Dell XPS 720 non-standard motherboard/power supply

8 Responses to “Dell XPS 720 non-standard motherboard/power supply”

1. The Computer Whisperer says:
   

   I am working on a Dell pc at the moment, Had to bring it back to the office, no PS/2 ports for keyboard and mouse, the keyboard and mouse onsite worked no problem but I can’t get the system to boot up to install USB keyboard and mouse, also, I can’t in-place upgrade as windows crashes half way through loading the initial install files, I can only assume it’s because I can’t change from sata native mode to backwards compatible like I can on every single other sata system I have ever came across, ever. so ditto on your last line m8.

   October 8th, 2008 at 14:47
2. Matt Oxley says:
   

   Hey Im a tech also, i wouldnt think this pc would be totally non standard like that….especially on one of their xps systems……can you take pictures of this…it doesnt sound right to me.

   October 9th, 2008 at 1:41
3. Computer Help says:
   

   Believe it Matt.

   I can’t take pictures. This happened a few weeks ago, and the PC is with the customer.

   Apparently this is a very common “problem” with the XPS line of Dell PCs

   I guess Dell thinks if someone is prepared to pay a huge amount for a top-line PC, then they don’t mind paying even more to have it fixed.

   October 9th, 2008 at 9:51
4. Paul says:
   

   I have an XPS in the laptop line. I wouldn’t buy Dell (or any brand computer) without buying a full warranty for this reason. I think the XPS series should come with a minimum of 1-year warranty, and Dell treats the XPS customers better than the regular consumer customers, so it really does pay off if you need it.

   October 9th, 2008 at 18:58
5. nukeit says:
   

   I’ve serviced around 500 Dell computers in the last few years and I don’t think any use standard power supply connectors. Even the older ones that had standard looking ATX connectors were missing weird pins or had wires crossed. The XPS series are especially bad about odd layouts and parts too.

   October 9th, 2008 at 21:20
6. OCTANE says:
   

   DELL IS CRAP! THEY ARE THE WORST!
   THE XPS SERIES IS A JOKE! AND
   MICHAEL DELL IS A DOUCHE BAG!

   January 16th, 2009 at 0:27
7. Eric says:
   

   The XPS 700/710/720 systems do use a Intel standard board / chassis design. The standard is the BTX design. The BTX design was going to be the next great form factor from Intel however that did not play out well for Intel as only Dell, Gateway and a few intel boards were ever made based off this design. It had some adavantages but with no takers it died a quick death. The new XPS 730 systems appear to have gone back to an ATX based design.

   April 20th, 2009 at 15:25
8. AHappyMan says:
   

   Recently DIMMS 3-4 stopped working so lost ddr function on my 720, phoned dell up a year and a 1/2 outta warranty see what they would say fully expecting to pay upto 100quid (Prity Fair IMO). Price was £317 for a 2 and a 1/2 yr old motherboard. Laughed and asked if can be any budge in that, come back 2mins later and “Sorry no” so i hung up, then looked into the corner of my room and seen 2 other dell pcs, one 6 yrs old and another 7. Completley standard and still working, how odd i thought. Day passed and so thought fuckit, lets see how big dells balls are, phoned up xps phone line again, told the guy he is being recorded, (rly didnt like that) quoted the “Sale of goods Act” , Few moments later i was onto the manager and he said he’d call me back within afew hours, Hay preso New mobo on its way free of charge, Wish i pushed em for a service man to come fit it but tbh i wouldnt want some dell nobber fuck about with my rig. God Bless the sales of goods act. Covers you upto 5 yrs in UK..

   March 7th, 2010 at 6:21

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