Hardware

Hi,

Is anyone familiar with the Dell 8200 case? I am a first year IST major, so while I should be able to answer these questions myself, never hurts to have another opinion.

I'm looking to build a desktop. I have an old Dell 8200. The case is somewhat sentimental to me as it was my first computer. Obviously, its a stone age piece of junk. I'd like to use it in my built. As far as I can tell the case is built for the ATX form factor, but it looks like some of the other components are not standardized.

Obviously for a modern computer, replacing the power supply would be a necessity.

Is there anything else I should be weary of?

As far as the build I'm going for. Core i5 2500k is the only component I'm adamant about the machine having. Everything else is subject to change until I'm ready to go on an online shopping spree.

Is that the case that opens up like a clam shell, with green plastic guides for the disk and cd drives?
If you are living in a dorm, why not build a machine using the ITX format. The case is the size of a thick text book, and Intel have boards that will take an I7 processor. Add a SSD drive and you should be able to come out with a fast system for four to six hundred dollars.

---------- Post updated at 11:07 AM ---------- Previous update was at 11:01 AM ----------

Do you have to do sheet metal work to the old case to remove the back panel that the keyboard/mouse/usb ports protrude through?
If the connectors for the power switch, reset button, hard drive led, are integrated into a single connector, you will have to split that up to match the new motherboard.

It is the case that opens of a clam shell.

And no, lol I don't live in a dorm and space is not really a concern. I'm actually about to have a 2 bedroom apartment to myself in March-April. .I don't think sheet metal work would be required, but I haven't really torn the thing down yet to find out.
I wouldn't want a small case, actually, as I have several harddrives that I would like accommodated. If I removed the floppy, I think the 8200 case could accommodate 4 drives.

The powerswitch, I gotta be honest, I'm not really advanced enough in my schooling to know if its standard or not.. It looks like a midget IDE cable.

I'll start stripping this thing down and see if I can provide any info. But really the biggest thing is, I'm sentimental to the case. This computer was my sad, pathetic life for years lol.

---------- Post updated 01-28-12 at 12:54 AM ---------- Previous update was 01-27-12 at 12:15 PM ----------

More information:

I have the thing completely stripped. The I/O plate came out in one piece with the motherboard. Shouldnt need any kind of metal working to modify it. Still not too sure about the powerswitch. Looks like theres a cable that runs to a small card that contains the front mount USB and headphone jacks, and that has another cable that runs up the front of the case to the power switch.

I don't mine doing without the 2 front USBs. Worst case scenario, if i need more USB support I'll go with an external hub. The cable that runs from that card to the power switch is a 15 pin IDE ribbon cable. The p4 chip came out right with the heatsink fused to it. I can't even pry it off (not without using more force on it that i'm prepared to use). Shes old. LOL

As long as you can do without the reset button, and the power led and ide led, then all you have to do is figure out which 2 of the wires in that ribbon cable are the power on switch, so that you can modify the motherboard end to match your new board.

The Dell board may have a weird form factor. Be sure a standard board and a standard power supply will fit before you get too carried away.

Thanks guys. Yea, I'm pretty sure the board is standard at least in terms of physical size dimensions. Standard in terms of a new power supply fitting remains something to be checked.

It may be more trouble than its worth. I'll keep all this in mind.