Dell Dimension XPS T600 Upgrade

[SpencyB7]

Hello,
I have a Dell Dimension XPS T600. My computer is a bit behind the times and I'd like to upgrade it with a new motherboard, processor (Pentium 4) and video card (a GeForce 4). Where can I find a resource for cannibalizing Dell machines? What motherboards are appropriate? Any help would be appriciated. Thanks,
-Spencer

 

[Harvey]

Hi Spncer. Welcome to AT.

I have a theory that you should not canabalize a working machine. You can almost always find a decent home for it. The way prices are, these days, it would probably be cheaper to build a new one from the ground up, and sell or donate your Compaq. Most Compaq's use a lot of proprietary parts with oddball form factors, especially motherboards, power supplies and other things that aren't standard after market items (drives, etc.). Trying to upgrade them can cost more than whole new setup.

Another advantage of a whole new setup is that everything compatible with current software, operating systems and peripherals, so you won't have problems such as not having available drivers, etc.

If the old beast is working, find a home for it. You can either sell it to someone who can use it, donate it for a charitable writeoff, or give it to someone who can use what it is, but can't afford even an old, slow machine. You'll feel good even without a tax writeoff.

Old, slow machines are also good for DOS based machine controllers in industrial environments. I still have my 486 DX-4 for just those applications. It doesn't hold a candle to my 1.33 GHz T-bird, but the fast machine is TOO fast to run some of those old programs.

 

[Buz2b]

The sad truth of the matter is that you cannot put a "normal" motherboard in a Dell case. They are proprietary in design. You would have to use a Dell Motherboard and guess what??......Dell doesn't sell upgrade parts like that. Also, the Motherboard power connector (from the Power supply) is different and can't be used on "regular" motherboards.
Sadly, your only option would be to pull and save any drives you want to reuse, the memory if you are getting something that will use it and any of the PCI cards you intend to recycle for a new machine. Those you can reuse. The MB, case and Power Supply, you cannot. Oh, and you can reuse the cpu if you want to also.
Best solution I've seen others do is sell off the parts individually to help fund a new machine. Other than that, you could sell the sytem as a unit.

 

[GMC]

Actually dell cases can be reused but are a major pain in the butt. They use a ribbon cable insteas of standard headers for the case switches and LED's. Tracing splices and sodering are the orders of you really want to go that route. With cases as cheap as they are go a head and get one you like. As stated earlier MB and Power supply also have to go. As far as I know all other componets can work with a new motherboard. If you can, go ahead and get all new equipment and sell your Dell as a working computer. Some of the other componets are not the same quality as retail componets. Hope this helps.

GMC

 

[Buz2b]

Actually dell cases can be reused but are a major pain in the butt

That's a major understatement!! Even if you can figure out the LED's, etc, there is a better than even chance that the board will not line up properly with the slots. Not worth the time or $$. You would spend more time and effort trying to get the case to work than it was worth.
I once did an upgrade on a Dell by removing the cpu, floppy, video card, sound card, modem, CDROM and HD. I bought a new case, MB and Power Supply for under $140.00. Then I sold the cpu and used that $$ as partial payment for a newer, faster one. I managed to put it all together for less than $200.00 out of pocket (remember I had extra $$ for the cpu). Not bad considering what a newer Dell system would have cost me.