General Discussion - information concerning motherboard

Author

information concerning motherboard

lillian40

2002-06-22, 7:00 pm

hello to everyone,
while looking at my users manual of my "test" computer. It is a Pentium P51430vx-28ODM Explorer lll green board. I want to share with you what it supports, hoping maybe you can help me decide on maybe how I can maybe "upgrade" it a little, nothing major, for practice and experience. Ok it supports intel Pentium,up to 200MHz. right now it's 166 MHz. mmx.
it also support cyrix up to 133mhz(P166 plus) and AMD K5
supports 4x72pin simm modules and 2x168 pin dimm modules. supports fast page mode DRAM and ECO DRAM for simm socket (don't really know what that means) and supports from 8mb to 64 mb 3.3v/unbuffered SDRAM DIMM or 3.3v/unbuffered EDO DIMM(???)
it has 4xISA slots and 4xPCI slots, use NS Plug and Play
support usb, uses AWARD BIOs. support Flash ROM BIOS, built in NCR810 and Adaptec 7850 SCSI BIOS (????)
Also I had a question concerning the RAM modules: In the manual, it states that if using DIMM together with SIMM you must install DIMM as the following table, and it has something like, for instance:
DIMM1=single-row
DIMM2-none
SIMM 1&2=single-row/None
SIMM 3&4=Double-row/single-row/none
then it states that normally 4mb and 16 mb SIMMs are single-row and 32mb SIMMS are dowble row in market, but it also states "due to loading reason, it is ot recommended to use 32 mb single-row and 64mb double-row DIMM on 60 and 66 MHz system clock"
what does all this double row and single row mean? Sorry for the long write-up, but somethings I didn't understand and I knew your all would be of big help
thanks'
Lilian

RichardJW

2002-06-22, 7:17 pm

quote:
what does all this double row and single row mean?

That's easy. Some memory modules have got chips on both sides, some on only one side. Don't get too hung up on the memory specifications, you'll find that they are 'standard'. Are you sure it can't manage a 233MHZ MMX Intel Pentium chip? Apart from that, all you can do is stuff it with memory. I just threw out three boards of a very similiar spec. a couple of days ago - to me they're not powerful enough - though as a test machine why not?

lillian40

2002-06-22, 7:22 pm

actually it's 200MHZ
and P54CTB, P55C(MMX) cpu's

all these numbers gets me confused...

RichardJW

2002-06-22, 7:30 pm

In that case, to get the highest performance out of it you would use a 200MHZ MMX Intel chip, forget about the SIMM's altogether and fill each DIMM slot with a 64MB DIMM memory module. If I WAS to source such a chip, I'd probably be in for a little hassle getting hold of it. The 64MB DIMM's would be easier. Do it if you think it's worth it.

Deja-vue

2002-06-22, 11:48 pm

I think you are waisting your Time with that Board. Sometimes it is just better to let those " Dinosaurs" rest in peace.
At www.pricewatch.com , i saw a AMD Duron 800, complete with Board, sound and Fan (!) for a mere $75. That Baby is going to run circles around your 166, or in case you find a 200.(good luck).
So,a complete Board with fan,128 megs memory, CPU incl. Shipping/handling would cost around ahh, lets say $100.
Not to mention,the old Board couldn't probably handle anything over a 8 gig Harddrive.
A 20 gig Harddrive will be about $ 47 bucks and for about $ 35 you get a 64 meg Videocard.
There you go.
What are you going to run on that 166?
Windows 2000 Advanced Server?

Just my 2 cents

thecomeons

2002-06-23, 4:20 pm

if i had that system in my lab, the first thing i would do is flash the bios with the most recent update (updates for pentium mobos normally cease in the late 1990s). that way it will be able to support larger hard drives and larger dimm ram.

i have a couple of pentiums in my lab. at the time i brought them in, they only supported hds up to 8.4gb and the mobo with dimm sockets only accepted ram up to 64mb. both machines now accept hds up to 30-odd mb and the mobo fitted with dimm sockets will accept (can't remember, but i think it is) 128mb ram.

fit an nic and, if u have more pcs or will have, u can practise your networking.

partition your hard drive and dual-boot if u have w2k or xp with win9x.

if it's just for lab work, it doesn't have to be higest spec.

RichardJW

2002-06-23, 7:14 pm

I flashed the BIOS of my Pentium 4 class system about 10 days ago. As the process continued it announced that there was a checksum error. However, the program just continued happily on. The computer had been killed and I was laughing with glee. I did manage to restore the original BIOS but what the heck was going on there? How do you eliminate or cut down on this risk factor? Are there update programs that not only diagnose this kind of problem but take preventative measures when they occur? There is always a risk of power failure during such procedures but this is really small. It seemed to me that the update software was the risk.

quote:
partition your hard drive and dual-boot if u have w2k or xp with win9x

No way is a 166mhz machine going to run XP or W2K - it's only good for win9x. I think Deja-vue's advice is good, it should be pretty clear that I was thinking along similiar lines anyway.

lillian40

2002-06-23, 11:02 pm

In upgrading the motherboard, do you think I could use the same case, or will I need to upgrade that too. I am not looking on spending too much money, less than $200 if possible on making this thing a little better. It runs well now, just slow, know what I mean...so I was just hoping to make it usable for my kids or my daughter to use for word processing at college...
thanks for the information it was all a big help

lillian40

2002-06-23, 11:34 pm

ok everyone this system has a 2.1 gig hard drive. 48 megs of ram, a floppy drive and 1 empty bay. It is a 166 mhz pentium mmx. I don't remember how much the p/s, and it the AT form factor I would think. It's running window 98 se. Ok...I am wanting to do some minor upgrading, just to see if I can, for practice and for experience. I was in the process of removing everything, just to see if I could and replace everything, but then I got to thinking, what could I replace to make it half way better, maybe something to tinker with, you know...so according to previous specs, I mentioned earlier, any suggestions, on what I could do with this system, not completely give up on it, but make it you know usable...like I mention...less than maybe $200...

Deja-vue

2002-06-24, 12:14 am

...less than maybe $200...

[/B][/QUOTE]

well, if you read my last post, you were at about $180.
If you add a ATX-Case, will set you back another $30, and the NIC for about $ 7,99.

Of course, now, at roughly $ 225 , we exceeded your Budget a bit. But, Boy, what a difference that System would make compared to a 166 ( chuckle).

Obviously, you would have to use your old CD-rom and Floppy...

And think of how much Time you save.

I am just a Hardware- Guru, please don't take me too serious.

Deja-vue

2002-06-24, 12:15 am

and thanks, RichardJW
for the positive Comment!

lillian40

2002-06-24, 12:28 am

ok... I am being really cheap here...is there a way I can do this...with the case

Your advice sounds good though, but I am still trying to say under $200...at least that's all I was budgeting myself for this machine...
now concerning the sound card...it's a SoundBlaster...I don't exactly remeber the specs on it..
the modem is well...I am ashamed to say....28,bps...
monitor...well...14 inch (ouch)...
so I am trying to savage what I can on this machine but at the same time upgrade something..

thanks for the advice..a big help..

Deja-vue

2002-06-24, 12:43 am

Oh Boy....

Have you tried www.ebay.com for any used stuff?

For Example, i have here a used Dell machine, its a P II 300 with a brand new 7200 rpm 20 Gig Harddrive, 56X CD-rom,17" sony monitor,Case, Speakers,Keyboard, Mouse,192 megs of Ram, etc, etc....

Guess what?

I am trying to get rid of it for $425 .
I had an Ad in the local Paper,called all my Friends, no-one wants it.
See, used Stuff is cheap and is getting cheaper every Day.
$ 200 is really a tight Budget.
Look at all the previous posts: the important thing here is that you get Win2000/pro or Server running.A 166 just isn't cutting it.

RichardJW

2002-06-24, 5:50 am

I've also got a fast P2 system that just sits in the corner gathering dust.

Your old system will be in an AT case you would HAVE to get an ATX case. If your budget is as it is, simply do not worry about the soundblaster card - there might be a sound chip on the board that Deja-Vue was mentioning anyway. The modem and monitor don't matter either, you can always upgrade these things at a later date.

The points people have been trying to get across are:
(1) a system with a recent board and chip are the way to go. It's not worth upgrading the old system. If you don't go with this idea then probably the best thing is to save your money and not upgrade at all.
(2) hardware doesn't really cost much but if your budget is kept to a minimum then prioritise around (1) Be prepared to go a little over budget.

It's clear you don't know much about building a system. You can find tutorials by browsing the internet. Try the Athlon site for example. No offence is meant by this.

lillian40

2002-06-24, 11:04 am

thanks for the info...and you are right...although I did get my degree in Computer Technology..I don't have any experience in the hands on stuff...Now I have went inside many cases and I can tell you what this or that is...I have even removed cards, disks and what-not...but doing what I am trying to do is a first for me, but I want to at least try, because I am studying for my A+, and also this is what I would like to do one day...So I am hoping to gain all the knowledge I can...It's not much to start on but it is a start...that's why I come to you guys for information...my purpose with this system is to see what I can do with it...to gain some hands on and for knowledge to I guess, but I am gonna start slow, to see what I can do, and for "fun" if it takes me past $200, that's ok too...I just didn't think it would be worth it, but for experience I guess it would be, right. I am planning on taking my test in August or September. I had planned for August. But since I finished the All in one book, I was trying to get some hands on stuff to go alone with what I have read about.
It's clear you don't know much about building a system. You can find tutorials by browsing the internet. Try the Athlon site for example. No offence is meant by this.

I am not offended, just trying to learn something...thanks for the information..

thecomeons

2002-06-24, 12:23 pm

i have a 166mmx in my lab running win2k.

RichardJW

2002-06-24, 1:07 pm

quote:
i have a 166mmx in my lab running win2k

Yes you could run Pro Win2k. Here are the minimum system requirements:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows200...eqs/default.asp I was actually thinking of Windows 2000 Server and apparently this O/S will also run with a 133mhz Pentium processor. Either way I wouldn't expect the performance to be good. But so what anyway? The point is?

Gareth Leung

2002-06-25, 7:08 am

quote:
Originally posted by RichardJW
I was actually thinking of Windows 2000 Server and apparently this O/S will also run with a 133mhz Pentium processor. Either way I wouldn't expect the performance to be good. But so what anyway? The point is?

I have a Pentium 133 running Win2k Advance Server at home. My advise is you should load the maximum RAM the motherboard support in order to have a reasonable performance. Mine has 128Mb. As a print and file server and internet gateway for two PCs and two MACs, it's not too bad.

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