Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (
More info?)
Right. As a VERY general rule, motherboards from some Dell models can be
swapped into the cases from other models, and others cannot. (Duh!) But even
then, there are different connectors and leads, some missing on some models.
The best example I can think of this the non-standard cable from the back of the
motherboard to the front USB (sometimes other) ports. Dell seems to have
standardized on the cable from the motherboard to the front panel on-off switch
and LEDs. Of course there are also the Dell proprietary 3-pin fans, but some
models of Dell motherboard do not have a 3-pin fan header... Ben Myers
On Tue, 19 Apr 2005 06:31:36 -0400, "JJO" <jjo@nospam.ca> wrote:
>The only swap I am aware of is a 4600 board into the 2400 case. I believe
>that is a doable upgrade but I am going to enjoy the 2400 for what it is and
>work toward a fast P4 system in the future. Christmas present for 2006
>maybe....grin.
>
>Regards,
>John O.
>
>
><ben_myers_spam_me_not @ charter.net (Ben Myers)> wrote in message
>news:4264316c.33826557@nntp.charter.net...
>> Ouch! Motherboard swap? Not in a Dell Dimension 2400! Too many kinky
>> and
>> proprietary Dell connectors on the mobo... Ben Myers
>>
>> On Mon, 18 Apr 2005 20:07:30 GMT, Nicholas Andrade
>> <sdnick484@nospam.yahoo.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>JJO wrote:
>>>> OK...this is a budget system, that is a given but I am trying to get
>>>> peak
>>>> performance from the system. I have 512 MB of RAM, an NVidia 5500 video
>>>> card
>>>> with 256 MB RAM, and a Celeron 2.4 running at 400 MHz FSB. Now the
>>>> question
>>>> is will any of the following help:
>>>>
>>>> Increase the RAM to 768 MB or 1 GB
>>>>
>>>> Or replace the CPU with a P4 running at 2.6 or so with a 533 FSB
>>>> setting.
>>>>
>>>> I realize that this system is about peaked out but another system is a
>>>> couple of years down the road.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for any information,
>>>> John O.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>Adding more RAM will generally help you with multitasking unless you're
>>>running something very specialized that needs large amounts (doubtful).
>>>
>>>A faster CPU will help you with speeding up specific CPU intensive
>>>operations. For the most part these are: encoding audio, transcoding
>>>video, compiling, extremely intesive math calculations (eg. CAD models),
>>>and games. You'll see a slight bump in some everyday tasks, but it will
>>>generally be insignificant unless the CPU jump is substatial.
>>>
>>>The P4 is a much better designed CPU than the Celeron, but in terms of
>>>bang for your buck, it probably isn't worth the jump for less than
>>>500MHz. One thing to consider is picking up a CPU/mobo combo and
>>>performing a swap. I was at Fry's yesterday with my friend and he
>>>picked up a P4 3.0J (800MHz FSB, 1MB cache) w/ an ECS motherboard
>>>(supports PCI-X & AGP as well as DDR & DDR2) that uses the Intel 915
>>>chipset for $250 (no rebates). I beleive you'd notice a jump with
>>>something like that, but just going to a P4 2.66 w/ 512KB cache & 533FSB
>>>would be suddle.
>>
>
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