[Pc_Support] For Sale: Abit BP6, (2) 466MHz, 768MB Reg ECC in ATX w/350W ATX 2.0 PS

[Bryan J. Smith]

Okay, change of plan here.  I decided to recycle my extra
S754 Sempron 2800+** into a build server since it can take
2GiB of RAM (long story on work).  So I'm bringing home my
current Linux build server that I was using ...

Enclosure:  3-month old Antec SLK2650-BQE w/350W ATX 2.0 PS
http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=92650

Mainboard:  The infamous Abit BP6
http://www.abit-usa.com/products/mb/products.php?categories=1&model=109

CPUs:  (2) P2-Celeron 466MHz (66MHz x 6.5)

Memory:  (3) 256MiB PC100 Registered ECC (run at 66MHz)

Video:  3-month old MSI GeForce MX4000 (NV19) 64MB AGP x4
http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_spec.asp?model=G4MX4000-T64&class=vga

My usage:  
- 2000-2001, main workstation
- 2001-2003, main server (with 3Ware Escalade 6410/7800)
- 2003-2005, training server
- late 2005, Linux build server (for work)

I have a Panasonic Toughbook with a P4 1.8GHz, 512MiB RAM and
60GB 4200rpm disk.  This system has 2x 466MHz, 768MiB RAM and
I use much faster (let alone more swappable/flexible) disks. 
I'm only replacing it with the Sempron 2800+ for my build
server at work because I need 2GiB to build (it's a slouch
under 1GiB, and the 512MiB versus 768MiB on this BP6 ended up
being slower).

The responsiveness and build-times of the 2x 466MHz is why I
kept using it.  The only reason I replaced it with a 1x
1.2GHz Athlon in 2001 was because of single-processor gaming
performance.  The 2x 466MHz was clearly more responsive as a
desktop and for running desktop applications.  Compared to
today's P4 and A64 systems, no, it's not going to be a better
desktop.  But as a SOHO server or a build/test system, it's
pretty nice IMHO.  As long as you don't need more than 768MiB
of RAM (the maximum SDR SDRAM you can use). 

As such, this still makes a good SOHO server, especially with
the 768MiB of Registered, ECC RAM.  (4) ATA channels
(2xUltra33 via the PIIX4 of the 440BX, 2xUltra66 via the
HPT368 -- the latter boots even fine in any distro of the
last 4 years).  You're not going to be able to push serious
disk I/O over the legacy 32-bit @ 33MHz PCI bus, but then
again, unless you have PCIe, 64-bit PCI or PCI-X, it's really
no different than desktop mainboards before 2005 either.

I also upgraded the video card to the fastest card still
available that is compatible with its AGP 1.0 (x1/x2) slot, a
NV19 (GeForce4 MX series) AGP 2.0 (x2/x4).  It's a value
board with only a 32-bit DDR bus, instead of the 64-bit DDR
busses of the older NV17/18 (also GeForce4 MX series) that
are no longer available.  But it's still faster than the
older NV11 (GeForce2 MX series) despite their 64-bit DDR (or
128-bit SDR) design.  It _is_ supported by the latest nVidia
G75+ drivers, whereas most other NV1x cards are not as of G75
(G75 = 1.0-75xx driver in Linux).

The all-black enclosure is also nearly new (3 months), a
great ATX case, very quiet with a large 120mm fan sucking out
air at only 1,000rpm (about 40CFM, typical of a 80mm at 3-4x
the spindle and noise).  The side has a "duct" that reaches
down to the CPUs, and can add an optional 80mm fan to it (I
found this unnecessary, the Celeron fansinks pull the air
from the duct above them).  The front can add an optional
80mm fan intake (again, unnecessary unless you run 7200rpm
drives just above it IMHO).  (4) 5.25" and (4) 3.5" drive (2
are internal).  The 350W ATX 2.0 PS works great for this ATX
1.0 mainboard, but has dual-rail ATX 2.0 for future use.  And
it's one of the lightest steel cases being that it's short'n
stocky for a full-size ATX.

-- Bryan

**NOTE:  For that previous post/inquiry, see here:  
http://lists.leap-cf.org/pipermail/leaplist/2005-December/004324.html



-- 
Bryan J. Smith     Professional, Technical Annoyance
b.j.smith at ieee.org      http://thebs413.blogspot.com
----------------------------------------------------
*** Speed doesn't kill, difference in speed does ***