Gutting a Dell OptiPlex GX270 for parts

[Josh]

I have a Dell OptiPlex GX270 that I would like to cannibalize for
parts to build a new machine. I would appreciate any suggestions,
especially from firsthand experience, with regard to which Dell parts
are most likely to be reusable.

I'm guessing the PSU isn't the same size as a standard ATX unit, but I
would expect the optical drive, the floppy and the HDD to fit in a new
case without any problems.

The motherboard is Socket 478, as far as I can tell. At first, I
considered the idea of putting the old processor, a Pentium 4 3.00GHz,
into a different Socket 478 board. Would I be better off getting
something like an Athlon 64 and a newer board to match it? The RAM
modules probably wouldn't be compatible either way, so I'm not going
to fuss with that.

Any general tips for someone building from scratch for the first time
would be great too. I've done plenty of work inside my machines in
the past, but the idea of starting from an almost empty case is kind
of daunting.

 

[paulmd]

I have a Dell OptiPlex GX270 that I would like to cannibalize for
parts to build a new machine. I would appreciate any suggestions,
especially from firsthand experience, with regard to which Dell parts
are most likely to be reusable.

I'm guessing the PSU isn't the same size as a standard ATX unit, but I
would expect the optical drive, the floppy and the HDD to fit in a new
case without any problems.

The motherboard is Socket 478, as far as I can tell. At first, I
considered the idea of putting the old processor, a Pentium 4 3.00GHz,
into a different Socket 478 board. Would I be better off getting
something like an Athlon 64 and a newer board to match it? The RAM
modules probably wouldn't be compatible either way, so I'm not going
to fuss with that.

Any general tips for someone building from scratch for the first time
would be great too. I've done plenty of work inside my machines in
the past, but the idea of starting from an almost empty case is kind
of daunting.

The GX270 is one of 4 models of optiplex that have bad capacitors.
Dell is replacing them, even out of warranty. Contact Dell about
getting a new motherboard. Even if you are not the original owner.
Then your Optiplex will be almost good-as-new.

To answer your actual question: a p4 3.0ghz is still a decent
processor. And if you're going to buy a new motherboard, you can still
buy one with compatible Ram slots. You will probably need a new
heatsink and fan. The hard drive is likely to be reusable. I'm less
certain about the optical drives: if you have a full tower, then
they're reusable in a new tower, if you have a Small form factor
desktop, then no.

 

[Josh]

The GX270 is one of 4 models of optiplex that have bad capacitors.
Dell is replacing them, even out of warranty. Contact Dell about
getting a new motherboard. Even if you are not the original owner.
Then your Optiplex will be almost good-as-new.

I'm trying to remember whether the motherboard has already been
replaced. I think it has. I know I encountered an issue with a bad
capacitor in one of my machines. It was probably the GX270.

To answer your actual question: a p4 3.0ghz is still a decent
processor. And if you're going to buy a new motherboard, you can still
buy one with compatible Ram slots. You will probably need a new
heatsink and fan. The hard drive is likely to be reusable. I'm less
certain about the optical drives: if you have a full tower, then
they're reusable in a new tower, if you have a Small form factor
desktop, then no.

It's what Dell calls the "small mini-tower," which is the case design
that looks most like the ATX. That's why I figured the optical drives
would be reusable. As for the motherboard, I really need to take some
measurements. I have a suspicion it may be an odd size.