Project: Whisper - build log

[JCLW]

This build will be a little different then most builds because of two reasons:

• The objective will be a silent computer, so performance will be sacrificed
• It will be based on older technology

My Dad, being semi-retired, has taken to ripping all his CDs, tapes, and LPs into high quality MP3s and storing them on a media server. My parents currently have an ancient Dell laptop (Pentium-133ish) hooked up to their stereo system to play back the MP3s. However, this laptop has problems playing MP3s (using WinAmp 2.95, and Win98se) and ofter stutters or drops out. So basically they want something just as quiet, but with more power.

Yesterday I was given an old Asus P3B-F board, complete with an ATi Rage 3D Pro card, an intel 100 Pro Management NIC, and a 128MB stick of PC133. So that's where I am starting.

I'll post pictures and commentary as I go along, so feel free to comment. All feedback is appreciated, be it kudos or constructive critisism.

[Captain Crunch]

Sound like a good mod project. Keep us up to date on the progress.
One of the things I like most about reading moding logs is it allways gives me new ideas for something I want to do.

[Tyreal]

I plan to build a pretty quiet computer in the future so this should give me some good ideas.

[JCLW]

(The pictures are hosted by imageshack, so if they don't show then just try again later).


That's my P3B-F (rev 1.03), with ATi Rage Pro and intel NIC.

The P3B-F is based on the intel i440BX chipset. The BX was one of the best chipsets ever made. Stable, overclocks like anything, all the features (for the day), PCI and memory bandwidth that was never matched... It supports:

• 4x memory slots (low density memory) for a total of 1GB (4x 256MB)
• PII and PIII based processors
• AGP 2x graphics
• PCI bus
• ISA bus (earlier revisions had two ISA slots, and five PCI slots)
• 2x USB 1.1 ports
• 66mhz and 100mhz FSB

The P3B-F brought new features such as:

• Overclocking through the BIOS, instead of using jumpers
• Hardware monitoring
• The ability to use the hidden 1/4 divider on the BX, allowing you to run 133FSB with your PCI in spec at 33mhz

So the first thing to do was make sure it worked. I threw in a Celeron 433 on a slocket (slot to socket adaptor) and she fired right up. :)

While I had her up and running I took the opportunity to flash the BIOS to a specially modified version of the last Asus release. Basically a guy named Mathias Rufer took the last Asus release (1008.004 beta) and inserted the microcode for the newer intel processors, allowing the board to recognize every processor that you can actaully plug in:

• Modified 1008.004 BIOS (beta - last Asus release) with Tualatin Microcode can be found here: http://www.hta-bi.bfh.ch/~rufem1/pc/tualatin4_e.html
• Latest BIOS flasher: ftp://ftp.asus.de/pub/ASUS/mb/flash/aflash221.zip
• Boot disk image for flashing: http://www.bootdisk.com/ (use "Driver Free Disk For BIOS Flashing")

Now the Celeron 433 is a little pokey for my liking, so I went looking for a better chip.

After intel was embarrassed with the failure of the Coppermine PIII-1133 chips (they were recalled) they did a die shrink (to 130nm), and added some L2 pre-fetch logic that they had developed for the new Netburst P4 line. These chips were known as Tualatin cores, and came in three flavours: Celeron (256k cache, 100FSB), PIII (256k cache, 133FSB), and PIII-S (512kb cache, 133FSB, support SMP). The PIII-S chips are expensive, so I'll leave them out. The Celerons and PIIIs are identical apart from the multipliers, so the Celerons were the best buy for an overclocker. Plus the Celerons were dirt cheap.

These Tualatin cores offered performance greater then that of the early P4s, so unfortunately intel kind of hushed them up.

But there are still lots of them kicking around for good prices.

So I ordered a Celeron-1200 (tB1 stepping) for CDN$50 including shipping.

Now the Tualatin chips are s370, while the board is SECC2. Plus the Tualatin cores use a much lower voltage then the VRM (voltage regulator) on my P3B-F can support. Plus the Tualatin cores signal at 1.25V, as opposed to the 1.50V that my P3B-F supports.

So I had two options - modify an existing slocket and run the Celeron-1200 out of spec, or order an adaptor slocket for CDN$30. I decided to order one of these: http://www.upgradeware.com/english/p...lott/slott.htm.

[gvblake22]

Sweet, looks like you're off to a good start. I was gonna say I have a slot PII from my mom's old desktop that I would let you have, but it looks like you have that all covered!

Is this going to be housed in some kind of a stock, beige case or are you gonna fabricate a custom creation for this project?

[JCLW]

I suppose I should throw a budget page in here near the begining as well.

***All prices in Canadian dollars***

Aquired so far:
$0 - Asus P3B-F
$0 - ATi Rage Pro Turbo
$0 - intel 100 NIC
$0 - 128MB PC133
$0 - Audigy 1
$50 - Celeron-1200 http://processorfinder.intel.com/scr...sp?sSpec=sl6c8
$30 - Upgradeware Slocket http://www.upgradeware.com/english/p...lott/slott.htm
$15 - USB 2.0 PCI card http://www.canadacomputers.com/index...053&cid=IO.313
$150 - Silverstone LC03 case http://www.silverstonetek.com/products-lc03.htm
$55 - Silverstone ST-365 power supply http://www.silverstonetek.com/products-ST365w.htm
$30 - Mitsumi 7-in-1 floppy/card reader http://www.mitsumi.com/products/fa402amain.html
$80 - Samsung 2.5" 40GB 5400rpm 8MB http://www.samsung.com/Products/Hard...es_MP0402H.htm
$50 - NEC ND-3550 DVD+/-RW http://support.necsam.com/optical/nd3550a.asp
$25 - MS optical mouse (black) http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mo...s.aspx?pid=009
$0 - Zalman CNPS6000AlCu heasink http://www.zalman.co.kr/usa/product/...dx=27&code=009
$10 - 2.5" drive mounting brackets and adapter cable http://www.pccanada.com/viewitem.asp?id=3113

Planned purchases:

--------
$495 Total

The Silverstone LC03 case will fit in an AV rack. It's also relatively roomy inside. I could use something smaller like the Antec Overture cases, but I find you need more fans to get the airflow in a cramped case, plus the LC03 uses a standard ATX power supply, meaning you have a lot of selection.

I've been impressed with Silverstone power supplies in other builds. They are quiet, stable, and efficient. The large fan on the bottom (will be on its side in the LC03) means it'll suck air right past the CPU. Hopefully this will be the only fan in the system.

The Samsung 2.5" SpinPoint drives are the quietest around IMHO. They have 80GB drives as well, but 40GB should be plenty as all it needs to hold is the OS and Winamp.

Somewhere in a box I have an Audigy 1 that I'll use.

I will need to keep my eye out for some used PC133 (prefferably 256MB sticks).

I may need to find a better video card, but we'll see how this one does first. I think I even have a 7200 kicking around.

[gvblake22]

Sweet man. That looks like a really nice case!
Sounds like it will be pretty quiet too (no pun intended) with only the PSU fan in the system :)

[JCLW]

Originally Posted by gvblake22

Sweet, looks like you're off to a good start. I was gonna say I have a slot PII from my mom's old desktop that I would let you have, but it looks like you have that all covered!

Is this going to be housed in some kind of a stock, beige case or are you gonna fabricate a custom creation for this project?

Thanks for the offer, but I've already ordered the Celeron.

I thought about making a case. I have a friend with a full aluminium shop. He does a lot of electrical consoles and panels for the marine industry. But it would take some time, and in the end the Silverstone case will do just as well.

I'm designing a custom water cooling setup that I'll build in his shop. More on that later in another thread 'tho...

[JCLW]

For a processor heatsink I'm thinking about a Zalman CNPS6000-AlCu: http://www.zalman.co.kr/usa/product/...dx=27&code=009

Has anybody here ever used one? I've used more recent Zalman offerings with excelent results. The Celeron only makes ~30W max, so it won't take much to cool it. I'll probably undervolt it as well.

There is an all copper one available too, but it is really heavy and I have to mount it on the slocket. If it mounted right onto the motherboard I'd consider it.

My trusty wooden ruler from grade 6 tells me it should just barely fit, but it will block one of the four memory slots. I can always dremmel it a little if I need to.

So I think I'll try it unless anyone has any other suggestions for a s370 cooler that will fit on a slocket, and stand a good chance of passively cooling a 30W processor (fins spaced far apart).

[gvblake22]

That cooler looks like it would be a good bet for passive cooling on your chip. This is gonna be a cool project indeed! :)