Dell Dimension 1100? ...or is it? The Ultimate Sleeper System

[Topcat]

Re: Dell Dimension 1100? ...or is it? The Ultimate Sleeper System

Nice. Too bad 15K SAS's run hotter than hell... otherwise I'd use them more. As it is, only two of my systems are cooled well enough in the HDDs to do it (well, three, but the third is an X5DAL which is PCI-X only) .

These are 2.5" 15k's in the WD Ice Trays that come with 2.5" velociraptors. They run very cool actually.

[ratdude747]

Re: Dell Dimension 1100? ...or is it? The Ultimate Sleeper System

Nice. Too bad 15K SAS's run hotter than hell... otherwise I'd use them more. As it is, only two of my systems are cooled well enough in the HDDs to do it (well, three, but the third is an X5DAL which is PCI-X only) .

[Topcat]

Re: Dell Dimension 1100? ...or is it? The Ultimate Sleeper System

A couple config changes that yielded some performance gains. I removed the LSI 9650 and replaced it with a LSI SAS3081E-R, which is a very basic SAS RAID controller, these can be had all day long for about 10 bucks shipped from ebay. I swapped out the drives with a pair of 2.5" 15k RPM SAS HDD's in a raid0, the results were pretty good.....a writeup is coming soon....but here's the comparison results:

[Topcat]

Re: Dell Dimension 1100? ...or is it? The Ultimate Sleeper System

This one is finally done and problem-free. GPU added and LSI RAID controller. It runs surpringly cool for as cramped as the case is....but it breathes well.







Some benchmarks:



The disk benchmark is 2x 160gb velociraptors in a raid0 on a LSI 9650 w/bbu & batt, write caching enabled.


Overall, its a good sleeper that was fun to build.... It gave my troubleshooting abilities a workout.....but got 'er done!! I'll have anotehr one of these some day when I find another mATX case that can hold this weird mTAX board....its certainly no fun putting one in a full ATX, anyone can do that. Gotta swim against the stream!!

[momaka]

Re: Dell Dimension 1100? ...or is it? The Ultimate Sleeper System

Yea, I'd take those if you have no use for them. I have a couple boards that could use those. I'd be happy to cover the shipping.

Okay, I'll dig them out when I get back home from visiting relatives. They are Nanya-branded, IIRC (i.e. good OEM, not some no-name junk).

I also will note to that I ordered another 32gb of PC2-5300P (Samsung this time) for $22.00 shipped (boy this stuff is getting cheap)

Yeah, DDR2 RAM is getting really cheap these days, especially registered. Too bad there isn't a way to easily convert registered ECC RAM to unbuffered unregistered. I have quite a few DDR2 boards that need DDR2 RAM right now, due to my last big PC score.

The previous board which was thought to be bad.......but isn't. I'll store it for a build later on. These are quite unusual boards, mATX with dual CPU sockets....I've never seen this on any other board.

Indeed rare.

The only quirky mATX board that I have is an eVGA socket 939 (AMD) with SLI support. Built by Jetway and also features a through-hole CPU socket (rather than BGA).

Ohh and BTW, thanks for those heatsinks, those are the ones you gave me. Some simple green & hot water, they cleaned up like new!

Yeah, I was just going to make a note on that.... nice heatasinks!

I always wash dusty heatsinks now - helps bring down the temperature a few degrees and they don't get dusty as quickly. I use just regular dish detergent and a long-bristled brush. Makes the heatsinks looks like brand new.

[Topcat]

Re: Dell Dimension 1100? ...or is it? The Ultimate Sleeper System

Nice.

Ohh and BTW, thanks for those heatsinks, those are the ones you gave me. Some simple green & hot water, they cleaned up like new!

[ratdude747]

Re: Dell Dimension 1100? ...or is it? The Ultimate Sleeper System

Nice.

[Topcat]

Re: Dell Dimension 1100? ...or is it? The Ultimate Sleeper System

....and a perfectly ratduded IO shield!!

[Topcat]

Re: Dell Dimension 1100? ...or is it? The Ultimate Sleeper System

Just a little note for the original board (now the spare)....I was rummaging through IO shields looking for one for something else, and came across one that will fit this board, which did not come with one.

I'll have to do a little Ratduding with a dremel around the USB block next to the KB/mouse ports to expand it for 4 ports versus 2....and the NIC ports to be able to use the second one.... Thats easy peasy.







I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for another mATX case with the floor clearance for one of these kooky little boards.

[Topcat]

Re: Dell Dimension 1100? ...or is it? The Ultimate Sleeper System

Well, good to hear everything is working again and there is nothing wrong with the board.

By the way, I have four of five 2 GB PC6400 DDR2 sticks of reg+ECC RAM that are sitting unused. They are untested, as I got them in a package with other sticks of RAM. Being reg+ECC, I couldn't test them in any of my computers. So if you need DDR2 reg+ECC RAM, let me know (though it looks like it's pretty easy to get cheap DDR2 RAM from anywhere these days).

Yea, I'd take those if you have no use for them. I have a couple boards that could use those. I'd be happy to cover the shipping.

I also will note to that I ordered another 32gb of PC2-5300P (Samsung this time) for $22.00 shipped (boy this stuff is getting cheap), and there's been no further issues...

Just a couple pics.... The controller came today....the GPU's should be here Monday.

The replacement board:


The previous board which was thought to be bad.......but isn't. I'll store it for a build later on. These are quite unusual boards, mATX with dual CPU sockets....I've never seen this on any other board.

[momaka]

Re: Dell Dimension 1100? ...or is it? The Ultimate Sleeper System

Well, good to hear everything is working again and there is nothing wrong with the board.

By the way, I have four of five 2 GB PC6400 DDR2 sticks of reg+ECC RAM that are sitting unused. They are untested, as I got them in a package with other sticks of RAM. Being reg+ECC, I couldn't test them in any of my computers. So if you need DDR2 reg+ECC RAM, let me know (though it looks like it's pretty easy to get cheap DDR2 RAM from anywhere these days).

[Topcat]

Re: Dell Dimension 1100? ...or is it? The Ultimate Sleeper System

Alrighty, this system is back in business...bad ram removed, and now a spare board. This post from it running Win7. I tried installing S2K12 R2, but the first time the trusty loader didn't activate an OS. 3 installs, never would activate. No clue why not. Ohh well. I have a few more changes in store for this system coming in the mail.

[RJARRRPCGP]

Re: Dell Dimension 1100? ...or is it? The Ultimate Sleeper System

Got an old pre-2000 emachines case? As in the freebie with ad-filled internet ones? That would be one hell of sleeper... if you can make it fit.

Or one of the late 90's (windows ME era)

Windows ME was RTM'ed in 2000, which is pretty much a Windows 98 SE SP1, LOL. But ironically, noticeable differences, besides error page text being changed, were detected.

[Topcat]

Re: Dell Dimension 1100? ...or is it? The Ultimate Sleeper System

I'm fixin' to raid a shop in Rolla around the end of the month....they called me yesterday and said they want to unload a bunch. Last time I cleaned them out (about 2yrs ago), I literally filled my 8ft pickup bed.

[ratdude747]

Re: Dell Dimension 1100? ...or is it? The Ultimate Sleeper System

Got an old pre-2000 emachines case? As in the freebie with ad-filled internet ones? That would be one hell of sleeper... if you can make it fit.

Or one of the late 90's (windows ME era) compaq presario cases... I still have the CRT and Full-ATX tower (with oddball FIC S370 Coppermine board) of that style (maybe that's a project for me? I may even have the keyboard and speakers to it somewhere???), and from a quick look, the microATX ones are quite roomy (you'd have enough clearance in the bottom; I used to have a couple). Only kicker is that the USB header is an odd pinout (run it straight and you'll possibly fry an aftermarket board, don't ask me how I know that). See picture for what I mean. At least for me they were a unique (and cool) design; Kinda like the first generation iMacs and iBooks, only not made by apple.

[Topcat]

Re: Dell Dimension 1100? ...or is it? The Ultimate Sleeper System

Funny, I've had good luck with Kingston.

Now you have a 2nd board... another project? C'mon, you know you want to...

Of course!! ...just not sure what yet. The replacement board cmae with a pair of 2.33/1333 5400's and 4gb of ram....so I wouldn't have to round up much.

[ratdude747]

Re: Dell Dimension 1100? ...or is it? The Ultimate Sleeper System

seems its the memory. Replacement board came, got the same weird lag issue & POST'ing issue.....but it passes memtest, go figure. The memory is Kingston PC2-5300P (reg/ecc). Retested everything with some Samsung PC2-5300P, smooth sailing with both boards. I guess I should have known, I've had issues in the past with Kingston....

Funny, I've had good luck with Kingston.

Now you have a 2nd board... another project? C'mon, you know you want to...

[Topcat]

Re: Dell Dimension 1100? ...or is it? The Ultimate Sleeper System

seems its the memory. Replacement board came, got the same weird lag issue & POST'ing issue.....but it passes memtest, go figure. The memory is Kingston PC2-5300P (reg/ecc). Retested everything with some Samsung PC2-5300P, smooth sailing with both boards. I guess I should have known, I've had issues in the past with Kingston....

[Topcat]

Re: Dell Dimension 1100? ...or is it? The Ultimate Sleeper System

That's a shame.

The board going out like that does seem a bit like there may have been something with one of the bridge chips. If you have nothing to do with the old board, maybe try a crappy heatgun reflow on the North and/or Southbridge, just to see if it comes back to life?

Good call....nothing to lose, that's for sure.

[momaka]

Re: Dell Dimension 1100? ...or is it? The Ultimate Sleeper System

That's a shame.

The board going out like that does seem a bit like there may have been something with one of the bridge chips. If you have nothing to do with the old board, maybe try a crappy heatgun reflow on the North and/or Southbridge, just to see if it comes back to life?