Show Us Your Rig [2]

Looks good Maub Dib, I too recently transplanted my Q6600 HP computer into a Cooler Master Elite 330 case with a new OCZ 600w power supply for similar reasons but I must say yours looks waay better and neater.

Muad Dib said:

A humble little system upgrade....
...

Fussing over the cable management took far longer than transferring the components.

Always does

Very nice upgrade, the new case looks great, well done


Is your old case a Dell?
Looks like my old desktop, been thinking about moving it to a new case.
Have any problems getting the back plate to line up?

Always does

Very nice upgrade, the new case looks great, well done


Is your old case a Dell?
Looks like my old desktop, been thinking about moving it to a new case.
Have any problems getting the back plate to line up?

Thanks!

Yes, the old case is a Dell Inspiron 530 I purchased long ago (in computer years) when the Q6600 was first introduced.

Backplate, what is a backplate?

Seriously, that was/is the only problem. The Inspiron 530 case,like other Dell OEM cases, does not have a separate backplate. The backplate is part of the case.

Aftermarket backplates for the Foxconn DG33Mxx MOBOs used in Dells seem to be non-existent.

So, like others have done, I am currently running without one. What the Dell case/MOBO does have is a woven metal "fabric shield" that covers most of the backplate opening. This can carefully removed from the old case. Some people, including other OEM (HP) case conversions are running with nothing. Apparently the only downside is it leaves an opening for roaches, but so do the case fans and other vent openings.

I traced the fabric shield and will make my own "shield" from that template simply to cover the opening completely.

There is the possibility that running without a shield can allow some electrical interference but I have not heard of this actually happening to anyone.

In short, most people who are missing an I/O backplate for whatever reason simply run without one or make something to cover the opening as an OEM replacement can be difficult to find.

I have searched with no luck. If you know of any source let me know!

Picture showing the woven metal "fabric shield" transferred from old 530 case:

IownAmoneyPit said:

Looks good Maub Dib, I too recently transplanted my Q6600 HP computer into a Cooler Master Elite 330 case with a new OCZ 600w power supply for similar reasons but I must say yours looks waay better and neater.

Thanks!

Following up on the other poster's question, did you have any problem with your I/O backplate when transplanting your system?

Big improvement Muad, well done.

Moving components from an OEM case is challenging but worth the effort if you are doing some upgrades.

Muad Dib said:

IownAmoneyPit said:

Looks good Maub Dib, I too recently transplanted my Q6600 HP computer into a Cooler Master Elite 330 case with a new OCZ 600w power supply for similar reasons but I must say yours looks waay better and neater.

Thanks!

Following up on the other poster's question, did you have any problem with your I/O backplate when transplanting your system?

I got lucky and the I/O backplate and mobo lined up perfectly. The only part that did not fit the new case was the original media card reader/IR receiver because it is smaller than a 3 1/2 bay opening.

excellent cable management - looks really neat - well done..!!

Muad Dib said:

Thanks!

Yes, the old case is a Dell Inspiron 530 I purchased long ago (in computer years) when the Q6600 was first introduced.

Backplate, what is a backplate?

Seriously, that was/is the only problem. The Inspiron 530 case,like other Dell OEM cases, does not have a separate backplate. The backplate is part of the case.

Aftermarket backplates for the Foxconn DG33Mxx MOBOs used in Dells seem to be non-existent.

So, like others have done, I am currently running without one. What the Dell case/MOBO does have is a woven metal "fabric shield" that covers most of the backplate opening. This can carefully removed from the old case. Some people, including other OEM (HP) case conversions are running with nothing. Apparently the only downside is it leaves an opening for roaches, but so do the case fans and other vent openings.

I traced the fabric shield and will make my own "shield" from that template simply to cover the opening completely.

There is the possibility that running without a shield can allow some electrical interference but I have not heard of this actually happening to anyone.

In short, most people who are missing an I/O backplate for whatever reason simply run without one or make something to cover the opening as an OEM replacement can be difficult to find.

I have searched with no luck. If you know of any source let me know!

Picture showing the woven metal "fabric shield" transferred from old 530 case:

Thanks for the information, I've thought about changing the case on my Inpiron 530 a few times, could find much info on doing it.

The picture answered my questions, looks like it lined up fairly well, won't be difficult to make a shield for it.

96accord said:

Main thing is the video card. It's becoming older and can't/won't handle BF3 when it comes out. I was thinking about the GTX 560 Ti video card. They have a 1GB or a 2GB card but would possibly go with the 2GB for a few extra bucks..

I just went through the same exercise...was also coming from a 9800GTX+. Check out my thread here; New Video Card Recommendations for Battlefield 3

Lots of discussion about the 560TI and the 570. Both should handle things fine. I went with the 570 for a couple of other reasons, which you can see in the thread. My new card should arrive on Thursday of this week according to UPS.

96accord said:

Wanted to also double the RAM to 8GB and leave the 250GB HD but get a 120GB SSD.

Gaming performance won't increase from 4GB to 8GB of RAM. So, unless you have a specific need for more RAM, money is probably spent better elsewhere.

An SSD is a significant upgrade. No doubt about it. 120GB is a good size. Plenty of room for the OS and a few games.