Dell upgrade woes

[Demolitio]

I'm currently attempting to upgrade a Dell Dimension 1100 for a friend, and I have a question: does anyone know if it would be possible to replace the mobo and and PSU in this system, or is it all proprietary? (i'd much rather replace the case myself, but he likes it as it is.)

for those of you interested, here's a link to the product/specs:

http://www1.ca.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/dimen_1100?c=ca&l=en&s=dhs&cs=CADHS1

 

[AMDIsTheBest010]

sorry, looks like you're out of luck, b/c All of dells products use propietary mobos, and PSUs, thats why if you look at the rear of the PC, the ports are in different places than in a off the shelf mobo.for example, the PS/2 ports are located lower down on the case unlike most mobos which put them on top. If you replace the mobo, you will have to buy another copy in WInXP, since the OEM version that came loaded on it, is locked to that mobo.

...AMD

 

[agissi]

sorry, looks like you're out of luck, b/c All of dells products use propietary mobos, and PSUs, thats why if you look at the rear of the PC, the ports are in different places than in a off the shelf mobo.for example, the PS/2 ports are located lower down on the case unlike most mobos which put them on top. If you replace the mobo, you will have to buy another copy in WInXP, since the OEM version that came loaded on it, is locked to that mobo.

...AMD

This is why you take plan B.

If its an ATX case, you can buy any ATX mobo and the mounting holes should mostly be the same (they were when I did this with an HP). Atleast enough of the mounting holes should line up to keep the mobo secured. To get around the back I/O plate problem, take a drill, and put in a drill bit thats the size of the rivits that hold in the back I/O Plate. Now just take your drill, and drill through the rivits and the back I/O plate will fall right out. Only consequence is that you wont be able to put a new one in, so you wont have an I/O plate at all. I havnt had one on my computer for over 1.5yrs now, so your fine without one. Be sure you get every single bit of metal out of the case so you dont short anything. If its a micro atx case, just be sure the mobo you get is a micro atx mobo. If the PSU may be smaller than a conventual/real PSU, so you may not be able to fit one that you can buy online in the case, but it would depend on what psu comes with that dell model.If you dont mind ghetto riging a bit, you could always just take the dell power supply out of there, buy a new one (you might want a new one for a beefed up videocard,etc) and just let it sit on the bottom of the case. Gravity will work to your advantage here. If you want to mount it in the bottom, line up the psu's mounting holes with the backside of the case, dot where the holes line up on the inside with a Sharpie marker, then drill out the holes with an appropriate size drill bit. Then the screw can go thru the case, into the psu, screw in and secure it. Its not as bad as it might sound.

 

[AMDIsTheBest010]

you will of course, void your warranty by doing that.

...AMD

 

[agissi]

Real men void their warranty

 

[MetalX]

Lol, indeed we do!

 

[GeekieNick101]

Warranty usually isnt any good anyways, Dell usually will give you a refurb system anyways

 

[AMDIsTheBest010]

well thats true, i voided the warranty on my new Dell Inspiron E1505 the third day i got it, by upgrading the RAM with "non-Dell Geniune" RAM

...AMD

 

[GeekieNick101]

Really? If you use non Dell RAM in a Dell computer it voids the warranty?

 

[agissi]

Oh very much so really!

 

[AMDIsTheBest010]

yea, if you use any parts in a Dell computer, that are not manufactured and "certified" by dell, they will void your warranty. kind of funny though, when i upgraded RAM in my E1505, the RAM that Dell uses, is manufactured by Samsung! even Crucials' web scanner confirmed it.

Ahh, good old Michael Dell For ya, first he sells you a PC made with propietary parts, then he outsources your tech supp. calls to India, then he voids your warranty when you want to add better parts than the junk he crammed in that flimsy computer case. (PS. if you cant tell, I dont like Dell PCs, the only reason I bought the E1505, was b/c it was $400 off with instant savings.)

...AMD

 

[GeekieNick101]

I dont like dell comptuers either, same reason I got mine my desktop I saved like $500 with instant savings and I cant remember how much with my laptop but anyways I did upgrade my graphics card in my desktop after dell told me I should so now my warranty is void? I didnt buy the graphics card from dell so its not certified from dell.

Thanks for telling me this, I wonder if I voided my warranty?