Convert SFF to ATX

[C05T4R]

I know it's old but I just acquired an 8300 SFF as well @user - Avenger_007, it has the i5 processor currently. I also wanted to know if there was something on the market for a conversion. I have not fully researched it but I am a bit disappointed that I haven't yet found hardly any "desktop-style" cases which are still reasonably low-profile, let alone fit for SFF boards but would allow you to put a regular ATX PS, standard-sized hardware, graphics cards etc., inside. I think there is another issue and that is, these SFF boards are a custom arrangement with the expansion slots on the right rear and to the left of that are the ports for USB, Ethernet etc. A lot of the ATX cases I've seen often have a different arrangement for these ports.

I actually have modified my own SFF case a bit for the expansion slots area, in order to fit some of my current hardware rather than buying all new hardware to fit the "SFF" standard because THERE ARE some performance graphics cards which are made to fit these SFF cases.

For now my PS is exterior since the 8300 case doesn't have space for an ATX BUT I did manage to get my ATX 750W PS hooked up and working with this machine because as you said, some performance hardware demands more power than these small OEM PS's will provide. I bought a small connector from Amazon which allows you to connect ATX PS's to these SFF boards. If you haven't already, maybe that is something you can look into as well.

[DGroves]

the hp 8300 elite sff uses what was known as a BTX form factor (google it) and the motherboard uses a 230 watt HP custom supply

due to the SFF and BTX form factor no ATX upgrade can really be done

the 8300 elite Microtower however can be upgraded to a ATX supply due to it using a custom 320 watt power supply that is a ATX form factor and the BTX case will take full height cards unlike the SFF model

[C05T4R]

Thanks for the reply DGroves. Yes, I'm understanding that you can't just plug an ATX PS straight into one of these SFF boards nor can you neatly place an ATX PS inside one of these low-profile OEM-specific cases. However, it is possible to connect an ATX PS to one of these boards with an intermediary device as I mentioned previously, because that is precisely what I used to connect my 750W ATX to my 8300. Those "conversion" cables can be found online.

The other issue I noticed for which I edited my original post was that the layout of the rear ports on these motherboards tends be different from that of most ATX/other cases therefore even if a user purchases an "ATX" case of some sort, unless they can find one where the rear ports/expansion slots will line up correctly, then it just won't work, short of butchering the ATX case and the 8300 case to essentially place the 8300 case itself, minus the front panel, lid etc., inside of an ATX and sitll hope you have room for the ATX PS... So yes trying to "convert" these machines is not "ideal" to what "most" people want - the hope that they can just pull the 8300 MB, secure it inside of an ATX case with an ATX PS.

[RickInPA2]

It would have been easier if you had started with an HP Elite 8100.

That is an ATX form factor MB, but  ALL the PS cables (and others) hook up

differently than with a standard ATX MB. Lots of HP custom cables (or

special adapters) are needed.

IT you start with a bare HP MB and NO HP case, you will need lots of missing cables.

[C05T4R]

Thanks for that info RickInPA2! I do like having multiple machines and this is the first of this type that I've owned. I originally bought that unit because it seemed like a great deal to have as a replacement for another of my computers which is pretty outdated. Of course, I had to do some work after-the-fact with regards to cleaning and then correctly installing Windows onto the machine because their "technicians" did not do so correctly. The machine was stuck in a continuous loop stating, "Windows cannot be installed on this hardware.", "Windows needs to restart to finish installing Windows." etc... -_-

It was so inexpensive tho, I didn't bother with them, I just grabbed a W7 Pro ISO, installed Windows myself, used one of my other computers to dld necessary drivers for the network adapter etc., so I could then get the 8300 online, get additional drivers/updates and of course activate Windows... The plus side is that all of the hardware was "as stated" and included a new drive which posted excellent stats.

So after all of that, I then wondered IF I could bring over my expansion cards from that other system or just keep it as still, another "backup." I then realized that without "modification" I'd either have to purchase all new expansion cards that would work with an SFF /or/ see if there was a way to adapt an ATX PS to this machine because my cards require those power connections. I found a way to adapt the ATX PS with a conversion power cable. It's a very simple device, the SFF power connector on one end, a 24-pin ATX on the other and a chip in between. The ATX PS is external to the SFF case with the cables routed through the opening where the original SFF PS would be located. So it isn't "neat & tidy" BUT it's completely functional and that was my focus here.