Re: Compaq Evo 1.7 GHz - a nice project?
Stuff I have learned:
1. Video is 16 MB 4X AGP, LOW PROFILE. Right now, Win Seven is using the basic VGA driver and gives 1024x768 (maybe could go higher) at 32-bit color. It is going to suck. Any AGP low-profile from eBay will suck almost as much. I've got a PCI Radeon 9200SE that was decent the last time I used it, but....
2. Looks like Windows Seven was installed July 14, 2009. There are no documents or pictures on it, maybe it was lightly used since Seven was installed. The Windows license is something like "5 digits - OEM - 7 digits - 6 digits". Not sure of the age of the hard drive, but I could just set it aside, frankly.
3. I still don't know what OS I want, but if I ever match this machine up with a 16x9 monitor, linux could do it nicely, Win98 or 2000 probably could not. It will be a learning experience mostly (first, learn soldering, then learn about networking).
4. The reason it was trashed may be failure of the mobo's Ethernet chip/port (but the mobo caps would have killed the board at some point). I'll need a PCI ethernet card, and it might as well be wireless. No shortage of those in my basement!
Important questions:
1. There are 4 unused places for capacitors near the CPU. They are clearly in parallel with the other 10 (which I am removing). Should I put 14 back in, or only 10? If I upgraded the CPU to the maximum 2.2 GHz ($15 on FleaBay), would your answer change?
2. Can I do this with my Dad's 25W Weller pencil-iron? Removal is going painfully slow. Would cleaning holes and inserting new caps be impossible? Should I grab the Weller WLC100 (with narrower tip, sold separately)? (I'm not looking to spend 2-3x as much for the fine soldering stations that you would use, just to do one project).
Thanks in advance!
Stuff I have learned:
1. Video is 16 MB 4X AGP, LOW PROFILE. Right now, Win Seven is using the basic VGA driver and gives 1024x768 (maybe could go higher) at 32-bit color. It is going to suck. Any AGP low-profile from eBay will suck almost as much. I've got a PCI Radeon 9200SE that was decent the last time I used it, but....
2. Looks like Windows Seven was installed July 14, 2009. There are no documents or pictures on it, maybe it was lightly used since Seven was installed. The Windows license is something like "5 digits - OEM - 7 digits - 6 digits". Not sure of the age of the hard drive, but I could just set it aside, frankly.
3. I still don't know what OS I want, but if I ever match this machine up with a 16x9 monitor, linux could do it nicely, Win98 or 2000 probably could not. It will be a learning experience mostly (first, learn soldering, then learn about networking).
4. The reason it was trashed may be failure of the mobo's Ethernet chip/port (but the mobo caps would have killed the board at some point). I'll need a PCI ethernet card, and it might as well be wireless. No shortage of those in my basement!
Important questions:
1. There are 4 unused places for capacitors near the CPU. They are clearly in parallel with the other 10 (which I am removing). Should I put 14 back in, or only 10? If I upgraded the CPU to the maximum 2.2 GHz ($15 on FleaBay), would your answer change?
2. Can I do this with my Dad's 25W Weller pencil-iron? Removal is going painfully slow. Would cleaning holes and inserting new caps be impossible? Should I grab the Weller WLC100 (with narrower tip, sold separately)? (I'm not looking to spend 2-3x as much for the fine soldering stations that you would use, just to do one project).
Thanks in advance!
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