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General Forums => Axis vs Allies => Topic started by: Chilli on February 24, 2011, 08:32:22 PM

Title: Help a stranded Shadow Chaser out
Post by: Chilli on February 24, 2011, 08:32:22 PM
My computer vid card went poof.  I am stuck with onboard graphics and no AH.  I recently bought a new motherboard and chip combination and of course it is like the worst configuration I could have possibly invested in  :bhead

If anyone can help with suggestions, please feel free to PM me or post here.

Only specs that I have so far are intel D94Fpsn http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=intel+d945psn&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=8912737524968207121&sa=X&ei=8g9nTYrvGobGlQeaz4H_AQ&ved=0CDkQ8wIwBA# (http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=intel+d945psn&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=8912737524968207121&sa=X&ei=8g9nTYrvGobGlQeaz4H_AQ&ved=0CDkQ8wIwBA#)

Problem:

I need to build a system around it rather than replace it as a component:  Need everything else:

Tower, Cooling System, Hard Drive, CD rom Drive.

Current towers won't fit.  The monster has the main component that I need PCIe slot placed in an odd location.
Title: Re: Help a stranded Shadow Chaser out
Post by: TheBug on February 24, 2011, 09:17:15 PM
(http://www.fast-autos.net/diecast-cars-models/diecast-car-image-large/merlin-handheld-electronic-game-1979-parker-mint-in-box_120655007595.jpg)
Title: Re: Help a stranded Shadow Chaser out
Post by: CAP1 on February 24, 2011, 09:28:19 PM
My computer vid card went poof.  I am stuck with onboard graphics and no AH.  I recently bought a new motherboard and chip combination and of course it is like the worst configuration I could have possibly invested in  :bhead

If anyone can help with suggestions, please feel free to PM me or post here.

Only specs that I have so far are intel D94Fpsn http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=intel+d945psn&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=8912737524968207121&sa=X&ei=8g9nTYrvGobGlQeaz4H_AQ&ved=0CDkQ8wIwBA# (http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=intel+d945psn&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=8912737524968207121&sa=X&ei=8g9nTYrvGobGlQeaz4H_AQ&ved=0CDkQ8wIwBA#)

Problem:

I need to build a system around it rather than replace it as a component:  Need everything else:

Tower, Cooling System, Hard Drive, CD rom Drive.

Current towers won't fit.  The monster has the main component that I need PCIe slot placed in an odd location.


you ain't that far....what kind of tower do you need? i have a few things in the back room that i might be able to help ya out with.
Title: Re: Help a stranded Shadow Chaser out
Post by: jimson on February 24, 2011, 10:20:03 PM
Something along the lines of an Intel E8400 might work on this motherboard, if you have to go lower budget than that perhaps an E6750.

What type of ram will you be needing?
Title: Re: Help a stranded Shadow Chaser out
Post by: gyrene81 on February 24, 2011, 10:44:17 PM
not really an odd place for the pci-e slot...just have to be careful what type of video card you buy...the pci slot next to it won't be useful

standard mid tower atx case will work with that...gonna want one that is deep so you can use one of the bigger video cards...don't buy a raidmax tornado case...too small interior.

a case like this might work...fairly deep front to back...case fan looks like it might be in the right position to augment cpu cooling

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156230 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156230)

Title: Re: Help a stranded Shadow Chaser out
Post by: grumpy37 on February 25, 2011, 12:45:30 AM
you ain't that far....what kind of tower do you need? i have a few things in the back room that i might be able to help ya out with.


watch out, cap will put a remote controlled crash to desktop switch in the tower he gives you......
Title: Re: Help a stranded Shadow Chaser out
Post by: Chilli on February 25, 2011, 03:07:48 AM
Scrounging around my buddies' spare parts came up with a huge Dell 5100 tower and the sucker is completely backwards for that.  :headscratch:  Got me to thinking about just rebuilding the 5100 and scraping the new motherboard and chipset.

I have to be careful there because, not sure of what shape the Dell mb is in.  I also got a geforce 210 PCIe 512 mb card for a few beans.  None of this stuff may sound kickaz to you all but believe me they are upgrades for me.

The RAM according to the specs was DDR2 533, 600 ... ummm I forget if the other speed was 400  :headscratch:

(http://remotegeeksstore.com/Dell_Dimension_5100.jpg)  The Dimension 5100 atm has no power supply or any drives other than floppy drive.  I have the heat sink, but not the fan and assembly.  If I get a hold of my buddy will do some more scrounging.
Title: Re: Help a stranded Shadow Chaser out
Post by: gyrene81 on February 25, 2011, 07:36:11 AM
the documentation on that dell is a bit sketchy...the mobo has a 945g express chipset which, depending on when it was manufactured could take an early dual core cpu (pentium d series)...which is the same as the retail mobo you bought...the fact that it's a dell mobo with a dell bios...you may be stuck with using just a single core pentium 4 cpu up to 800 mhz fsb 2.4 - 3.6 ghz...  :headscratch:

the pci-e x16 slot is a v1.0...to get decent performance out of a video card you would want to buy something in the upper mid range at least...1gb of video memory for sure...if it were me i'd grab a minimum ati 4850 or 4870 1gb video card...that would get you ok performance from that motherboard...

good news is that mobo will handle 4gb of ram...400-533 mhz ddr2...not great but not shabby if you max the memory out...

for the power supply...grab a minimum 700 watt single 12v rail unit...

keep in mind if that mobo will not handle a dual core cpu, you won't be able to run a 64bit os and with a 1gb video card, 2gb of system memory will be wasted...and with a single core cpu/32 bit operating system...once you get the operating system on there you are going to want to trim the active processes waaaay down...as in make it strictly a gaming system with minimal active processes and it will get you fair performance...no email, no itunes, no anti-virus, etc...
Title: Re: Help a stranded Shadow Chaser out
Post by: TequilaChaser on February 25, 2011, 07:44:39 AM
keep in mind if that mobo will not handle a dual core cpu, you won't be able to run a 64bit os

is that something specific to just Intel single core processors?

Dad's PC is a single core AMD Athlon64 3500+ cpu and is running win7 64 bit without problems, with only 2 gigs of ram
Title: Re: Help a stranded Shadow Chaser out
Post by: Chilli on February 25, 2011, 07:57:09 AM
I think it is specific to Dell TC.

Also there was a typo on my mb specs, it should be Intel D945psn.
Title: Re: Help a stranded Shadow Chaser out
Post by: TequilaChaser on February 25, 2011, 08:05:13 AM
ah, ok Chilli, thanks........

what other things do you need Chilli?
 I have some
-different Ram Sets: 533mhz ,  DDR1, DDR2 ( different sizes and speeds 512 sticks, 1 gig sticks, etc )
-a couple ATI 3870 512 meg 4GDDR PCI-E videocards,
-some Case Fans 90mm , 120 mm,
-PSU
-SB soundcards   Live & PCI512 models  PCI slot type

and some other things..... I might be able to help you out with

TC
Title: Re: Help a stranded Shadow Chaser out
Post by: NormH3 on February 25, 2011, 09:05:34 AM
for the power supply...grab a minimum 700 watt single 12v rail unit...


The problem with Dell is that their cases will not necessarily accept just any power supply. In the past, I have had to alter them so that one might fit. 700 watts seems a bit of overkill for this PC. 500w should be acceptible. Might be easier to find one in the configuration he needs.
Title: Re: Help a stranded Shadow Chaser out
Post by: Dichotomy on February 25, 2011, 09:15:54 AM
Before you start building if you use that Dell case you might want to enlist the services of an exorcist to break up the bad ju ju associated with all things Dell :P 
Title: Re: Help a stranded Shadow Chaser out
Post by: gyrene81 on February 25, 2011, 09:34:28 AM
tc, i'm pretty sure it's specific to the intel single core cpus...i've heard rumor that vista64 was possible if using a mobo with intel 945 chipset and a p-4 extreme edition with ht...


The problem with Dell is that their cases will not necessarily accept just any power supply. In the past, I have had to alter them so that one might fit. 700 watts seems a bit of overkill for this PC. 500w should be acceptible. Might be easier to find one in the configuration he needs.
you're probably right...depends on the case design...if he uses an ati video card, a 500watt psu would be adequate but mid/upper range nvidias have a high 12v power requirement that most 500w psu's aren't capable of...




Before you start building if you use that Dell case you might want to enlist the services of an exorcist to break up the bad ju ju associated with all things Dell :P 
lol...dork...i'll have you know there is very little dell can break that cannot be made useful...  :D
Title: Re: Help a stranded Shadow Chaser out
Post by: NormH3 on February 25, 2011, 09:39:06 AM
Before you start building if you use that Dell case you might want to enlist the services of an exorcist to break up the bad ju ju associated with all things Dell :P 

aww..come on. Dell is no worse than any of the other big manufacturers. I manage a complete Dell shop, except for one offbrand server that will most likely be replaced soon, and have had little or no problems with the hardware. I do understand that people have issues with their phone support, but if you tell them up front all the things you have already tried it is usually a bit easier to get to the real solution.
Title: Re: Help a stranded Shadow Chaser out
Post by: Dichotomy on February 25, 2011, 10:01:19 AM
we have Dells at the office.  Every single one of them has spit the bit within the first year of operation.  I have a Compaq same comp for six years.  Never a single hardware problem.

That said I'm not saying one manufacturer is better than the other.  I've just had unhappy experiences with Dell.  Last time someone said they needed me to 'fix' their Dell I went out to the shop, grabbed a sledgehammer, and walked in their office.

'what are you doing with that?'
'I'm here to permanently 'fix' this POS'

:D
Title: Re: Help a stranded Shadow Chaser out
Post by: CAP1 on February 25, 2011, 12:20:10 PM
my friend runs dells in her store. she still swears by them, rather than at them, even though they're constant problems for her.
Title: Re: Help a stranded Shadow Chaser out
Post by: Dichotomy on February 25, 2011, 12:32:16 PM
management or should I say the owners son is a cheapskate

getting new equipment out of him is next to impossible.  Although I could manage to short some jumpers  :devil
Title: Re: Help a stranded Shadow Chaser out
Post by: gyrene81 on February 25, 2011, 12:50:06 PM
paper clip in an active socket works wonders...no residue  :devil

be grateful you dont have any packard bell or radio shack units around...  :joystick:
Title: Re: Help a stranded Shadow Chaser out
Post by: Dichotomy on February 25, 2011, 12:58:19 PM
back to the subject at hand

I have a power cord and a lot of cat 5 cable.. if that helps :D
Title: Re: Help a stranded Shadow Chaser out
Post by: Chilli on February 25, 2011, 06:54:08 PM
 :x  Thanks fellas, I am really feelin the luv  :cheers:  Until I pin down the PSU unit, I guess it is still a maybe on the Dell Dimension 5100 tower. I was wondering about power requirements and what the OEM unit offered. 

TC, it seems that once I figure out the PSU, I may well need to switch the Vid card, from the low end nvidia 210 for an ATI as suggested.  Would you be interested in a swap or at least partial credit if need be? 

Also, I may be interested in the sound card.  :D

You can PM me, because the more I speak the more I show my ignorance of all things gaming system worthy.  I used to guesstimate based on the manufacturer and model number along with memory.  Now, I haven't a clue what is an upgrade.  Basically, anything PCIe is an upgrade for me.  And at this very moment anything w/ more than 32 mb of memory is  :bhead

By this weekend hopefully will have a better idea if I am able to use the Dell Tower or need another tower and build from scratch.  In any case (no pun) below are things that right now I am not privy to.

Title: Re: Help a stranded Shadow Chaser out
Post by: gyrene81 on February 25, 2011, 11:07:24 PM
stock psu on that dell 5100 was a 350watt...oem poop

hard disk was sata (3.0 gb) so you will need sata power connectors on the psu...it will work with any gen sata drive.

cd/dvd drive could be eide or sata...you're choice if you're going to replace...sata cd/dvd burners are cheap now...under $30

cpu heatsink/cooling fan...it's a socket 775 and you can get a decent one with high cfm and moderate noise...around $10 to $45 depending.