• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Is there a way to completely wipe my Dell pc and turn it into a real computer?

MichaelD

MichaelD

Lifer
😉 Hehehe, I'll elaborate. My first pc was store-bought. It's a Dell Dimension L550r. P3550E, 256mb PC100, 20GB/5400 HD, onboard sound and video. I have a V3PCI card in there, so gaming, at least at 800x600 isn't too bad.

Here's what I want to do. Turn it into a pc "without a mind of it's own." I.E. wipe out that crappy Dell Bios that only lets you change the time of day and boot device and nothing else.

Is there a "standard PIII bios" that I could flash the pc to? One of the little projects that I've had in mind has been redoing this box. Wiping the drive...maybe using it to crunch numbers or something noble like that...or maybe even turning into a server....for what reason, I've no idea except maybe to say "uh, I have a little server at my house!" I wouldn't mind playing around with it..just kinda to get some more networking experience.

Thanks for any and all suggestions.
 
flashing? high doubtful. dell is like 95% proprietary, you cant even stick in your own PSu unit in there, it wont post.

do what i did..grab the processor, the hd, cdrom, memory, etc, and use that to build a new comp.

booty
 
Hey BBB,

Good morning! How's the weather down I10 in Houston? It's already 85 here in SA...gonna be another 100 degree day. Anyway.

Yeah, I've noticed the proprietary thing. My Dell is micro-ATX...the mobo is like 6x8 inches..or close to that. It has the 815 chipset.

Being that I've never built an Intel rig, I have a couple of questions for you.

1. A mobo for a PIII is ATX, right? I have an Antec case w/the P303x 300w PS that I'd like to use. Would this work?

2. The mobo sets the correct voltage for the Intel CPU, just like on an AMD board, right?

3. What semi-cheapo, stable mobo would you recommend? No overclocking will be done with this chip/memory...well, maybe a little. 😉

Thanks for your time. Have a good day.

Mike
 
Yeah, what is it with those Dell power supplies? They look normal,
but there's something evil about them...they don't work with
standard (non Dell) motherboards...At least, I had that
experience when trying to replace the motherboard in a friends
Dimension T500. He ultimately had to replace the power supply
as well as the motherboard...

Kwad
 
BBB is correct on the Dell. I tried to do the same thing that you were to do. I had a new video card (GF2 64mb DDR) that I was going to place in my Dell (XPS T600) to replace the old TNT2 Ultra. The new card wouldn't work that great if at all so I asked around here and was told my nifty 200W PSU wasn't going to hack it. I bought a 350W Enermax and that wouldn't work at all in the Dell as mentioned in this post. I then proceeded to try an Intel BIOS and flash it and got nothing. Dell seems to be very propietary it seems. I went ahead and bought a new P3 board for which I am going to rebuild this Dell into a new computer. I got the Abit BH6 board and is well known as a good O/C board from what I have read. This would be a Slot 1 mobo. Check out the spec on there site. Also, if you have Dell ram, I would be curious to know if it works on a non-Dell board as I was told it would not. I plan to get some Crucial PC133 ram when the time comes. Good Luck! 😀
 
houston is hot. its not fair..i like my skin..and its burning off. I-10 sucks...made me 15 minutes late today.


<<
1. A mobo for a PIII is ATX, right? I have an Antec case w/the P303x 300w PS that I'd like to use. Would this work? >>



i had the exact same PSU from a sx1030 tower, no, the dell mobo will NOT take that PSU...do what i did, take all the guts out of the dell, stick them in the new twoer, then buy new motherboard first, and stick in your PSU at that time.



<< 2. The mobo sets the correct voltage for the Intel CPU, just like on an AMD board, right? >>



yes..im almost sure about this. the thing is, if you have say a 933 chip in the dell mobo, and you drop a 733 to replace it, what happens??? i dunno that...and i will soon find out.



<< 3. What semi-cheapo, stable mobo would you recommend? No overclocking will be done with this chip/memory...well, maybe a little. 😉 >>



hmm...i only have done one custom built...and i got a Abit VP-6, only cuz i went dual. If i had to go intel and single processor, i would chose somehting with an intel chipset as opposed to via. they arent horrible IMO, just that sometimes it takes a lot of tweaking to get it right, as much as I hate to admit it.

i just ordered a p2/3 mobo from eula...stable, but really cheap. runs rock solid with win2k on there and my p2 300 chip, but thats a slot 1. im sure others on here who are more mobo freaks than I am would give a good answer.

abit booty aka BBD!
 
The weather in Houston is not too bad with the cold front and all. It will only get up to 93 today. I couldn't find my jacket, hope I don't catch a cold.
🙂
 
Take a look at that Dell PSU. It has an additional power header to the motherboard, like a 5-6 pin one. This is what it actually uses for triggering the power-up on Dell motherboards. It's similar to the new P4 PSU's and infact they might work also. I've bought a P4 compatible PSU and noticed the same header on these units.
 
Thanks BBB. I haven't looked inside the Dell in almost a year...I'm pretty sure the PIII 550e is socket. That'd be socket 370, I believe. I'm gonna make a real PC out of the Dell yet! Later. 🙂

ps
Here in SA, they are doing massive construction at the 410/10 interchange...it sucks big time! Late every day!!
 
Thanks BBB. I haven't looked inside the Dell in almost a year...I'm pretty sure the PIII 550e is socket. That'd be socket 370, I believe. I'm gonna make a real PC out of the Dell yet! Later. 🙂

ps
Here in SA, they are doing massive construction at the 410/10 interchange...it sucks big time! Late every day!!
 
<<maybe using it to crunch numbers or something noble like that>>
Why not just format and reload the machine? It's not like a intel bios is going to give the system any godly powers
 
Gunbuster,

You have a point. A good one, actually. It's kind of a control thing. The Dell is so &quot;locked up&quot; you can't do squat do it/with it. I figure if I'm gonna wipe it, I might as well &quot;do it right.&quot; Besides, have you seen the PS on my Dell? It's about **this big** (holds fingers two inches apart) Who knows when it'll go? 😉
 
On my last 4 Dells, I wiped the hard drive and installed the OS &quot;my way&quot; but you are right about the mobo/power supply. I usually order a &quot;stripped&quot; tower from them, and run it a year, then sell it with 2 years of warranty left. Last year I built my home rig from scratch, so I may just continue doing the Dell thing at work. It makes the obsolescence *slightly* easier to take. FWIW🙂
 


<< Take a look at that Dell PSU. It has an additional power header to the motherboard, like a 5-6 pin one. This is what it actually uses for triggering the power-up on Dell motherboards. It's similar to the new P4 PSU's and infact they might work also. I've bought a P4 compatible PSU and noticed the same header on these units. >>



I have a 6 pin connector...most enermax and antec PSU comes with it. it still doesnt work. i tried it all. the 6 pin connector is for servers. it doesnt do any triggering on the dell mobo, but on a real server mobo, itll add some extra juice.

booty
 
There is a way to rewire a standard ATX power supply to run on Dell machines and there is a way to rewire a the Dell ATX power supply to run a standard ATX board. I had to do the later to replace the Dell/OEM/Intel board with a Soyo 6BA+4 for a friend couple years ago. Do a search on the subject. A few people have posted this info on alot of the free webpage sites. As for for the Ram being propietary, no way, Dell uses standard pc100/133 ram. The mainboard is propietary board made by Intel for Dell. I have heard of some success with people pulling the rom and replacing it with the Intel counterpart and had it working just fine. Pesonally I would not put any money into to this but if your hell bent into doing this project just spend as little as you can like buying a cheap Enlight 7237 case for 50$ and MSI 6337 mainboard for around 110$.

Rain
 
Thanks Raincity. I have an Antec KS282case/p303x PS that I want to use for it. The Dell case is one of those microATX cases...POS..no airflow. The only thing I need to buy is the mobo and a cheap CDR. Could prolly do the whole think for $100 bux. Thanks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top