This post is more than 5 years old
3 Posts
0
3598
Dell XPs 8300 motherboard, will it fit a non dell tower case?
Hello:
I have installed a hard drive docking bay on my xps8300 so I can swap hardrives without opening the computer, but front bezel of the computer case is too small and does not aloe me to use this dock.
So I need to replace the computer tower case with one that does not cover the external bays.
Can anyone tell me what other case will fit my mobo?
Thanks in advance; gentleman
elmgrove
rdunnill
6 Professor
6 Professor
•
8.8K Posts
1
January 7th, 2017 15:00
Any mATX case should work. The Dell front panel connectors are different, but I don't think they changed between the XPS 8300 and XPS 8500, and I successfully installed an XPS 8500 motherboard in a Cooler Master N200 chassis.
The two LEDs (HDD and Power) are in the traditional locations, but the power switch is immediately to the right and straddles the two rows rather than having its pins all in one row. For clarification, you can examine the front panel motherboard connector and note the assignments.
All other connections, including USB and front audio, are standard.
ejn63
1 Rookie
1 Rookie
•
87.5K Posts
1
January 7th, 2017 03:00
Without extensive reverse-engineering, nothing -- though the board will fit other cases, the Dell wiring connector won't work with an aftermarket case -- and you'll be in for hours of multimeter work to figure out what connects where. You'll likely also wind up with bootup errors when the BIOS reports the front panel connections missing.
elmgrove gentle
3 Posts
0
January 7th, 2017 08:00
Thanks ejn63 for a fast and meaningful answer.
elmgrove gentleman
elmgrove gentle
3 Posts
0
January 10th, 2017 20:00
Hey Thanks, You just gave an incentive to go ahead and try it. I'll post if I get right.
Thanks again;
elmgrove gentleman
Dan-H
1.2K Posts
0
January 10th, 2017 23:00
pinout in this thread:
en.community.dell.com/.../19629462