Question Case swappability for prebuilt PC components (mainly the mobo) with support for Intel gen 2-6 ?

[ashdejan]

I need to build about 5-10 usable PCs out of some older Dell and HP prebuilts. One of the first things i wanted to do is swap them to some nicer cases. I noticed some mobos seem to be relatively good for it because they use mostly standard connections/need a few adapters (i.e. the Optiplex 3010).

I was wondering how viable it is to swap them out of their original cases generally, knowing that most aren't this easy to connect to a typical third-party case's front panel connectors, front panel audio etc. ?

Is there a list of like - These are great to swap out of the crappy dell/hp cases- These require some modding - and these you might as well not even bother with?

 

[Lutfij]

I was wondering how viable it is to swap them out of their original cases generally, knowing that most aren't this easy to connect to a typical third-party case's front panel connectors, front panel audio etc. ?
Honestly, they are a waste of resources when you look at prebuilt's like HP, Dell and other brands that have proprietary connectors. To add, I don't think your plan to recycle 2nd and 3rd Gen Intel platforms will result in any fruition.

If you do your real world calc's on how much resources will be expended in the entire endeavor, you're better off building AM4 entry level systems with an APU.

Is there a list of like - These are great to swap out of the crappy dell/hp cases- These require some modding - and these you might as well not even bother with?
Look around our forums and you'll see how many people tend to be mislead from a YouTube video stating that they can be made into a new system but all they were, were click bait videos with the end user needing to add more than a pinch of salt.

Simple answer, don't bother.
My 2 cents.

 

[ashdejan]

I know that they're not exactly seen as worth the trouble, but because of circumstances they came out as the most valid option for me, and my scenario right now. I potentially wanted to look up to 6th gen Intel, maybe past it too but by then it's like 99% proprietary that it's impossible to get through converting everything. I wanted to look at AMD but the setups that i need to make, require dedicated GPUs and that puts most AMD specs out of budget (Some even just barely but still, out) for the people i'm doing this for.

The only ones i saw that seem to have potentially good paths are the xx10 series, 3010/7010, seem to just need 5 pin to 4 pin for the fans and the intruder thing to be moved over, but rest seems relatively ok, easy bypass for power switch, 24 pin for the psu, the only annoying one being the front panel 19 pin but even that has an adapter, what i'm wondering is, did i miss any important connections that seem too difficult to bypass, and is this only a trait of the xx10 series?

 

[USAFRet]

Is there a list of like - These are great to swap out of the crappy dell/hp cases- These require some modding - and these you might as well not even bother with?

There probably isn't a definitive list, but...any case/PSU/motherboard that is/was ATX standard is a good candidate.
Otherwise, not at all.