Revive Dell 4500, upgrade or replace?

[Odyssey]

My Dimension 4500 is not getting fixed. At this stage, the principal possibities are:
Power supply dead
Mobo and/or CPU dead
off/on switch dead
other less obvious problems.

As I see it the steps are:

buy a power supply tester (so far cannot even find out if any of them will work on a Dell, damn Dell's atypical wiring config anyway!)

if PS is OK, buy new mobo (4500 mobo's are much more expensive than say an 8100, which I assume would be a faster computer).

If not fixed, buy a new CPU,

Many rubles later, maybe still not fixed.

So what would you do:

repair?
replace mobo with later version and if so, how to solve the potential front wiring issues?
just buy a new puter?

and how would you go about it? TIA

 

[cdogg]

If the mobo, CPU, and RAM didn't work in another case with a different power supply, then I would look at rebuilding from the ground up. You can always re-use the hard drive, optical drives, etc...

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[Odyssey]

Thanks for yours, but I meant to be clear that I don't know what is wrong with it, which is the logic for the steps set out. Please readdress with this clarification.

 

[cdogg]

Yeah, because of Dell's proprietary design, you would likely have to dig hard on the net or contact them directly to find out how to test their power supplies. I can't recall from memory, but there is a way.

Also, you don't want to mix a standard motherboard with this proprietary PSU, and that includes newer motherboards from Dell. Doing so will certainly damage both the power supply (if it's still working) and the new board you put in.

Therefore, unless you want to get some cheap 2nd-hand replacements off eBay, I suggest you consider the option of moving onto a newer CPU/motherboard/PSU.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[ceh4702]

Maybe ask Dell if they take trade-ins. They probably charge you to dispose of the junk left over. You might see if you can find a Dell Only Forum like on a newsgroup. I would look at the Dell website for support information first. They may have authorized representatives or shops that can work on them or something. Might be a way to cannabolize the power supply form someone elses Dell if they always use the same wiring pattern.

If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.

 

[Odyssey]

Because of all the Dell proprietary issues, I suspect what is needed is a really good Dell forum. I have tried to use "theirs" (link on Dell site) and it is quiet as a mouse. Useless!

Does anyone know of a Dell forum they can recommend? TIA