USB/Firewire/Audio to the front of a new case if you have this feature. Hopefully someone with more experience of Dell design will know if you need to replace anything else. I am thinking of the power supply since I know on some Compaq computers they use a hinged unit of their own design.

[panicos70]

Thanks guys,

The other question then is if I buy a case and a new motherboard then can I then just simply move everything acroos. What about My hardrive for instance will that work with the new motherboard given that the software (windows XP) is from Dell?

Hope that kind of makes sense!

[Stubzz]

In theory any copy of WinXP will work with any machine. In practice however it is possible to lock the copy down to one make of machine or possible even a specific model. Dell have been known to do this, I have a copy of WinME that will only install on my old Inspiron. If it dont work can you get hold of a mates copy of XP and just use your ker for it?

This is only for installing the OS btw, but if you change motherboard you're most likly going to have to do this anyway.

[panicos70]

As I thought. Might be best just to contact Dell and Get a new case off them then.

[Stubzz]

I honestly wouldn't bother then. Might as well save your money and get a decent case when you upgrade/get a new PC. Any case you get from Dell is going to have the same 'features' (read problems).

[panicos70]

Cheers Guys,

I'll wait to go the way of the new PC upgrade then. Money saved, will just put up with the insisent humming from the machine!

[Lord Kordir]

1.) Check if motherboard is standard size
2.) If it will fit properly into a new case then purchase a new case!
3.) Transfer CPU, HDD, Memory etc into new case with existing motherboard
4.) Should work when you switch the power on in new case but may need to change some BIOS settings and remove old/install new drivers

[panicos70]

How do I check if the motherboard is a standard size. Looks standard size

[Lord Kordir]

Did it come supplied with a motherboard manual?

[panicos70]

The Manuel is detailled and comes with the full specs. What should I be looking for to tell if its standard or not?

Cheers

[Lord Kordir]

Does it come supplied with a manual that has the make and model of the motherboard on it? If so, we can tell from that