Moving all my Dell Components into new case: How?

[djackl]

I'm considering moving all of the components from my Dell Dimension 8300 into a new case. The case I am intending to buy will either be the third or fourth from bottom on this page : http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Silverstone.html
I was wondering if there is anything I need to know with regards to whether the drives will fit, whether the Motherboard and PSU will fit and I also heard that the on/off switch for an 8300 won't go with any other case. I have heard garbled answers from other sources and can't find anywhere that can comprehensively tell me whether it will all go. Does anybody here know whether it would work? Could anybody show me where i can find some sort of guide for this model if it exists? What would I need to buy in order to make the transfer (screws/tools etc)? Thanks.

[DR.Death]

y do that gust save up and buld a computer . in my opion dells are shit

[djackl]

Cost of new PC = Upwards of 500 quid
Cost of new case = 70 quid

My computer as it is runs pretty well, All I want is the cosmetic change of a new case for it.

Dells may be shit in your opinion, but that answer doesn't really help...

[DBH]

In theory there shouldn't be any problems but what I might suggest you do is try and obtain a diagram layout for your particular mobo from DELL because when it comes to hooking up the power switch pins and so forth on your motherboard you will want to know where the pin headers are etc. As long as the mobo is standard atx / matx then I don't see any reason why you can't fit it into another case.

[DR.Death]

what is the hard drive and power sply size

[djbbenn]

The problem with Dells is that sometimes the don't use the ATX standard. So its pretty much impossible, without doing some modding to your new case and so on to change. But as DBH said. If its a ATX board you should be fine. I think it is mostly with their PSU's that aren't ATX, so it could be that the motherboard is not ATX either. Check to see if you board fits the ATX standard... (12"x 9.6")

And you have to makesure theres a backplate that will fit the board in the new case.

-Dan

[djackl]

Check to see if you board fits the ATX standard... (12"x 9.6")

And you have to makesure theres a backplate that will fit the board in the new case.

-Dan

How would I find these things out? I have the motherboard diagram in front of me and see no indication as to whether it is ATX.
Backplate??

what is the hard drive and power sply size

Hard Drive is a Maxtor 6E040L0 40GB, thats all I know. I also have a Western Digital 250GB External Hard Drive connected by USB 2.0.

I am unsure of PSU size, in the manual it says "DC Power Supply - Wattage: 250W or 330W". I don't know which mine is, I would suspect the latter though (I dont see how my PC could possibly run on only 250W). The case I am looking at though does not have a PSU with it, so I assume that it wouldnt be a problem? How would I attach my current PSU to the new case by the way, just screw it in as normal?

Sorry for these noob questions :(

[djbbenn]

Bring out the old tape measure and and measure it. :p

If its those dimensions that means it is ATX forum.

-Dan

[djackl]

I've measured it and it it looked like 10.5"x9.6", is that bad?

[DanTheBanjoman]

Don't think so, it's ore about the holes being positioned right so the screws fit. If it's smaller than a standard ATX board it shouldnt be a problem (larger could be ofc) Don't you have some old ATX board to hold over it?

[djbbenn]

Hmmm, 10.5x9.6, thats not even MATX. I don't think it will fit then cause it might have different mouting holes. It might though, not sure.

-Dan

[djackl]

It's probably not worth it then, I'll just strip the dell stuff out of my current case, keep the RAM and graphics cards etc and build a new pc from scratch. Thanks for all the useful replies though! ;)

[djbbenn]

No problem, Doesn't that hvae a 3GHz in it? Why don't you just get a new board, case and PSU. Get a really good board that is good for overclocking and overclock it like crazy, then later upgrade.

-Dan

[djackl]

That sounds like a very good plan, thanks :)

Any recommendations for motherboards? Im looking on Overclockers.com and I'm not sure where to start when it comes to getting a mobo, i know I'm currently using about 3 PCI slots, and it has to have an AGP slot, but im not sure what else. Ill just put my comps stats below :

CPU - Intel Pentium 4 3.0 Ghz HT
RAM - 2x256MB SDRAM
Graphics Card - 128MB DDR ATI Radeon 9800 Pro
Hard Drives - Maxtor 6E040L0 40 GB, Western Digital 250GB External (USB 2.0)
Removable - SAMSUNG CDRW/DVD SM-348B, 3.5 Floppy Drive
Network Adapters - D-Link AirPlus XtremeG+ DWL-G520+ Wireless PCI Adapter (Soon to be removed, Wireless sucks :rolleyes: ), Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connection.
Sound - Creative SB Live! Series (WDM) PCI

Hope this helps.

[djbbenn]

I personnly like the P4P800-E Deluxe and the P4C800-E Deluxe. I have a P4P and its a monster for overclocking. But for some of the features you need really good ram with tight timings. The P4C is a fravorite for others and has a newer chipset. I take that you CPU is 478 though?

-Dan

[djackl]

yep

[djbbenn]

Ya, those will be a great board, they are really stable too. Theres others, but I don't have any experience with them so I can't exactly recommend them. :rolleyes:

-Dan

[DBH]

10.5 x 9.6 thats not even ATX or MATX hmm sounds like a uATX or sumthing board.. Your from the UK right Djack? Why not try ebuyer.com or check out scan.co.uk they got good deals if you want a mobo for like £30-40 quid for your P4 at least I think they do.

[djackl]

Here is what I have chosen:
PSU - Either : X-PRO 350W Silent Power Supply or Q-Tec 400W Dual Fan Gold PSU
Mobo - Asus P4P800-E Deluxe Intel 865PE (Socket 478) Motherboard
Case - Silverstone Temjin TJ06 - Black (No PSU)

Would the Deluxe Intel 865PE be the correct size for the ATX case? I'm assuimg the PSU just screws in as normal?

[djbbenn]

Sounds good, when choosing a board, it will say ATX or MATX, that will fit all mid tower cases. That board will fit.

-Dan

[DR.Death]

(12"x 9.6") this is what it should be so u cant do it because the holes wont line up so there it your anwser and you are not going to be happy

[djackl]

Sounds good, when choosing a board, it will say ATX or MATX, that will fit all mid tower cases. That board will fit.

-Dan

Yep, I checked the stats and it says ATX Form Factor..Woohoo!!

Thanks for all your help ;)

[INSTG8R]

In your list I would AVOID that Q-Tec PSU they are cheap junk and that 400W is more like 250W(believe me I know I have one in my storage room as my wife killed her PSU when I wasnt around and made an effort to replace it on her own)

[djackl]

In your list I would AVOID that Q-Tec PSU they are cheap junk and that 400W is more like 250W(believe me I know I have one in my storage room as my wife killed her PSU when I wasnt around and made an effort to replace it on her own)

Yep, I thought it looked a bit cheap and crap, So I'll get the other one - is the other PSU fine?

[INSTG8R]

the XPRO looks "okay" but the 12V rail is a bit low @15A if you have the $$ and they have the 400W XPRO its a better choice has 20A on the 12V rail

[djackl]

Ok now i have another problem. I looked at the RAM in my case and it is Micron MT8VDDT3264AG-40BCB (I think, i cant read my own handwriting but that is the gist) and the only one it says is 'tested and qualified' for use with the mobo i want is Micron MT16VDDT6464AG-40BCB. Does this mean that my plan for using this memory with this new motherboard is scuppered?

[INSTG8R]

To me it looks like it should be fine if I google it alot of ASUS shows up in the results but ASUS are known to be fussy with RAM BUT the MoBo you plan on uses 865 chipset which is very forgiving with RAM(I know I have 2 of them to work with) The Missus is a Gigabyte 8IG-1000MK and I have "mixed" RAM running in hers consisting of 1 gig of Corsair Value and 2x256 of Infineon using the same TSOP chips but different SPDs, I also have that puppy OC 2.4C@3.0 so the ram is running 216 as well in Dual Channel.
So bottom line if its PC3200 you should be just fine

[djackl]

I've checked the manual and the only Micron RAM on there is that one I quoted which is 512MB, could it be possible that my RAM is simply that version of RAM except in DDR 256MB?

[INSTG8R]

That would be a fair guess as yours are MT8 and the ones quoted in the manual are MT16

[CaTalyst.X]

Dont worry about the ram lmao it will work fine...dont get either one of those PSU's. If you can, buy an ANTEC 350W+ 380 or 430 would be best. Antec are conservatively rated and they dont boast super high amperage but they are great stable PSU's

-CaT