Do dell optiplex desktops use a custom sized motherboard?

[ZenBuilder]

I made a post here asking for a cheap build under $300 but someone it was better to just get an old optiplex. My question on is is the size of the motherboard custom and can it use a power supply that is not the stock one?

[Radium_Angel]

1 minute ago, ZenBuilder said:

I made a post here asking for a cheap build under $300 but someone it was better to just get an old optiplex. My question on is is the size of the motherboard custom and can it use a power supply that is not the stock one?

Unfortunately, Optiplex is a generic name for all manner of their consumer crap and it depends on which one you are looking at in specific. Most use proprietary parts, some do not.

[TrainFan475]

1 minute ago, ZenBuilder said:

I made a post here asking for a cheap build under $300 but someone it was better to just get an old optiplex. My question on is is the size of the motherboard custom and can it use a power supply that is not the stock one?

Basically every small form factor optiplex PC uses a proprietary motherboard size/layout. I think the full width optiplex towers use micro atx though.

[ZenBuilder]

1 minute ago, Radium_Angel said:

Unfortunately, Optiplex is a generic name for all manner of their consumer crap and it depends on which one you are looking at in specific. Most use proprietary parts, some do not.

Do you know some that do not use propietary parts?

[ZenBuilder]

1 minute ago, ZenBuilder said:

Do you know some that do not use propietary parts?

 Do you think I can still kind of fit it in another case?

[WkdPaul]

* Thread moved to the CPUs, Motherboards, and Memory section *

[Tristerin]

You can do tons with Optiplex, just have to have a DIY mentality.  This one has proprietary left hand mobo, proprietary PSU, PSU pinouts, fan headers and left handed case.  I did everything I could possibly to it.  PSU swap, convert the 24pin ATX to 6+6pin, add fan header card, add SATA cards for more storage, custom loop on CPU and GPU, blu ray ripping, USB hub, additional USB headers, etc etc.

 

Mine wasnt budget oriented though.  Just make sure a GPU will slip in without collision issues, and if the PSU has the cabling and power you need.  Most optiplex PSUs are platinum rated to run 24/7 for years in office environments that get no cleaning in the PC

[Radium_Angel]

5 minutes ago, ZenBuilder said:

 Do you think I can still kind of fit it in another case?

You can do anything, if you are good enough.

Their full-sized Optiplexes are less inclined to use bespoke parts, but it's not a guarantee.

[ZenBuilder]

7 minutes ago, ZenBuilder said:

 

 Thanks, I'll try to find a cheap optiplex on ebay

[Fasauceome]

13 minutes ago, ZenBuilder said:

 Do you think I can still kind of fit it in another case?

If you have a small form factor optiplex, a lot of them can indeed fit inside a standard case. I was working with a few sff models and noticed that the board was in fact a DTX form factor. Was curious what I could do with it, but not curious enough to order a case for it and slap it in there.

 

Most Dell motherboards in the optiplex line use standard ATX power connectors, and most micro atx optiplex models are indeed standard, but like mentioned earlier, it depends on the specific model. So you have to tell us what you're working with.

[kelvinhall05]

You do realize that part of the reason to get the Optiplex is to use its motherboard, right? Not sure why you'd swap it out.

[ZenBuilder]

1 hour ago, kelvinhall05 said:

You do realize that part of the reason to get the Optiplex is to use its motherboard, right? Not sure why you'd swap it out.

I don't want to swap the board I want to swap the case

[ZenBuilder]

1 hour ago, Fasauceome said:

If you have a small form factor optiplex, a lot of them can indeed fit inside a standard case. I was working with a few sff models and noticed that the board was in fact a DTX form factor. Was curious what I could do with it, but not curious enough to order a case for it and slap it in there.

 

Most Dell motherboards in the optiplex line use standard ATX power connectors, and most micro atx optiplex models are indeed standard, but like mentioned earlier, it depends on the specific model. So you have to tell us what you're working with.

An optiplex 5050

[kelvinhall05]

11 minutes ago, ZenBuilder said:

I don't want to swap the board I want to swap the case

Why? If you're at the point where you need a case upgrade, you can probably upgrade your entire system with it.

[Fasauceome]

31 minutes ago, ZenBuilder said:

An optiplex 5050

I'm having a hard time finding a picture of the internal layout of the machine for the micro ATX version, if you have the sff version it seems that the power connectors have switched to a proprietary 6 pin design for motherboard power. Not sure about motherboard size.

 

Do you have the model with you now?

20 minutes ago, kelvinhall05 said:

Why? If you're at the point where you need a case upgrade, you can probably upgrade your entire system with it.

Well if it's a freecycled system on the side of the road, slapping it into a nice large case with a proper PSU can give you some great GPU upgrade options, and decent parts to use in the next build for an upgrade.

[kelvinhall05]

16 minutes ago, Fasauceome said:

Well if it's a freecycled system on the side of the road, slapping it into a nice large case with a proper PSU can give you some great GPU upgrade options, and decent parts to use in the next build for an upgrade

If the motherboard is standard mATX then there is plenty of space in the Optiplex case for a GPU and ATX PSU.

[ZenBuilder]

41 minutes ago, kelvinhall05 said:

Why? If you're at the point where you need a case upgrade, you can probably upgrade your entire system with it.

I don't want to use the case its probably old and even if i only have a like 350 budget I want it to look nice

[Fasauceome]

18 minutes ago, ZenBuilder said:

I don't want to use the case its probably old and even if i only have a like 350 budget I want it to look nice

An optiplex 5050 isn't that old, it has 9th gen parts in it. You can also try some custom modding for fun. I made a topic about a modded 3090 where I added an air intake, but the old pictures seem to be busted