Upgrading Dimension 8400 Q's

[mr.science]

I have several questions regarding upgrading my Dell Dimension 8400's MB. I want to be able to install a Core 2 Duo on it, and it may seem like an extreme approach, but old yeller is starting to slow down a bit after 3 years of service (I got it in 2004). So my question is this: My Dimension uses Windows XP Pro, has a Pentium 4 at 3.20GHz with an FSB of 800MHz, a mother board with 1 PCI express slot, four PCI slots, and 4 DDR2 RAM slots for up to 4 gigs of memory. Now I know that Dells use boards with a seldom used form factor called BTX. I have found this motherboard. However I am not sure it would work with my comp for a couple of reasons. One, I know my Dell has some form of BTX in it, but I'm not sure which. This board supports both CPUs (my P4 and C2D I want), but comes in a "MicroBTX" form factor, which is one of the reasons I'm not sure it works.

Another reason, is that Dell components tend to be proprietary, and as a result tend to be wired to the rest of the components differently, which is why I am cautious about buying it without being sure. I have opened up the case before and have taken a look, but I am not sure how the stuff would go into this board and how it would work, or even if it would work with this type of form factor.

The questions I want answered aftor this lenghty explanation are these:

1) Will MicroBTX work in a D8400?

2) If so, will it only work if manufactured by Dell, or can I get BTX boards by other companies (like the URL above) that will work perfectly?

3) If I don't know what kind of BTX my MB is, is there a way to tell, and if so, could someone tell me?

I thank anyone who helps out.

 

[Jack Bauer]

I have several questions regarding upgrading my Dell Dimension 8400's MB. I want to be able to install a Core 2 Duo on it, and it may seem like an extreme approach, but old yeller is starting to slow down a bit after 3 years of service (I got it in 2004). So my question is this: My Dimension uses Windows XP Pro, has a Pentium 4 at 3.20GHz with an FSB of 800MHz, a mother board with 1 PCI express slot, four PCI slots, and 4 DDR2 RAM slots for up to 4 gigs of memory. Now I know that Dells use boards with a seldom used form factor called BTX. I have found this motherboard. However I am not sure it would work with my comp for a couple of reasons. One, I know my Dell has some form of BTX in it, but I'm not sure which. This board supports both CPUs (my P4 and C2D I want), but comes in a "MicroBTX" form factor, which is one of the reasons I'm not sure it works.

Another reason, is that Dell components tend to be proprietary, and as a result tend to be wired to the rest of the components differently, which is why I am cautious about buying it without being sure. I have opened up the case before and have taken a look, but I am not sure how the stuff would go into this board and how it would work, or even if it would work with this type of form factor.

The questions I want answered aftor this lenghty explanation are these:

1) Will MicroBTX work in a D8400?

2) If so, will it only work if manufactured by Dell, or can I get BTX boards by other companies (like the URL above) that will work perfectly?

3) If I don't know what kind of BTX my MB is, is there a way to tell, and if so, could someone tell me?

I thank anyone who helps out.

I would not try and upgrade your dell it isnt worth your money. Just go on www.newegg.com and pick out parts that you like and build your own.

Dell uses there own proprietary motherboard they are custom made so I am pretty sure that there arent any motherboards that would work in it.

 

[The_Other_One]

If that's the machine I think it is, it won't take standard motherboards. I beleive that was the series that used "hooks" to hold the board in place rather than screws. And if I'm not mistaken, they were still basically ATX then, but again, no screws...

Regardless, as mentioned, it's not really worth upgrading.