Dell Demension 8100

[dunder]

I have the above sys. I'm upgrading and need to know if I can buy a asus mb and slap it in the Dell case or is the Dell mb proprietary to its case and therefore need to look at getting a new case? Thanks,

 

[RaymondY]

Pretty much everything Dell uses (power supply, mobo, cases) are proprietary. If u intend on upgrading my processer/mobo then u will need a new case, power supply to go along with the cpu & mobo.

 

[dunder]

Let me add the following:

I currently have the Dell Dimension 8100 and am looking to upgrade the motherboard to one that supports 8x AGP for the Radeon 9800 Pro I bought. Can anyone tell me what my options are for a motherboard that will fit into my current case, run off my factory power supply unit and also support PC3200 DDR memory and the 8x AGP that the Radeon 9800Pro can run at? Also, will I be able to use my current processor on a new motherboard or will I be forced to upgrade that as well?

 

[BigBadBiologist]

The dell power supplies are wired wacky. You can get an adapter or rewire what is there, but I don't reccomend that. I've found that a lot of Dells have standard ATX layouts for the motherboard to fit, but you would need a new power supply regardless.

I'm not sure what chipset the 8100 has, but your card may actually work in that computer. 8x AGP cards don't HAVE to run at 8x AGP. The motherboard just needs to support 1.5V AGP cards.

 

[49erinnc]

The Dimension 8100 has the Intel 850 chipset.

I don't know a lot about that rig but would his current CPU be compatible with a different motherboard with the Socket 478 or does Dell use a Dell-specific socket? Wouldn't he be able to just go with any ATX Socket 478 motherboard that runs an Intel chipset and has the 8x AGP slot he's looking for? Or is he going to run into a problem if he tries to pop out his current CPU and expect it to fit into a new motherboard?

 

[49erinnc]

I found the following three boards on Newegg. Unless someone here says that you can't put your current CPU into one of these boards, I really don't see why you couldn't upgrade provided the mounting holes line up in your Dell case. Anyone know if these three would work?

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[BigBadBiologist]

Originally posted by: 49erinnc
The Dimension 8100 has the Intel 850 chipset.

I don't know a lot about that rig but would his current CPU be compatible with a different motherboard with the Socket 478 or does Dell use a Dell-specific socket? Wouldn't he be able to just go with any ATX Socket 478 motherboard that runs an Intel chipset and has the 8x AGP slot he's looking for? Or is he going to run into a problem if he tries to pop out his current CPU and expect it to fit into a new motherboard?

Socket 478 is socket 478. There is no dell specific socket. Dell power supply headers are odd. That is the only real difference. If you plug any of those motherboards into a dell power supply, most likely there will be a bad smell.

 

[49erinnc]

Well based on that, it sounds like he could go with one of the mobo's I listed and just purchase a standard ATX power supply and be good to go UNLESS his components (CD, Floppy, Hard Drive, etc.) will only fit the Dell power supply connectors. That could be an issue as well unless the components have universal connections and not Dell PSU-specific ones.

 

[BigBadBiologist]

No, all of the device leads coming out of the dell supply are standard. It's just the ATX (mobo power) lead.


Regardless, I just looked around on the DELL forums and several people report using a 9800pro in an 8100 with no problems (although do see some odd things- but that just may be bad installs). You can probably just stick it in there with no reprocussions (just make sure to connect the extra power lead).

 

[dunder]

Problem I'd run into is that the mobo currently uses rambus and I've been told you cannot put ddr 3200 in rambus slots (unless you have Marsh-mellows and a stick). I just purchased a gig of that 3200 ddr. So unless he is wrong looks like I'm going to have to get a new mobo. Besides it would allow me to utilize the full 8x. I just hope I can:
a. use the old case
b. not have to upgrade processor.

I sure do appreciate everyone's input. Video card arrived today and cannot wait to get home and plug it up. Sucks that the memory will have to sit in a box until I figure out what will and will not work.

 

[Rukkian]

I would be careful putting that video card in the system without knowing the specs on the psu. I have been told that even Dell uses underpowered psu's and therefore, you may run into voltage problems.

 

[dunder]

Damn, I'm getting my bubble burst left and right. I was just getting ready to download the drivers and light this candle. Looks like I'm gonna have to wait until I complete Frankensteins monster. I thought it would be ok to at least run the video card :disgust:

 

[BigBadBiologist]

I'd reccomend looking around the dell forums. There are a few people there that seem to really know what they are talking about. I have never worked on an 8100 so I can't give you absoulte answers. However, it is very unlikely that putting this card in your computer will hurt anything. If the power supply is weak, then your computer probably won't play games very stabley (is that a word?; maybe stably?). But it won't hurt to give it a try. Also, the performance increase of 4x vs 8x isn't a whole lot. The major difference is in your new video chip; that in itself will make a huge difference!

I do know that your new stick of RAM won't work in a RAMBUS motherboard.

 

[dunder]

Thanks, I'll check out their fourms. Either way looks like im purchasing additional hardware. Hopefully only the mobo and psu!