Noob: Comp build help

MarkW7

MarkW7

MarkW7

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Joined
30 Nov 2008
Posts
731
Location
Manchester
Hi, this is my first post / topic here, i have read a couple of other threads and everyone seems friendly and helpful.

Heres the basics; I've just bought an old dell dimension 8200 with a couple of bits, inside - 250w [max output PSU?], motherboard [not sure if working, but when i put power cable into PSU a green light comes on], CPU Fan, [this has an air duct that pumps it straight out of the rear] and im not sure if there is actually a processor in there as i dont want to pull the thing off and damage anything as i am a beginner and i dont know if anything works because i cant plug my monitor in; [pics below]

so basically i need a lot of help :(, would be very greatful.

The Case; [Dell Dimension 8200]

2wf1pjo.jpg


The back;

2vbof2s.jpg


The back close up on slots;

2zxzeix.jpg


Case open;

2l9qw55.jpg


Inside 1;

2vl8ztu.jpg


Inside 2;

epnnf8.jpg


Ram, were 2; [Don't know if works]

wa0k85.jpg


I took all the covers off;

j6sahh.jpg


[Sorry, just realised how bad quality the pics are]

I need a harddrive, i only need a small one around 40gb's as only i will be using it and hopefully save some money as i am on a tight budget.
Drive, will only need the one? looking for something that can read CD's and DVD's and also give me the option to burn.
As there are no monitor slots i'll need video card?[don't know anything about this thing] pref one with just 2 VGA slots or even 3 as i'll have atleast dual monitor.
Dont know if it has processor, if not i'd be looking for something as an average not super fast or slow as im on a budget.
Ram again im not sure?
Case Fans, as the CPU cooler fan comes straight out of the back vents there i not really anywere to put extra fans unless in the front were drives go because ill only have one, again not sure.
Not sure if motherboard works as i cannot get my monitor attached and it wont boot because it just flashes orange, [power button] bcoz i have no hdd.

Sticky situation, very greatful for help first build abit useless willing to buy bits and pieces off ebay and things like that to save money, just need to know what im looking for.

If you like to contact me via email; [email protected].

Thanks again

:D
 
Tell have a habbit of using RAM with custom notches in it which can be a pain, I dont recognise whats in that picture.

Looks like your need an AGP graphics card.
If you go to the dell website and support section you should able to get the full specs of this machine and be able to find out about RAM etc.
You can pick up a IDE DVD-RW for £15.
Becuase its a few years old I imagine if it does need a CPU it will be pretty cheap second hand
 
Graphic cards

I'm looking at graphic cards now with two VGA slots, dont know if i can get one with 3. looking into specs.

Edit: And EdGey, claimed ?
 
Daaaaaaaamm that looks old.

But i agree with J.B:

J.B said:
Tell have a habbit of using RAM with custom notches in it which can be a pain, I dont recognise whats in that picture.

Looks like your need an AGP graphics card.
If you go to the dell website and support section you should able to get the full specs of this machine and be able to find out about RAM etc.
You can pick up a IDE DVD-RW for £15.
Becuase its a few years old I imagine if it does need a CPU it will be pretty cheap second hand
Click to expand...
 
had one of those puppies long time ago.

you will need
- agp video card card, like a ATi9800pro or nvidia 5900 series (probably won't be able to get better cards since newer models will mostly use PCI express slots)
- special RAM (don't remember but you need to check/call Dell to make sure which type - won't work if you just put in any memory. think max speed is - pc3200 you can put, but it ain't that simple only a certain type will work, which you probably need to buy from Dell. I can't stress this point enough)
- additional hard drives and CD/DVD componenets, will need ones with IDE connections, will not be compatible with SATA
- it probably has a pentium 4 or celeron on socket 478, so you can't put 775 cpu like core 2. check system information to see what cpu you have - i'd guess something like a p4 @2.4ghz or similar.

anyway you can run a program like 3dmark 2005 and it will give you detailed system specs, http://www.futuremark.com/products/3dmark05/ then google those specs and read up.

sorry can't be more help, but my memory ain't that good
 
Last edited:
Had one of these in a few weeks back where i work and what a pain. My advice would be to chuck it and just do a new build.

The motherboard isnt to the normal standard only to the dell standard (what ever that is) and i dont think you can get motherboards for it. its like a cross between matx and atx.

In the end we just ended up getting a new case/mobo, and using his hard drive, but now he is trying to sue us so :mad: but i am ranting :o

being serious though just burn it, even if it does work :p
 
Blackhawk47 said:
Had one of these in a few weeks back where i work and what a pain. My advice would be to chuck it and just do a new build.

The motherboard isnt to the normal standard only to the dell standard (what ever that is) and i dont think you can get motherboards for it. its like a cross between matx and atx.

In the end we just ended up getting a new case/mobo, and using his hard drive, but now he is trying to sue us so :mad: but i am ranting :o

being serious though just burn it, even if it does work :p
Click to expand...

Thats the trouble with a lot of dells, and it really annoys me! This is why Id never buy a Dell, I'm surprised they are allowed to get away with using their own RAM and motherboard shapes
 
Ahh damn could i still use the PSU out of it and processor.

Any ideas on a new case, looking for a simplistic and cheap, mainly black.
 
Ok, so ill re-use the CPU and the heatsink, fan? I've just bought a Sony DVD drive, can Read and write CD's and can read DVDs, lets hope it arrives.

Graphics card; I'll be using a minimum of 2 monitors, i've been looking around, mainly on ebay and have noticed the main ones are; DVI, VGA [D-Sub?] and Tv out or something, if i get that does it mean i can use my Tv as another monitor?

thanks.
 
Possibly not the heatsink and fan either, well obviously they will work on this Mobo, but not if you move to another case.

Most AGP graphics cards will have a VGA and DVI port on them, and come with a DVI to VGA converter so you can run two monitors even if they are both VGA. If you want anymore than that your going to need a PCI graphics card as well as the AGP.

Tv out never works very well in real life and I would never consider it a replacement for an actual monitor.
 
Cool, so if they come with converters then DVI is better bcoz its more enhanched graphics? what exactly does tv out do.
 
i have it on my old GF4 mx 440. its just to send picture to tv through 'yellow' component cable.
Was totally rubbish...much better with DVI to HDMI now. if your tv can do that.
 
Don't spend more than £20 overall, it'd be a waste. I've worked on countless machines like this doing repairs. Motherboard failure seems common, and the PSUs are pretty pants too. If you can get it going for a few quid it'll be just fine.

As for the video card, about £10 second hand is all its worth imo. Look for radeon 9600 or geforce fx series.
 
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