Can i use my motherboard with a different case?

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IanCliff

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So i brought a power supply for my Dell Precision T1650 that doesnt fit. Due to living in a small city and not wanting to buy online is it possible that i can remove the motherboard from the dell precision T1650 and then put it into a new case?
And if so what kind of case would i be looking for?
 
Solution
mjslakeridge
Do you use the front panel mic or headphone jack? Or the USB 2 or USB 3 ports? Or the CD/DVD player? With only 5 active pins in the connection 22 you should be able to figure out which pins to connect for the power switch and power on LED. I would make a drawing of the pins in connection 22 and connection 2, and assign numbers to each of the pins. Then trace each wire to every connection on the front panel. If the front panel can be removed so you can see the back of it, it will be much easier. Then mark on your diagrams which wires go onto which pins. For example, with connection 22, if a red wire from the power switch goes to pin #1, and a black wire goes to pin #2, write that down, and do the same for all wires/pins.

This...
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Math Geek

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it's a basic mid tower case you have now so any mid tower or larger case should work fine.

problem is the rest of the system. often dell motherboards and cases are custom jobs and lacks standard connections of normal parts. you need to look carefully to be sure the front panel does not have any custom stuff between the buttons and the mobo. some do some don't.

this can require you to move those along with the mobo or do some homework on pin layouts and such to get the new case working with the mobo.

it may or may not be an issue but you do need to check it all out before buying anything so you know what you're getting into. check the power button leads and other front panel stuff to see where/how they connect to the mobo.
 
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IanCliff

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Its the default motherboard that came with the computer, which is why i wasnt sure if it was removable. Not really looking for anything too fancy in a case so probably around £50 ish.
 
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IanCliff

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to ensure the power supply actually worked i tested it with the computer and managed to get it working. The only cables i needed to change from the old power supply to the new one was the 24pin cable and the 4 pin cpu cable
 
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IanCliff

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appears there are two cables connecting the front io to the motherboard. The bottom one (which i removed to look at) appears to be the standard power button cable. The one above that appears to be from the USBs and other stuff at the front. (photo for reference- https://imgur.com/a/LPSVo)
I'd assume these will come standard with any case i buy.


 
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mjslakeridge

mjslakeridge

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I think you said it backwards. The one you removed appears to be for the front panel USBs. I would not assume that the front panel pin assignments on your motherboard will be the same as any case you buy. If you unplug the upper cable, does the motherboard have any markings indicating which pin does what? For many new cases you buy, the cables coming from the front of the case will be individual cables, and you will have to connect them to the correct pins (polarity doesn't matter).
 
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IanCliff

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i found this if it helps-- https://www.manualslib.com/manual/624303/Dell-Precision-T1650.html?page=4#manual
Also i did not see any markings.
Thank you for your help so far
Edit: appears i missed the tiny cable at 22 on the layout.
 
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mjslakeridge

mjslakeridge

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Unfortunately, that diagram doesn't help, because it doesn't identify the individual pins in the front panel i/o connector. With the Dell "all in one" socket, there is no need to know the pin assignments, because you just plug it in, and it works. With a new case, you will have individual wires coming from the front panel, for power on, reset, HDD activity LED etc. and you need to know which goes on which pin. You could probably get them all connected correctly with some trial and error.

Maybe someone else here has already figured out the pin assignments, or there is some technical sheets available (I didn't scroll through the entire manual you linked to, perhaps it does show the pin assignments in detail).

Edit: I just saw your edit. How many pins are in connection 22 on the motherboard?
 
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IanCliff

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6 slots but only 5 pins with one of the slots being blocked by white. (only looked at wire atm as trying to find a better light to get a look at the actual slot)
Edit: 5 pins on the actual slot on the motherbaord
 
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mjslakeridge

mjslakeridge

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Do you use the front panel mic or headphone jack? Or the USB 2 or USB 3 ports? Or the CD/DVD player? With only 5 active pins in the connection 22 you should be able to figure out which pins to connect for the power switch and power on LED. I would make a drawing of the pins in connection 22 and connection 2, and assign numbers to each of the pins. Then trace each wire to every connection on the front panel. If the front panel can be removed so you can see the back of it, it will be much easier. Then mark on your diagrams which wires go onto which pins. For example, with connection 22, if a red wire from the power switch goes to pin #1, and a black wire goes to pin #2, write that down, and do the same for all wires/pins.

This can be done, it will just take some work.
 
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Solution
Math Geek

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that's the idea. sometimes the whole front panel is plugged into a board and then a connection that looks like an internal usb header is used to conect it to the mobo. it does not look like that is there in this case.

so long as you make note of what wire goes where on the mobo, you should be able to easily hook up the new case's front panel and have little issues. but do like mjslakeridge suggests and trace them out just to be sure all is as it seems.

but from the pic i am not sure you will have any issues.
 
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william p

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What is it that doesn't fit on the new PSU? if it's the metal tabs in the case not having slots to go into on the PSU, you just push the tabs back into the case. Sometimes (on workstations) they need a little trim in the back corner with a hacksaw blade to help them fold. But that's about it. If you got a really big PSU like 850W you might need a smaller DVD drive. New ones are a little shorter than old ones. i've put many aftermarket PSUs into Dell Towers/ Mini Towers. I would suggest try harder.
 
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