Swap Motherboard XPS 420

Dell XPS 420 change out motherboard tutorial

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Dell
• XPS
• motherboard
• PC
• tutorial

[artifishal]

Do not buy this product unless your willing to descend to DELL HELL where Satan speaks in in Indian accents you can barely understand as he tells you that the products (TV tuner gt8800 gr card)they bundled for you are incompatable with each other (while somehow your cut off between transfers to the wrong depts) but you can buy a North American warranty for $299 1 year or $350 4 years. Of course this doesn't cover this issue but maybe then you won't get cut off so much and can understand better!

[CoastermanTB]

what motherboard is in the xps right now? When you bought it?

[artifishal]

Dell paid a tech to replace the MB with another identical as they mistakenly thought it was defective because no one could get the ATI TV wonder tuner to work. Kept coming back 'tuner not found'. They were wrong again and it still won't run the ATI. Turns out that all XPS 420's sold in Dec-Jan '07 with this TV tuner were incompatable. ATI wont help me and Dell says its over the return period even tho they told me to wait for the Vista service pak upgrade. Live and learn.

[Jeorney]

@xomegaxweapon Contact Cooler Master about their chassis designs on their website. I think yours is a Micro ATX (9.6" x 9.6") form factor. Some of their cases work for various ATX mobos.

[Jeorney]

What is the new mobo? The same type as the old or a new type? Must be a BTX type, which isn't being developed any more.

[xomegaxweapon]

Hi there, i have bought a new motherboard - FOXCONN G45M Motherboard to replace the standard dell xps420 motherboard, however, i'm having trouble tracking down any PC case that can house this properly with some original parts.

I have upgraded a few things, thus being a new 600 watt psu, upgraded memory to 8gb, running windows 7 (64bit) upgraded graphics card to a 1gb Sapphire HD 5770..

so if anyone can help, please could you reply to this comment or drop me a personal message, cheers.

[TheWorkspc]

Note: This tech did not replace the thermal past on the processor nor did he take proper precaution against static discharge damage especially when handling the video card and memory. The issue with the ATI Tuner not working is 99.9% the drivers and software to blame; it has nothing to do with the compatibility with the motherboard. Also, note this system is not easily upgraded. Not a good investment for long term.

[CBound]

@fordfan2007

I had my 375 watt power supply unit (PSU) go out on my Dell XPS 410, taking the MOBO with it.

I made the mistake of NOT upgrading the PSU as when I installed a more power hungry graphics card (GPU). Dell says the the factory power supply is under rated and should work for most installations without problem, but there are plenty of people that have found this PSU to be under powered, particularly if you are going to upgrade some of the components.

[CBound]

@biitersweettt

Part 3:

The paste needs to fill tiny pits and irregularities in the surfaces of the metal (as I remember), to be most effective, so only a new application of the liquid paste will work in squeezing out and filling the small gaps etc. between the two surfaces.

One should use rubbing alcohol and a no lint micro cloth to clean the metal surfaces after scraping off the old paste with a plastic credit card or the like.

[CBound]

@biitersweettt

Part 2:

From what I've read, the heat dissipation efficiency is VERY important. Just a few degrees hotter can shorten the life of the CPU. Also, even if new thermal paste is used, the exact application can make a marked difference in how effective it is. Too much paste will result in the metal components being too far separated from each other to work as designed.

[CBound]

@biitersweettt

Part 1:

I'm in the process of replacing my Dell XPS 410. The MOBO and internal components look identical (or almost) to this one.

Originally, the thermal paste is put on very thin and almost a liquid, squeezed flat between the heat-sink and CPU enclosure. It will harden somewhat over time when exposed to heat. The old paste can't make a good heat bridge between the metal components of the CPU and heat-sink as it has been torn from it's exact original location....

[chocolatepuff718]

ok i have a question. a tech came over and swapped out the mother board, that blakc thing with the holes (i think the heat syncer), took out the hard drives, and was about to change video card but he said nothing was wrong with it. ok my question is, how do we put the hard drive back in!??!?! any ole way or in order. they are the exact same thing except different serial number. i was thinking in orer or serial number but i reall wanna play my sims and my dad has his itunes on the hard drives!

[Grayfox82]

any recommended sites to get BTX motherboards, other than dell?