Anyone replaced a Dell MOBO (memory + CPU question)

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

My computer just died and Dell told me that I need to get a new
motherboard. Not sure if I want to do that because it's literally 1/4
of the total computer price. The warranty just expired this month too
(bastards).

Two questions:


Is it going to be impossible for me to replace the mobo, will I run
the risk of killing the CPU and all the rest of it... (I'm great with
computers, software side and Cisco routers... just clumsy, which is
why I stay away from PC repair)


....and:

If I decide to just get another computer can I use the memory and CPU
from that computer because it seems like a waste to toss it. (I'm
thinking of getting a barebones and using the CPU, memory and drives)
I've heard that the memory is proprietary but I doubt that because
I've not seen proprietary memory for years.

(Duh...) it's a Dimension 2400:

Intel® Celeron® Processor at 2.20GHz with 400MHz front side bus

Operating System Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition¹²

Memory 256MB Shared DDR SDRAM at 333MHz (Performs at 266MHz for 400FSB
systems)

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

Let's back up a step. A fried motherboard of that vintage is pretty rare.
What exact symptoms are you having. I wouldn't trust that Dell told you the
right thing.

On a related note, a brand-new Dimension 2400 with a P4-2.8 is on sale on
the small business site for $349 right now.

Tom
"John Lamar" <john.lamar@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1f1c3397.0408312156.c9ce1a@posting.google.com...
> My computer just died and Dell told me that I need to get a new
> motherboard. Not sure if I want to do that because it's literally 1/4
> of the total computer price. The warranty just expired this month too
> (bastards).
>
> Two questions:
>
>
> Is it going to be impossible for me to replace the mobo, will I run
> the risk of killing the CPU and all the rest of it... (I'm great with
> computers, software side and Cisco routers... just clumsy, which is
> why I stay away from PC repair)
>
>
> ...and:
>
> If I decide to just get another computer can I use the memory and CPU
> from that computer because it seems like a waste to toss it. (I'm
> thinking of getting a barebones and using the CPU, memory and drives)
> I've heard that the memory is proprietary but I doubt that because
> I've not seen proprietary memory for years.
>
> (Duh...) it's a Dimension 2400:
>
> Intel® Celeron® Processor at 2.20GHz with 400MHz front side bus
>
> Operating System Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition¹²
>
> Memory 256MB Shared DDR SDRAM at 333MHz (Performs at 266MHz for 400FSB
> systems)

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

For all practical purposes, if you replace a motherboard in a recent model Dell,
you need to replace it with the same (or very similar) Dell model of board. You
cannot use a generic motherboard without doing significant rewiring of the leads
to the front panel on-off button, LEDs and USB ports.

That said, it is not a difficult job, only a tedious and painstaking job of
careful disassembly and reassembly. And you have to get all the parts back
exactly in place for the computer to work right again.

If you buy another case with motherboard, you should be able to transplant
EVERYTHING (hard drive, CPU, memory, CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, etc.) out of your
Dell into the new case, with the exception of the floppy drive. The new case
will probably require a cooling fan/heat sink combo that sits on top of the CPU,
rather than the passive heat sink and chassis fan with shroud used by Dell.

If you replace the case and motherboard, and you do not live so far away that
shipping costs would be prohibitive, I might be willing to buy the Dimension
2400 remains. I won't pay serious money, but the parts are useful for me to
have around.

As another posting noted, new Dell Dimension 2400s are on sale at pretty
attractive prices... Ben Myers

On 31 Aug 2004 22:56:12 -0700, john.lamar@gmail.com (John Lamar) wrote:

>My computer just died and Dell told me that I need to get a new
>motherboard. Not sure if I want to do that because it's literally 1/4
>of the total computer price. The warranty just expired this month too
>(bastards).
>
>Two questions:
>
>
>Is it going to be impossible for me to replace the mobo, will I run
>the risk of killing the CPU and all the rest of it... (I'm great with
>computers, software side and Cisco routers... just clumsy, which is
>why I stay away from PC repair)
>
>
>...and:
>
>If I decide to just get another computer can I use the memory and CPU
>from that computer because it seems like a waste to toss it. (I'm
>thinking of getting a barebones and using the CPU, memory and drives)
>I've heard that the memory is proprietary but I doubt that because
>I've not seen proprietary memory for years.
>
>(Duh...) it's a Dimension 2400:
>
>Intel® Celeron® Processor at 2.20GHz with 400MHz front side bus
>
>Operating System Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition¹²
>
>Memory 256MB Shared DDR SDRAM at 333MHz (Performs at 266MHz for 400FSB
>systems)

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

Forgot to mention the $349 Dimension 2400 includes free shipping.

Tom
<ben_myers_spam_me_not @ charter.net (Ben Myers)> wrote in message
news:413600b5.11035389@news.charter.net...
<snip>

> If you replace the case and motherboard, and you do not live so far away
> that
> shipping costs would be prohibitive, I might be willing to buy the
> Dimension
> 2400 remains. I won't pay serious money, but the parts are useful for me
> to
> have around.