[SOLVED] dell optiplex motherboards

[valrog]

do you guys know if they follow the normal atx/matx motherboard? im trying to find a cheap lga 1155 motherboard just so i can use my pc and there are lga 1155 motherboards pulled out from optiplexes that are selling for cheap. i was wondering if i can just buy that and put it on a case or something.

 

[Barty1884]

Depends on the specific Optiplex model, IIRC?
I think the smaller (SFF) ones used a custom layout.... the mid/full towers used mATX or ATX....

LGA1155 should be after Dell stopped using proprietary PSUs, so you should be fine with a normal ATX PSU (4pin EPS, 24pin ATX)

 

[valrog]

yeah. its pulled out from a 7010 i think

 

[Barty1884]

Looks fine to me:

 

[Alabalcho]

The only problem you could have is with front panel interface. Dell used custom connector (single ribbon cable for everything at the front), and it is not easy task guessing the pinout.

Dell have good support site, where you can download even service documentation for most of the models. Check there for your future motherboard.

 

[Barty1884]

I don't think Dell were using the ribons by the Optiplex 7010 era, were they Alabalcho?

The front panel is a good point though - while the image I posted appears to have F_Panel pins on the bottom right of the board (bottom of the left side in the image), they'll be unlabeled. Dell did use an all-in-one connector there.

So, you'll have to do a bit of trial and error to get the power button etc wired correctly.

 

[valrog]

oh okay. im pretty sure the fpanel label would be somewhere in the internet right.

 

[Barty1884]

Not always, no.

Not too difficult. Try one spot, if it works, great. If not, try another spot.

 

[william p]

The ribbon socket is on the lower left corner of the MB in the photo. You might buy the front I/O board and figure out the pinout that way. Just be aware that Optiplexes have a 95W CPU limit and may not run all the 1156 CPUs.