retro Retro components

[Gwenoms]

Heys, I'm getting a Dell Dimension XPS T500 with a Pentium 3 and Nvidia RIVA TNT2 to turn into a sleeper build,
but it's still in working condition. What should I do with the components? Are they worth saving? I know they aren't valuable,
but could they still be useful for something or someone?

 

 

         

Edited April 22 by Gwenoms
Formatting and tag changes

[thrasher_565]

p3 are vary good 98 pcs so...ya there good if the work. i don't no about gpu more less collectors i guess. 

[BiotechBen]

2 hours ago, Gwenoms said:

Heys, I'm getting a Dell Dimension XPS T500 with a Pentium 3 and Nvidia RIVA TNT2 to turn into a sleeper build,
but it's still in working condition. What should I do with the components? Are they worth saving? I know they aren't valuable,
but could they still be useful for something or someone?

 

 

         

My current system is in the Dell D300 case my childhood PC was in (P2 300, Riva 128) and I'll tell ya now that the airflow is less than spectacular in those cases, and that dremeling out an opening in the bottom is usually the best course of action for increased airflow.

You'll also need a blower card or one that has exactly PCIE slot height 12vHPWR connector is out of the equation with the clearance unless it's coming out the back end of the card

Top fan is a 92mm, and the front bottom gap (nearly) perfectly fits a 120mm fan, only need to shave a little bit off the plastic part(maybe 4-5mm), WEAR A RESPIRATOR or do it outside, it's PVC. 

 

Also, the top 5.25" cage is a bitch to get out, required a concerning amount of force the first time. 

 

You can also run RGB in the front, OR if you want to stay authentic: the reset button can be your new power button, and you can get a green led for the original power button (I recommend some modelling clay to hold them in place, and then you can run the wires between the hard drive mount and the back. 

[Pusbucket]

2 hours ago, Gwenoms said:

Heys, I'm getting a Dell Dimension XPS T500 with a Pentium 3 and Nvidia RIVA TNT2 to turn into a sleeper build,
but it's still in working condition. What should I do with the components? Are they worth saving? I know they aren't valuable,
but could they still be useful for something or someone?

 

 

         

Normally you could sell the mobo, ram and cards as a kit on e-bay for probably around $100

EXCEPT if that is the original motherboard, it may not fit in a different case. It looks like a standard ATX board, but can't tell for sure from the pics.

 

hang on the optical drives and especially the floppy drive. Those things are like gold now.

[thrasher_565]

34 minutes ago, BiotechBen said:

My current system is in the Dell D300 case my childhood PC was in (P2 300, Riva 128) and I'll tell ya now that the airflow is less than spectacular in those cases, and that dremeling out an opening in the bottom is usually the best course of action for increased airflow.

You'll also need a blower card or one that has exactly PCIE slot height 12vHPWR connector is out of the equation with the clearance unless it's coming out the back end of the card

Top fan is a 92mm, and the front bottom gap (nearly) perfectly fits a 120mm fan, only need to shave a little bit off the plastic part(maybe 4-5mm), WEAR A RESPIRATOR or do it outside, it's PVC. 

 

Also, the top 5.25" cage is a bitch to get out, required a concerning amount of force the first time. 

 

You can also run RGB in the front, OR if you want to stay authentic: the reset button can be your new power button, and you can get a green led for the original power button (I recommend some modelling clay to hold them in place, and then you can run the wires between the hard drive mount and the back. 

mb might be this

 

https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/dell-se440bx-3-seattle-3

 

20pin sound more ideal. no idea what the psu is thow. 

Edited April 23 by thrasher_565

[asdasdasdasdasdasd]

Put them on Ebay as an auction with Best Offers turned on. Someone will probably be interested.

[Kisai]

7 hours ago, Gwenoms said:

Heys, I'm getting a Dell Dimension XPS T500 with a Pentium 3 and Nvidia RIVA TNT2 to turn into a sleeper build,
but it's still in working condition. What should I do with the components? Are they worth saving? I know they aren't valuable,
but could they still be useful for something or someone?

 

 

         

If it's at least 90% working (basically the fans all work), then that's a reasonable win98/98SE machine. Just remember to install ALL the drivers or it will only operate about 1/3rd the performance due to real mode drivers (caused by DOS drivers for CD-ROM/Mouse), and if the INF "driver" is not installed often USB devices don't work or only work in USB 1.1 mode, etc. As long as it's not an i820 board. The i820 (Rambus) chipset or i820+MTH boards will basically self-destruct.

https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/impact-intel,190.html

 

Vintage systems are still useful for running old software or games. Especially those on CD-ROM. https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=100717

 

If you're trying to gut it to hide another build, I would say, Stop, this system is probably more valuable intact. Find an empty vintage chassis, or a non-working one. The problem with Dell/HP vintage systems is that it's a bit of a crapshoot if the parts will fit. This MB is apparently made by Intel, so it's likely it can fit a standard ATX MB, but replacing the Power Supply will likely NOT fit in it, as there will won't be mounting screws or fan holes at the top of the tower..

 

Remember that Dell systems are always underpowered, and have poor air circulation, as they often cheap out on cooling.

[Echothedolpin]

8 hours ago, thrasher_565 said:

mb might be this

 

https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/dell-se440bx-3-seattle-3

 

20pin sound more ideal. no idea what the psu is thow. 

Motherboards from dell in this era used non-standard wiring on the atx connector for the motherboard, I would not risk plugging a standard atx psu without checking.

 

OP: as a fan and owner of a few vintage systems including one from this era: I wouldn’t save it unless you had the room and already had a plan for it. 

[thrasher_565]

4 hours ago, Echothedolpin said:

Motherboards from dell in this era used non-standard wiring on the atx connector for the motherboard, I would not risk plugging a standard atx psu without checking.

 

OP: as a fan and owner of a few vintage systems including one from this era: I wouldn’t save it unless you had the room and already had a plan for it. 

ya the link said dell 20 pin...i can read.

[BiotechBen]

12 hours ago, Kisai said:

If you're trying to gut it to hide another build, I would say, Stop, this system is probably more valuable intact. Find an empty vintage chassis, or a non-working one. The problem with Dell/HP vintage systems is that it's a bit of a crapshoot if the parts will fit. This MB is apparently made by Intel, so it's likely it can fit a standard ATX MB, but replacing the Power Supply will likely NOT fit in it, as there will won't be mounting screws or fan holes at the top of the tower..

 

Remember that Dell systems are always underpowered, and have poor air circulation, as they often cheap out on cooling.

As an owner and user of a Dell case from that era: all the mounting is ATX.

Currently have an ASRock B550 PG4 and a Seasonic GX-850 happily living in mine. 

 

The only main difference being that the PSU mounts with the two diagonal instead of all 4. (There is a spot for a third screw visible, it just has nothing to grab onto securely. 

 

And if you're lucky: the motherboard mounting has a plastic peg in the middle like mine to make installing easier. 

 

This is assuming OP got the model number right. The only real difference between the one OP has and the one I have is a different front plastic fascia (I also had one of those, but I liked the D300 front better)

[OhYou_]

21 hours ago, Gwenoms said:

Heys, I'm getting a Dell Dimension XPS T500 with a Pentium 3 and Nvidia RIVA TNT2 to turn into a sleeper build,
but it's still in working condition. What should I do with the components? Are they worth saving? I know they aren't valuable,
but could they still be useful for something or someone?

 

 

 

 

if you have a box and packaging that is suitable, i would say pull the expansion cards out, pull the cpu out, wrap those components, leave the ram in and wrap the motherboard, then wrap them all together and shove it in a box and get a quote for shipping it, then list it on ebay for like $10 more than shipping costs for a month or two. 
very likely someone will buy it, its always better that these things go to someone who wants it than to a dumpster. 

all the other stuff like cd drive and psu can go to the dumpster though, those move much slower 

[Gwenoms]

On 4/23/2026 at 10:23 PM, OhYou_ said:

 

if you have a box and packaging that is suitable, i would say pull the expansion cards out, pull the cpu out, wrap those components, leave the ram in and wrap the motherboard, then wrap them all together and shove it in a box and get a quote for shipping it, then list it on ebay for like $10 more than shipping costs for a month or two. 
very likely someone will buy it, its always better that these things go to someone who wants it than to a dumpster. 

all the other stuff like cd drive and psu can go to the dumpster though, those move much slower 

I have a case laying around that I think I should be able to transplant the parts into, so I'll do that and list it for cheap on our version of Ebay