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Rebuilding a Dell 8250 with new mobo, RAM

C

Chang10is

Senior member
256 MB of RDRAM is just not cutting it for me anymore, so I'm thinking about buying a new mobo, DDR RAM, and case to build a new system out of my old Dell parts. Does anybody have experience doing this? I want to know whether or not there might be some unforseen challenges. I've heard that some manufacturers make their computers so that it's hard to do exactly what I'm going to do--strip the computer of its components. I know that there is a plastic piece sitting on top of the heatsink. I'm not sure whether or not this will be easy to get off, but this is one problem that I thought I might run into. I've been told that compatibility with parts should not be an issue in general, but others have said that the PSU and mobo power connectors are proprietary. Who's right?

As far as components go, I don't know much about P4 motherboards. Anybody with recommendations on a CHEAP but reliable one? I already have Mushkin 512 MB DDR3200 RAM to use with my setup. What do you all think of the Intel 865PE/865G/865GV chipsets? Or these mobos in particular: ASUS "P4P800-MX" 865GV, MSI 865G "NEO2-PLS," and Gigabyte 8ISXT-FS. All 3 are around the same price. First 2 are refurb w/ integrated video, last one is new. I'm leaning towards the last one, but I'm definitely open to other suggestions.
 
Bump. I really need help with this... I don't even know what core my P4 is. It's from a Dimension 8250 bought two years ago when Dell had like 5 rebates on the system at the same time. Is this a Northwood. What motherboards might be good? I have an nVidea GeForce 440MX and Mushkin DDR 3200.

Edit: couldn't remember the vid card company off the top of my head when I posted this message from a computer lab. I can't seem to log into Anandtech from home so I have to go elsewhere to post messages... oh well. Thanks buddy 😉

Edit: CPU is 2.4 GHz. I *think* it's 533 MHz bus. I'm guessing that it's a Northwood, but I don't want to take any chances.
 
get a asus 875p mobo
here is the link
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=13-131-464&depa=0

and i never heard of a ATI geforce 440mx lol its a nvidia mx440 buddy but get that mobo maybe a new video card like a 6600gt good bang for the buck
link for video card http://www.newegg.com/app/view...=14-150-080&depa=0
another note u should get 2 256mb so than u have dual channel its faster with p4's alot if possible u said u already had 1 512 get another one have a gig and that wouldnt be that bad of a gaming pc it would actually be pretty good to tell you the truth does the processor have HT? if it doesnt u can get a cheaper mobo but still the one i gave u would be better because u could upgrade to HT later and the chipset 875p is the best and fastest

 
I don't want to appear to be a killjoy but it's more than likely that your present case will not house a normal atx factor m/board as the standoffs may be positioned differently.
 
He said he was getting a new case as well, that won't be a problem. However you will also want to get a new PSU, as dell uses proprietary crap, and the PSU may be wired differently and fry your new motherboard. What speed is your processor, and what is the cache size?(256k is williamette core, 512k is northwood). I would recomend a motherboard such as the Asus P4P800, or even the P4R800(with the ATI chipset, but has onboard graphics that are probably better than the geforce 440mx. You also probably won't be able to use the OS that came with your dell either, as it's OEM and usualy won't install on a non-Dell, and changing motherboards, you will likely need to re-install windows. The rest of your parts, hard drive, video card, cd/dvd drives will work fine with a new motherboard.
 
Originally posted by: bacillus
I don't want to appear to be a killjoy but it's more than likely that your present case will not house a normal atx factor m/board as the standoffs may be positioned differently.
Click to expand...

I wasn't 100% sure whether I'd get a new case, so thanks for this bit of info. I thought it'd be nice to get a new case and have more drive bays, but I guess that a new case might actually be necessary and not an option.

Can other people confirm whether or not Dell uses proprietary PSUs? I know many people commented on this several years ago, but when I asked somebody whether or not their more recent computers still use proprietary components, he said no.

Can anybody comment on the AOpen 865PE AX4SPE-UN or the MSI 865PE Neo2-V? I'd like to save money in getting a refurb mobo if there's a decent one out there.
 
Originally posted by: Chang10is
Originally posted by: bacillus
I don't want to appear to be a killjoy but it's more than likely that your present case will not house a normal atx factor m/board as the standoffs may be positioned differently.
Click to expand...

I wasn't 100% sure whether I'd get a new case, so thanks for this bit of info. I thought it'd be nice to get a new case and have more drive bays, but I guess that a new case might actually be necessary and not an option.

Can other people confirm whether or not Dell uses proprietary PSUs? I know many people commented on this several years ago, but when I asked somebody whether or not their more recent computers still use proprietary components, he said no.

Can anybody comment on the AOpen 865PE AX4SPE-UN or the MSI 865PE Neo2-V? I'd like to save money in getting a refurb mobo if there's a decent one out there.
Click to expand...

I also read that pre-2002 Dell used proprietary components (psu in particular). I also was trying to find out if this still is the case, but nobody could give me a definite answer.

 
pre Dell 2002's definitely use propietary parts.

I had this problem with my parents Dell, the plastic piece over the CPU comes off
pretty easily.

Depending on your budget, I would definitely go with a new case, PSU, and Mobo.
Upgrade that CPU and RAM if you can afford it too.
The RDRAM can be sold on EBay
as well as the other stuff.

Sell the old stuff at a decent price
Buy new parts at NewEgg and you could have yourself
a whole new system!

😀
 
Visit Dell's site and enter your service tag and you will get a complete listing of your components, even if you dont remember them.

Before making any changes, post your question at various dell forums (forums.us.dell.com) and you will get pretty knowledgeable responses on what can be done. Robert Hancock maintains a very useful page on upgrading Dells, especially older models, at http://www.roberthancock.com/dell/
 
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