What will fit in this dell case?

[Junk Parts]

Morning everyone. I have a question. Will any after market mobo fit in a Dell OptiPLEX GX180 Tower? I know that I will also need a newer PSU too. Here is a pic of the thing.

[370forlife]

Re: What will fit in this dell case?

If it is one of the clamshell cases, I know most of those would use clips instead of mounting screws. Otherwise it should be standard atx, dell is usually pretty good about using standard atx mounting holes.

Basically if the motherboard mounts using long, thin holes with a clip coming through instead of being normal, you're SOL.

[washu]

Re: What will fit in this dell case?

I haven't used a GX180 before, but if it's anything like the GX2XX series (and it looks identical) then the MB is anything but ATX. Those all have the MB mount using the clips 370 described and a single screw to a removable tray. The tray then slides and clips into the case.

You could probably jurry rig something in there. The biggest problem would be the MB back-plate as it's not removable.

The PS if it's still there is probably ATX, but double check before hooking it up to a generic MB. Some older Dells had ATX connectors with different pinouts. Good chance of frying a normal MB with those. All the Dells I've encountered in clamshells had standard ATX power, so you're probably ok.

[Wizard]

Re: What will fit in this dell case?

I have this exact case (Dimension 8300). Slot and hook on a snap on tray. PSU is ATX.

Look everywhere else for different case or find a good Dell mainboard and recap. Make sure to get the tray if missing.

Also you need Dell heatsink with odd clips (don't like these) or do a slight modification to the P4 heatsink bracket to clear the row of caps by thinning the section of rail on the P4 bracket. Which is better.

Drives uses shoulder screws and green rails. You'll need 12 rails if you are utilizing all the drive bays.

Prefer to get Dell 775 mainboard to upgrade your case instead of P4. I'm using 2.8C and it's showing it's age.

Cheers, Wizard

[PCBONEZ]

Re: What will fit in this dell case?

Chassis mod is like customizing a car body.
You can fit about anything you want IF you are willing to do the necessary surgery.
.

[ratdude747]

Re: What will fit in this dell case?

If it is one of the clamshell cases, I know most of those would use clips instead of mounting screws. Otherwise it should be standard atx, dell is usually pretty good about using standard atx mounting holes.

Basically if the motherboard mounts using long, thin holes with a clip coming through instead of being normal, you're SOL.

my L933R is like that. the way it is built, the mobo's front edge needs to be the same distance from the holes as the original, it uses clips with a clamp. not to mention a proprietary psu.

[dan86]

Re: What will fit in this dell case?

Hi,

I've had a look at a few dell tower servers/desktops and found that the mobo/psu has been designed to fit just the dell stuff and you can't really fit any other atx motherboards in. Saying that you can always size it up and it may fit.

Daniel

[PCBONEZ]

Re: What will fit in this dell case?

I've taken old heavy duty AT and NLX horizontal desktop type cases and chopped out the sheet metal to fit in the motherboard pan from a standard uATX or ATX case.
Simply used pop-rivets and/or solder [as like plumbing or car body soldering work] to mount the standard pan in the non-standard case.
Sometimes similar mods are needed to fit a standard PSU, sometimes not.
May have to add a fan or vent holes depending on the case.
-
The goal for me was to get a horizontal case which saved some desk space because the monitor or a printer can sit on top of the PC case.
.

[kc8adu]

Re: What will fit in this dell case?

maybe gx 260,270,280 board and tray.how does your front panel hook up?

[Junk Parts]

Re: What will fit in this dell case?

Well Kc its in my wifes desk right now and its a bitch to get it out of there. If I remember right it has all the LED's and the power switch in a single plug. I think the pins can be released from the plastic connector. This would let me connect another mobo without cutting anything. The gang plug may also fit a non-dell mobo too. Its a long shot but maybe. The PSU isn't Dell. Its just a POS out of the junk box, and it works well. I don't remember if it was P4 ready. Thats ok because I will have to buy a PSU with more ass if I upgrade in that box anyway. I was thinking that if there is a GX 180 case up at the shop I could just test fit a few junk mobo's and see what hang ups I will run into. This is a long shot too as Vernon hasn't gotten any of these GX 180 units in a long time.