[specter]

a family member wants me to upgrade their dell computer with a new motherboard. but i heard recently that starting in 1998 dell changed the wiring from the power suppy to the motherboard so i am told, so you can only use a dell supplied motherboard .so if i put in a industry standard correctly wired motherboard i would fry it ,is this practice (rewiring) still being carried out on dell machines or when did it stop . i would hate to fry a new motherboard. how would i know if the family member had one of these computers

[8FS_Bulau]

I have heard that also, but don't know anything more than you about it.
Why don't you replace the power supply as well with a standard one? Then the question is moot.