If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Motherboard upgrade on Dell Optiplex system?
Is it possible to replace the motherboard in a Dell Optiplex system,
specifically the GX150 minitower form (manufactured in 2001), with a "standard size" non-Dell motherboard? Has anyone done this? I looked inside the case and noticed two potential hardware problems (of course there may be more problems that I didn't see). (1) The motherboard is in two pieces with a "bridge" (connecting the circuitry) between the large piece and the small piece. The small piece appears to hold primarily slots for adding system memory. (2) Their is a plastic "ventilation duct" going from the CPU cooling fan to a point on the system case. It isn't obvious how to remove this plastic duct without breaking it, and even if the duct could be removed in one piece, it wouldn't fit on the new motherboard unless the CPU cooling fan position and size were exactly the same. Thanks for any help; I only plan to pursue the motherboard replacement idea if it turns out that others have done it successfully. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Lawrence,
I suggest studying the documentation at support.dell.com. You don't need a service tag to see the documents, and you don't need to register. You may get there directly by going to: http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...n/ug/index.htm There is information there on all sorts of details, including removing the CPU cooling duct. I can't claim to be highly knowledgeable about such matters, but it's clear that the mainboard is nothing like an industry-standard ATX board. It might be possible to install a third-party mainboard in the system, but I doubt that it's practical. (The power supply, for example, puts out 200W. That's a bit low by present standards, and P4 systems require a separate 12V connection, which I expect is not present.) Your best bet might be to dispose of the GX150 as a whole, rather than trying to re-use components. The SDRAM wouldn't be of use in an up-to-date P4 system, which usually wants DDR (DDR2 for the latest Socket T systems). The optical drives (CD-RW, etc.) are quite cheap these days - even good DVD burners can be had for less than $100US. (Good DVD burners also burn CDs at rates not much less than the fastest CD-only burners.) Your best choice may be to build or buy an entirely new system. I have nothing against the GX150; I've had one on my desk at work for three years. I much prefer it to the GX240 machines on some of my neighbor's desks - those are slow P4 machines, much worse for my purposes than a fast PIII system. Bob Knowlden Address may be scrambled. Replace nkbob with bobkn. "Lawrence H. Robins" wrote in message m... Is it possible to replace the motherboard in a Dell Optiplex system, specifically the GX150 minitower form (manufactured in 2001), with a "standard size" non-Dell motherboard? Has anyone done this? I looked inside the case and noticed two potential hardware problems (of course there may be more problems that I didn't see). (1) The motherboard is in two pieces with a "bridge" (connecting the circuitry) between the large piece and the small piece. The small piece appears to hold primarily slots for adding system memory. (2) Their is a plastic "ventilation duct" going from the CPU cooling fan to a point on the system case. It isn't obvious how to remove this plastic duct without breaking it, and even if the duct could be removed in one piece, it wouldn't fit on the new motherboard unless the CPU cooling fan position and size were exactly the same. Thanks for any help; I only plan to pursue the motherboard replacement idea if it turns out that others have done it successfully. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
|
#4
|
|||
|
|||
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Dell Optiplex GX110 video upgrade need help please thanks! | Sara Pinkski | Dell Computers | 0 | August 16th 04 04:00 AM |
Cooling Questions | Peter Cavan | General | 35 | September 2nd 03 06:42 AM |
Cooling Questions | Peter Cavan | Overclocking | 37 | September 2nd 03 06:42 AM |
FS/FA: $40.00 Dell Optiplex TOWER Computer System (WORKS GREAT!) 80500 | Jlaenterprises4 | Dell Computers | 0 | July 13th 03 02:19 AM |
FS/FA: $55.00 Dell OPTIPLEX Tower System w/SCSI **LOADED and WORKS GREAT** 6578520 | Christopher Muto | Dell Computers | 0 | June 25th 03 04:19 PM |