proprietary hardware?

[felix726]

OK lets say I go and buy a new PC from Dell and it has this configuration for example.

PIII 700
128MB PC100
32MB NVIDIA geFORCE
Sound Blaster Live! Value
27.3gig ULTRA ATA66 HDD
48x CD-ROM
Sony 8x/4x/32x CD-RW
3Com 3C905C 10/100 NIC
56K
Altec Lansing ADA880 Dolby Digital Speakers

Now lets say on down the road I want to upgrade. Would I be able to harvest all the components from this machine and throw them onto a new moboin a new case and go from there or am I going to run in to proprietary problems?

felix

[Target]

You shouldn't run into proprietary problems per say, but you may not be able to readily transfer those components to a new mobo and case......it depends on the level of integration into the Dell system board, of the various components you have listed.

For instance, the sound controller, network card, and video chip may all be integrated into the Dell motherboard, in which case, there is no seperating them at a later time for transfer to another puter.

[felix726]

Target, they are all seperate components, the mobo has nothing built in. I guess what really concerned me was the memory because I know this is where propriety usually bites you in the $#%! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif thanks for the info.

felix

[Dave2]

Since you know what you want in a computer you are better off building one yourself or having someone build it for you.

[felix726]

trust me I would love to but I'm still a college student and am trying to support a family while working on my software engineering degree. Unfortunatly, I crave all the new technology (as we all do!) but don't have the means buy which to purchase all the components and throw a system together. However, Dell will let me finance this endevour so I can get what I crave and get it now. **** my need for instant gratification http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif. Hopefully after I graduate next quarter some company is going to be willing to pay me gobs of money for my programming skills and I'll be able to start building my own personal LAN. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif But in the mean time I think buying from Dell is my best option.

felix

[This message has been edited by felix726 (edited 12-05-1999).]

[Nathan]

If that's your situation, then go for it. Just keep in mind that maybe you might not be able to transfer the devices into a different system later on. Of course that all depends too. But if that's your situation, then go for it.

[GVolosky]

My "Credit Union" has a deal going for a while now where they will give you a loan for a system.... No money down
Check with your lending institutions for out of the ordinary loan opportunities like this....Then build your own.....

[felix726]

wow I never actually thought a bank would give a loan for a new cocmputer! that's a great idea thanks.
-felix

[Target]

Felix.....Since all of those parts are seperate, I really don't see any issues with you moving those components to another motherboard/case at a later time.

This of course assumes that your upgrade isn't so far down the road that the parts we are talking about are no longer used.

[LordLocksley]

In this case (Dimension) all part would be xferable to anothe board. With Dell computers the difficulty would come in when you want to upgrade the chip on the board, no jumpers, no soft bios. The mobos are prop. Everything else is what it is. Dell does sell computers that are proprietary (WebPC, Optiplex(buisness.))


[This message has been edited by LordLocksley (edited 12-05-1999).]

[felix726]

thanks for all the help guys!
-felix