Dell Dim 8400 Case Upgrade?

**refugee** · October 26th, 2005, 06:45 PM

Does anybody know if it's possible to transfer the complete Dell Dimension 8400 into a biger (custom) PC case, like a mid-tower? I've seen several conflicting reports on the size of the motherboard in the Dell 8400's one site saying that it's a standard ATX motherboard, and others saying that it's not. So if anybody KNOWS what it is, please let me know.

Thanks

**ShuckyD** · October 26th, 2005, 07:01 PM

Welcome to TechIMO!!!

I have never heard of custom cases made to fit dell PC's. I think you just have to use the case it came with, ive noticed alot of manufactuers make their motherboards shaped so that they will only fit in their case (the one that it comes in) this is the case for an older p4 dell that i inherited

unfortunately i think your out of luck there, but you never know

**refugee** · October 26th, 2005, 07:07 PM

Thanks for the fast reply!!!

I kinda had a feeling that would be the answer... Oh well, it's not really that bad...

**mike_sanfil** · October 26th, 2005, 07:12 PM

Well I haven't looked inside a dell case in a while but I'm sure you could modify a regular case to fit your dell hardware. I enjoy an engineering challange though so it sounds like more of a fun project to me.

**EXreaction** · October 26th, 2005, 07:13 PM

Welcome to TechIMO!

...there have been others that have swapped mobo's etc, so I do know that the smaller metal cases they used to use(like on the 4600) are atx standard...I am pretty sure that the bigger ones are also...

**stroyal** · October 26th, 2005, 07:17 PM

I don't know that spacific board, but the Dells with a daughter board are the ones that can't use a standard case. The boards that the expantion cards plug directly into the MB can some times fit into a regular case. If you have a tower and the expantion slots are vertical, you have a daughter board.

**EXreaction** · October 26th, 2005, 07:23 PM

Don't worry about that...that was only for the really old ones...really really old ones...

I am 95% sure that you can put that mobo into a different case easily...everything should match up. You will need a new rear fan though, and mabey a new cpu fan...

**refugee** · October 26th, 2005, 07:32 PM

OK, finaly some hope!

, All I heard for the last couple of months is " IT CANT BE DONE". So, thanks everyone, I'm relly going to put some effort to doing this upgrade!

**stroyal** · October 26th, 2005, 07:34 PM

Originally Posted by EXreaction

Don't worry about that...that was only for the really old ones...really really old ones...

I am 95% sure that you can put that mobo into a different case easily...everything should match up. You will need a new rear fan though, and mabey a new cpu fan...

Accually the really old ones are standard AT. I still have a Dell case with a Aopen board in it. They were well built cases.

I know because I'm, really really old.
Norton wants you to pay them to suck.

**EXreaction** · October 26th, 2005, 07:35 PM

Ya, that is what I always have heard...but it isn't true...and if I would have known that back then, I would not have screwed around with the case I have, and would have boughten a new one...like one of those clear acrylic ones.

...but now...I am stuck with my 4600 case...and I did some major mods to it...but a clear acrylic one would have been much better.

This is what I did to my Dimension 4600

**EXreaction** · October 26th, 2005, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by stroyal

Accually the really old ones are standard AT. I still have a Dell case with a Aopen board in it. They were well built cases.

Then when were they nonstandard? ...somewhere in the middle?

**stroyal** · October 26th, 2005, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by EXreaction

Then when were they nonstandard? ...somewhere in the middle?

Yep middle. The beginning of ATX.

**EXreaction** · October 26th, 2005, 07:42 PM

Well, it was a really bad idea on their part...

**stroyal** · October 26th, 2005, 07:56 PM

My first and only store bought computer was a 90mhz Packard Bell with a daughter board.
The CD ROM ran off the sound card not IDE, not very upgradable, look what happened to them.

**EXreaction** · October 26th, 2005, 08:22 PM

**refugee** · October 27th, 2005, 04:15 PM

OK, now there's another thing here that gives me trouble; the front panel Power and Reset buttons are conected to the front USB board, and from there go thru ONE cable to the motherboard,using a single wide plug, and there's nothing on the board that tels me where the separate cables would be connected. Does anyone have any sugestions on this?

Thanks.

**EXreaction** · October 27th, 2005, 05:30 PM

Well, actually, there is anouther thread that is ongoing right now...some guy wants to put in a new mobo in his dell case...I told him that you will need to do something with the front panel cables...personally, I have not tried it...but I do know someone who has done it before...I will search a little later, and mabey see if he will join the forums, and help you out.

**JLK03F150** · October 27th, 2005, 05:44 PM

I have a Dell Dimension 8100. It is one of the non-standard case/mobo/psu models. It is listed as uATX which is OEM non-standard. I think the 8200 is about the same as mine, not sure about the 8250 which is what the person in the other thread has. I don't know when they switched back to ATX.

BTW 8100=2001, 8200=2002

**EXreaction** · October 27th, 2005, 05:45 PM

...did you ever open it up, and try to swap something? ...I am pretty sure that the 8100 is still atx standard...if the power cable is one 20 pin cable, then it is...

EDIT: ...you sure that that is right? ...because I am pretty sure that they were selling the 8400 a few months ago.

**JLK03F150** · October 27th, 2005, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by EXreaction

...did you ever open it up, and try to swap something? ...I am pretty sure that the 8100 is still atx standard...if the power cable is one 20 pin cable, then it is...

IIRC the 20 pin power supply doesn't have all the correct voltages where they should be located. It will fit, but smoke another board.

EDIT: Right about the date? I know I bought mine in 2001 & the 8200 came out the following year. Whether they kept to that naming pattern, I don't know. heheh