sounds kind stupid...

[mrgeorgedude]

ok this might sound like a really retarded question but...say i bought a compaq online (u know, like already put together and stuff) but then a few days later i see a case on newegg i really like....is it possible to take the default compaq case off and change it for the new coo case???

 

[b182tm]

What case is it? And also what motherboard is it? Like, what form factor?

 

[mrgeorgedude]

well this is the case... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811208004

and this is the comp (i have no idea what the motherboard type is)... http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/s...tops/compaq_presario&storeName=computer_store

 

[Xycron]

YEs it is possible to switch.

 

[mrgeorgedude]

i guess that good although does that mean id have to build it completely (im pretty clueless at building comps) i guess ill look into it

 

[mrgeorgedude]

by the way, where does it say the motherboard type on the compaq site...or whats another word for it???

 

[dragon2309]

see here, it says "Micro ATX" on the compaq site,t hats the form factor, it means its a fairly small motherboard, but as its still ATX, it will have the default screw configuration for fixing itinto the case. So it will fit in any standard ATX case.

 

[ReturnToEmpire]

System Micro ATX Compaq Presario SR-series chassis
System dimensions: 15" H x 7.25" W x 16" D
those are the specs dragons right, go for it, and no u wont have to rebuild entirely. the processor will already be on the motherboard and the RAM, etc...

 

[mrgeorgedude]

thanks...i guess ill have to cough up 60 bucks now

 

[jancz3rt]

Hmm

Would you Compaq warranty still be valid if you changed the case? I doubt it.

JAN

 

[mrgeorgedude]

by the way....the way the compaq says "micro atx", does that make a difference because the case says only "atx"...does this micro thing matter??? (sorry i know this sould be in the motherboard section )

 

[Yasu]

I think that most ATX towers can hold microATX mobos along with standard ATX mobos...at least mine does. Now does the case say something like "fits only ATX mobos"?

 

[dragon2309]

microATX is amaller than ATX, but ATF is standard, microATX fits inside ATX.

 

[fade2green514]

hell yes it is. it'd take an exerperienced builder about an hour though and someone who doesnt know what theyre doin a day or two if they havent got everything figured out yet.

 

[super_xero]

ye get the biggest case posible thats what i would do in teh future if you upgrade or ect you have a much easier time

 

[mrgeorgedude]

ha ya i actually have no idea how to build or take it apart w/e...like does it hurt the parts if u touch a chip or cord or something....pshh i barely even know what im even talking about

 

[shupola]

hell yes it is. it'd take an exerperienced builder about an hour though and someone who doesnt know what theyre doin a day or two if they havent got everything figured out yet.

well, i never had experience bulding a computer and i put mine together in about 1-2 hours. i was pretty sure where everything went and all that jazz from this site and other resources, but had never done it. the hardest thing was putting thermal paste on the cpu for the processor. in this case, he wont have to.

my suggestion is that you find all the help you can about building a computer(including pics) and go from there.

Edit: have a look at Building Computer 101