Help finding replacement parts.

[McPimp]

Well I made a topic the other day about having troubles getting the computer to start.

http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,59545.0.html

I had a repair guy come today and he said it's either the Power Supply, Motherboard, or processor, which is what I thought it was and what people on here suggested.  So, instead of paying 300 dollars to have them fix it I'm looking for some helping finding the replacement parts as cheap as possible, since I could install them myself.

Here's the computer I'm using, http://reviews.cnet.com/desktops/dell-dimension-4600-pentium/4507-3118_7-30529709.html

I can get the power supply myself, but if someone could help me find a replacement processor and motherboard that's the exact same as listed on that page I'd appreciate it.

[stevejohnson1958]

If you're looking for replacement parts...could you supply us with the Service Tag for your Dell computer, please?

This way we can find the exact parts for that model, instead of using the info at CNET.

Thanks...

[McPimp]

Service tag is GDTQJ41.

[Dias de verano]

Dell parts can be non-standard! Be very careful if you are thinking of connecting a non-Dell power supply to a Dell motherboard (or vice versa). Many Dell psus & motherboards are wired so that you have to use Dell replacements. If you do not, you could end up with a fried motherboard and a dead power supply.

[stevejohnson1958]

I just visited Dell's Support page and got the following info, based on your Service Tag:  Original System Configuration

The processor is specified, but not the main board.  So, you may need to contact Dell Support, or open the case to determine the manufacturer and model number of the main board.

Dias de verano is correct...these parts may be proprietary to the system and may cause conflicts, instability or failure.  You may be better off using Dell parts only...but cost will be a big factor here.

What gets me is this comment you made:

I had a repair guy come today and he said it's either the Power Supply, Motherboard, or processor, which is what I thought it was and what people on here suggested.  So, instead of paying 300 dollars to have them fix it I'm looking for some helping finding the replacement parts as cheap as possible, since I could install them myself.

I'm surprised the tech couldn't narrow it down...instead...you were given three possibilities.  I hope you didn't pay this guy much...cause he didn't do his job.

The parts you are looking to replace should be bench tested...then you should go from there.

If it's not cost effective to take it to a repair technician for bench testing...I'd be looking into the possibility of maybe using the money you were going to spend for parts and labor on a new PC.  It just seems like the most logical thing to do...if the processor, main board and power supply are all defective.

[Dias de verano]

Dias de verano is correct...these parts may be proprietary to the system and may cause conflicts, instability or failure.  You may be better off using Dell parts only...but cost will be a big factor here.

I didn't mean little things like conflicts or instability. Dell are notorious for their hardware. the reason is, on many of their models they use custom hardware: specially made motherboards and power supplies. The connectors are industry-standard - they look just like any other power connectors, but the pin-outs are different! This means that if you have such a system you must either use Dell replacement parts or change the motherboard and the PSU at the same time. If you use a Dell PSU in a standard PC case with a standard ATX motherboard, you fry the board, RAM and CPU and maybe the PSU as well. If you put a standard motherboard in a Dell case with a Dell PSU the same thing can happen. There is no technical reason for this. The purpose is to lock owners in to buying Dell's expensive spare parts. It is possible the repair man said what he did to cover himself in case this was one of those models, and/or because he didn't want the job.

[stevejohnson1958]

McPimp...

Love the username, btw...

I took the liberty of contacting Dell for you...based on the service tag you gave me...and obtained the following info:

Part numbers:

CPU:  C1431
Motherboard:  HY008
Power Supply:  N2286

After obtaining the part numbers...I, again, took the liberty of contacting Dell Parts (1-800-357-3355) and obtained the following pricing:

CPU:  $430.99 (USD)
Motherboard:  $119.99 (USD)
Power Supply:  $47.99 (USD)

Depending on whether or not you want to breathe new life into your computer...that's quite a hefty price tag.  You may be able to find the parts cheaper...maybe through a Dell parts wholesaler...but the truth is...IMHO...if I were going to spend this much...I'd use the money for another PC.

I'm sorry I couldn't be of much more help.

All my best...

[Dias de verano]

I think it is possible that the repairman knew exactly what he was talking about.

I found this...

The 10 Worst PCs of All Time

Remember these clunkers? Many of them were so bad they're hard to forget.

Dan Tynan, PC World

Monday, March 19, 2007 1:00 AM PDT

#10. Dell Dimension 4600 (2003)

Dell Dimension 4600

Consumers who purchased this machine entered a new dimension all right, the altered dimension of Dell *censored*. The Dimension 4600 was only a middling machine when new, but after about a year--or shortly after the standard warranty expired--power supplies in some machines began to fail. Worse, Dell's customer support misdiagnosed some of these problems as motherboard failures.

Dell's support forums filled up with complaints from similarly powerless users, but the company refused to admit to defects with the power supply. (Dell politely declined to comment for this article.) The Dimension 4600's problems were yet one more reason why the "Dude, You've Got a Dell" tagline became a joke--though not a particularly amusing one for some customers.

I agree with Saviour. If you are able to buy a new PC, it's by far the better option. Since the 4600 was a new machine, bang-per-buck has increased a LOT. Bottom line is, IMHO it's a 5 year old PC, it is not worth spending Dell's prices to resurrect it. You don't know how long it would last anyway! If that article is to be believed, you're lucky it lasted as long as it did. My PC is coming up 4 years old and I am beginning to think about a replacement, even though it is working fine. You can always get an external case and put the hard drive in it and get your files off it.

Maybe now you know what brand to avoid?

[McPimp]

Appreciate all the responses guys.  Well a little more details I guess.  Yeah, I have had the computer for about 5 years or so, but I've upgrading everything in it besides the motherboard and the processor.  I've had a 500w power supply in there for at least 3 years and never had a problem.  Because I heard long ago when I first started upgrading it that Dell's have problems with upgrading. 

It was a free estimate which is why he couldn't really nail down the problem.  I wasn't about to pay 150/hr just to try and get this thing repaired, I figured he might  be able to nail the problem for me.  He brought in his own power supply and the computer loaded up more than normal so I guess the power supply was a problem.

Yeah I'm not willing to spend more than about 100 bucks to try and fix this thing.  I already got a new computer on the way that my uncle built me which is better then my broken Dell.  I looked around on ebay for some parts those and found these.

Motherboard

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-41D0948-Intel-OEMD865GKDI1S-865G-10-100-W-LAN_W0QQitemZ110252347353QQihZ001QQcategoryZ108978QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

Processor

http://cgi.ebay.com/Intel-Pentium-4-Processors-2-80-GHz-working-SL6WJ_W0QQitemZ330245327386QQihZ014QQcategoryZ80143QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/Intel-Pentium-4-Processor-2-80-GHz-SL6WJ_W0QQitemZ190219003348QQihZ009QQcategoryZ14293QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247

Power Supply

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182016

I would just get a new computer but I don't really have the money right now, which was why I was hoping to fix this for cheap.  But seems like everybody is making it clear that it's better off just letting this one die.

I really appreciate the help guys.

[drmsucks]

  He brought in his own power supply and the computer loaded up more than normal so I guess the power supply was a problem.

Don't mean to jump in here - but, if you "loaded up more than normal," with the tech's psu - why don't you think your problem is the psu?

Just curious.

[McPimp]

Well I tried my power supply in two other computers and it loaded them up as well as using another power supply in mine and it didn't work.  Plus the techs power supply still didn't give any picture to the monitor, which may have been a video card fault, but we tried it with and without the video card.

So, I think the power supply is bad also, but I don't think it's the only problem.

[drmsucks]

OK - I guess I misinterpreted the "normal" part.

[truenorth]

McPimp,I really hesitate to come in here at this point as i believe others have you rightly convinced not to throw good money after bad on your Dell. However in consideration of your "short of money' position i will suggest another alternative with some caveats. Given the bad reputation of this particular model i suspect there are many of them available on auction sites IE; EBay (although i have not personally checked). So a cheap one of identical model should be available there. If i was interested on bidding on one i would verify by contact with the seller prior to a bid that it is guarantied to work and tell the seller you will only pay by Pay Pal and will return it if it does not arrive and be seen to work properly. Get something in an email from the vendor that states it is working. Now another caveat i would not be surprised that even if it is the same model it can be possible that what was in the bins on the assembly line could be different on any given day and therefore they may NOT have all been exactly the same. If you find a co=operative vendor you should ask all the questions that concern the parts you suspect as being defective as to being in the one being offered. In my mind the only reason to pursue this route would be some very strong emotional connection with your defective computer that you cannot bear to give up.goodluck,truenorth