A NEW CASE???

Question

Bit of an odd one really, Im sure Dell dont often get this query as your cases are lovely, very well worked out inside and pretty on the outside.

I have 3 systems from Dell but the two I wish to query are a Dimension 8100 and 2350. Both are relatively old, the 8100 being the oldest, yet still running very well indeed.

I have upgraded pretty much all of whats inside both systems besides the motherboards. Both systems are setup next to each other on a KVM switch but its always annoyed me somewhat that the two cases dont look the same! The 8100 is a MIDI and the 2350 is a micro-ATX.

Does anyone know how easily possible it is to change the case? My main concern is the power and reset button switches on the new case being compatible with the Dell motherboards.

There maybe issues with cooling on the 2350 because there will not be any green airflow box to the rear case fan but Im sure I could get around that with a side panel fan on the new case or a fixed CPU fan. Im guessing the 2350 motherboard will still work in a MIDI case, just need to screw the motherboard pins into the correct configuration for micro-ATX?

I would be very greatful if anyone can answer these queries for me.

Martin.

:smileytongue:

ravik521 · Answer

dell does not use standard ATX motherboards. So it will not fit in a standard pc tower case. You could get another motherboard for like $50. at www.newegg.com and combine both computers into one case. The 2350 green shroud is not necessary to the cooling system. Yes, it helps direct heat out and absorbs the vibration from the fan to make the pc quieter.

35dnld53 · Answer

The motherboard seems to range in at 9.6 X 9.6

weither its a ATX or a microATX you can size w/that dimension....

one StandOff might miss the mark on the change-over so care must be used to have NO DAMAGE occur...an adhesive StandOff might be used....

the Power Supply is a tricky matter considering the PLUGS at 40-pin or 12-pin or the needed 4-pin....considering the New Cooling Fan "integration"...

there are two Power Supply FORM FACTORS of ATX or SFX<<<------check me on that one......since its mostly about the Plugs......

INTEL has offered some nice alternatives to the Pentium 4-processor.....

the Celeron D.....and compatible Motherboard......running IA32.....

the Power Supply is important on the Plug-end......from my weeks of researching the INSTALL of these ITEMS from INTEL.....their website has alot of INFO....

All the LINGO is there to read and then the Compatibility Charts are very good....Processor-Motherboard-Chipset//////intergration of these new Cheaper Celeron D parts are all about the build-up of HEAT inside the Chassis...heat dissipation is Premier w/Celeron D......

I'm useing a Pentium 4 Motherboard w/a Celeron D 331.....all the charts say YES.....haven't installed this stuff yet.....I'm up to the Power Supply configuration....and its Plug-adaptation.....for the new Board...

My motherboard is an microATX BOXED from INTEL....DELL could NOT give me SPECS on the DELL Dimension Original(so I measured it and went from that angle).....

INTEL offered that DELL would stay with-in the Guidelines for the PC-Cards.....at the back of the PC....and the other Component Hook-ups seem correct.....

So in its normal Intergration the Power Supply must have the Connection PLUGS to use Celeron D compatible Motherboards....and knowledge of the Power Supply Output(specs)....12v....5v.....stuff....

after that its the attention to DETAIL that Software has given to Celeron D....it has a Special configuration for Installation of Software + Drivers.....a specific ORDER must be USED....since WINDOWS is Supported.....you may need a New OS-Boxed Part to use a New Motherboard and its instructions(leaveing chance behind on UPGRADE-OS software)....I think its advisible to get a OS(not an UPGRADE)....

the rest is spelled out by INTEL as a Job for Professionals......

its a tricky----job...

.........................

35dnld53 · Answer

The DELL Dimension 2350 ran some 4-years at a heavy rate..I even wore-out a NIKON-E2100 Digital camera over this PC....and moved onto DVD-writing....getting into External HDD as archives..and a SONY DL DVD-burner...sometimes the 2350 would run for 3-days....never one moment of a problem in its own right....most times I would cause a Glitche because of my hurring the process....was never much of a problem.....once or twice I lost a whole DV-movie File....in the blink of an eye.....some 2-3 days work....PUFF!!!

How-ever the Dimension really "Blew" its Heat Sink over a FORCED Shut-down because I needed to leave the house.....the DEFRAGMENTOR was running some 6-hours on two DV-avi FILES....each about 17.4 GB's in size.....and located on an external HDD(MAXTOR-120GB)....

I have performed w/Forced Shut-downs while in the Defragmentor before/how-ever my DV-avi files never really exceed 10-GB's.....and a single FILE was the norm...

It created the loud-est SNAP-noise....the HEAT-sink just POPPED off its Retaining MODULE....a simple piece of thin plastic.....and the PC--->began to die.....

So---->now I'm going to learn some new Tricks I hope.....in the field of Celeron D....

and no more files larger than 10-GB's....

I purchased a New DELL B110//////and its nice at 256 MB's of RAM....w/Celeron D 2.55 GHz...Processor....I think its a 325......I collected some JPG's into FILES today and all went nicely....

When its time to make a DVD-I'll find out about nice smooth Transitions and Effects....

But the Celeron D is said to be great on the Audio side...../good luck to all on any upgrades.

shesagordie · Answer

35dnld53 wrote:    ' The DELL Dimension 2350 ran some 4-years at a heavy rate..I even wore-out a NIKON-E2100 Digital camera over this PC....and moved onto DVD-writing....getting into External HDD as archives..and a SONY DL DVD-burner...sometimes the 2350 would run for 3-days....never one moment of a problem in its own right....most times I would cause a Glitche because of my hurring the process....was never much of a problem.....once or twice I lost a whole DV-movie File....in the blink of an eye.....some 2-3 days work....PUFF!!! How-ever the Dimension really 'Blew' its Heat Sink over a FORCED Shut-down because I needed to leave the house.....the DEFRAGMENTOR was running some 6-hours on two DV-avi FILES....each about 17.4 GB's in size.....and located on an external HDD(MAXTOR-120GB).... I have performed w/Forced Shut-downs while in the Defragmentor before/how-ever my DV-avi files never really exceed 10-GB's.....and a single FILE was the norm... It created the loud-est SNAP-noise....the HEAT-sink just POPPED off its Retaining MODULE....a simple piece of thin plastic.....and the PC--->began to die..... So---->now I'm going to learn some new Tricks I hope.....in the field of Celeron D.... and no more files larger than 10-GB's.... I purchased a New DELL B110//////and its nice at 256 MB's of RAM....w/Celeron D 2.55 GHz...Processor....I think its a 325......I collected some JPG's into FILES today and all went nicely.... When its time to make a DVD-I'll find out about nice smooth Transitions and Effects.... But the Celeron D is said to be great on the Audio side...../good luck to all on any upgrades'   How absolutely fascinating......... Bev.

35dnld53 · Answer

It seems that the Power Supply needs to be 8-amp.....

Old Power Supply's come in at 5-amp.....

then there is the -5volt connection<<<----New Power Supply's have eliminated this PIN

My DELL Dimension 2350 is said to use 200 watts of POWER..but I can't find an AMP-rating anywhere..so I think I'm going to just replace the power supply w/240 watts or 300 watts..

There are about 8-differant FORM FACTORS for Power Supply's..you can check this LINK...http://www.formfactors.org/formfactor.asp

I'm fairly sure that I need a ATX or an SFX Power Supply..at this point/I need to physically remove the Power Supply in the DELL Dimension 2350 to get more exact INFO..I hope some LABEL is on that UNIT.

shesagordie · Answer

35dnld53 The D-2350 uses a standard ATX power supply, with or without the on/off switch.   Bev.

35dnld53 · Answer

I can figure the swap on the Power Supply..its the Specs that have me wondering..since I have gone to a New Motherboard useing a 2 X 12 Connector..the DELL Original is 2 X 10...I need to understand the PCI Express and Sound card Properties of the INTEL Motherboard....D915GAG...

I have found a couple of Power Supply's....at PC Power Cooling.com

The Power Supply configured to the INTEL Motherboard=Turbo-Cool 510 Express/SLI

The DELL Dimension 2350 exact replacement is the SILENCER 410...and I like the SPECS on the DELL Dimension 3000 the SILENCER 470...seems perfect for my New Motherboard in the DELL 2350...

So now I'm up to Mounting HOLES....the DELL Dimension 2350 has a set of dimensions[5.9"x3.4"x5.5"]....

its all about mounting holes now.

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A NEW CASE???

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