Switchboard

[EM3Bilko]

Yea, that would been my second take on what you said You're skilled in modding though, so you should be able to come up with some sort of custom mounting bracket I'm sure

Thanks for your confidence in my ability. I'll do my best that's for sure. Have a good day and Happy Modding to ya.

[EM3Bilko]

Well, today's update is to tell you about the new motherboard that I got for replacement of my gaming machine which kept freezing up no matter what I had in it for a graphics card or for any other parts for that matter. I replaced the Biostar SLI board with a Gigabyte SLI board. The Biostar was of the first generation which required a piece of pcb to be placed into a area just so for SLI or just the opposite for single card use. This new Gigabyte doesn't make use of that pcb. So less parts to worry about having in correctly. Here is a photo of the new mobo. It has real pretty colors to it. lol

Now here are a couple of other photos to show you some parts that came with it and that I haven't used yet.

So there you have it for the moment. Being that this is a AM2 board my waterblock doesn't work for me. Once I get back from Denver I'll be getting a new waterblock because I can't modify this one to fit so I'll have to get a new one. This 2.4 processor is rated at 45 watts so my cooling system shouldn't have any problems keeping this unit under control. So until the next update remember that all ideas and comments are welcomed. Happy Modding to ya.

[EM3Bilko]

Have some good news. The new AM2 waterblock arrived today. So that means that it's time to do some work to get the beast back into commission. To fit the new waterblock onto the Gigabyte motherboard the standard frame around the socket needs to be removed first. This setup is quite easily done. At the four corners there are plastic pegs that push down into the hole of each corner. So to get them out all you need to do is to take a small standard screwdriver and push the pegs back up from the bottom of the motherboard. It's a pressure fit that keeps the framework in place. Once you have the pegs all out then the framework just pulls up and out from the motherboard leaving the 4 holes around the socket. The waterblock kit comes with 4 grommets that fit into the 4 holes that were left from the removal of the framework and once you have all of the grommets into place then there are 4 long bolts with a plastic washer that will go through the 4 grommets. Once you have the bolts up through the grommets then there are 4 nuts that will need to be put onto the bolts to hold each one in place at the four corners of the waterblock. That is all there is to holding the 4 bolts into place. The waterblock is placed over the 4 bolts once you put on the thermal paste. Then there are 4 springs that will fit over the 4 bolts with washers and thumbscrews that you screw down finger tight to hold the waterblock onto the processor. It really is a simple setup but it does require the removal of the motherboard to get the setup started. Here are some photos of the AM2 waterblock.

I have it installed and the water pump is running and I'll let the pump run for a 24 hour Le Mans and see if I have any water leaks. lol So far there are none and it's that much closer to being back in use. So tomorrow may turn out to be a good day when I roll the beast back into position. All ideas and comments are welcomed and remember Happy Modding to ya.

[EM3Bilko]

Switchboard wouldn't even fire up. The fans and everything started but the nothing. No BIOS nothing. I've already started the RMA procedures for the CPU. It's going back for another one. Dang. and it not a Happy Modding to ya. day.

[kingdingeling]

That sucks to hear Hope it'll be up and running fast

[EM3Bilko]

I'm sorry I didn't mean to led everybody a stray but Switchboard did fire at first and I hit the delete button to go into BIOS and the screen turned blue and then black in about a half second. I shut down and restarted and still nothing. That's why I feel it's the cpu. I had about a 2 sec. look at it. I did get my approval for the RMA and the number so today it will be packed up and mailed. I should have my replacement a week from Monday I hope. At least I know that I've got a good start on it if the cpu will stay together. lol I have a gut feeling that this next one will do the trick and it will run like a top. Happy Modding to ya.

[EM3Bilko]

The processor is packed and gone from my hands. Mailed it Priority Mail by way of USPS. Should be there within the next 3 days. I hope that they do a quick turn around and mail it back as fast as I sent it. At the least. Happy Modding to ya.

[EM3Bilko]

Just a short update. I've been working on one of those socket 939 motherboard that I had working for me for a while and then they decided to quit on me. To make a long story short, I got the Foxconn board working again. I took the AMD64 3000 single core out of it and put the Opteron 170 dual core into it and the board accepted it. So tomorrow I will start putting the unit into Switchboard. I've also increased the memory from 1gig to 2gig. For right now I'll be using the onboard video which is a GeForce 6150 but it will be replaced by a GeForce 7600GS. It does have the HDTV Capture card installed and working. I've been very pleased with it's performance today. The AM2 setup will be going into one of my Ultra cases. It will be my gaming machine being it will be setup for SLI. However Switchboard won't be to shabby at playing with the 7600 in it. So Switchboard will be back into service this week and it will be water cooled. Happy Modding to ya.

[Andrewr05]

So how did this turn out?