• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

I scored a Socket A system from the dumpster

Iron Woode

Iron Woode

Elite Member
Super Moderator
I saw it yesterday and decided to investigate it further. Turned out to be an open case with MB and cpu still in it. I found the side panels nearby.

So I took it all back home to check it out. The video card was gone, HDD was gone, ram was gone and an optical drive was missing (probably a dvd burner) but they left the LG CD burner. The board is an Asus A7N8X-X NF2. I added a GF MX400 video card, 2 512meg DDR 333 ram modules and a HDD with XP pro on it. I checked the cpu and it is an XP2500+.

I powered it on and discovered why they tossed it out (there were probably other reasons too). First it didn't recognize the cpu correctly. I fixed that in the BIOS. Then rebooted and discovered it was unstable under XP. I shut it down and added a nic to download drivers for it. On reboot it got the cpu wrong again. I swapped in a new battery. The system worked much better but even after the drivers were installed, there was still some issues. The date and times were wrong, the cpu temp was fluctuating between 25C and 47C and it was still unstable. I decided to upgrade the BIOS from 1005 to 1010. This fixed all the problems this board was having.

The system works great under XP pro. Not bad for a dumpster PC.

I also picked up an old Acer Laptop circa 2005 for $20 that just needs a new HDD.

:awe:
 
Good 'ol socket A. That was a decent standard for a while and it was actually possible to upgrade the cpu as faster ones came out. Now they seem to have a new socket every time a new cpu comes out.
 
barton core?

i had so many athlon XPs. t-bird, 3 or 4 t-breds, and a barton. just kept upgrading as new ones came out.
 
Red Squirrel said:
Good 'ol socket A. That was a decent standard for a while and it was actually possible to upgrade the cpu as faster ones came out. Now they seem to have a new socket every time a new cpu comes out.
Click to expand...
Red Squirrel is back!!!!

where has you been?

yup, socket A's were quite a good setup back in the day.
 
A nice find. I still have an A7N8X Deluxe chugging away. Used to be my main machine back in the day.
 
Cool little hobby project find! It can feel good to make "something" out of "nothing."

Otoh, and not to threadcrap, but most of us are having trouble giving systems like this away.
 
Perknose said:
Cool little hobby project find! It can feel good to make "something" out of "nothing."

Otoh, and not to threadcrap, but most of us are having trouble giving systems like this away.
Click to expand...
I understand.

for light computing tasks, that system will perform perfectly.

edit: the case isn't half bad either.
 
a7n8x was a good board. sold mine to someone around here, probably with the barton. replaced it with an opteron 165 ~5 years ago (yep, bought a $300 dual core a64 *just* before conroe beat the crap out of it)
 
ElFenix said:
a7n8x was a good board. sold mine to someone around here, probably with the barton. replaced it with an opteron 165 ~5 years ago (yep, bought a $300 dual core a64 *just* before conroe beat the crap out of it)
Click to expand...

That was my first Asus board, if I remember correctly. Every board since has been an Asus.
 
eh dumpster is about what its worth.
a used core 2 on ebay off lease or whatever costs next to nothing these days.

i think i have a barton cpu somewhere lying around...
 
Some desktop boards did have trouble detecting Mobile Barton CPUs correctly. Most were fixed with a BIOS update. To make our Shuttle SN45G work right, CZroe had to drop a piece of threaded wire into two holes on the socket to bridge two pins.
 
I was about to 'dumpster' a bunch of computers myself, but you got me thinking that it's probably worth the time to wipe the drives and find a way to get them to people who could use them, without it becoming a nuisance for the building or office.

Anyone know of any non profits in NYC that refurbish older computers (servers, desktops, laptops - P4 Dual, Core, and Core Duo) to either sell for or give to charitable orgs? I wonder if schools would want 4 - 5 year old computers.
 
That brings back memories of when I bought mine. I had every one of those issues with the missidentified cpu, clock wrong, etc. I retired it with the 1008 uber bios was the latest. After taking a couple weeks just to get it to run, it worked flawlessly.

The flame wars on the Nvidia boards were pretty good too.
 
Nice find OP. Its always nice to turn trash into treasure with a couple of bucks and some know-how. I found this PC by the curb one day, fixed it up and gave it to my sister. It was an old socket 7. I sold the innards for $10 on ebay, used the proceeds to buy an AMD Super Socket 7 and turned trash into treasure.

It was fun. 🙂

dirtycomp1.jpg


dirtycomp2.jpg
 
FelixDeKat said:
Nice find OP. Its always nice to turn trash into treasure with a couple of bucks and some know-how. I found this PC by the curb one day, fixed it up and gave it to my sister. It was an old socket 7. I sold the innards for $10 on ebay, used the proceeds to buy an AMD Super Socket 7 and turned trash into treasure.

It was fun. 🙂

dirtycomp1.jpg


dirtycomp2.jpg
Click to expand...

a super socket 7 would be fun to play with. i had a pentium pro (overclocked) during those pre-athlon days.

though, it'd probably end up being left in the bathroom when i moved out just like my 486 was. :\


being in dallas have you ever gone to the 1st saturday sidewalk sale?
 
ElFenix said:
a super socket 7 would be fun to play with. i had a pentium pro (overclocked) during those pre-athlon days.

though, it'd probably end up being left in the bathroom when i moved out just like my 486 was. :\


being in dallas have you ever gone to the 1st saturday sidewalk sale?
Click to expand...

I didnt even know this existed until you mentioned it. Ill have to check it out now. Heck I might even make a buck or two wheelin' & dealin'.
 
2500+ Barton was a classic. It was a helluva OC'er. Stock is 1.8GHz but it's almost guaranteed to run at 2.4GHz if not up to 2.7GHz.
 
The business my wife manages is still running on four A7N8X-X with 2500+ Barton systems built by none other than myself seven years ago. I even have a spare A7N8X-X board in the closet. I've been telling her for years it's way past time to upgrade but she likes to live on the edge. Actually, it never gets to the top of her to do list. I've priced out replacements several times.

It's somewhat comical but the first round of systems I built for her office were based on Abit boards that fell prey to the bad caps fiasco. Once we got that squared away all the Hard Drives started failing because I'd built the systems using Deathstar drives. If I'd been some schmuck selling her systems I'd surely have been fired. 🙂

The four she has are still going strong (knock on wood) but we all know their days are numbered.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top