Looking to remove parts from Dell and put into new comp.

[a-10tankkiller]

I have a Dell 8300 with a P4 2.6 Ghz and 1.5Gb DDR PC3200 RAM. I found out today that 3 of the capacitors on the MB must have been hit with a power surge despite surge protectors, so I 'm looking to replace the Mother Board. Dell seems to think they should charge a load for their proprietarty MB's so I'm wondering if I can't get a new case, new MB, and take everything from the Dell and put it in the new case and attach it to the new Motherboard. Can I get some recommendations for what cases, and motherboards to look into?
Thanks for the help!

[_=DeltaForce=_]

yeah why not.. Dell sucks big time for their proprietary stuff... SO you have a Skt 478?? Get the Asus P4P800 series, Dont know what kind of case you are interested in.. You might all need a PSU because Dell PSU may not fight in the case. I think thast propietary too.

[DarkFury]

Motherboards... Asus is my #1 choice. They have several socket 478 boards to choose from

Case... I usually go with Antec mainly because I love their powersupplies. However I currently have a CoolerMaster case that I love (with an Antec power supply in it. :D )

[Markel]

Just be warned that your XP will likely require reactivation once you change the mb. You might have to call "Microsoft" (pronounced with an Indian accent) and explain the need to reactivate.

[Jeffbx]

psst - Tank -

There are a HUGE number of Dell MBs that are plagued by bad capacitors. Mostly Dimension 400SCs, Optiplex 240s and (you guessed it!) Dimension 8300s.

Google 'Dell bad capacitors' to read up on it. Sorry 'bout your luck!

[a-10tankkiller]

Thanks for the ideas, and information. I doubt it will go anywhere, but I'll read up on the dead capacitors and see if i can get Dell to do anything.

[Markel]

psst - Tank -

There are a HUGE number of Dell MBs that are plagued by bad capacitors. Mostly Dimension 400SCs, Optiplex 240s and (you guessed it!) Dimension 8300s.

Google 'Dell bad capacitors' to read up on it. Sorry 'bout your luck!
I think that almost every mb manufacturer got hit with the bad batches of capacitors.

[mcs328]

I had these bad capacitors on a Epox mb. You could see it leaking some fluid and then it just didn't work.

[a-10tankkiller]

Tried Dell, and their story whether I want to push for a free one or pay is that they don't have any of these mb's in stock, and they probably won't anyomre since it's an old model. Looks like I'm going to try a build.

[SnowSurfer]

don't even bother trying to pull the motherboard out of the case, A couple of the older dell's I had used these standoffs that were impossible (ok it wasnt impossible i'm 2 for 3 with getting them off) to get off.

Basically if you push too hard to get the motherboard out, you end up bloody (like me) and also with a cut trace on the motherboard (also did that)

in conclusion just build a new one :)