Yes, meckeard, make sure to look at all the connections for your Dell computer before just getting a motherboard. As I mentioned earlier, and a couple others have mentioned, check your front panel connectors (power button, computer speaker, reset button, power led, hdd led, etc) to see if it is all in one piece or in multiple small pieces. If it is all one piece (easier on the assembler), it will be impossible to use that with another motherboard most likely (unless you intend on doing some serious wiring - such as taking the wire assembly apart, using new connectors, or somehow just making sure the correct wires go in the correct holes - good luck if you try that route. Also, as mentioned by another, safest bet would be to get another power supply - you don't want to mess things up by having the incorrect voltages for sure, and if that's the case as pudda and PeteW mentioned, you could do some serious damage, and a doubt a warranty would cover "oops". [SMILE]
It seems that when dealing with upgrading the motherboard from something like a Dell or Compaq, or some other OEM manufacturer, the easiest/safest thing to do would be this: Take the components you want to keep out of the Dell case, such as your hard drive, CDRom, etc, and buy you a new case. A cheap case that has some really good options, good airflow, and extremely quiet is Chieftec. I have a coworker here who also builds computers for himself and others, and he has just fallen in love with the Chieftec Dragon series. They have both Aluminum and Steel models. One good place for finding those cases is
. I've had some good experience, and some bad with them, but they are a fast shipper, and I doubt you'd run into any problems with buying a case from them - the other person I mentioned has had no problems with them to date. You can get a Chieftec case anywhere from $50 to $100+ USD. Usually, if you get one with a power supply, you'll pay at least $70 or $80.
Anyway, if you feel comfortable with it, and have done your research to make sure it will work, you can keep the dell case, otherwise, you may need to get a new case. There are various good case manufacturers, but Chieftec would be a fine, cheap, choice. You could also choose an Antec model, as they all seem to be good. I'd advise against Skyhawk, as I have 2 at home, and have built a few machines with them. The main issue I have with them is that they do not operate quietly, whereas the Chieftec cases seem to operate at next to silent levels. The next time I build a computer, I plan to use a Chieftec case myself. I'd prefer the Aluminum models as to Steel for 2 reasons (better heat dispensation and they are much much lighter).
Anyway, just make sure you do your research, and try to read articles for any/every part you purchase. What I do often, is just talk to Mr. Google. [WINK] The way I do it, is find the model# for the product, or the name - try model# first, and use name if that doesn't work. I search for that piece of info first, and then "search within results" and type "Review" in the next block, and the first few links (at least) that come up will usually be a review that some individual or group has posted on the web, such as Tom's Hardware, OverClocker's cafe, etc.
Also, you can check for info on
and some sites, including
allow customers to post their opinions about products - do not go solely by any info such as this, but you can often get an overall picture of the product.
One last suggestion: If you end up getting an AMD processor, it'd be adviseable to get a namebrand heatsink/fan, and not stick with the stock hs/fan. I switched from my stock heatsink and fan to a Thermaltake Silent Boost - got from
- and it reduced my cpu temps by around 20 degrees Celcius, that is a huge difference. One other item I picked up was some Artic Silver 5 for the thermal pasted, and I followed their instructions for assembly to the letter. That's always a good idea, as the manufacturer generally knows the best way to use their product. I used Artic Silver's instructions, not ThermalTake's.
I hope that will put it all "in a nutshell" for you.
Stephen
![[infinity]](/data/assets/smilies/infinity.gif "[infinity] [infinity]")
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6 KJV
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