Dell Dimension 4600 Motherboard/Case - Proprietary, or new..

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

The single-block connector and rear I/O shield are both Dell-specific.



joltman wrote:
> I have a Dell Dimension 4600 which came with 2 5.25" bays, and I want
> to move it to a case with 4 bays. Problem is, I see on the motherboard
> that the control panel connectors (speaker, power switch, etc) are all
> 1 plug. Is this some proprietary Dell stuff, or is this a new standard?
> Also, the fan is latched inside the back of the case, is that one
> standard? Will I be able to get a case to replace this one, or would I
> have to buy a new mobo/case/fan? If there are any cases I can get, can
> someone point me in the right direction?
> Any help would be much appreciated.
> -joltman
>

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

"joltman" <joltman@geocities.com> wrote in message
news:1107206070.016198.97790@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>I have a Dell Dimension 4600 which came with 2 5.25" bays, and I want
> to move it to a case with 4 bays. Problem is, I see on the motherboard
> that the control panel connectors (speaker, power switch, etc) are all
> 1 plug. Is this some proprietary Dell stuff, or is this a new standard?
> Also, the fan is latched inside the back of the case, is that one
> standard? Will I be able to get a case to replace this one, or would I
> have to buy a new mobo/case/fan? If there are any cases I can get, can
> someone point me in the right direction?
> Any help would be much appreciated.
> -joltman
>


You'd be best advised to buy a quality third-party case and an Intel (865
chipset) based motherboard and move your processor, RAM, and drives over.

Thing is, that will make your Dell Windows XP CD potentially useless....

Proprietary connections: power switch to mb (blue), front USB to mb (may
or may not be proprietary) black plug, front audio connector (black cable
with white plug), CPU fan connector to mb as well as fan housing mount to
chassis, heatsink pedestal mount, and there's probably more I'm forgetting.


Stew

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

Thanx for the responses. So, that means I won't be able to use the
spare case I got from work  
I'm thinking about just cutting a slit on the top of the case and
having a DVD-ROM on top, with the IDE and power connections going
through that slit. That wouldn't be a problem would it? DVD-ROM's don't
need that much in the way of cooling, do they?

S.Lewis wrote:
> "joltman" <joltman@geocities.com> wrote in message
> news:1107206070.016198.97790@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> >I have a Dell Dimension 4600 which came with 2 5.25" bays, and I
want
> > to move it to a case with 4 bays. Problem is, I see on the
motherboard
> > that the control panel connectors (speaker, power switch, etc) are
all
> > 1 plug. Is this some proprietary Dell stuff, or is this a new
standard?
> > Also, the fan is latched inside the back of the case, is that one
> > standard? Will I be able to get a case to replace this one, or
would I
> > have to buy a new mobo/case/fan? If there are any cases I can get,
can
> > someone point me in the right direction?
> > Any help would be much appreciated.
> > -joltman
> >
>
>
> You'd be best advised to buy a quality third-party case and an Intel
(865
> chipset) based motherboard and move your processor, RAM, and drives
over.
>
> Thing is, that will make your Dell Windows XP CD potentially
useless....
>
> Proprietary connections: power switch to mb (blue), front USB to mb
(may
> or may not be proprietary) black plug, front audio connector (black
cable
> with white plug), CPU fan connector to mb as well as fan housing
mount to
> chassis, heatsink pedestal mount, and there's probably more I'm
forgetting.
>
>
> Stew

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

"joltman" <joltman@geocities.com> wrote in message
news:1107267080.052918.214270@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> Thanx for the responses. So, that means I won't be able to use the
> spare case I got from work  
> I'm thinking about just cutting a slit on the top of the case and
> having a DVD-ROM on top, with the IDE and power connections going
> through that slit. That wouldn't be a problem would it? DVD-ROM's don't
> need that much in the way of cooling, do they?
>

I wouldn't do that. You'd kill any chance of resale.

Have you checked for USB or 1394 external options?

Stew

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

S.Lewis wrote:
> "joltman" <joltman@geocities.com> wrote in message
> news:1107267080.052918.214270@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> > Thanx for the responses. So, that means I won't be able to use the
> > spare case I got from work  
> > I'm thinking about just cutting a slit on the top of the case and
> > having a DVD-ROM on top, with the IDE and power connections going
> > through that slit. That wouldn't be a problem would it? DVD-ROM's
don't
> > need that much in the way of cooling, do they?
> >
>
> I wouldn't do that. You'd kill any chance of resale.
>
> Have you checked for USB or 1394 external options?
>
> Stew

If resale is the only concern, then I could care less about that. I've
always kept my computers until they died.
Anyway, as for your suggestion, I already have everything I need, and
don't plan on spending more money. Basically I have a DVD-ROM,
DVD+/-RW, and 2 removable hard drive trays, so I was thinking about
putting 1 or 2 of the removable hard drive trays in the machine, and
then having one or both of the DVD's on top.
-joltman