TIL you can fit a modern ATX PSU in an old Dell Optiplex case if you flip the drive cage

I was stuck trying to stuff a Corsair RM750x into a Dell Optiplex 390 case I found at a thrift store for $10. The standard PSU mount was too shallow by about 2 inches. After three failed attempts with zip ties, I flipped the hard drive cage upside down and drilled two new holes into the base tray. Now the PSU sits flush and the whole thing runs a Radeon 6700XT without melting. Anybody else mod an old office PC and find a weird workaround that just clicked?

2 comments

2 Comments

holly_gonzalez6122d ago

That RM750x is overkill for a 6700XT but hey, whatever works.

the_anna22d ago

Oh wow, that's a solid mod. Flipping the drive cage is a clever move, I have a old HP Elitedesk 800 G1 that I squeezed a CX650M into and it was a nightmare until I realized the optical drive bracket could be relocated to the front panel with some spacers. But @holly_gonzalez61, the RM750x isn't actually overkill for that 6700XT. The power spikes on those cards can hit 300W for a split second, and a 650W unit might trip its protection if you push the card hard. Plus having headroom means the fan barely spins on the PSU, keeps the whole swap quieter. I learned that the hard way when my old 550W blew a cap during a benchmark run. Your mod sounds way cleaner than my janky zip tie setup I had before I figured out the bracket trick.