you guys convinced me to replace the motherboard lol..help

[SeanT]

hey guys,

I just got a new dell dimension 3000 as a gift, and it only has pci ports (I want a better video card).

It is a pentium 4, 3.0ghz w/hyperthreading, 512 ram.

If I were to replace the motherboard to get an AGP slot what should I look for? I know absolutely nothing about this. I will probably purchase a motherboard, and get it installed locally.

 

[Edward Lee]

You can't buy a motherboard to fit into that Dell
You have to buy a new case to fit the new Motherboard and while you're at it you'll need to get a new power supply to fit the new case and new motherboard and new graphics card..... looks like a new system...

 

[gamerj]

doesnt dell like WELD their mobo's to the case or something (haha, i made a joke)...

dude's right i think...dell dont like switching parts but dell parts...
Ehm, im confused, No AGP slot, No PCI-express slot?

edit: nevermind, integrated graphics card then?

 

[DaveSimmons]

Like they said, you need a new case, PSU, motherboard, graphics card.

You might also damage the CPU trying to remove the HSF from it, so there's risk in trying to salvage the CPU to use in a new P4 box.

Safest would be to just sell the Dell and get a complete A64 system. Even an A64 2800+ will be at least as fast as the P4, and a 3000+ or higher will be much faster.

 

[Edward Lee]

ouch, I think we're being too insensitive... I can imagine how frustrating it must be to buy a brand new computer and find out it's not quite what you expected.

Can you return it?

 

[stevty2889]

Yeah, you may actualy be better off selling the dell and building your own. If you do want to keep a majority of the parts, you will need to get a motherboard, case, PSU, and video card. Dell uses proprietary parts, so the case and PSU would be incompatible with a new motherboard.

 

[Amaroque]

Originally posted by: Edward Lee
You can't buy a motherboard to fit into that Dell
You have to buy a new case to fit the new Motherboard and while you're at it you'll need to get a new power supply to fit the new case and new motherboard and new graphics card..... looks like a new system...

That's idiotic, when only three things need to be replaced...

I'm not sure if that's a proprietary motherboard in that particular Dell. If it is, you may be still be able to get a MB to fit that case, from Dell. But be aware of two things, even if you can replace it with a Dell MB...

1) Dell will charge you a stupid price for their MB.
2) It will most likely void your warranty.

You would be better off getting a new case with a PSU installed, and a standard ATX MB. Then you can upgrade your video w/o issue.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Even if the 3000 case doesn't have a rewired power supply, it's a small one. Both the PSU and the case cooling are designed for the parts Dell ships, not the added power and added heat from a video card.

So don't even try using the Dell case.

 

[Edward Lee]

As far as I know Dell does not sell componants seperately. If they did they wouldn't called be Dell... They'd be called Newegg.......

 

[Amaroque]

Many years ago, ('96 I think) I was able to get an upgraded proprietary MB from HP. Again, at a stupid price (like 2x what a standard one was at the time).

 

[SeanT]

haha..wow...screw all this then Thanks guys...looks like I am going to try out a pci video card, and hope I am decently satisfied heh.

 

[Jeffyboy]

A DELL huh? You might as well get a new case and PSU and maybe RAM. You can keep the HD's tho ;-)
Lots of dell stuff is proprietary. I don't know if they still make proprietary power supplies with different pinouts? Anyone? Dells are too scary to upgrade... maybe Dell will give you a trade in value tho??

Jeff