Dell PSUs 1

[dakota81]

How can I tell if a Dell machine uses a standard ATX PSU or one of their proprietery units? Got a Dimension 2300 machine here that needs a replacement motherboard, and although the Dell is still well within the warranty period, the owner is so fed up with the merry-go-round of hell with India call centers and incompitent on-site technitions...

It's just come down to the situation where buying a new motherboard is the better value for him, and I want to know if I can without replacing the PSU.

 

[franklin97355]

You'd have to check the plugs with the MOBO you plan to buy but if the customer is so fed up with Dell why not just get a new case and power supply when you get the new MOBO.

 

[dakota81]

*sigh*

I asked the question because I wanted to know the answer, I'm not fishing for alternatives. I've got several PSU's here I could swap in no problem, but then I'd have to charge the guy for it. Plus I'd still have a Dell PSU on hand to which I wouldn't know if it's usable or not.

And regardless of all that, I believe this is something I should learn about anyways, and probably be good information for other people who also read this forum.

 

[satrow]

http://www.upgradingandrepairingpcs.com/articles/upgrade3_01_01.asp

Andy.

 

[PeteWeedon]

Satrow beat me to it!

Same connector, different pole allocations from ATX standard.

I have this warning from several sources. Proceed with care.


Best regards,

Pete W.

If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs - you haven't seen the latest Change Note!

 

[paparazi]

dakota81
I suppose you can use the excuse to the customer that this is an opertunity to "upgrade" in terms of motherboard specification (800fsb replacement) even if he keeps the same CPU and in the same token renew/upgrade the PSU for a better/future upgrade potential.
Print him out satrow's found article, that will win him over.
Martin

Start by questioning and soon you will be answering.
So please take but remember to return and give when you can.

 

[dakota81]

So is all this saying that *all* Dell PSU's are non-standard? All the articles online (including the one already linked here) are older, like 2002ish. This particular Dell system was bought just November of 2003, so fairly recent, is Dell still using the non-standard equipment? Is there something in particular to look for to positively identify their PSUs as non-standard?


And in this particular case here, it's a retired man's system, I can't exactly tell him to open his wallet for a new computer again, I do need to keep the costs as low as I can.

 

[paparazi]

dakota81
Sorry but mine would be a guess.
But then surely the supplied pin out diagram (Dell Proprietory ATX) on the link posted, should help determine if indeed this is proprietory Dell or standard ATX form factor.
A cross comparrison should be enough to prove either way.

Martin


Start by questioning and soon you will be answering.
So please take but remember to return and give when you can.

 

[dakota81]

The PSU I'm looking at is not the one described in the linked article.

I did just do a comparison between the Dell's connector and a standard ATX connector, and all the wire colors all match up except for one; this Dell PSU is missing the white cable which is listed as -5V in motherboard manuals. This PSU also has the 4 pin power cable for P4 motherboards, and the colors match standard PSU's as well.


I don't know... but I am sure this is not going to be the last time I'll be seeing a Dell computer needing parts replaced.

 

[satrow]

According to the linked article (and others), only PSU's in Dell machines built between 1996 and 2000 are likely to have the non-standard ATX connections.

Andy.

 

[mtdew46]

http://www.pcpowerandcooling.com/home.htm

Put in your dell model number (dimension 2300) and it will show you whether you need a dell power supply or a standard atx power supply. It will even show the diagram of the motherboard connectors.

 

[dakota81]

UPDATE

I finally gave in and pulled out a flaky P3 motherboard to hook up to the power supply... and whadda ya know, the Dell PSU (even with the missing -5V cable) booted up the board flawlessly.

So who knows, maybe systems just don't use the -5V line? Dell computers obviously don't use them.