Getting a new case

KN77523 · 09-09-2008, 11:54 AM

Hey everyone

Right now I have a Gateway GT5654 and the case is on the small side. No way will I fit a 9800 in it. When I first got the comp almost a year ago I quickly bought an 8600 to have something decent, and that barely fits. I'm looking to upgrade to a bigger case and would like to know if the case I'm looking at would be compatible with my motherboard, ect.

Here is my motherboard:
http://support.gateway.com/s/MOTHERB...06203Rmv.shtml

This is the case I'm looking at:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811208005

Now I'm pretty sure my mobo is a micro ATX where as the case supports full ATX. I did read that micro ATX is backwards compatible with full ATX, but I'd like some info from the community. So what do you think, am I all set or will there be problems?

**magnethead** · 09-09-2008, 12:34 PM

When looking at the front of the case, the board is on the right side of the computer, with 3 PCI slots at the rear bottom correct?

mATX is 9.6" square, ATX is 9.6 wide and 12 tall. ATX uses the mATX mounting holes plus more to support the larger size, so yes your board will fit, assuming it is mATX and not BTX or mBTX (which is what dell's done so you cant change their cases easily).

KN77523 · 09-09-2008, 02:54 PM

Alright that's good news.

One other thing. Should I worry about any problems connecting the cords from the motherboard to the actually power button on the case? I don't know if Gateway's got a different format than this case I'm looking at.

**magnethead** · 09-09-2008, 04:43 PM

it probably does. Sometimes the board will be labeled, sometimes you have to chase wires. But usually, the OEM power button pins are side by side, and the case switch should fit.

The good question is on the USB ports- They may or may not fit. My dell had it's own wiring format, I got a pinout adapter (antec spare parts- too much $$ but it works), and used an ohmmeter to find where each OEM wire went. That got my case USB working fine.

KN77523 · 09-09-2008, 06:00 PM

Well I'm gonna go ahead and order the case. Hopefully I wont run into any major problems.

Thanks for the input.

09-09-2008, 11:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
KN77523 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3 OS: Windows XP Home/Windows Vista Home Premium	Getting a new case Hey everyone Right now I have a Gateway GT5654 and the case is on the small side. No way will I fit a 9800 in it. When I first got the comp almost a year ago I quickly bought an 8600 to have something decent, and that barely fits. I'm looking to upgrade to a bigger case and would like to know if the case I'm looking at would be compatible with my motherboard, ect. Here is my motherboard: http://support.gateway.com/s/MOTHERB...06203Rmv.shtml This is the case I'm looking at: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811208005 Now I'm pretty sure my mobo is a micro ATX where as the case supports full ATX. I did read that micro ATX is backwards compatible with full ATX, but I'd like some info from the community. So what do you think, am I all set or will there be problems? Last edited by KN77523; 09-09-2008 at 11:56 AM.

09-09-2008, 12:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
magnethead Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Texas, USA Posts: 3,570 OS: Vista ultimate 32bit My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: Getting a new case When looking at the front of the case, the board is on the right side of the computer, with 3 PCI slots at the rear bottom correct? mATX is 9.6" square, ATX is 9.6 wide and 12 tall. ATX uses the mATX mounting holes plus more to support the larger size, so yes your board will fit, assuming it is mATX and not BTX or mBTX (which is what dell's done so you cant change their cases easily). __________________ For proper support: what are you running? graphics, cpu, m/board, ram, PSU brand wattage PCI-E requires 26 amps at 12 volts. That's a 650W PSU. Power Supply Info and Selection . Info on thermal compounds & application . TEST PSU USING MULTI-METER . Bench Testing Your System

09-09-2008, 02:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
KN77523 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3 OS: Windows XP Home/Windows Vista Home Premium	Re: Getting a new case Alright that's good news. One other thing. Should I worry about any problems connecting the cords from the motherboard to the actually power button on the case? I don't know if Gateway's got a different format than this case I'm looking at.

09-09-2008, 04:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
magnethead Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Texas, USA Posts: 3,570 OS: Vista ultimate 32bit My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: Getting a new case it probably does. Sometimes the board will be labeled, sometimes you have to chase wires. But usually, the OEM power button pins are side by side, and the case switch should fit. The good question is on the USB ports- They may or may not fit. My dell had it's own wiring format, I got a pinout adapter (antec spare parts- too much $$ but it works), and used an ohmmeter to find where each OEM wire went. That got my case USB working fine. __________________ For proper support: what are you running? graphics, cpu, m/board, ram, PSU brand wattage PCI-E requires 26 amps at 12 volts. That's a 650W PSU. Power Supply Info and Selection . Info on thermal compounds & application . TEST PSU USING MULTI-METER . Bench Testing Your System

09-09-2008, 06:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
KN77523 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3 OS: Windows XP Home/Windows Vista Home Premium	Re: Getting a new case Well I'm gonna go ahead and order the case. Hopefully I wont run into any major problems. Thanks for the input.