Compaq Slot 1 Deskpro comments.

[Wizard]

Picked up this deskpro PII 350 (desktop factor form) from local computer store in 2002 that replaced a utterly unreliable MII Cyrix server with my 1999 9GB 7200 that WD obtained from IBM under license.

Ran 98 and this DOS software that is specialized for our needs, other companies do use this as well and they said same thing can't find like that for ease of use and rapid entry without having to mousing around.

For some reason either 98 is not so stable or the generic ram I used in the Deskpro was ever so slightly unstable so I wasn't sure about. Even this, kept going for whole six years with daily power cycle, on at each start of the day, turn off at end of that day in andout for years, and software/hardward maintaince, yearly or so dusting off.

Till recently we started to have hard errors in software (corruptions) so had to pull down this box and put in Pentium Duo 2.2 with intel chipset everything XP, same old software so ever vital, new for not so much cost with success and a PCI-E 2 port parallel adapter by Bytecc for driving 2 dot matrix printers and a USB samsung laser. Works like a treat. No crashes or corruptions.

Now to the old box I dissected the PSU and checked ESR. Only whopping one 100uF needs replacing, only just passing. Rest of caps are good, including the mainboard! Nichicon and Rubyicons. Even the slot 1 Vcore utilized truly MASSIVE 4700uF 6.3V fat caps in group of seven. Not even a swell.

At one point, replaced CPU for PIII 500 (board supports this). Is there a known issues with PII/PIII deskpro?

Cheers, Wizard

[Scenic]

Re: Compaq Slot 1 Deskpro comments.

except the hard to find CD-Drives (weird front bezel) there's nothing i know about them that could be considered as an issue..

my ex-girlfriend still uses one of those without any problems (office stuff, sometimes a little bit surfing on the net (no fun at all.. ISDN and tons of flash-overloaded sites..))

well.. still going strong..

BTW: if the board supports it, get a coppermine PIII (slot1 or in a Socket 370 adapter) at 100MHz FSB. they're running cooler than the Katmai ones (1,65V VCore for Coppermine, 2V for Katmai)
those PIII 450 - 550 are most likely Katmai ones...

edit: i'm talking about that model here..

[stevo1210]

Re: Compaq Slot 1 Deskpro comments.

Do those Deskpro's run off an Intel 440BX chipset? Just curious.

Non related, but at one point of time in 2003, the elementary school I attended at the time gave away thier computers, so each family in the school got one. We even got to choose which towers and monitors we wanted. There were Compaq Deskpros similar to that and whiteboxes. I was in grade 6 at the time and I had some computer knowledge so I picked up a whitebox instead. Whiteboxes had a PII 350Mhz CPU, 64MB of RAM and an Intel SE440BX-2 motherboard. The whitebox I received still runs until today.
I probably should have picked up a Compaq Deskpro because they are probably more quieter but hey, that's a new lesson learnt.

Thanks.

[PCBONEZ]

Re: Compaq Slot 1 Deskpro comments.

Sometimes when a machine is together for a long time you build up oxidation on the connectors and pins making for bad connections. All metals oxidize, even gold.
The fix is to remove CPU, RAM, cards, and unplug all cables,,, then put it all back.
This is usually enough to rub off the minute amounts of oxides on the contact surfaces.

[Wizard]

Re: Compaq Slot 1 Deskpro comments.

well, it was been worked over once or twice thru the 6 years. so that wouldn't help at all.

So I have no idea if it was ram or 98 puking.

Cheers, Wizard

[Wizard]

Re: Compaq Slot 1 Deskpro comments.

Oh, not those little cute things. I"m talking about serious computer and a active locking mechanism by remote control (I disabled it by shifting solenoid) one hole down, can't uplug it will complain!).

This pic like this:

http://www.weno.biz/PIX/Compaq_Deskpro_EN.jpg

3 drives + internal 3.5" rack cage tilts up from rear towards front and is quick change type where u just unlock the drive and pull out, snap it in and plug connectors.
Yes, BX chipset, good old chipset, and funky AGP bracket for ATI rage pro.
Slot cards & fan assembly lifts up to access the cards.

Compaq nonstandard version of NLX version chassis and mainboard.

Never mind the language on that website, pics!

http://pchistory.ru/compaq-deskpro-en-series.html


Cheers, Wizard

[gdement]

Re: Compaq Slot 1 Deskpro comments.

Have you tried running memtest86? If that fails then you know you have a hardware problem.

[Wizard]

Re: Compaq Slot 1 Deskpro comments.

I had memtest86+ but this doesn't stress as much. I find that prime95 seriously push the bandwidth on cpu, ram so I'll just get the system here from work one day and stress test.
That would be nice to know what happened.

But this is kind of moot that PC is off line permanently and going into trash if nobody would like parts from it.

I'll keep you all posted.

Cheers, Wizard