Operation Delta 15

[greengoose1]

Operation Delta 15 now begins with the continuing story of building at least two computers. The previous two sections have gotten really involved with various issues surrounding the installing of components, testing, etc. Anyone reading these threads can pick up a wealth of information. The various links referred to can drive a person into information overload. So jump aboard and come along to have some fun and maybe learn something. Comments, questions, or anything you would like to add is welcome.

Click here for Opperation Delta 14.

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Seek Knowledge First and All Else Will Follow

[Queen_of_Hearts]

Morning!
Good to see you greengoose. You feeling better?


Aaroncl,

Yes. Now I had to be sneaky but it can be done. It's KINGSTON. 128MB PC133 NON ECC DIMM CL3. I bought two.

It's 51.95 -10.00 (for being a new customer) and a $20.00 rebate from Kingston if you buy before the 31 of Jan. (today).

Only one per household... but my sister ordered the other one for me. So she also got the new customer discount and the 20.00 rebate.

So each 128MB ends up costing me $27.00
The RAM

I have the link for the coupon for $10.00 off if you want that too. Just put that in your cart first. Coupon for new customer discount

The Rebate paperwork



[This message has been edited by Queen_of_Hearts (edited 01-31-2001).]

[bistro]

As far as your surge protector goes---don't skimp. Recommend a small APC unit plus a good, fused and alarmed power strip. The powerstrip should be designed so as to accomodate AC adaptors without bumping into the next outlet. Also designed with phone line protection (Line IN to the strip; Line OUT to the modem).Plug the strip into the APC and the APC into the wall outlet. Make sure that if it's a double wall outlet, that you plug it into the one that is NOT controlled by a wall switch; for obvious reasons...Then plug your system, printer, scanner, etc. into the strip. If there is a double plug on the back of the APC, you can plug the system into that if you wish. Recommend leaving the power strip ON and control all power with the APC.

[This message has been edited by bistro (edited 01-31-2001).]

[Queen_of_Hearts]

Hi bistro,
I have seen what you mean about bumping into the next plug with AC adapters. What a waste of a plug. Will it say that on the box, is it eyeballable(<sp?--I couldn't find that in the dictionary ), or do I need to take my tape measure with me ?

[bistro]

Usually it will be advertised as such on the box--"New! Improved! We Finally made One That Works! Made To Make Room For AC Adaptors! Rejoice!", etc. Again, make sure it also has phone line protection. A lot of folks will have strips/surge boxes that'll protect their systems, but completely forget about that phone line to the modem. What happens when lightning strikes the phone lines? Helllooooooo.....and goooodbye modem (and anything else nearby).

EDIT: It will also probably have a "joule count" on it also--will protect up to so-and-so many joules. Won't go into a lengthy discourse on that; just this.... As Marie Antoinette said, "The more joules, the better".


[This message has been edited by bistro (edited 01-31-2001).]

[Queen_of_Hearts]

Ok. I had to learn that lesson the hard way I was lucky and they just replaced the modem. No charge. But the anguish I went through for days figuring out what was wrong with my dial up connection !

[Queen_of_Hearts]

Da mudderbord !

It says right here on this little floppy disk Hot Rod 100 pro. I am fixing to read the BX133-RAID Users Manual.

Also says on here it "takes you to the top"!
I'm lookin' forward to that !

Hey! I can have up to 768MB of RAM! Might need some more.




[This message has been edited by Queen_of_Hearts (edited 01-31-2001).]

[bistro]

Good Lord, girl! What in the world would you do with that much RAM? Most of it would be wasted, unless you plan on "modding" that system into a mainframe super-computer....

[Queen_of_Hearts]

Varooooommm!

[bistro]

OK I'll break that "myth" right off the bat. The gain would be just the ability to handle more programs before running out of memory (would take a hell of a lot with that much RAM!). 32 to 64>BIG speed increase.
64 to 128>considerable difference. 128 and beyond...beyond...beyond...>little to no speed increase.
(I think I've created a monster.... )

[Queen_of_Hearts]

OK according to my eyeballs this thing matches up to all the openings on the I/O plate.

You mean I'll be able to have more than one window open at a time? And run two or three programs at once???

EDIT:

Also, looks like six holes will line up once I knock out those breakaway plates and scoot it over just a little bit. Don't think it'll touch those other two dimples, then.

[This message has been edited by Queen_of_Hearts (edited 01-31-2001).]

[Train]

Bistro,
When she finally hit the ip, we will be able to see the mushroom cloud and the sky will light up also.
QOH
Some systems when running office programs actually slowing down at 128MB do not know anything else except that it was a Intel cpu around 500MHz.Been running Swapmon
the last couple of days and so far it looks good for being able to cut back from a minimum 500MB to 200MB swap file. Using Bistro's suggested swapman's reading plus 50. Had to use 500 with 64MB ram. 128MB is looking much better.

Picked up the local freeby and it lists 128MB PC100/133 at $49. Same price for either.
Haven't as yet seen any other changes.

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SMILE
and post back


[This message has been edited by Train (edited 01-31-2001).]

[bistro]

QOH: Did an experiment a while back and put around 15 running programs (mostly graphics rendering) on the desktop before I started getting Windows warning messages. Yeah, you'll be able to "multitask" if you have to.
Check the mounting holes on that mobo carefully--are there any that do NOT align with a dimple--especially around the middle back edge. If all the mobo holes match a dimple, then do NOT put that ground copper screw on the case as depicted on your case diagram (#16).

[Queen_of_Hearts]

Won't know for sure until I knock those plates out. Guess I could go ahead and do that just to see. Couple of the holes are oval instead of round. There's also one in each of three corners on the very edge which don't have a little silver metal rim. Smaller. Probably not for screws.
The manual has pictures.
Still lots of innitials. Also two programs. One is called High Point X Store Pro.The other is CD XPress. Some sort of utilities on the CD that came with it. CD XPress accelerates the accessing speed of the CDROM by accessing from the swap file instead of the Hard Drive.
The other one-- High Point X Store Pro--is a Hard Disk enhancement utility.

[bistro]

You'll want to install the Highpoint X Store Pro drivers almost immediately after or during Windows installation (right after might be better). Those are your bus drivers (no, not the kind with the funny hats that barrel through your neighborhood). That CD Xpress is just an "extra"--might be nice to install later and see if the CD-ROM works better.