Just got a new motherboard...

[Maxxarcade]

I just bought a DFI CA64-TC Socket 370 board from Newegg, I'm pretty sure it was old stock since they don't make S370 boards anymore, do they? I needed an old board because I wanted to use an old PIII 550E and some PC133 ram I had laying around.

Anyway, I was horrified to see that it has mostly OST caps and a few Nichicon HM's, along with a couple others I can't quite read.

I was expecting the cheap caps, but there was still hope in my mind that they would be better than this... I'll probably be recapping the board in a few months since it runs 24/7 as a server.

How worried should I be about the caps on this board?

[linuxguru]

Re: Just got a new motherboard...

For a PIII Coppermine, it should be OK. OST are middle-of-the road, and Nichicon HMM only fails at a combination of high temp and high ripple current. However, if you're going to run it 24/7, it pays to recap it pre-emptively before putting it into service.

On DFI boards, recap the caps next to the DIMM slots and the Northbridge first. That alone is often sufficient to restore stability.

[Maxxarcade]

Re: Just got a new motherboard...

Thanks for the info. I'll keep a close eye on the caps for the first few months before I really trust it with important data. Ironically I'm as worried about the hard drives and power supply as I am the board.

The system is actually running NASLite+ and is being used as a media server and also a backup device for my desktop PC's. It sits idle most of the time, and is on a shelf in a cooled and dry basement, and the case has 2 80MM fans pulling air through it. Hopefully this will extend the life of it some. Hard drive temp is about 30 degrees.

The old system (Pentium Pro 200) kept crashing to a kernel panic after about 3 days of on-time, hopefully this one will be better. Kind of bums me out because I bought RAM and a beefier CPU with 1MB cache for the old system, and it turned out not to be reliable anyway. It was an HP Netserver E40, and I miss that big heavy case. Only thing I didn't like was it only had 2 hard drive bays.

Here's a pic of the new board. I recognise the OST caps, I think I've seen them in pictures on this site...

[Junk Parts]

Re: Just got a new motherboard...

Hey maybe this "Newegg" place might have a Super Socket 7 MoBo so I can put this AMD K6/2 450MHz back in service! It was my first "Fast" PC. Man how things have changed!

[Maxxarcade]

Re: Just got a new motherboard...

Ahh yes Super Socket 7... I still have my Epox MVP3-G5 w/ K6-2 550, and I think I might replace the caps and use it as a server. I remember when that rig was my pride and joy. Now I just got into socket 939, and then they came out with socket AM2...

[Shroomie]

Re: Just got a new motherboard...

Dang, JP, I'm setting up one of those! AOpen Super7 board, yep yep...

Love these old computers. Still usable but old enough that they're cheap, even free.

[Spacedye69]

Re: Just got a new motherboard...

I have quite a few socket 7. The only one I have together is a DFI super 7 with a k6III 450.

[Maxxarcade]

Re: Just got a new motherboard...

My K6-III 550 benchmarked slightly higher than my PIII 550 system, but for some reason the K6-III refuses to run Quake III Arena on any video card (goes EXTREMELY slow, even on the menus). It's driving me crazy, because I remember playing QIII on that rig for years with a Geforce3 64MB card. I'm starting to wonder if the caps have something to do with it. Anyone know if the Epox MVP3-G5 was one of the affected boards?

[gonzo0815]

Re: Just got a new motherboard...

Probably all of those boards are affeckted. Not that visible, but there are allways badcaps on them. Due to the very low currents and temp the failings arent that obviouse. I have some amd k2/500 AFAIK, and a ULI based Gigabyte GA-5AX ATX board. Well it is very pity regarding memory and the related BIOS settings. But anyway, bought the processor from ebay for about 6 or 7 years, getting the mobo for free as defekt. It didn`t took long to get the thing up and running, but all caps are CHOYO, and i belive that this is the number one problem of that board. And it still has an linear 5v to 3,3v regulator for AGP port (as ATX PSU's arent that good in delivering smoth and ripple free voltage, in the early day`S of that standard), i atached an HS to play games with the (still good) GF2MX400 (all Rubycon long endurance low esr caps).
May be i will recap it with some MCZ, i want to get the 600MHZ stable from that proc
It only toerate that clok for several seconds....

But can you remember the K6-III 500 + chips? amd had produced in a smaller proces (IMHO 0,18u) for laptops` this kind of proc was very easy on getting about 600 to 700mhz. But i never got one.

[yanz]

Re: Just got a new motherboard...

... with the (still good) GF2MX400

i agree

[Maxxarcade]

Re: Just got a new motherboard...

I've got those darn Choyo caps on a Compaq SS7 board I'm storing at the moment. I'll probably just upgrade the system to an Athlon 64. Looks like all I'd need is a better power supply, the case appears to be standard micro ATX. Too bad it's all yellowed from age and has that cheesy looking front bezel with the funky curves and stuff in it. I think I'm one of the few left in this world that prefers to have just a plain beige box for a computer. My main pc has an Inwin Q2000AX case, which is a server case. Nice and plain

[tiresias]

Re: Just got a new motherboard...

I think I'm one of the few left in this world that prefers to have just a plain beige box for a computer. My main pc has an Inwin Q2000AX case, which is a server case.

Heh... count me in as one of the few. Mine's a Yeongyang W201 server box; this one here: http://www.modthebox.com/review298_1.shtml

Not beige, but certainly bling-free.

I really like it, with its space for a redundant PSU and filtered intake, and wouldn't exchange it with anything else. The only 'disadvantage' I can think of would be its heft, something which is inevitable if one wants a solid, durable, thick walled (relatively speaking) steel case.

[Junk Parts]

Re: Just got a new motherboard...

You mean you don't have a toilet paper thin tin box w/lights, and plexiglass side pannels? Where have you been the last ten years? You have to have these features. In this way as to Part 15 FCC Code it can recieve, and emit EMI to every other TV, Toaster, Microware, and Pace Maker device within a ten mile radius of your home! You must have theses things. Its Your duty as an American!
I myself use a modified RAIDMAX case. There is no EMI from my system. First I cut out all the bright lights. Next my brother cut me four pcs. of 1/16 cooper sheet, and two pcs. of 10ga. cold rolled steel from my pattern at the Coast Guard Yard. I now have a sandwitch section on each cover. That would be copper/steel/copper. It works! Front, and rear are not shielded but my TV says its fine.
The best case I ever had was from a Gatewy E3600 workstation. It was all heavy steel, and tools were redundant. That case was the best piece of work I ever saw. If you needed to change the P/S or mobo it took one #2 phillips screwdriver. All drives, and the side cover were secured by spring clip grippers. Where can I buy a new case like that one without the propriatary Gateway P/S?