Upgrading Dell hell

[hasui]

Hi I've been trying to upgrade my Dell Dimension XPS R450 with no luck so far. I'm using an Asus CUSL2-C w/ PIII800 and an Enlight EN-8254942 (250W) power supply.

The problem I have is that though the power is getting to the MotherBoard (as seen by the onboard LED lighting up), I can't get the machine to power up.

I think the issue is that the On/Off switch on the front of the Dell is communicating to the Power Supply through a 16 pin flat wire (1 blocked). The Asus has a 20 pin connector with all of the pins up where the power and reset are supposed to go.

Is there some alternate way I can route the power and reset switches to the system board ?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Crashman]

You can try manualy jumping the power wires and see if it starts. I use a screwdriver for that-it takes only a momentary contact. As for modifying your ribon connector, you'll have to figure that one out on your own.

Video killed my Radio Card!

 

[hasui]

Does anyone know what the pinouts are for this two level 16 pin cable on the Dell ? I have the pin outs on the Motherboard.

The Power is probably on either side of the blocked pin with 1 for power and 3 for ground but I have to guess for the rest.

thanks

 

[Crashman]

Hey, if noone else can tell you, you can alway use a continuity testor (or Multi-Meter).

Video killed my Radio Card!

 

[Guest]

I also had a Dell Dimension XPS R450. Good machine but was impossible to upgrade so I sympathise. Anyway, with regards your question, I think given your mobo the only simple answer is a new case. The Dell has a custom 16 pin cable running from the front panel to the mobo to connect the on switch, reset, front panel l.e.d.s, etc to the mobo. The best (and most expensive) solution is probably to ditch the DELL case and buy a cheap new replacement. To save cash, buy one without a PSU and use your old one. As for Crashman's solution - heheh I wouldn't try it but if you really are short of cash or a tightwad give it a go.

 

[peach]

As for Crashman's solution - heheh I wouldn't try it but if you really are short of cash or a tightwad give it a go.

<font color=blue>Err, why not? It is not that big of a deal to set the mobo and ps on a desk, only have the ram and proc on the mobo and bridge the "on-switch" pins with a screwdriver. If proc fan turns on - put in the video card and plug in the monitor and keyboard.

If that works - keep going from there with hd's, cd-rom, etc.

Basic trouble shooting.


😎 <i><font color=blue>on company time....</i>

 

[dhlucke]

Problem is simple, Dell uses proprietary parts. I have a R400 and it's just too big a pain to upgrade. It's cheaper to just build a new machine. You'll want to take advantage of everything you can get today. If you want though you can just slap in a SECC2 1.0 Ghz P3 and it'll work fine. It also handles 256 MB memory chips. I know Intel and Dell won't say that, but I've read around...

Usefull websites:
<A HREF="http://roberthancock.netfirms.com/dell/" target="_new">http://roberthancock.netfirms.com/dell/</A>
<A HREF="http://www.csolutions.net/~dougm/images/dell/casemods.htm" target="_new">http://www.csolutions.net/~dougm/images/dell/casemods.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://delltalk.us.dell.com/" target="_new">http://delltalk.us.dell.com/</A>
- Warning, these guys don't know much and are alot like parrots repeating the same thing..."Just put in a 1.0 Ghz processor" Nonetheless, they can help you if you just want to stick a new CPU in there or if you want to use the case again. I think the links above are all they know though so you probably don't even need to go to the Dell forum.

Since you have already bought a motherboard etc...I would suggest just buying a new case unless you really do want to do the mod from the second link above.<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by dhlucke on 09/05/01 10:33 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[Crashman]

I just upgraded to a Dell XPS P200s case! Yes, this is an UPGRADE, as in a NOISE REDUCTION, these cases can muffle almost anything! And that second link-that's EXACTLY what I did with my front panel connector! But I didn't even bother with the Dell power supply, I simply took the Dell mofo mobo and the Dell mofo PS and put them in a generic case to sell as a refurb. Put a good 250-watt ATX power supply in my Dell case with a bunch of drives, cards, fans, etc (you can do that with a PIII). Now I have a quiet system. Oh, I didn't mod the backplate either, I just replaced it.

Back to you Tom...

 

[dhlucke]

Good move. Their cases are nice, but still a bit cramped if you have a handfull of components....

<font color=red>Ever wonder what it would be like to be eaten alive by a Great White shark?</font color=red>

 

[Crashman]

I have 5 PCI cards, 4 hard drives, a floppy, and two CD drives in it right now. Everything else is mounted externally via SCSI.

Back to you Tom...