Anyone ever tried moving a dell sff into a htpc regular case?
- Thread starter david_129
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got any pics of the mobo
I think the main problems you'll have are as follows....
Mobo possibly not a standard ATX form factor so the standoff points in the new case won't match .
Non standard front panel connectors .
I have read that Dell don't always use the ATX standard for the main psu connector to the motherboard . They've all been standard on the ones I've checked but worth mentioning .
CPU cooler setup specific to the original Dell case and maybe a problem in the new one .
PSU not a standard size ?
I'm about to do a similar thing with my media server
Mobo possibly not a standard ATX form factor so the standoff points in the new case won't match .
Non standard front panel connectors .
I have read that Dell don't always use the ATX standard for the main psu connector to the motherboard . They've all been standard on the ones I've checked but worth mentioning .
CPU cooler setup specific to the original Dell case and maybe a problem in the new one .
PSU not a standard size ?
I'm about to do a similar thing with my media server
Hi David, what model is that? It looks a lot like an Optiplex 390/790?
If it is the board takes standard 24pin ATX PSU, however Dell has some funny ribbon cable it uses for the front I/O plates and the fan controller sometimes runs from this front panel as well if I remember correctly. The PSU itself is a flex ATX normally, which some SFF cases support (same as many shuttles). As bugeyewrx said it'll be a case of the screw mount arrangement as well.
If you let me know the exact model I can have a look at work on Monday and see if it would be possible (we've got a LOT or SFF dells of different versions).
If it is the board takes standard 24pin ATX PSU, however Dell has some funny ribbon cable it uses for the front I/O plates and the fan controller sometimes runs from this front panel as well if I remember correctly. The PSU itself is a flex ATX normally, which some SFF cases support (same as many shuttles). As bugeyewrx said it'll be a case of the screw mount arrangement as well.
If you let me know the exact model I can have a look at work on Monday and see if it would be possible (we've got a LOT or SFF dells of different versions).
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Hi David, I've just popped the lid off a 790 and taken out the hard drive caddy. I have a mini-itx board turning up tomorrow so i can double check, but my first thoughts are that the mounting holes are in normal positions.
The front fan also runs independent of the front I/O port (which does not use a standard USB or audio connection).
That's the good news, the bad news is you won't be fitting this into a mini-itx case any time soon. It appears the be an extended mini-DTX board. it is the same width as m-DTX board, but is longer as well. The CPU socket is mounted a lot deeper into the case than most board, it is affectively where the DIMM slots are on most board.
You probably fit it into a m-atx case though.
I hope this helps. Personally I'd stick with the nice looking Dell or build a m-ITX solution from scratch.
The front fan also runs independent of the front I/O port (which does not use a standard USB or audio connection).
That's the good news, the bad news is you won't be fitting this into a mini-itx case any time soon. It appears the be an extended mini-DTX board. it is the same width as m-DTX board, but is longer as well. The CPU socket is mounted a lot deeper into the case than most board, it is affectively where the DIMM slots are on most board.
You probably fit it into a m-atx case though.
I hope this helps. Personally I'd stick with the nice looking Dell or build a m-ITX solution from scratch.