Modding a 4500.

[Guest]

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

Has anyone had experience modding a 4500 beyond the small things? I am
interested in either replacing the MOBO and putting it back into the 4500
chassis; or, putting the current original MOBO into a Thermatake case and
eventually upgrading from there. I don't have the funds to make wholesale
changes at once, so I have to do it in stages. I am reasonably satisfied
with the 4500's performance for now but would like to "kick it up a notch."
I've already upgraded to larger HD plus 2nd HD, RAM, and replaced the stock
2.0GHz P4 with 2.8GHz P4, and replaced the sound card with an Audigy 2 5.1.
A new case seems like something doable. Any thoughts appreciated...

Dave

 

[Guest]

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

"DPCpresto" <DPCpresto@verizon.net> wrote in message news:<ve9rc.2354$x25.93@nwrddc02.gnilink.net>...
> Has anyone had experience modding a 4500 beyond the small things? I am
> interested in either replacing the MOBO and putting it back into the 4500
> chassis; or, putting the current original MOBO into a Thermatake case and
> eventually upgrading from there. I don't have the funds to make wholesale
> changes at once, so I have to do it in stages. I am reasonably satisfied
> with the 4500's performance for now but would like to "kick it up a notch."
> I've already upgraded to larger HD plus 2nd HD, RAM, and replaced the stock
> 2.0GHz P4 with 2.8GHz P4, and replaced the sound card with an Audigy 2 5.1.
> A new case seems like something doable. Any thoughts appreciated...
>
> Dave

I just went through the throes of the damned trying to re-case my
Dell. I purchased a very nice and conservative Antec case w/ power
supply. Got a good price, too. But, too bad for me, the guy who sold
me the darned case told me it would accept any standard Pentium 4 or
PIII Xeon motherboard. BUYER BEWARE!!!

The motherboard in my Dell is NOT STANDARD, but proprietary. For
instance, the Dell CPU's Thermo Cooler is mounted directly onto the
case, but first through the DELL motherboard. The Antec had no
corresponding mounting points.

Also, the Dell has all sorts of custom sockets on its MOBO where a
standard case wants individual power switch plugs, USB plugs, HDD's
and all of the seperate case LED's. (Dell's case uses a power switch
co-wired with two LED's - and it needs a "special" multi-wire socket
as found ONLY on the Dell mobo. Same song and dance with Dell's front
case USB's being "specially" co-located with the audio "in" on the
same motherboard socket. Dell's mobo takes only a "special" multi-wire
plug as found ONLY on the Dell case. The rear input panel for the
Antec case, additionally, in no way matches the config on the Dell
mobo.

IOW, the Antec case/power supply/120mm fan (just selected by PC
WORLD), is compatable with a STANDARD motherboard, which DELL's
ain't.(PC WORLD used a standard Intel board for their project).

Upgrading a CPU, a bigger power supply, maybe adding another HD, or a
PCI card to a Dell is probably OK. But trying to get a bigger, better
case that fits their motherboard? Well, no luck, here. Your milage may
vary.

 

[Guest]

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

"The motherboard in my Dell is NOT STANDARD, but proprietary."

No kidding - this is well known! You ought to do a little research before
you start {;->

Rocky

"Edno" <news@virtualberks.com> wrote in message
news:62894c6c.0405212213.3dbee433@posting.google.com...
> "DPCpresto" <DPCpresto@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:<ve9rc.2354$x25.93@nwrddc02.gnilink.net>...
> > Has anyone had experience modding a 4500 beyond the small things? I am
> > interested in either replacing the MOBO and putting it back into the
4500
> > chassis; or, putting the current original MOBO into a Thermatake case
and
> > eventually upgrading from there. I don't have the funds to make
wholesale
> > changes at once, so I have to do it in stages. I am reasonably satisfied
> > with the 4500's performance for now but would like to "kick it up a
notch."
> > I've already upgraded to larger HD plus 2nd HD, RAM, and replaced the
stock
> > 2.0GHz P4 with 2.8GHz P4, and replaced the sound card with an Audigy 2
5.1.
> > A new case seems like something doable. Any thoughts appreciated...
> >
> > Dave
>
> I just went through the throes of the damned trying to re-case my
> Dell. I purchased a very nice and conservative Antec case w/ power
> supply. Got a good price, too. But, too bad for me, the guy who sold
> me the darned case told me it would accept any standard Pentium 4 or
> PIII Xeon motherboard. BUYER BEWARE!!!
>
> The motherboard in my Dell is NOT STANDARD, but proprietary. For
> instance, the Dell CPU's Thermo Cooler is mounted directly onto the
> case, but first through the DELL motherboard. The Antec had no
> corresponding mounting points.
>
> Also, the Dell has all sorts of custom sockets on its MOBO where a
> standard case wants individual power switch plugs, USB plugs, HDD's
> and all of the seperate case LED's. (Dell's case uses a power switch
> co-wired with two LED's - and it needs a "special" multi-wire socket
> as found ONLY on the Dell mobo. Same song and dance with Dell's front
> case USB's being "specially" co-located with the audio "in" on the
> same motherboard socket. Dell's mobo takes only a "special" multi-wire
> plug as found ONLY on the Dell case. The rear input panel for the
> Antec case, additionally, in no way matches the config on the Dell
> mobo.
>
> IOW, the Antec case/power supply/120mm fan (just selected by PC
> WORLD), is compatable with a STANDARD motherboard, which DELL's
> ain't.(PC WORLD used a standard Intel board for their project).
>
> Upgrading a CPU, a bigger power supply, maybe adding another HD, or a
> PCI card to a Dell is probably OK. But trying to get a bigger, better
> case that fits their motherboard? Well, no luck, here. Your milage may
> vary.