Dell Motherboard

Tash

Senior member
Apr 20, 2001
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I just bought a Dell Pentium 4 system. How can I tell what brand the motherboard is and the model number. I looked and all I can find is "Dell".
 

AA0

Golden Member
Sep 5, 2001
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Its a DELL. There is no brand. The model is whatever DELL assigned it, not much use to anyone.
 

pukemon

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Jun 16, 2000
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It is a proprietary Dell board; it only works in that particular Dimension/Optiplex/Precision/whatever system you might have. Although MSI or Asus might have manufacturer the actual PC board, it is not compatible with any board that could be bought new anywhere, outside from a Dell system that is.
 

KGB1

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Dec 29, 2001
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Well Andy Hui had mentioned before that Intel (OEM) produced many motherboards for DELL (because DELL is a suck up to Intel anyhow, probably why DELL PC's are expensive because it uses Intel motherboards.) But I also read MSI has made some DELL motherboards lately, good luck getting support from MSI/Intel over the motherboard. DELL propietorizes the Motherboard with a different (neutered) BIOS chip and some other stuff.

(Did you get a warranty with the System?? Cuz if you opened that thing up, you just voided the warranty dude!)
 

Zim Hosein

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Nov 27, 1999
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<< (Did you get a warranty with the System?? Cuz if you opened that thing up, you just voided the warranty dude!) >>


KGB, are you sure about this? I could see this policy for their laptops, but for their desktops? To me that would not make sense because they sell upgrades direct from their website that require the opening of your desktop. Just curious, thanks for your time.
 

KGB1

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Dec 29, 2001
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<< I could see this policy for their laptops, but for their desktops? To me that would not make sense because they sell upgrades direct from their website that require the opening of your desktop. >>



Well yeah Dude... hehe. My uncle bought a Dell Dimension Series midtower. He bought a Geforce 3 Ti500, but was UNABLE to place it in. Not because he did not have a AGP slot, but he was not allowed to 'open' the case because of his 3 wonderful year warranty. Sure if there is something defective in the system, a Certified DELL technician can open and repair it, but self installations, additions, replacements is NOT allowed and voids warranty (unless you pay extra I believe) If you dont want an extended warranty, get the 1 year basic warranty and do whatever you like with the system. If you buy extra RAM/HDD/CDROM save the receipt so when it is placed in the system the warranty wont be void.............. Dude.
 

Tash

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Apr 20, 2001
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The manual that comes with the unit tells you how to open and put in new memory and cards.
 

Zim Hosein

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Thanks for the feedback KGB but Tash is correct:


<< The manual that comes with the unit tells you how to open and put in new memory and cards. >>


Even my Dell laptop manual clearly explains how to install extra memory :confused:
 

KGB1

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Dec 29, 2001
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Well I know DELL probably will send instructions to add HDD/CDROM/RAM etc... to the laptop or desktop.. but I will say if you were to mess it up, don't try and ask DELL to replace it, since you voided the warranty before/after it expired. Well good luck with the DELL Dude!
 

jdurg

Senior member
Jun 13, 2001
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I also have a Dell (For only a few weeks longer, then my new rig I built will be complete. :)) But that theory about voiding the warranty is just a theory. When I bought my Dimension XPS T600 in August of 1999, I also got the three year warranty with it. About nine months ago, I believe, my hard drive started to die. I called Dell and they sent me a new hard drive and just told me to take out my old one. I have upgraded/changed many, many parts of my Dell computer and Dell NEVER said that my warranty was void. So opening up your case will NOT void your warranty. If a tech support person at Dell says it does, then ask to speak with someone else.
 

ruel24

Junior Member
Feb 10, 2002
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You're wrong about the Dell warrantee KGB. You can upgrade all you want, but the upgrades are not covered and anything that happens as a result of your upgrading are not coved. I have a Dell Dimension and I've upgraded quite a bit. Just don't expect any help from them either if an upgrade goes wrong.
 

microAmp

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2000
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You are allowed to open the case and not void your warrenty, even if you buy it or lease it from them.

Have 2 friends, one leased and another bought, both called Tech Support and said you can open the case, install cards, memory, without voiding warranty.

The one who bought his Dell had to replace his mobo. They sent him a new one, but if he did it on his own it would void warranty, if he had Support on the phone stepping him through the process of pulling the mobo. out then it would still have a warranty. I was there to yank the board out with support on the phone for warranty reasons :)
 

birddog

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Apr 25, 2000
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We have Dell computers at work & looking at the back of them, they do not even conform to the ATX standard. The motherboards are made to fit their propriarity case. You cannot remove the board & put a normal ATX board in it.