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#1
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Proprietary cases?
Hi all,
Still working on resurrecting my PC. It all started with bad RDRAM. I decided to spend the $300 or so I'd spend on 1GB of Rambus, on a new mobo, Athlon 64 CPU and 1GB of SDRAM instead. Then I discovered that I'd need a more powerful power supply. Got that. Now, after making sure all the hardware is working, I sat down to put it into the old case. That's when I discovered the case is "proprietary". It's a Gateway mini-tower. The problem is that the wires coming from the front of the case - power switch, reset switch, power LED, hard drive LED, terminate into a proprietary 14-pin header, and use a custom connector. So, I decided I could cut the connector at the end of the wires and replace them with generic single-wire connectors (those black plastic things) that I could then plug into the new motherboard. Guess what? I checked all my local stores, and they all say they've never seen those being sold separately. Can anyone help me figure out how I can leverage my old case with the new motherboard? The alternative I'm facing is to get a new case. Thanks for all the help so far, and for help you all will provide again no doubt. -- Wiley Q. |
#2
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hobby store that has RC cars, is where I go
"Wiley Q. Hacker" wrote in message ... Hi all, Still working on resurrecting my PC. It all started with bad RDRAM. I decided to spend the $300 or so I'd spend on 1GB of Rambus, on a new mobo, Athlon 64 CPU and 1GB of SDRAM instead. Then I discovered that I'd need a more powerful power supply. Got that. Now, after making sure all the hardware is working, I sat down to put it into the old case. That's when I discovered the case is "proprietary". It's a Gateway mini-tower. The problem is that the wires coming from the front of the case - power switch, reset switch, power LED, hard drive LED, terminate into a proprietary 14-pin header, and use a custom connector. So, I decided I could cut the connector at the end of the wires and replace them with generic single-wire connectors (those black plastic things) that I could then plug into the new motherboard. Guess what? I checked all my local stores, and they all say they've never seen those being sold separately. Can anyone help me figure out how I can leverage my old case with the new motherboard? The alternative I'm facing is to get a new case. Thanks for all the help so far, and for help you all will provide again no doubt. -- Wiley Q. |
#3
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Wiley Q. Hacker wrote:
Hi all, Still working on resurrecting my PC. It all started with bad RDRAM. I decided to spend the $300 or so I'd spend on 1GB of Rambus, on a new mobo, Athlon 64 CPU and 1GB of SDRAM instead. Then I discovered that I'd need a more powerful power supply. Got that. Now, after making sure all the hardware is working, I sat down to put it into the old case. That's when I discovered the case is "proprietary". It's a Gateway mini-tower. The problem is that the wires coming from the front of the case - power switch, reset switch, power LED, hard drive LED, terminate into a proprietary 14-pin header, and use a custom connector. So, I decided I could cut the connector at the end of the wires and replace them with generic single-wire connectors (those black plastic things) that I could then plug into the new motherboard. Guess what? I checked all my local stores, and they all say they've never seen those being sold separately. Can anyone help me figure out how I can leverage my old case with the new motherboard? The alternative I'm facing is to get a new case. Thanks for all the help so far, and for help you all will provide again no doubt. -- Wiley Q. What 'local stores' have you checked? The grocery store? You'll probably have to mail order these or find an electronics supply store to order them for you. Alternatively you could cannibalise an old case that's being thrown out. Given the tediousness of all this, personally I'd just buy a real case and save yourself the hassle. How much is your time worth? You'll spend more time tracking down these parts and trying to assemble them than the monetary equivalent of a new case. Ari -- spammage trappage: replace fishies_ with yahoo I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor: http://www.abmdr.org.au/ http://www.marrow.org/ |
#4
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I completely agree with you about the value of these things, and yes, I will
get a new case, if it comes to that. The reason I do this, however, is not to save money, but as a hobby. Since I'm "playing", I like to take things to their logical conclusion, and abandon a stream only when I've run it dry. Just don't want to give up now and then find out I goofed up. Looks like that may not be the case here, though. Thanks. -- Wiley Q. "spodosaurus" wrote in message ... Wiley Q. Hacker wrote: Hi all, Still working on resurrecting my PC. It all started with bad RDRAM. I decided to spend the $300 or so I'd spend on 1GB of Rambus, on a new mobo, Athlon 64 CPU and 1GB of SDRAM instead. Then I discovered that I'd need a more powerful power supply. Got that. Now, after making sure all the hardware is working, I sat down to put it into the old case. That's when I discovered the case is "proprietary". It's a Gateway mini-tower. The problem is that the wires coming from the front of the case - power switch, reset switch, power LED, hard drive LED, terminate into a proprietary 14-pin header, and use a custom connector. So, I decided I could cut the connector at the end of the wires and replace them with generic single-wire connectors (those black plastic things) that I could then plug into the new motherboard. Guess what? I checked all my local stores, and they all say they've never seen those being sold separately. Can anyone help me figure out how I can leverage my old case with the new motherboard? The alternative I'm facing is to get a new case. Thanks for all the help so far, and for help you all will provide again no doubt. -- Wiley Q. What 'local stores' have you checked? The grocery store? You'll probably have to mail order these or find an electronics supply store to order them for you. Alternatively you could cannibalise an old case that's being thrown out. Given the tediousness of all this, personally I'd just buy a real case and save yourself the hassle. How much is your time worth? You'll spend more time tracking down these parts and trying to assemble them than the monetary equivalent of a new case. Ari -- spammage trappage: replace fishies_ with yahoo I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor: http://www.abmdr.org.au/ http://www.marrow.org/ |
#5
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Sorry, but having made it this far in your project you are stuck buying a
new NON-proprietary case. -- DaveW "Wiley Q. Hacker" wrote in message ... Hi all, Still working on resurrecting my PC. It all started with bad RDRAM. I decided to spend the $300 or so I'd spend on 1GB of Rambus, on a new mobo, Athlon 64 CPU and 1GB of SDRAM instead. Then I discovered that I'd need a more powerful power supply. Got that. Now, after making sure all the hardware is working, I sat down to put it into the old case. That's when I discovered the case is "proprietary". It's a Gateway mini-tower. The problem is that the wires coming from the front of the case - power switch, reset switch, power LED, hard drive LED, terminate into a proprietary 14-pin header, and use a custom connector. So, I decided I could cut the connector at the end of the wires and replace them with generic single-wire connectors (those black plastic things) that I could then plug into the new motherboard. Guess what? I checked all my local stores, and they all say they've never seen those being sold separately. Can anyone help me figure out how I can leverage my old case with the new motherboard? The alternative I'm facing is to get a new case. Thanks for all the help so far, and for help you all will provide again no doubt. -- Wiley Q. |
#6
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Still working on resurrecting my PC. It all started with bad RDRAM. I
decided to spend the $300 or so I'd spend on 1GB of Rambus, on a new mobo, Athlon 64 CPU and 1GB of SDRAM instead. Then I discovered that I'd need a more powerful power supply. Got that. Now, after making sure all the hardware is working, I sat down to put it into the old case. That's when I discovered the case is "proprietary". It's a Gateway mini-tower. The problem is that the wires coming from the front of the case - power switch, reset switch, power LED, hard drive LED, terminate into a proprietary 14-pin header, and use a custom connector. So, I decided I could cut the connector at the end of the wires and replace them with generic single-wire connectors (those black plastic things) that I could then plug into the new motherboard. Guess what? I checked all my local stores, and they all say they've never seen those being sold separately. Can anyone help me figure out how I can leverage my old case with the new motherboard? The alternative I'm facing is to get a new case. Thanks for all the help so far, and for help you all will provide again no doubt. You should have really did your homework first. Any computer maker short of a custom company like Alienware, Falcon Northwest, or someone will give you a bare minimum power supply, and chances are, several years later, it won't be enough juice for upgrades. When you bought your power supply, for a little more, you could have gotten a good Antec case and power supply combo and this wouldn't even be happening. My personaly opinion is to return the power supply from where you bought it, and get an Antec case and power supply combo. |
#7
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Wiley Q. Hacker wrote:
So, I decided I could cut the connector at the end of the wires and replace them with generic single-wire connectors (those black plastic things) that I could then plug into the new motherboard. Guess what? I checked all my local stores, and they all say they've never seen those being sold separately. See: "http://www.mouser.com/catalog/623/949.pdf" Be sure to purchase a crimping tool as well, Mouser sells them for only $222. Can anyone help me figure out how I can leverage my old case with the new motherboard? The alternative I'm facing is to get a new case. You must have too much money and too much time, to spend so muc of it trying to save some sheet metal. About the only thing you can "leverage" is the floppy drive, and even that's questionable. |
#8
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Wiley Q. Hacker wrote:
So, I decided I could cut the connector at the end of the wires and replace them with generic single-wire connectors (those black plastic things) that I could then plug into the new motherboard. Guess what? I checked all my local stores, and they all say they've never seen those being sold separately. I assume you can solder. If it is a molex connector, you may be able to pull the individual metal connectors out of the molex and resolder them. They may have little clips that lock them in place when they are inserted into the molex. If you can spring those little clips, you may be able to get the metal connectors out and reuse them. Also you may be able to make connectors from jumpers or from the metal connectors inside the jumpers. |
#9
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Wiley Q. Hacker wrote:
I completely agree with you about the value of these things, and yes, I will get a new case, if it comes to that. The reason I do this, however, is not to save money, but as a hobby. Ahhh, then it may be worth the effort to browse around some online electronics supply stores and have a look through their online catalogues. I hope you have a broadband connection, though, as these catalogues tend to be image heavy! Since I'm "playing", I like to take things to their logical conclusion, and abandon a stream only when I've run it dry. Just don't want to give up now and then find out I goofed up. Looks like that may not be the case here, though. Thanks. -- Wiley Q. "spodosaurus" wrote in message ... Wiley Q. Hacker wrote: Hi all, Still working on resurrecting my PC. It all started with bad RDRAM. I decided to spend the $300 or so I'd spend on 1GB of Rambus, on a new mobo, Athlon 64 CPU and 1GB of SDRAM instead. Then I discovered that I'd need a more powerful power supply. Got that. Now, after making sure all the hardware is working, I sat down to put it into the old case. That's when I discovered the case is "proprietary". It's a Gateway mini-tower. The problem is that the wires coming from the front of the case - power switch, reset switch, power LED, hard drive LED, terminate into a proprietary 14-pin header, and use a custom connector. So, I decided I could cut the connector at the end of the wires and replace them with generic single-wire connectors (those black plastic things) that I could then plug into the new motherboard. Guess what? I checked all my local stores, and they all say they've never seen those being sold separately. Can anyone help me figure out how I can leverage my old case with the new motherboard? The alternative I'm facing is to get a new case. Thanks for all the help so far, and for help you all will provide again no doubt. -- Wiley Q. What 'local stores' have you checked? The grocery store? You'll probably have to mail order these or find an electronics supply store to order them for you. Alternatively you could cannibalise an old case that's being thrown out. Given the tediousness of all this, personally I'd just buy a real case and save yourself the hassle. How much is your time worth? You'll spend more time tracking down these parts and trying to assemble them than the monetary equivalent of a new case. Ari -- spammage trappage: replace fishies_ with yahoo I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor: http://www.abmdr.org.au/ http://www.marrow.org/ -- spammage trappage: replace fishies_ with yahoo I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor: http://www.abmdr.org.au/ http://www.marrow.org/ |
#10
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"Wiley Q. Hacker" wrote in message ... Hi all, Still working on resurrecting my PC. It all started with bad RDRAM. I decided to spend the $300 or so I'd spend on 1GB of Rambus, on a new mobo, Athlon 64 CPU and 1GB of SDRAM instead. Then I discovered that I'd need a more powerful power supply. Got that. Now, after making sure all the hardware is working, I sat down to put it into the old case. That's when I discovered the case is "proprietary". It's a Gateway mini-tower. The problem is that the wires coming from the front of the case - power switch, reset switch, power LED, hard drive LED, terminate into a proprietary 14-pin header, and use a custom connector. So, I decided I could cut the connector at the end of the wires and replace them with generic single-wire connectors (those black plastic things) that I could then plug into the new motherboard. Guess what? I checked all my local stores, and they all say they've never seen those being sold separately. Can anyone help me figure out how I can leverage my old case with the new motherboard? The alternative I'm facing is to get a new case. Thanks for all the help so far, and for help you all will provide again no doubt. -- Wiley Q. Tried local computer-builders. They have to dispose of the old cases somewhere! Luck to you, s |
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