Un-"Dell"-ifying a computer

[Bloodytrailz]

is it possible?

my fiance has a dell, and she fucking hates it (seriously, if you dont beleive me PM "griffonlady" and ask her how much she loves dell)

so what im here inquiring about, is exactly like the topic said

making a computer no longer "dell" on the inside.


i was thinking a new motherboard thats compat with all her current parts would do fine since she has a fresh copy of XP home


cuz dell is some fucked up shit, their computers are a joke, and their service is even worse.


so does anyone have any insight?

[Belcho]

dell sucks...... shop the web for part bro and throw the dell at someone or blow it up. u can try computeredge.com or find your local comp shop and hit it up most local shops have combo buys for cpu and board grab at least 2gb of ram a hd, dvd-rom and an atx tower would be good. if u need me to be more spec i can just let me know. cheers

[Pedro]

Sorry BT, you can't, Brand manufacturers "fix" their cases so only their parts sold by them can be used in those PC, some things you can change, but not enough to "un-dell-ify" it.

You can change the Vid card to mobo specs (AGP, PCI-E, size, space in the case, etc), RAM, and probably the DVD drive, but the mobo, CPU and PSU might give the PC a black screen if you try to change them.

[FluffyBunni]

Yep, dell cases will only fit dell motherboards. You can POSSIBLY upgrade the video card, but make sure you look at the case first and see if it can fit a normal card in it. The OS CD that came with the dell, again, will ONLY work on a dell (in some cases, only certain DELL OS CDs work on certain models (ie, you cant use a dell vista os to install Vista on a GX270 (for instance))) (tripple paren, ohhh yeah).

When its time to upgrade, NEVER upgrade a dell, just get a new computer.

[Pwnzilla]

Repeat the mantra after me......"Friends don't let friends buy Dell".

If you really want to upgrade the best result you can probably achieve is to harvest the components CPU/GPU/RAM/HD/OD/FD (although even the GPU may be proprietary), purchase a compatible mobo and build a "new" system (ie case/PSU/mobo/HSF) with them.

Dude, you're hating a Dell!

[Teufelhund]

You CAN use the dell os cds in a non-dell computer as the OEM version of an OS cd does not, in fact, change the existing content on the cd; it only adds features. i have done it myself many times on many different machines using many different dell oem os cds. if you do install the oem version of windows on a non dell, it will make you activate it. all you need for this is the key thats on the sticker on the case and a telephone or internet connection. if for some reason in the unlikely event that it FAILS an installation, you can download another copy of the OS from a torrent site. please note: it is not illegal to do this if you own a license key for that particular version of windows (i.e. XP home, XP pro, etc.) which you do. The key you have will still work with that same version.

as for the mobo, on MANY (not all or even most) dell systems they are proprietary, HOWEVER first check the internet regarding your particular model. most likely you can upgrade your video card regardless of the motherboard as expansion slots follow an industry standard. just make sure you get the right one.


ps i love my Dell XPS m1730. This laptop is the shit. And i got it for free. From Dell.

[Draven]

PS I love the computer I built myself, that doesn't have shitty parts, customer service, and major annoyances :]

[FluffyBunni]

Originally Posted by Teufelhund

You CAN use the dell os cds in a non-dell computer as the OEM version of an OS cd does not, in fact, change the existing content on the cd; it only adds features. i have done it myself many times on many different machines using many different dell oem os cds.

How long ago has it been since you've done this? Because I gave a buddy a Dell Vista Business CD from work (since we have stacks of the damn things that come with all the computers) and told him to go ahead and try it but i told him i was 99% sure it wouldn't work. Sure enough, he comes back the next day (this was a custom PC he tried installing it on), installation wouldn't run.

[Belcho]

how to kill your dell.

Step 1. buy a whole box of m-80s

Step 2. put them all in the case

Step 3. set up your high speed cam

Step 4. light the fuse

Step5. ENJOY!

[Bloodytrailz]

Originally Posted by Belcho

how to kill your dell.

Step 1. buy a whole box of m-80s

Step 2. put them all in the case

Step 3. set up your high speed cam

Step 4. light the fuse

Step5. ENJOY!

oh beleive me, she wants too...bad >_>;

but that would leave her without a gamer comp for awhile =-/

i think when i finally get too move down there, im going to buy myself a new comp, and give her this one (which is still a pretty damn good comp, easily upgradable too)

Asus p5k-e Mobo (crossfire/SLI capable, up to 8gb ram)
ATI 3850 HD, 256mb
Antec Sonata 3 mid tower case
2gb DDR2 866mhz ram (i think its OCZ, too lazy to check)

but yeah, she could put a couple hundred dollars into it, (actually i was offering to cover this part too ^^ get a 512mb GFX card to put as primary and crossfire the 3850hd, and another gig of ram (or more if she wanted to update to vista 64bit) and it would be a great machine for awhile to come at least =)

i've yet to have any stability issues ever, i've run every game on high that ive played, (which includes AoC) and it's so quiet i can barely hear it running =)

but yeah, until then, i guess she's stuck with a dell...once i get her mine tho, the dell will probably come to a VERY unfortunate (but well deserved) end ;D