Scavenging old P4

[Dwayer]

Once upon a time, I purchased an IBM Netvista computer with a socket
423 P4 1.4ghz CPU. Then, just after the warranty expired, the
motherboard went belly up. By that time the socket 478 processors
were out, so I had the local shop scavenge the drives and build a new
computer for me. The old CPU and my 256MB of RDRAM have moldered
away since. IBM has a parts list here
<http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=0&uid=psg1MIGR-4U8KVY&loc=en_US>

Recently, I read about the Linux-based MythTV software, and thought I
might try and put the old P4 to use. Unfortunately, I've not built a
PC from the ground up before, so I could really use some advice, as I
have a number of (probably really dumb) questions.

I've bought a ECS P4VMM3 micro-ATX motherboard of Ebay. The board is
a socket 423 board, with 2 PCI slots and 1 AGP slot, plus onboard LAN,
Sound, VGA.

The new mobo says that it "accommodates 2 DDR (184 pin 2.5V) + 2 SDR
(168 pin 3.3v) DIMM sockets...." Does this mean that I cannot use my
old RDRAM in the new board?

Secondly, do I need to remove the heat sink and fan assembly from the
CPU before moving it to the new board? And, if I do, do I need to
look for a new heat sink, etc., for the new board.

Thirdly, I can't find anything in the new mobo manual to say if it has
a maximum size for the hard drives. It only says that the chipset
supports "ATA 100" drives. I'm looking at one (initially) 160gb drive
for the computer.

Fourthly, when I bid on the board, I didn't notice that it was
micro-ATX. Will a bigger case, like one for a standard ATX board have
the appropriate mounting holes, or do I need to stick with a smaller
micro-ATX type case.

Thanks, in advance, for your help.

Cheers,
Will

 

[Dave C.]

..

The new mobo says that it "accommodates 2 DDR (184 pin 2.5V) + 2 SDR
(168 pin 3.3v) DIMM sockets...." Does this mean that I cannot use my
old RDRAM in the new board?

Yes. RDram is proprietary technology that intel was trying to push at one
time, but nobody with half a brain bought into it. Thus, hardly any
motherboards support it.

Secondly, do I need to remove the heat sink and fan assembly from the
CPU before moving it to the new board? And, if I do, do I need to
look for a new heat sink, etc., for the new board.

Probably. Assuming it is in a ZIF socket, you will need to raise the bar
completely vertical to release the CPU. Before you do that, you will need
to get the heatsink out of the way. You need to buy some new thermal paste
such as Arctic Silver. Clean any old thermal gunk off the cpu and heatsink,
and apply new thermal paste before reinstalling the heatsink. The old
heatsink should work fine, as long as you remember to use new thermal paste.

Thirdly, I can't find anything in the new mobo manual to say if it has
a maximum size for the hard drives. It only says that the chipset
supports "ATA 100" drives. I'm looking at one (initially) 160gb drive
for the computer.

Your 160GB hard drive should work fine. At worst, you might have to flash
the motherboard's bios to the latest version. But any P4 mainboard should
be OK with a 160GB drive.

Fourthly, when I bid on the board, I didn't notice that it was
micro-ATX. Will a bigger case, like one for a standard ATX board have
the appropriate mounting holes, or do I need to stick with a smaller
micro-ATX type case.

The difference between ATX and micro-ATX is that you can't stuff a full-size
ATX board into a case built for micro-ATX only. But the opposite works
fine. You'll just have better airflow in that ATX case. -Dave

 

[David Maynard]

Once upon a time, I purchased an IBM Netvista computer with a socket
423 P4 1.4ghz CPU. Then, just after the warranty expired, the
motherboard went belly up. By that time the socket 478 processors
were out, so I had the local shop scavenge the drives and build a new
computer for me. The old CPU and my 256MB of RDRAM have moldered
away since. IBM has a parts list here
<http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=0&uid=psg1MIGR-4U8KVY&loc=en_US>

Recently, I read about the Linux-based MythTV software, and thought I
might try and put the old P4 to use. Unfortunately, I've not built a
PC from the ground up before, so I could really use some advice, as I
have a number of (probably really dumb) questions.

I've bought a ECS P4VMM3 micro-ATX motherboard of Ebay. The board is
a socket 423 board, with 2 PCI slots and 1 AGP slot, plus onboard LAN,
Sound, VGA.

The new mobo says that it "accommodates 2 DDR (184 pin 2.5V) + 2 SDR
(168 pin 3.3v) DIMM sockets...." Does this mean that I cannot use my
old RDRAM in the new board?
Correct.

Secondly, do I need to remove the heat sink and fan assembly from the
CPU before moving it to the new board?
Yes.

And, if I do, do I need to
look for a new heat sink, etc., for the new board.

No, but you'll need to remove the existing thermal compound and apply new
before reinstalling the heatsink.

Thirdly, I can't find anything in the new mobo manual to say if it has
a maximum size for the hard drives. It only says that the chipset
supports "ATA 100" drives. I'm looking at one (initially) 160gb drive
for the computer.

You should check ECS's website for FAQs and BIOS information.

Fourthly, when I bid on the board, I didn't notice that it was
micro-ATX. Will a bigger case, like one for a standard ATX board have
the appropriate mounting holes, or do I need to stick with a smaller
micro-ATX type case.

mATX is the same hole pattern as ATX, just not as big, and fits in standard
ATX cases as well as mATX cases.

 

[jaster]

On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 20:58:33 -0600, David Maynard wrote:

[snip]

No, but you'll need to remove the existing thermal compound and apply new
before reinstalling the heatsink.

I've gotten away without new paste by seating the cpu and fan in the exact
positions they were when removed with the original paste intact.
[snip]

 

[David Maynard]

On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 20:58:33 -0600, David Maynard wrote:

[snip]

No, but you'll need to remove the existing thermal compound and apply new
before reinstalling the heatsink.

I've gotten away without new paste by seating the cpu and fan in the exact
positions they were when removed with the original paste intact.

If one has no other choice it might be worth trying to get away with it but
not simply to save a couple of bucks for some thermal compound.

[snip]

 

[Dwayer]

In message <[email protected]>, "Dave C."

Thanks for the reply.

.

Yes. RDram is proprietary technology that intel was trying to push at one
time, but nobody with half a brain bought into it. Thus, hardly any
motherboards support it.

That's IBM for you... So, since I'll need to purchase new RAM is
there any particular difference between the two types this board
supports? Is one faster, or cheaper, or whatnot?

Cheers,
Will

 

[Dave C.]

That's IBM for you... So, since I'll need to purchase new RAM is
there any particular difference between the two types this board
supports? Is one faster, or cheaper, or whatnot?

Cheers,
Will

184pin DDR ram is likely to be both faster and cheaper than the older SDRAM.
In the case of memory, the OLDER stuff tends to be more expensive. -Dave

 

[Dwayer]

184pin DDR ram is likely to be both faster and cheaper than the older SDRAM.
In the case of memory, the OLDER stuff tends to be more expensive. -Dave

Thanks to all who replied!

I finally got a chance to work on the system yesterday. First boot
didn't work, owing to the fact that I had neglected to change the 473
little tiny jumpers that have to be shorted in order to support DDR
RAM. Having done that, the system booted and installed Linux like a
champ.

Cheers,
Will