motherboards

siuhrebel · #1 05-24-2005, 05:03 PM

I have a question. Will a motherboard from a desk top fit in a tower case?

ANZAC_ELITE · #2 05-24-2005, 05:29 PM

As long as they both have the same form factor, e.g. ATX, it should

siuhrebel · #3 05-24-2005, 05:32 PM

Thanks for the help !!!

tzobal · #4 06-04-2005, 08:53 PM

The answer is not as staight forward as that....
The best thing you can do is open up and look.....

It is true. As long as the form factor is the same then it should fit.

Most new tower cases come with the option to fit the mobo mounts as you need them. i.e. you can fit the mounts to suit AT or baby ATX etc.

However, some desktops use "small form factor" mobos which are OEM and unique to the make of the computer like Dell or compaq. In this case you will have a bit of work to do as they are built slightly different.

I will give you an example:

The Compaq Evo desktops use small form factor mobo. The PCI slots sit not on the mobo but on a 'riser card'. this will not do for a tower as the whole configuration of where different part are, is not compatable to the tower way of things. Have a look here -
http://h200007.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/s...03_rev3_us.pdf
You will need adobe reader but it will give you an idea of what I am talking about. Also the back pannel looks and fits differently than with the tower.

Like I said the best thing to do is to open up and see. Another way to find out without opening is running AIDA32 http://www.webattack.com/get/aida32.shtml

This tool will probably be able to tell you all the info you want (and dont want) hopefully including the form factor of your PC.

Try and google for the make and model of your current PC to see if you can fish out the info.

Good luck and keep it cool.....

siuhrebel · #5 06-07-2005, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tzobal

The answer is not as staight forward as that....
The best thing you can do is open up and look.....

It is true. As long as the form factor is the same then it should fit.

Most new tower cases come with the option to fit the mobo mounts as you need them. i.e. you can fit the mounts to suit AT or baby ATX etc.

However, some desktops use "small form factor" mobos which are OEM and unique to the make of the computer like Dell or compaq. In this case you will have a bit of work to do as they are built slightly different.

I will give you an example:

The Compaq Evo desktops use small form factor mobo. The PCI slots sit not on the mobo but on a 'riser card'. this will not do for a tower as the whole configuration of where different part are, is not compatable to the tower way of things. Have a look here -
http://h200007.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/s...03_rev3_us.pdf
You will need adobe reader but it will give you an idea of what I am talking about. Also the back pannel looks and fits differently than with the tower.

Like I said the best thing to do is to open up and see. Another way to find out without opening is running AIDA32 http://www.webattack.com/get/aida32.shtml

This tool will probably be able to tell you all the info you want (and dont want) hopefully including the form factor of your PC.

Try and google for the make and model of your current PC to see if you can fish out the info.

Good luck and keep it cool.....

Thank you for your reply. here is my situation, I have a compaq desktop computer, not a tower. I bought the acrylic tower case and want to transfer the motherboard over to the new case. The motherboard is smaller than a regular size motherboard, but it fits in the case. The only problem I am having is try to find where the hard drive led light and on and off button connect to on the motherboard. It is a compacq computer with a 2.8 pentium 4 processor. Intel desktop board . .D865GVHZ-mainboard-micro ATX-i865GV. Any help will be appreciated

tzobal · #6 06-07-2005, 07:14 PM

There you go - the product specs for your board.

ftp://download.intel.com/design/moth...z/C5395501.pdf

You will need Adobe reader - http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

You will see that page 14 clearly shows the board layout.

If this is not enough come back and I will see what other info is available.

It is worth emailing Intel support with any question. They might surprise you.

They did me......

siuhrebel · #7 06-08-2005, 04:45 PM

I was able to download the product specification manual. But I must be anal, I still can't find where to plug in the on/off cable and the hard drive activity plug comming from the new tower !!!

tzobal · #8 06-09-2005, 08:22 AM

I will try and find a guide with images.

What is at the end of the wires coming from your power switch and LED?
Are they cluster terminated (simillar to the ATX 'power to motherboard' band) or single wires with small thin black socket/plug with white writting on the black part?

It would be really handy if you could load an image of the ends of the wires and the mobo. No worries if you cannot.

siuhrebel · #9 06-09-2005, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tzobal

I will try and find a guide with images.

What is at the end of the wires coming from your power switch and LED?
Are they cluster terminated (simillar to the ATX 'power to motherboard' band) or single wires with small thin black socket/plug with white writting on the black part?

It would be really handy if you could load an image of the ends of the wires and the mobo. No worries if you cannot.

single wires with small thin black socket/plug with white writting on the black part?

tzobal · #10 06-14-2005, 03:02 AM

Emailed Intel yesterday describing the issue.
Hopefully they will get back to me soon.

I could not find an illustration of the power switch connection....

siuhrebel · #11 06-14-2005, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tzobal

Emailed Intel yesterday describing the issue.
Hopefully they will get back to me soon.

I could not find an illustration of the power switch connection....

Still have not resolved the issue. I just want to thank you in advance for your help.

tzobal · #12 06-15-2005, 12:03 PM

Have not heard from Intel yet.
However.... AHA....

I found this - http://support.intel.com/design/moth...hz_con.htm#FPC

See if this helps.

Keep it cool!

siuhrebel · #13 06-15-2005, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tzobal

Have not heard from Intel yet.
However.... AHA....

I found this - http://support.intel.com/design/moth...hz_con.htm#FPC

See if this helps.

Keep it cool!

Not really, it is very confuseing. But I do appriciate your help. All I need to know is where to plug in the on/off cable from the front of the case to the motherboard. And also the led activity light for the hard drive. I really did not think it was going to be this hard to locate this info. I keep dreawing blanks!!!

Esp2120 · #14 07-03-2005, 12:01 PM

In the link tzobal sent you "B" is the front panel this has your power button, reset button, HDD light and Power light connections on it. Just connect the Dual wire connections from your power switch and hdd led light to the mobo pins there.

esp2120