Personal computing discussed
Moderators: renee, JustAnEngineer
JohnC wrote:Well, you can possibly re-use case fan As for video card - keep it somewhere safe (like put it in the anti-static bag from your future video card), for "diagnostic" purposes (since you already know that this card is working).
jtenorj wrote:ditch the rest due to my previously stated reasons
jtenorj wrote:your dell case may not fit an atx or eps standard power supply.
those pin changes in the 24pin connector on dell psu and mobo
break compatability with industry standard parts(a new psu or
mobo attached to your old psu or mobo will fry whole system).
jtenorj wrote:ram wont let you oc cpu to remove bottleneck from new gpu.
This particular Dell board is a standard size MicroATX, so just make sure the case you buy will accept that size. A good quality case comes with screw-in stand offs so you can fit a full size ATX board or a MicroATX, whichever.
TBH, the I/O shield was just a hack up, when you remove the motherboard out of your existing case you will find the I/O panel is attached to the case but there is a "gasket" which comes away readily and you can use this as a template- simply cut out the ports that you need and use. As I said I made one from an old DVD case, lay the gasket on the plastic and cut away with a craft knife and drill holes for the sound connections. There will be a load of swarf which is a pain to remove fully!
Go to Dell support and look at the manual - there is a diagram of the motherboard in question detailing all of the board's connections- either print or copy for future reference.
The front panel connectors were a bit of a fiddle, the case I got came with tiny 2 pin connectors for the power, reset and HD LED and they all have to go onto the motherboard connector which was simply a "plug" which has all of them built in. I got them the wrong way round at first but after carefully swapping them about everything fired up. Reset button doesnt work though as I don't think there was one on the original Dell case anyway, but no big deal.