cabbitzilla (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
cabbitzilla) wrote2004-05-08 03:12 pm
cabbitzilla) wrote2004-05-08 03:12 pm
Damage Control
The hard drives and optical drives survived.
Memory also survived, as did the GeForce 4 440MX video card.
The mainboard and chip (and fan/sink) POST properly with the 400w PSU I dug out of the back room.
Unfortunately, that PSU was originally pulled because the rails fluctuate so badly it fried a couple of my older drives. So while it's enough to check the mainboard and processor briefly, it's simply not usable for the full system.
As I ran checks on the various components, I discovered why the machine had always consistently run hot; idiot that I am, the CPU cooler's rated up to the Athlon XP 1700+... the processor is an Athlon XP 2000+, just a little bit beyond what the cooler's capable of. So a replacement cooler is also on order.
Checked the local retail outlets and the pair of 'recycled' parts stores; none of them have a 400w (or better) PSU for under $60, which rules that out as an option.
So now I'm rummaging through page after page of online retail parts shops, trying to find the best deal on solid components. Thus far, the best combination is
Memory also survived, as did the GeForce 4 440MX video card.
The mainboard and chip (and fan/sink) POST properly with the 400w PSU I dug out of the back room.
As I ran checks on the various components, I discovered why the machine had always consistently run hot; idiot that I am, the CPU cooler's rated up to the Athlon XP 1700+... the processor is an Athlon XP 2000+, just a little bit beyond what the cooler's capable of. So a replacement cooler is also on order.
Checked the local retail outlets and the pair of 'recycled' parts stores; none of them have a 400w (or better) PSU for under $60, which rules that out as an option.
So now I'm rummaging through page after page of online retail parts shops, trying to find the best deal on solid components. Thus far, the best combination is
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The hard drives and optical drives survived.
Memory also survived, as did the GeForce 4 440MX video card.
The mainboard and chip (and fan/sink) POST properly with the 400w PSU I dug out of the back room.
<dd>Unfortunately, that PSU was originally pulled because the rails fluctuate so badly it fried a couple of my older drives. So while it's enough to check the mainboard and processor briefly, it's simply not usable for the full system.</dd>
As I ran checks on the various components, I discovered why the machine had always consistently run hot; idiot that I am, the CPU cooler's rated up to the Athlon XP 1700+... the processor is an Athlon XP 2000+, just a little bit beyond what the cooler's capable of. So a replacement cooler is also on order.
Checked the local retail outlets and the pair of 'recycled' parts stores; none of them have a 400w (or better) PSU for under $60, which rules that out as an option.
So now I'm rummaging through page after page of online retail parts shops, trying to find the best deal on solid components. Thus far, the best combination is <a href="http://www.accupc.com>AccuPC</a>; my main workstation would be down until Wednesday or so because of shipping time. So far, the order would be an <a href="http://www.accupc.com/itemDetail.jsp?pid=psatx550ul">Okia 550W DUAL FAN Power Supply</a> and a <a href="http://www.accupc.com/itemDetail.jsp?pid=FANV8">ThermalTake Volcano 8</a>.
Checking the mainboard board specs, the cooler's capable of covering any processor the board will take, not just the 2000+ that's strapped to it at the moment; conveniently it's also the least expensive (at least at AccuPC) of the <a href="http://www.thermaltake.com">ThermalTake</a> coolers that AccuPC carries. I generally use <i>only</i> ThermalTake coolers; they were the <i>only</i> company that made a cooler, the <a href="http://www.thermaltake.com/coolers/orb/a1042.htm">Golden Orb</a>, with enough chutzpa to keep the Athlon Thunderbird 950 Enhanced cpu that's in the NT Server box. The Volcano 5 that was on the 2000+ will go into my parts bin; it'll handle the smaller socket A and socket 370 processors, and it may come in handy.
Made a run out to the store and refille the amitriptyline prescription. JR came by and mowed the lawn for me, so the neighbor's will quit grumbling at me. The anger and frustration I was wrestling with last night has settled into morbid acceptance; it just seems to be the way my luck runs. If I can find reasonable components at prices better than AccuPC then that's great... but at least the total is under (just barely) the money from Mom. It may sound silly, but without the Athlon's hum, this house sounds ... empty. I'm very conscious of the presence of the walls hemming me in. It's a very... odd sensation, like something's missing.
So off I go for more shopping. Or something.
Memory also survived, as did the GeForce 4 440MX video card.
The mainboard and chip (and fan/sink) POST properly with the 400w PSU I dug out of the back room.
<dd>Unfortunately, that PSU was originally pulled because the rails fluctuate so badly it fried a couple of my older drives. So while it's enough to check the mainboard and processor briefly, it's simply not usable for the full system.</dd>
As I ran checks on the various components, I discovered why the machine had always consistently run hot; idiot that I am, the CPU cooler's rated up to the Athlon XP 1700+... the processor is an Athlon XP 2000+, just a little bit beyond what the cooler's capable of. So a replacement cooler is also on order.
Checked the local retail outlets and the pair of 'recycled' parts stores; none of them have a 400w (or better) PSU for under $60, which rules that out as an option.
So now I'm rummaging through page after page of online retail parts shops, trying to find the best deal on solid components. Thus far, the best combination is <a href="http://www.accupc.com>AccuPC</a>; my main workstation would be down until Wednesday or so because of shipping time. So far, the order would be an <a href="http://www.accupc.com/itemDetail.jsp?pid=psatx550ul">Okia 550W DUAL FAN Power Supply</a> and a <a href="http://www.accupc.com/itemDetail.jsp?pid=FANV8">ThermalTake Volcano 8</a>.
Checking the mainboard board specs, the cooler's capable of covering any processor the board will take, not just the 2000+ that's strapped to it at the moment; conveniently it's also the least expensive (at least at AccuPC) of the <a href="http://www.thermaltake.com">ThermalTake</a> coolers that AccuPC carries. I generally use <i>only</i> ThermalTake coolers; they were the <i>only</i> company that made a cooler, the <a href="http://www.thermaltake.com/coolers/orb/a1042.htm">Golden Orb</a>, with enough chutzpa to keep the Athlon Thunderbird 950 Enhanced cpu that's in the NT Server box. The Volcano 5 that was on the 2000+ will go into my parts bin; it'll handle the smaller socket A and socket 370 processors, and it may come in handy.
Made a run out to the store and refille the amitriptyline prescription. JR came by and mowed the lawn for me, so the neighbor's will quit grumbling at me. The anger and frustration I was wrestling with last night has settled into morbid acceptance; it just seems to be the way my luck runs. If I can find reasonable components at prices better than AccuPC then that's great... but at least the total is under (just barely) the money from Mom. It may sound silly, but without the Athlon's hum, this house sounds ... empty. I'm very conscious of the presence of the walls hemming me in. It's a very... odd sensation, like something's missing.
So off I go for more shopping. Or something.