Help? Case probs

[hewhohasissues]

I can't help but think I've messed up and should have done some research, please help me out...

I had problems with over-heating and ugliness with my Dell computer and thought if I brought a case and a few fans I could transfer everything from the dell into this new case I got. Well the mother board was a bad fit and i had a over a dozen connectors from the case (usb, audio, lcd, on/restart switch, thermoter etc) that I can't connect to my mother board.

So I don't know what to do now...

Put everything back in my Dell

OR

Buy a new motherboard which I'm unsure if it could be possible to use components from my Dell's

Sorry I'm n00b and need help.

[Cricket]

You could put everything back in the DELL case and just deal with it...or you could build yourself a real computer.

What are the system specs of that DELL? If it's not too old you might be able to use some of the parts in a new build.

You won't be able to install the OS from the DELL into the new build though...won't work. You'll have to buy a new OS.

Cricket

[hewhohasissues]

Well It's a Dell Dimension 8300 I got a year ago, but what kinda specs? My system is in pieces so I can't really view em the easy way but I have a penitum 4 with HT and 512MB.

[giuseppe]

I'm fairly new to all this myself but here are my thoughts for what they are worth. If the computer is a year old and has a pentium with HT it's fairly decent. Overheating issues may not have been related to the case.

What do you mean the case is a bad fit? Do the holes in the motherboard match up with the case or do you just mean there are extra connectors on the case and no place to put them on the motherboard. If you can't physically screw in the motherboard to the case then that won't work 'cause the MB can crack. But if it sits well and you want to use the case, then you can probably figure out where to connect all the "do-dads.". If you can get motherboard diagram from dell then that would tell you where everything connects. If you can take a look inside someone elses computer you might be able to figure it out that way to. The other thing is if you remembered how thins connected in the old case then you can back track most of the new connections too (power, etc).

[hewhohasissues]

Well the board doesn't match up to the case and the extra connectors on the case don't have a place on the board. So I'm guessing if I want to use my new case I'm going to have to buy a new motherboard, but would it be possible to use the majority of components on the Dell board and fit em to a new motherboard? And how much money would it all cost?

[giuseppe]

First you have to look at the form factor of the case. If it's big it's probably ATX. Wherever you bought should either tell you or descrive it in the manual web site etc. Then choose a motherboard that fit's the case and has the stuff you want (USB/FIREWIRE/RAID controllers, etc). If you list what you want along with the components you want to reuse, you'll likely get a lot of suggestions.

I would think you could reuse your CPU and your cd or dvd rom drive as well as floppy drive and the hard drive if it's good enough for you. I would guess the power supply could also be used.

I only have built one maching with an ABIT board. I like them because they have very detailed manuals and the board came with all the cables etc. (Plus their office is near where I work and only a local call away.) They also have a good reputation. ABIT boards run from about $65 to $175. If you don't have a sound card you may want a MB with onboard sound. My understanding is that you'll need to buy windows again - you won't be able to register the vcopy that came with the Dell on the new machine. Windows XP home edition is $92.95 at newegg.com (Window XP Pro is $147). You'll probably want to add more RAM. (That will vary with the size).

Make sure to read the articles on how to build a computer on this site. Really it's not that hard but is a bit overwhelming when youfirst look at it.

[hewhohasissues]

Okay thanks then. The case didn't come with any manual so I'll have to research into it, but quickly could I add RAM from my older computers?

[Cricket]

Do you know what kind of RAM you have in your computer now?

If it's DDR you should be able to reuse it in a new motherboard.

If it's RDRAM then you'll have to either get a RDRAM motherboard (not a good idea) or buy new DDR RAM that is supported by whatever motherboard you decide to go with.

If it's SDRAM it's best to just upgrade to DDR RAM and the appropriate motherboard.

Cricket