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December 31st, 2025 16:46
Studio XPS 9100, major upgrade to keep CD and DVD drives
It's either upgrade this case so I can keep my bays or go external with a new PC.
I don't like laptops.
I use my optical drives for things like 50g double layer Blu Ray DVD burns.
The question is can I replace the motherboard to a modern unit with a 11 gen+ processor and still have the SATA hookups?
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ejn63
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December 31st, 2025 17:46
If you're looking at retail mainboards or standard case/mainboard parts, most will have accommodations for plenty of SATA devices, and you can still find plenty of cases that will take 5.25" optical drives.
You can also mount the drives in 5.25" USB cases and use them externally if you choose to buy a pre-built system that has no 5.25" drive support.
mhrischuik
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December 31st, 2025 18:17
@ejn63
Yea just getting a new PC and ordered this https://www.runtechmedia.com/products/asa-3
Thank you
redxps630
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15.3K Posts
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December 31st, 2025 23:58
It is studio XPS9100 the white case with red trim. You can put a new motherboard (ATX) in the case and keep using stock 24 pin psu and keep sata optical drives.
Front panel pinout of case is standard.
There are two things you would lose if you do that:
new motherboard most likely has USB 3.0 header but case has USB 2.0 only. remedy: install a USB3.0 add in card for new mobo and access the 3.0 ports at back
Dell logo board at front of case will not light up any more. A small loss. The logo board illuminates DELL on front bezel
mrmacklems
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January 5th, 2026 07:55
No, you can’t realistically put an 11th-gen+ modern motherboard in a Studio XPS 9100 and still use the original internal SATA optical drive bays as they are, because modern motherboards won’t fit the old Dell case layout or provide compatible front/bay connectors; your best options are a new build with internal SATA ports (and keep your drives internal) or use the drives externally with USB, but you won’t be able to drop a current-gen mobo into that exact chassis and keep everything exactly as is.