Need help with computer casing.

J

jasonx165

New Member
Okay so I finally got my new computer :D yay...but there is a problem it is to small for the upgrades I want to put in it..

It is an HP Pavilion Elite e9120f pc it's pretty decent but the casing is to small for my

Raidmax volcano 630 watt psu so I have that sitting outside of the computer for now.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152026

And there is no way I can fit my Geforce GTS 250 in it.


So im looking for casing that looks cool and is $60 and below

Im going to get a professional put it in for me at a decent price.

But i'm not sure on what type of case to get that will fit everything that is on the computer are there only cirtain types for the type of computer? or is the casing just standard for all types of pc's

I was looking here for it

http://www.xoxide.com/allcases.html

I seen a few cases I like just not sure if they will fit right with my computer it is not alot of stuff but a decent big ammount.


I have a blue ray drive and a regular dvd-r drive as well

So I would like to know of decently priced cases that will fit my computer and the components it has.
 
So just to be clear
You are wanting to remove your proprietory HP Motherboard from its original case !
And therefore making it some type of custom built job, even though its still a HP Pavilion Elite e9120f pc (according to the original case)

Here's my thoughts - Don't !

Sell your standard HP, and purchase a new Motherboard for your new case that you want (that fits your new parts ;))
 
kimsland said:
So just to be clear
You are wanting to remove your proprietory HP Motherboard from its original case !
And therefore making it some type of custom built job, even though its still a HP Pavilion Elite e9120f pc (according to the original case)

Here's my thoughts - Don't !

Sell your standard HP, and purchase a new Motherboard for your new case that you want (that fits your new parts ;))
Click to expand...

Well im getting this local computer repair shop do it for me. He will do it at a decent price. And my budget is really tight right now so I cant go and do all of that. So ya..good suggestion but I dont really want to do that.
 
If the local repair shop is respectable enough he will advise you against this
The front control wires on your HP could be in a block (not individual wires) and therefore a new case wouldn't work
But even if it does all work together you will be causing a few issues
Recovery disc will not work (due to hardware upgrades)
Stickers on case will need to be moved
Proprietory computer will not be a HP anymore
Warranty (if existing) voided
And you cannot sell it as a HP

Best to keep it standard (note: updating Ram and HardDrive is ok)
 
kimsland said:
So just to be clear
You are wanting to remove your proprietory HP Motherboard from its original case !
And therefore making it some type of custom built job, even though its still a HP Pavilion Elite e9120f pc (according to the original case)

Here's my thoughts - Don't !

Sell your standard HP, and purchase a new Motherboard for your new case that you want (that fits your new parts ;))
Click to expand...

Standard form factor micro atx. I've re-cased several HP boards with no problem and the specs on that one aren't too bad. If it is standard form factor the board doesn't care what case it is in. As yet I have never found one of those board to use a proprietary power supply (unlike Dell).

Board specs


Problems:

If under warranty, don't do it unless you are willing to take that risk. Most shops will not do work like you suggest if it is still under warranty.

The main problem, if there is one, is transfer of the cd drives and the card reader if they are using special manufactured face plates.

You have to keep the COL sticker. If you don't know how to remove it without destroying it, don't attempt this unless you plan on buying a new license. Also there may be some issues with EULA concerning this since I think the EULA on OEM installs pertains not just to the internal hardware but to the case as well. It will validate and authenticate (and I don't think MS is too sticky over this since there is no ID sent on a case) but technically I don't think you are supposed to do it. It does however allow changes in drives and memory. But basically (without going into the legal-ease) the EULA is based on licensing for the entire unit.

The recovery partition isn't going to know the difference however other than that you changed the vid card as long as you keep the remaining hardware the same. The PS doesn't matter since they aren't sent as a part of the hardware ID (unless they have changed something in the last year or two the MB doesn't care what is powering it as long as it gets enough of the correct power).

The rest of the concerns you pretty much covered. As a tech myself *I* wouldn't do this unless the unit was out of warranty and you purchased a different COL. (Edit: if you put the OP system on yourself it doesn't matter to me as long as I don't know about it)

Otherwise the actual work is a piece of cake.

An aside, my daughter has a re-cased HP Pavilion 7955 P4 2.2Ghz CPU, 450 watt PSU, 1gig RAM and a GeForce 6600 GT. Runs beautifully and looks pretty sharp for an older model computer. She isn't a big time gamer so it handles her needs under XP smoothly.
 
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Hmm, good post.

But have a look at the "F_Panel" connector (I ended up enlarging the picture of the motherboard in your link)

How exactly is a new case with its individual wires, going to connect to that block?
Are you suggesting to cut all the wires on the new case to somehow squeeze in there?

Edit:

Actually here it is:
c01421643.jpg


Disregard the arrow ;)
 
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Well, all I want to change is the casing all I want to fit is my psu and my video card. I really don't want to change my mother board or face any trouble with he casing. but the video card just wont fit nor will the PSU. So now im kind of stuck on hearing how many problems I can face changing the case even if I take it to a local repair shop. I dont have a warrenty on it but I also dont want to end up destroying my computer by changing the casing.
 
kimsland said:
Hmm, good post.

But have a look at the "F_Panel" connector (I ended up enlarging the picture of the motherboard in your link)

How exactly is a new case with its individual wires, going to connect to that block?
Are you suggesting to cut all the wires on the new case to somehow squeeze in there?

Edit:

Actually here it is:
c01421643.jpg


Disregard the arrow ;)
Click to expand...

Depends on how the pin out for the F-panel is layed out and if the wires in the original connector (if it is one piece) are color coded. It doesn't take much to chart it before you remove the original plug if the coding is fairly standard. (I made a mistake like that with a Dell board once, took me forever to get the pin out correct) Most aftermarket cases either have 2 pin or 3 pin connectors for the button functions and leds (though I have seen some where the wires are single plugs) so they should fit with ease. If the original block is not color coded then you will have to get out the continuity tester and identify and chart before you remove the MB from the original case.
 
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jasonx165 said:
Well, all I want to change is the casing all I want to fit is my psu and my video card. I really don't want to change my mother board or face any trouble with he casing. but the video card just wont fit nor will the PSU. So now im kind of stuck on hearing how many problems I can face changing the case even if I take it to a local repair shop. I dont have a warrenty on it but I also dont want to end up destroying my computer by changing the casing.
Click to expand...

Just wont fit how? is it too long? Is it too wide? (it covers two slots from the pics I saw). Does it not press down due to interference from the adjoining slot?

What exactly is the fit problem?
 
It is to cramped in the case I really tried shoving it in as hard I could but it will end up breaking something I will take a picture of what I mean.
 
ok so heres the problem.

so the PSU is outside of the computer case because it wont fit.
104_0690.jpg

wires are cramped in there.
104_0691.jpg

104_0692.jpg
 
schw32m said:
Just wont fit how? is it too long? Is it too wide? (it covers two slots from the pics I saw). Does it not press down due to interference from the adjoining slot?

What exactly is the fit problem?
Click to expand...
He was talking about the Video Card

Anyway it doesn't matter because the "PSU won't fit"

? What to do?...

I'm at a loss, I still say no
 
schw32m said:
Depends on how the pin out for the F-panel is layed out and if the wires in the original connector (if it is one piece) are color coded. It doesn't take much to chart it before you remove the original plug if the coding is fairly standard. (I made a mistake like that with a Dell board once, took me forever to get the pin out correct) Most aftermarket cases either have 2 pin or 3 pin connectors for the button functions and leds (though I have seen some where the wires are single plugs) so they should fit with ease. If the original block is not color coded then you will have to get out the continuity tester and identify and chart before you remove the MB from the original case.
Click to expand...

You could do it with a new case
But it all comes down to checking which front wire goes where
Note: I still would not do this anyway!

I say sell it (with the 300Watt)
And build a "custom" ;) computer
You'll need a Motherboard; CPU; HardDrive; DVD; and obviously: a case :D
 
jasonx165 said:
its barley 300 watts Not enough to power the graphics card I want in it.
Click to expand...

Don't think the vid card would fit even in a new case and the wires were rerouted... from the looks of the position of the south bridge heat sink there isn't going to be enough space since the card covers 2 slots. The heat sink is going to interfere unless it is lower than the second slot. As for the PSU a different case would solve that problem but probably not the new vid card.
 
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