Problems with my latest machine. Are all Pentium 4 processors prettymuch interchangable?

[dos-man]

I just a got a computer online. It doesn't seem at all suited for
gaming and home use. It has all kinds of BS like RAID, onboard video,
some type of onboard server chip, various unknown options in the CMOS,
etc.

The computer is a ML310-R -- Compaq ProLiant ML310 Pentium 4

I've been able to get it up and running with a pair of DVD drives, a
floppy, and a pair of 40 gig hard drives (took all day.) Still can't
get it to cooperate with my video card. I'm stuck in 16 colors, my
sound card doesn't fit in the PCI slot, and I haven't been able to get
my ethernet card recognized either for FTP access to my xbox.

It just doesn't seem like a computer that one would use windows 98 on.
I could use it as a Linux machine, but I think maybe I might trash
this and strip it for parts to put into another machine. There's the
hard drives, a 2 gigahertz processor, 1 gig of RAM, a bigass fan, and
probably a killer power supply.

Will I be able to pull this processor out and stick it into virtually
any pentium 4 machine that is out there? Any help is appreciated, to
say the least. I spent all day brawling with this thing, and it's far
from over.

dos-man

 

[Paul]

I just a got a computer online. It doesn't seem at all suited for
gaming and home use. It has all kinds of BS like RAID, onboard video,
some type of onboard server chip, various unknown options in the CMOS,
etc.

The computer is a ML310-R -- Compaq ProLiant ML310 Pentium 4

I've been able to get it up and running with a pair of DVD drives, a
floppy, and a pair of 40 gig hard drives (took all day.) Still can't
get it to cooperate with my video card. I'm stuck in 16 colors, my
sound card doesn't fit in the PCI slot, and I haven't been able to get
my ethernet card recognized either for FTP access to my xbox.

It just doesn't seem like a computer that one would use windows 98 on.
I could use it as a Linux machine, but I think maybe I might trash
this and strip it for parts to put into another machine. There's the
hard drives, a 2 gigahertz processor, 1 gig of RAM, a bigass fan, and
probably a killer power supply.

Will I be able to pull this processor out and stick it into virtually
any pentium 4 machine that is out there? Any help is appreciated, to
say the least. I spent all day brawling with this thing, and it's far
from over.

dos-man

It is likely a "server" and not a "desktop". That could account
for perhaps a 3.3V only PCI slot or the like. (PCI cards have
two operating voltages, and for maximum flexibility, a "universal"
PCI card that can operate at 3.3V or 5V, covers both bases. My
desktop here, is keyed for 5V, so either a 5V PCI card or a
universal PCI card, could be used with it.)

There are many models of ML310, and you should start by searching
on hp.com , until you discover enough descriptive terms for the
machine, to state precisely what it is. There may be five generations
of machines for example - it is likely they'd have different server
style motherboards, with different chipsets.

The processor could be a Xeon. Xeon's come in different socket
configurations, such as socket 604. That wouldn't fit in a S478 or
an LGA775. So the processor may as well stay in the current motherboard.

http://www.cpu-world.com/sspec/SL/SL6W6.html

I'd say, enjoy it in its current form. Just a matter of identifying
what hardware (chipset) is used, and finding some drivers. If you've got
Windows running in some form, you can use utilities like Everest,
Sisoftware Sandra Lite, or Belarc Advisor, to get more info about it.
Or even CPUZ from cpuid.com .

Paul

 

[dos-man]

It is likely a "server" and not a "desktop". That could account
for perhaps a 3.3V only PCI slot or the like. (PCI cards have
two operating voltages, and for maximum flexibility, a "universal"
PCI card that can operate at 3.3V or 5V, covers both bases. My
desktop here, is keyed for 5V, so either a 5V PCI card or a
universal PCI card, could be used with it.)

There are many models of ML310, and you should start by searching
on hp.com , until you discover enough descriptive terms for the
machine, to state precisely what it is. There may be five generations
of machines for example - it is likely they'd have different server
style motherboards, with different chipsets.

The processor could be a Xeon. Xeon's come in different socket
configurations, such as socket 604. That wouldn't fit in a S478 or
an LGA775. So the processor may as well stay in the current motherboard.

http://www.cpu-world.com/sspec/SL/SL6W6.html

I'd say, enjoy it in its current form. Just a matter of identifying
what hardware (chipset) is used, and finding some drivers. If you've got
Windows running in some form, you can use utilities like Everest,
Sisoftware Sandra Lite, or Belarc Advisor, to get more info about it.
Or even CPUZ from cpuid.com .

Paul

Paul, this is it here.

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?InvtId=ML310-R&cpc=SUGG

It's a real tank. The fan is louder than a vacum cleaner when it first
starts up. The hard drives are identical Maxtor models. There's
actually room in there for 2 more RAM chips.

But I just don't think it is going to work for me. I checked out
Compaq's website; there's no drivers for 98 available

I'm not a big windows guy nowadays. I only use 98. It's a stagnant
OS, at least for home users, might be a different story for corporate
machines. Someday I'll be linux only, but not yet.

dos-man

 

[dos-man]

Paul, this is it here.

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?InvtId=ML310-R&cpc=SUGG

It's a real tank. The fan is louder than a vacum cleaner when it first
starts up. The hard drives are identical Maxtor models. There's
actually room in there for 2 more RAM chips.

But I just don't think it is going to work for me. I checked out
Compaq's website; there's no drivers for 98 available

I'm not a big windows guy nowadays. I only use 98. It's a stagnant
OS, at least for home users, might be a different story for corporate
machines. Someday I'll be linux only, but not yet.

dos-man

Heck with it. I stripped it. Trashed the tower and motherboard. I just
can't stand this thing

dos-man

 

[Paul]

Heck with it. I stripped it. Trashed the tower and motherboard. I just
can't stand this thing

dos-man

I'm still not any closer to finding a match. In the upper left figure here,
it shows a motherboard with four PCI 64 bit 33MHz 3.3V slots, and an integrated
Rage XL graphics. So no AGP slot that I can see. The chipset is "Serverworks",
and it appears Broadcom.com bought Serverworks. I don't see drivers to be had for
download.

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/info/GEI00H/GEI00HPF.pdf?jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

It might have functioned as a server of some sort for you.

To find drivers now, you might have to ID the chipset, then find a
company like Tyan or Supermicro, that used the same Serverworks chipset
on one of their motherboards. Then use their sites, to find drivers.

You could probably fix the fan - replace it with something else. Same
for the power supply, as long as it is an ATX form factor (as there are
plenty of those around). But chances are, the power connectors are goofy
on it. Like maybe an extra connector of some sort. That would complicate
the deal.

Paul

 

[dos-man]

That was quick. Don't know what to say about sound card not
fitting but if it doesn't detect the NIC at all you could've
tried another slot. As for the RageXL win98 video driver
that should be on ATI's website or if they pulled that I
probably had it around here somewhere if you still want it.

As Paul mentioned there are utilities that can id chipsets
then you'd get the chipset driver from the respective chip
manufacturer's website, or google for that chipset driver
for win98 ignoring the make and model of system it's in.

Well, I didn't actually want to use the onboard video. I have an $80
graphics card from PNY that lets me hook up to my television. I
installed it, but the machine wasn't seeing it. I also have an AGP
card to do the same thing. This machine has no AGP slot. I suppose it
would have been an improvement over 16 colors. Yikes.

It might have been a neat machine for running knoppix live from CD.
(Emphasis on the word might.) But there's enough kick-butt parts in
there for me to justify scrapping it. I'm not sure what qualifies a
power supply as being a powerhouse, but if size has anything to do
with it this one's a winner.

I'm getting tired of dealing with discarded systems. They come cheap,
but they are generally irritating to deal with and don't last long. My
last one only lasted about 4 months. I need to custom build something.
Hopefully I can use some of these parts in a project. 1 gig of ram, 2
hard drives, dvd drives, the fan and power supply... all I need is an
empty tower and put in it a windows 98 friendly motherboard without
all the onboard crap.

dos-man

 

[CBFalconer]

.... snip ...

I'm getting tired of dealing with discarded systems. They come
cheap, but they are generally irritating to deal with and don't
last long. My last one only lasted about 4 months. I need to
custom build something. Hopefully I can use some of these parts
in a project. 1 gig of ram, 2 hard drives, dvd drives, the fan
and power supply... all I need is an empty tower and put in it
a windows 98 friendly motherboard without all the onboard crap.

Funny thing. This machine was a discard, and I have been running
it for about 5 years with no problems. I did increase the disk
size, and up the installed memory, but that's it.

The previous machine was also a discard, and I ran it for about 8
years. Never failed. Same basic enhancements. It's still around,
but never used now.

 

[dos-man]

dos-man wrote:

... snip ...


Funny thing. This machine was a discard, and I have been running
it for about 5 years with no problems. I did increase the disk
size, and up the installed memory, but that's it.

The previous machine was also a discard, and I ran it for about 8
years. Never failed. Same basic enhancements. It's still around,
but never used now.

I had one freebie last me about 3 years. But it was very slow. An
early P2

I went to a computer shop I hadn't been to b4. They are going to hook
me up with a motherboard. I'm going to use the tower, fan, and power
supply from this server to house it. Doesn't look like I'll be able to
use the memory though.

dos-man