Dell Hurt My Feelings.

[Princess]

It's true. After being a loyal customer I've finally been crushed. My parents just bought a new Ford Focus and that came w/a Dimension 2400. HOWEVER! I could upgrade it for relatively cheap. So I did. I got a P4 2.8, 1GB RAM, 80GB HD, super cool 17" Ultraslim FS, and some nice speakers. Didn't really care that it had an integrated graphics card because the guy "assured" me that I could upgrade it to my GF4Ti. I just got it yesterday, open it up, and can't find the AGP slot. I'm thinking "okay, maybe I'm just dumb and don't know what an AGP slot is" (because at the time I didn't). Turns out that I only have PCI slots and the best graphics card compatible w/my crap Dimension 2400 motherboard is a Radeon 9600!!!! *Pulls hair out and then dies*.

If anyone can give me advice on swaping out the motherboard & power supply, it's you guys. My b/f can already do the swaping, but in terms of compatiblity I'd like to have some more insight. Has anyone here had experience trying to swap the MB in a Dell? It's a beautiful computer, I'd hate to see it go to waste =/.

[acme420]

you already have a boyfriend? im crushed. i should have known with such a pretty avatar.

well first figure out if you have a case that will take a full size motherboard, and powersupply or if its some proprietary bs like the mobo with no agp slot...how gay is that?

[Satanic_Hamster]

Dells suck. You had it coming, woman.

They like to intentionally screw you by making crappy mobo's like that. They make it so you *can't* upgrade.

You decline to pay for a 2nd harddrive / cdrom? They'll make a special mobo, just for you, that can only have two ide devices.

Don't want to pay for extra ram?

They'll make a mobo with only one dimm slot.

DELL SUCKS.

[Satanic_Hamster]

Where I come from, the phrase "Dude, you're getting a dell" was considered a threat.

[Nefarious]

dont blame her hammy, her parents got it for free. I would take ANY computer for free...

[Satanic_Hamster]

It's. A. Damn. Dell..

[Nefarious]

its. free.
not everyone has 5 grand to spend on computer parts hammy

[ferret]

Hammy's computer isn't actually that expensive :P

[Satanic_Hamster]

IT'S A FREAKING DELL

[HighPingedLPB]

The only problem you might have with getting a new motherboard is that the case might be a custom size for just dell motherboards. That was the problem I had with my old HP, but I just got a new case for $20. It's cheaply made, but it works. If it's not possible to get a new motherboard into that case, you could just get a new case and a new motherboard, then take everything else out and put it into the new case. Oh, and hopefully the CPU isn't glued to the board, heh.

[Satanic_Hamster]

Dell likes to sodder ther processors in.

[mr_driller]

rule of thumb for buying from dell... if you don't have the option to bundle/upgrade when you buy it, you probably can't install it.

the 2400's are pretty low end. no agp, 2dimms, 3pci... they haven't changed much in the last two years when they were called the Dell 2300's.

If you're up for returning that POS and purchasing another Dell, i'd recommend getting a Dell PowerEdge 400SC. It's the lowest end server but has the same motherboard that can be found in the high end desktops. It has AGP8X. And its really inexpensive.

Fanboys like the taste of 400SC:
http://www.aaltonen.us/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8

[unrequited]

rule of thumb for buying from dell... if you don't have the option to bundle/upgrade when you buy it, you probably can't install it.

the 2400's are pretty low end. no agp, 2dimms, 3pci... they haven't changed much in the last two years when they were called the Dell 2300's.

If you're up for returning that POS and purchasing another Dell, i'd recommend getting a Dell PowerEdge 400SC. It's the lowest end server but has the same motherboard that can be found in the high end desktops. It has AGP8X. And its really inexpensive.

Fanboys like the taste of 400SC:
http://www.aaltonen.us/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8

Hah... driller's first. post. evAr.

[Anonymous]

Where I come from, the phrase "Dude, you're getting a dell" was considered a threat.

rofl...too funny..

[Princess]

rule of thumb for buying from dell... if you don't have the option to bundle/upgrade when you buy it, you probably can't install it.

the 2400's are pretty low end. no agp, 2dimms, 3pci... they haven't changed much in the last two years when they were called the Dell 2300's.

If you're up for returning that POS and purchasing another Dell, i'd recommend getting a Dell PowerEdge 400SC. It's the lowest end server but has the same motherboard that can be found in the high end desktops. It has AGP8X. And its really inexpensive.

Fanboys like the taste of 400SC:
http://www.aaltonen.us/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8

Well, I supposedly had the option to upgrade it according to the customer service guy. Unfortunately, I can't return this Dell because it is the computer that comes with the Focus. However, as soon as they return my messages (or as soon as I can call during business hours --whichever comes first), then maybe I can convince them to send me a new MB.

If I were to get a new MB & power supply, what would be the best deal for what I have?

Btw, thx for all the replies, it's very helpful. Even if some of you hate Dells, a free PC is a free PC and if I can upgrade it for relatively cheap I think it's worth it. All in all, even if I have to replace the MB (assuming it will fit in the case) it will still be cheaper than if I just got a different PC.

[Satanic_Hamster]

Oh, I know how to return it.

But it's going to require the use of an 20" ID PVC pipe at least 15' long, an air stop, a pressure tank, some 1-1/2" hose with Chicago fittings, and a 650 CFM Gardner Denver air compressor.

Fortunately, I have all those.

Oh, and something to provide a seal around the dell after it's put in the tube. Otherwise, the air will leak around it on discharge and we'll lose a lot of the muzzle velocity.

[Princess]

Oh, I know how to return it.

But it's going to require the use of an 20" ID PVC pipe at least 15' long, an air stop, a pressure tank, some 1-1/2" hose with Chicago fittings, and a 650 CFM Gardner Denver air compressor.

Fortunately, I have all those.

Oh, and something to provide a seal around the dell after it's put in the tube. Otherwise, the air will leak around it on discharge and we'll lose a lot of the muzzle velocity.

As much as I appreciate your "satanic" ideas, they're not really helpful. If you don't like Dells, fine, but please make your own topic about it. This thread is so that I can fix up my computer with the things I have, not so that I can destroy it. Thank you.

[acme420]

did you read the first reply any?

[Satanic_Hamster]

Oh please, this thread was jacked right out of the gate.

Face it, it's the best option. You have little other choice then to let us construct a Dell Gun.

My God, we'll make CNN for sure.

"Rogue engineer potatoe guns a Dell through two walls of Dell Corp's headquarters. Judge dismissed all charges, ruling that 'The B****es had it coming.'"

[Satanic_Hamster]

Besides, you know what kind of responses you can expect from us. I would submit that you were ASKING for these kinds of ideas.

[Nefarious]

lie so you can trade it in for a better one

[Princess]

did you read the first reply any?

Yeah, I did. I think that I have a pretty small case, so I'm not sure it will fit one. What sizes do they come in anyways? I'm kind of clueless when it comes to that... Worst comes to worse, I do have another large case.

Besides, you know what kind of responses you can expect from us. I would submit that you were ASKING for these kinds of ideas.

I think you've obviously not been reading the types of responses I've been getting. For the most part, they have been beneficial. The parts that are not beneficial are in direct relation to your sidetracking. I understand that people at GH.com like to post off-topic, but that is specifically why there are different forums. So in response, no, I wasn't "asking" for your kinds of ideas at all.

[Satanic_Hamster]

It was between the lines.

[Satanic_Hamster]

Seriously, however.

If you don't want to shoot it out of home made air potatoe cannon, have you considered the benefits of setting fire to it?

Or, there's always the Virginia Option.

You could always just shoot it.

Based on personal experience, you'll want to use something larger then a 9mm, otherwise you won't penetrate the cd or hard drives. Now, 8mm Mauser is Hamsters Perferred round to use on computers.

[ferret]

Shutup hamster.

[PeregrineFalcon]

ditto

[Dissman]

Note to Princess: DO NOT USE the Dell Power Supply on any other motherboard, and DO NOT USE any other power supplies on the dell motherboard... It's a wonderful way to fry power supplies... I have a small stack of them in my living room that are a testament to that.

By the time you replace the motherboard, the power supply, and if the processor is soldered in (which it might be, and if it is you'll have to replace it.) you've basically ran up the cost of a new PC in replacement parts for this one...

As for Dell, you can request all of this stuff, they may or may not give it to you... the rep was less than honest with you, which is distasteful. But unfortunately you cant do too much about that. Usually you can return the computer... if your totally flustered about this, you might want to consult legal council... If the computer was part of the car purchase, you took the rep at his word when buying both that the computer was upgradable.... they arent, that might be a verbal contract or fraud. But it's probably not worth going after Dell for it...

[steaLer]

it's true. whatever you do, save all the CD's it comes up. some of their integrated stuff may not work without their custom drivers.

dell is really stubborn, so don't get frustrated.

[acme420]

yeah they have the windows hiddeon on a partition instead of giving you actual cd's for restore purposes. i didnt know this and i went installed win2k over the winxp home that was on a dell we got for a customer...man what a major pita trying to get past their dumbass secret hidden windows partition bull shit.