Re: Rebuilding an old computer
- From: Paul <nospam@xxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:39:23 -0400
Antares 531 wrote:
I have an old computer with an ASUS P2B mb in a PC Power & Cooling
tall tower case. I really like this very well built case, but the mb
is about obsolete. I would like to fit this case with a new mb that is
specifically chosen for office work. That is, I do not use this
computer for games or on-line videos.
This case is designed for an AT/ATX mb, and I will have to select a
new mb that will fit the dimensions and match up with the mounting
holes and rear connection ports.
I'm considering an Intel Core 2 Quad Core CPU but have not firmed this
up, yet.
I intend to get this computer rebuilt then install Windows 7 on it
when they get it thoroughly checked out and on the market. I'll be
using it for AutoCAD drafting and general MS Office software. I also
may use it for Adobe Photo Shop graphics work.
I'd like some suggestions as to the best mb for this kind of setup,
and also for a good flat screened monitor that can be rotated such
that its long axis is vertical. This works very well for some AutoCAD
drafting layouts.
I've looked at the Gigabyte EP45-UB3P and the ASUS P5B-VM but can't
get enough information together to make any decisions.
Any suggestions will be appreciated.
Gordon
In terms of processors, there is LGA775 and Core2 family, or there
is LGA1366 and Core i7. One benefit of the LGA775, is the potential
for a lower system cost, if you use the absolute cheapest components.
For example, DDR2 memory is cheap compared to DDR3, so you can
save some money by sticking with a system that uses DDR2 memory.
The P5B-VM is based on G965 and handles up to FSB1066. It is an older board.
But there are processors now at FSB1333 (and perhaps a couple at FSB1600 or so).
So investing in a FSB1066 motherboard at this point, doesn't make much
sense. So that is an easy one to reject. An FSB1333 motherboard would
be a better choice.
A P45 motherboard, assumes you'll be buying a video card separately.
I checked the Autocad site, and the hardware requirements didn't
state any preferences for a video card, except that it have 128MB
of RAM onboard or more. There was no requirement for a Quadro or
FireGL card.
Your Gigabyte board is a full sized ATX. 12" x 9.6" is the size of a
regular ATX motherboard. The really cheap motherboards, nibble away
at the 9.6" width dimension, which sometimes leaves the motherboard
poorly support mechanically on one edge.
GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://images17.newegg.com/is/image/newegg/13-128-358-S03?$S640W$
The board uses a 24 pin power connector (and new power supplies have a 20+4
connector, which can be used with older 20 pin motherboards or newer
24 pin motherboards). The Gigabyte board has a 2x4 connector for processor
power, but that isn't typically fully needed. You can easily plug a 2x2
connector in there (pick the right holes), and still be safe. The 2x2
connector is good for up to a 130W processor at stock speed. Intel Quads
right now, probably have a lower TDP than that.
This is a cost effective quad that draws 95W and has 12MB of cache. $220
Processor can be overclocked a bit it desired.
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115041
For a video card, any non-gamer card is probably sufficient to drive the
screen at whatever resolution.
There is a video card here, with two DVI-I connectors on the faceplate.
The box includes one DVI-I to VGA dongle, in case you have a VGA 15 pin
monitor to connector. (Purchase a second one of those, if you wanted to
use two VGA monitors at the same time.) The card has 1GB of memory,
which may or may not help you. A card with 512MB would probably perform
just as well. And this one is $65, so if it turns out to be a mistake, you
haven't lost much.
XFX HD-465X-ZDF2 Radeon HD 4650 1GB 128-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready $65
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150396
http://www.xfxforce.com/en-us/products/graphiccards/hd%204000series/4650.aspx#2
HIS H465FS512P Radeon HD 4650 512MB 128-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161262
I'm not familiar with the mechanics of monitor rotation. I understand
some of them have a switch or something, such that the video card
changes the display, as the user rotates the screen. In other cases,
it might require a change in the Display control panel, to rotate the
image 90 degrees or whatever.
*******
It is possible to get motherboards with built-in graphics. For
example, this one has an Nvidia chipset, and might be used for
a Home Theatre PC. The motherboard is microATX, 9.6" x 9.6",
so has fewer expansion slots and takes up less room. The hole
pattern uses a subset of the holes on the ATX form factor. If
you want to add a video card to this later, it has a slot big
enough for a modern video card.
(Example of microATX board with built-in graphics of recent vintage.
Read the reviews for comments. Also, *always* check the CPU Support
charts on the motherboard manufacturer web site before you buy.
While there, you can download the motherboard user manual. )
GIGABYTE GA-E7AUM-DS2H LGA 775 NVIDIA GeForce 9400 HDMI Micro ATX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128363
For a power supply, the processor and the video card are
the major variables in the selection process. The HD 4650 video
card is low end, and has no Auxiliary power connector on the
end of it. Its maximum power consumption is listed here as 30W.
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/ati-radeon-hd4650_4.html#sect0
There are like five hundred different power supplies to choose from.
My random choice this time, is a small Enermax 80+ efficiency
400W supply, which should be sufficient for a system with a gutless
video card. The cabling is (partially) modular - the two main power
connectors (the 24 pin and the 2x2 processor power) are permanently
attached, but the other accessory cables, can be installed as needed.
I wasn't particularly searching for that feature, but this one has
it. I currently have an Enermax which has been quiet and well behaved.
ENERMAX Liberty ELT400AWT-ECO 400W ATX12V / EPS12V
80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC $85
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817194042
The 80 Plus certification means the supply is more than 80% efficient.
That means less waste heat, while the supply is doing its job.
It also allows the supply fan to run quietly. If you keep the
supply for ten years, the power saved might even compensate for
the more expensive supply. Regular supplies are around 68%
efficient.
My cur off on supplies, is 3.3V @ 20A and 5V @ 20A, and this applies
to modern motherboards being purchased today. The numbers are selected
in the believe that normal systems won't make a dent in that capability.
A motherboard uses perhaps 50W from those rails, so that should be
enough to handle it. The 12V rails on that supply will easily handle
the 9A the processor might draw, and a handful of hard drives should
not bother the remaining rail of the dual rails at all.
HTH,
Paul
.
- References:
- Rebuilding an old computer
- From: Antares 531
- Rebuilding an old computer
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