Question Dell XPS 720 BTX Motherboard Replacement?

[DrD31]

I have an old XPS 720 Dell computer. The motherboard is broken and I'm looking to replace it with the same motherboard or anything that will fit/work, really.

From the research I've done and what little I know so far it appears to use BTX form motherboards that aren't really being made anymore. Do I need to use the exact same, or can any BTX motherboard do?

 

[ThatVietGuy]

BTX is not a common form factor, mainly reserved for OEMs like Dell. Your best bet to get the system back up and running is to get the same motherboard off eBay or other place which sells used parts.

 

[DrD31]

After doing some digging, I was only able to find replacement motherboards of the same model for upwards of $400, which is wayy out of my budget.

What problems would I run into if I tried to replace it with other BTX form factor motherboards?

I see several options that look like possibilities, but I'm not tech-savvy enough to know if it would work or not. I made sure to look for only LGA775 motherboards as well, so hopefully that shouldn't be an issue. From what I'm reading one of the main issues might be the PSU compatibility?

For reference the PSU is a Dell H750P-00 (CN-0MG309-47890-79E-0851)
It has a 24-pin cable (P1), a 20-pin cable (P2), a 6-pin cable (P3), and another 6-pin cable (P4)

The motherboard is CK520 (or YU822, I'm not sure what the difference is, they look the same), and also has both a 24-pin and 20-pin connector.

 

[ThatVietGuy]

Buy Dell XPS 720 Desktop System Mainboard Motherboard U723D

1 Year Warranty + Free Shipping! Refurbished Dell (U723D) Motherboard Dell OEM XPS 720 Desktop Motherboard (System Mainboard) - U723D Laptops.

www.parts-people.com

Buy Dell XPS 720 Desktop System Mainboard Motherboard CK520

1 Year Warranty + Free Shipping! Refurbished Dell (CK520) Motherboard Dell OEM XPS 720 Desktop Motherboard (System Mainboard) - CK520 Laptops.

www.parts-people.com

Looking between the two I don't see much difference. One could be a more updated version of the other.

 

[stonecarver]

[SOLVED] - Can you put a Dell Optiplex 980 motherboard in an XPS 720 ?

Can you put a optiplex 980 motherboard in a XPS 720 because it is btx and the case is btx so I thought that It could work for it but I don't have one and I don't want to buy a motherboard that in the end will not work for it not that it's expansive but mostly not wasting my money so I wonder...

forums.tomshardware.com

DELL Optiplex 980 DCSM1F i7 870 2.93Ghz Computer 8GB Vt7750dhld3 F37 Video no HD | eBay

Model: Optiplex 980 - Dcsm1f. Card Model Vt7750dhld3 F37 Included. Processor: i7 870-2.93Ghz. Make: Dell. Condition: Used - Working / Computer is one missing Back Port. No Checks or escrow. 4945 Monaco St.

www.ebay.com

DELL Optiplex 980 i7 870 2.93Ghz Computer with 8GB DVDRW NO HDD WORKS FREE SHIP | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for DELL Optiplex 980 i7 870 2.93Ghz Computer with 8GB DVDRW NO HDD WORKS FREE SHIP at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Buy it gut it and transfer .The best part you also upgraded with an i7 VS the core 2 quad. Faster with simi modern CPU instructions. Just a thought.

 

[DrD31]

Buy Dell XPS 720 Desktop System Mainboard Motherboard U723D

1 Year Warranty + Free Shipping! Refurbished Dell (U723D) Motherboard Dell OEM XPS 720 Desktop Motherboard (System Mainboard) - U723D Laptops.

www.parts-people.com

Buy Dell XPS 720 Desktop System Mainboard Motherboard CK520

1 Year Warranty + Free Shipping! Refurbished Dell (CK520) Motherboard Dell OEM XPS 720 Desktop Motherboard (System Mainboard) - CK520 Laptops.

www.parts-people.com

Looking between the two I don't see much difference. One could be a more updated version of the other.

Yeah, I'm guessing at least one of these is from the H2C versions. Could also be from the 700, 710 or 730? Not really sure. Also confirmed I have the YU822, although I don't think it matters much between these.

Buy it gut it and transfer .The best part you also upgraded with an i7 VS the core 2 quad. Faster with simi modern CPU instructions. Just a thought.

Thanks for the links and the idea! This might be the way for me, with the CPU upgrade included. Knowing it's from Dell as well leaves me more secure as well with all of the proprietary stuff.

 

[DrD31]

So, apparently the 980s PSU+motherboard use a proprietary (?) power connection. The pins are much smaller than the standard 24-pin connector pins, such as the one in the XPS 720.

https://imgur.com/a/WnZrecO

View: https://imgur.com/a/WnZrecO


I have a RX 580 GPU that I'd like to use in the setup, that was most of the reason I'm doing this in the first place, but the PSU from the 980 does not apply enough wattage or have the proper connectors for the card.

Currently thinking about using both PSUs, using the 720s solely to power the card, but apparently it's pretty recommended against. Maybe there's an adapter for the 24-pin? I don't know.

Edit: So it seems like I just learned about mini-24-pins and apparently there are adapters. So you guys suppose this would solve my problems? Everything else *looks*okay.

 

[stonecarver]

https://www.amazon.com/Replacement-Power-Supply-Cable-Optiplex/dp/B07GJ2CH8D/ref=asc_df_B07GJ2CH8D/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=652510459651&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12011058158241650048&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031499&hvtargid=pla-1457735038511&psc=1

 

[USAFRet]

Assuming you get this thing actually running, what will you use it for?

Sometimes, things like this are just Recycle Bin material.

 

[DrD31]

Thanks again stonecarver. 😀

Assuming you get this thing actually running, what will you use it for?

Sometimes, things like this are just Recycle Bin material.

Honestly, it's just a budget general PC build for now, for a family member to do some work and light gaming on. I unfortunately don't have the funds for much more than this as a psuedo-gift.

I know it's far from the best, but I got in over my head with trying to salvage a bad purchase and not doing my research beforehand. It will go in the recycle bin eventually.

 

[DrD31]

More problems abound.. The motherboard fit into the 720 case, albeit not very nicely. Only 4 of the 10 or so screwholes aligned, and I suppose it's just barely secured. The CPU heatsink doesn't have any screwholes to lock it down with so I'm hoping I can find a few nuts to do the trick.

The bigger issue is the motherboard also has a 4 pin socket that I assume is for the CPU power, it's labeled '12VPOWER'.

https://imgur.com/a/OlVuInR

View: https://imgur.com/a/OlVuInR


As I mentioned earlier, the power supply only comes with a 24-pin, a 20-pin, and two 6-pin connectors, and no 4-pin. What's labeled P2 on the 980 PSU is the 4-pin connector, and on the 720 PSU it's the 20-pin, but I'm not sure if they serve the same purpose. Aren't those typically for motherboard power? And what's next? Should I try to get an adapter for the 20-pin to 4-pin, if that exists?

 

[stonecarver]

Did you buy motherboard alone or did you buy the whole Dell 980 for the transplant.

Also

https://www.amazon.com/RLECS-Plastic-Adjustable-Backplane-Backplate/dp/B093KBG1QG/ref=dp_prsubs_sccl_1/145-5657921-8181943?pd_rd_w=jrkfh&content-id=amzn1.sym.74256a3e-b8ec-442b-a517-b66b31f50c11&pf_rd_p=74256a3e-b8ec-442b-a517-b66b31f50c11&pf_rd_r=WPKCHFJV921Q80HQS15V&pd_rd_wg=rWvSt&pd_rd_r=40acdfd3-3f76-47c9-a99d-12e0c5d7fd51&pd_rd_i=B093KBG1QG&psc=1

 

[DrD31]

I bought the whole Dell 980.

Adjustable backplates are a great idea. I can't quite tell if they will fit still, but I'll try them out.

 

[stonecarver]

https://www.amazon.com/Micro-SATA-Cables-Connector-Adapter/dp/B005L8Z16Y/ref=asc_df_B005L8Z16Y/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=642191808185&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12237886899394237677&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031499&hvtargid=pla-1979670774204&psc=1

 

[DrD31]

Awesome! I didn't know these were a thing.

https://www.amazon.com/3-Pack-COMeap-Auxiliary-Adapter-9-5-inch/dp/B07KZM9M2V/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=4+pin+molex+to+4+pin+atx&qid=1698287234&sr=8-1

Did a quick search to find something that delivers a bit faster, would this work as well?

 

[stonecarver]

Yes

 

[DrD31]

Great! Got everything ordered, will report back on Friday.

 

[stonecarver]

If I ever got a deal on your XPS 720 case I would mod one myself . I always had a fondness for that one of a kind design Dell made back in the day.

 

[DrD31]

It does have a really nice design, I just wish everything else wasn't so difficult to work with. 😭

I think I might have to throw in the towel on this one, I don't really think the 980 motherboard is a suitable replacement for the 720 motherboard.

The screwholes don't align properly over most of the motherboard, you can't mount the CPU heatsink as those screwholes are missing too, backplates that fit or are adjustable enough to accommodate the design are hard to find and (unfortunately the ones I ordered didn't adjust enough to fit, but I made it 'work' with some spare nuts) all in all it's barely stable. Lots of missing connections, including some for fans and front panel / USB, as well as the power button, so I wouldn't even know how to start the PC. The CPU fan is the only fan that can connect.

I got as far as plugging in the basic necessary components and getting met with a solid orange light on the board and the PSU shutting itself off instantly (it comes on only for a second and clicks off whenever I wiggle the P1 cable). Tested with different RAM sticks in different configurations and no difference so I can only assume the PSU and motherboard just won't work together.

Perhaps with enough modding knowledge and experience you can make something like this work, but I've hit constant roadblocks as a beginner. At least I've learned a lot of new things (Such as not to try this again 😅 not with old Dell prebuilts anyway).

Thanks for all the help trying to get this thing working.

 

[stonecarver]

PM sent.