Using a Dell XPS 700 Series Case for a gaming Build?

Jerold · 05-23-2009, 07:07 AM

I use an XPS 710 at work since gaming PC's work really well for CAD/graphics.

I've been babying my previous Dell PWS650 to work at home, but it's getting long in the tooth.

I like the look of the XPS 700 series case and they are readily available on ebay. I was looking into building a custom rig (gaming specific) and would like to use the XPS platform.

Does anyone know if I can use aftermarket components like motherboards and PSU's in a DELL or do these cases only take DELL-made/branded motherboards and such.

The 650 that I've got uses a proprietary PSU that is part of the case, so I can't upgrade to a more powerful unit.

Has anyone build a custom rig with this case? and if so, what MB did you end up using?

**RockmasteR** · 05-23-2009, 02:04 PM

hello,
building a gaming PC is a lot of fun indeed

but I suggest that you get your own case, cause all the PSUs that comes in the prebuilt PCs are weak, so yes you need to upgrade to a lot better PSU than the one that cam with the DELL case

that is a great Case :

Antec 900 :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129021

**wrench97** · 05-23-2009, 02:32 PM

That and a lot of the Dell XPS cases are for BTX form factor motherboards not ATX.

Mcninjaguy · 05-23-2009, 05:36 PM

Also its a DELL so I wouldn't want to use it since they're hard to upgrade.

Zealex · 05-23-2009, 07:31 PM

wrong section o.O and try this case too
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119137
if you want a nice one.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...er%20haf%20932

**Tyree** · 05-24-2009, 07:43 AM

Dell cases are not good for cooling.
The Antec 300 and 900 are good cases....same case inside but the 900 has a window and costs $45 more. The COOLER MASTER RC-690 is an excellent case. Lots of room to work and good cooling.

Mcninjaguy · 05-24-2009, 02:01 PM

Well the Antec 900 has 2 major things over the Antec 300.

The Antec 900 has both its front fan slots filled and a 200mm top fan instead of the 140mm fan on the Antec 300.

**Tyree** · 05-24-2009, 02:21 PM

"Most" of my customers prefer as clean and quiet as possible. Front fans pull in dust and create more noise. Two front fans = dust and noise X 2.
Having the same interior as the 900, I prefer to build with the 300's (remove the front fan) for less maintenance and less noise.

Mcninjaguy · 05-24-2009, 06:59 PM

I prefer loud and cool.

I can have a overclocked GTX 260 running quiet, it would break. When I looked for a case it needs to have front fans for cooling.

Customers should be utting up with noise unless they want to go with the liquid cooling route.

**Tyree** · 05-25-2009, 07:31 AM

Why "put up" with noise when it's not necessary?

05-23-2009, 07:07 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jerold Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 88 OS: WinXP Pro	Using a Dell XPS 700 Series Case for a gaming Build? I use an XPS 710 at work since gaming PC's work really well for CAD/graphics. I've been babying my previous Dell PWS650 to work at home, but it's getting long in the tooth. I like the look of the XPS 700 series case and they are readily available on ebay. I was looking into building a custom rig (gaming specific) and would like to use the XPS platform. Does anyone know if I can use aftermarket components like motherboards and PSU's in a DELL or do these cases only take DELL-made/branded motherboards and such. The 650 that I've got uses a proprietary PSU that is part of the case, so I can't upgrade to a more powerful unit. Has anyone build a custom rig with this case? and if so, what MB did you end up using?

05-23-2009, 02:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
RockmasteR Moderator, Games Team Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lebanon Posts: 3,198 OS: Vista Ultimate 32bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Using a Dell XPS 700 Series Case for a gaming Build? hello, building a gaming PC is a lot of fun indeed but I suggest that you get your own case, cause all the PSUs that comes in the prebuilt PCs are weak, so yes you need to upgrade to a lot better PSU than the one that cam with the DELL case that is a great Case : Antec 900 : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129021 __________________ CPUz GPUz Nvidia Drivers ATI Drivers System Information for Windows (SIW) Revo Uninstaller RivaTuner ATITOOL Directx 9.0C !!Please don't PM me for Tech Support!!

05-23-2009, 02:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,780 OS: Win7	Re: Using a Dell XPS 700 Series Case for a gaming Build? That and a lot of the Dell XPS cases are for BTX form factor motherboards not ATX. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

05-23-2009, 05:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
Mcninjaguy Temporarily Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,422 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Using a Dell XPS 700 Series Case for a gaming Build? Also its a DELL so I wouldn't want to use it since they're hard to upgrade.

05-23-2009, 07:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
Zealex Tech, Games Team Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: USA Posts: 2,164 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium 32 bit SP2 My System	Re: Using a Dell XPS 700 Series Case for a gaming Build? wrong section o.O and try this case too http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119137 if you want a nice one. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...er%20haf%20932

05-24-2009, 07:43 AM	#6 (permalink)
Tyree Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 5,781 OS: XP Pro-7RC-Mandriva My System	Re: Using a Dell XPS 700 Series Case for a gaming Build? Dell cases are not good for cooling. The Antec 300 and 900 are good cases....same case inside but the 900 has a window and costs $45 more. The COOLER MASTER RC-690 is an excellent case. Lots of room to work and good cooling. __________________ Posting your PC specs will help us to help you quicker and more efficiently.

05-24-2009, 02:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
Mcninjaguy Temporarily Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,422 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Using a Dell XPS 700 Series Case for a gaming Build? Well the Antec 900 has 2 major things over the Antec 300. The Antec 900 has both its front fan slots filled and a 200mm top fan instead of the 140mm fan on the Antec 300.

05-24-2009, 02:21 PM	#8 (permalink)
Tyree Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 5,781 OS: XP Pro-7RC-Mandriva My System	Re: Using a Dell XPS 700 Series Case for a gaming Build? "Most" of my customers prefer as clean and quiet as possible. Front fans pull in dust and create more noise. Two front fans = dust and noise X 2. Having the same interior as the 900, I prefer to build with the 300's (remove the front fan) for less maintenance and less noise. __________________ Posting your PC specs will help us to help you quicker and more efficiently.

05-24-2009, 06:59 PM	#9 (permalink)
Mcninjaguy Temporarily Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,422 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Using a Dell XPS 700 Series Case for a gaming Build? I prefer loud and cool. I can have a overclocked GTX 260 running quiet, it would break. When I looked for a case it needs to have front fans for cooling. Customers should be utting up with noise unless they want to go with the liquid cooling route.

05-25-2009, 07:31 AM	#10 (permalink)
Tyree Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 5,781 OS: XP Pro-7RC-Mandriva My System	Re: Using a Dell XPS 700 Series Case for a gaming Build? Why "put up" with noise when it's not necessary? __________________ Posting your PC specs will help us to help you quicker and more efficiently.