Need Older Celery/PC133 Mobo Advice...

[piatan]

My inlaws have an eMachine T-1220 (yes, I know) with the following working components:

Celeron 1.2Ghz
384Mb SDRAM (PC100/133)
20Gb HDD
Integrated Graphics/Sound/USB/Modem

However, after they tried to add RAM to the system, the mobo failed and now produces a beep code indicating failed memory (even though each stick performs great in another system) so I am assuming the problem lies with the mobo at this point. I could replace it with another of the same mobo, but I would prefer to get something with a little better quality behind it. I like (and use) Abit and sometimes Asus for most of the computers I have put together, but I haven't had to deal with integrated video before and I am also hoping to be able to use most/all of what they have (CPU/RAM/HDD) to get this up and running again.

So, if anyone has any insight into a presumably older board that would fit this bill, please let me know what I should be looking for model-wise. If it happens to be mATX, that would be great as that is all their tiny case will fit, but I have a couple of (ugly) cases around I can use if a full ATX is the better option.

What I need is:
Support for a 1.2Ghz Celeron
Support for PC100/133 SDRAM
Integrated Video/Sound/USB (and maybe Modem/LAN? These can always be PCI if I need to)

If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know as I have loaned them one of my computers in the mean time and if they do to mine what they had done to theirs (loading it with spyware/trojans/malware) I will have to clean install upon its return so time is of the essence!

Thank in advance for any help you can provide!

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: piatan
My inlaws have an eMachine T-1220 (yes, I know) with the following working components:

Celeron 1.2Ghz
384Mb SDRAM (PC100/133)
20Gb HDD
Integrated Graphics/Sound/USB/Modem

However, after they tried to add RAM to the system, the mobo failed and now produces a beep code indicating failed memory (even though each stick performs great in another system) so I am assuming the problem lies with the mobo at this point. I could replace it with another of the same mobo, but I would prefer to get something with a little better quality behind it. I like (and use) Abit and sometimes Asus for most of the computers I have put together, but I haven't had to deal with integrated video before and I am also hoping to be able to use most/all of what they have (CPU/RAM/HDD) to get this up and running again.

So, if anyone has any insight into a presumably older board that would fit this bill, please let me know what I should be looking for model-wise. If it happens to be mATX, that would be great as that is all their tiny case will fit, but I have a couple of (ugly) cases around I can use if a full ATX is the better option.

What I need is:
Support for a 1.2Ghz Celeron
Support for PC100/133 SDRAM
Integrated Video/Sound/USB (and maybe Modem/LAN? These can always be PCI if I need to)

If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know as I have loaned them one of my computers in the mean time and if they do to mine what they had done to theirs (loading it with spyware/trojans/malware) I will have to clean install upon its return so time is of the essence!

Thank in advance for any help you can provide!

I doubt your motherboard got blown because of bad memory but it's possible. Some memory just doesn't work in certain motherboards but usually doesn't blow them up?

I found a few motherboards that may/may not fit your criteria.

PC Chips "M791g" VIA CLE266 Chipset Motherboard for Socket 370 CPU -RETAIL

It's possible this board will work but I don't know what FlexATX form factor is or what socket your processor is. It has onboard video, sound, and LAN ethernet (not modem). Here are a few others without onboard video and/or sound to take a look at:

TYAN "Tomcat i815T" i815ep Chipset Motherboard for Intel Socket 370 CPU -RETAIL

DFI "CA64-TC" VIA 694T Chipset Motherboard for Intel Socket 370 CPU -RETAIL

Mach Speed "Mach MZ-694TAS" VIA 694T Chipset Motherboard for Intel Socket 370 CPU -RETAIL

 

[LTC8K6]

Most likely the emachines board just did not like the memory that they tried. Go to crucial.com and see what memory the board likes.

If you need to replace the board, I have recently ordered that DFI board for a friend and it was a flawless setup and install of Windows XP with a Tualatin P3.

 

[Vette73]

I used the PC Chips M791g board and it has worked well. It can use either DDR or Sdram. Being that DDR is cheaper and helps out the video card I went with that.

http://www.newegg.com/app/view...=13-185-042&depa=0

 

[piatan]

Thanks for the help so far... I have some good leads to look into.

As far as memory not blowing up the board, I am not sure what exactly they did when they tried to add the RAM. I was given all three sticks along with the computer and even trying to boot with just the original stick of 128Mb, I got nowhere (same beep code) even after clearing the CMOS, removing the batt, etc. One stick of RAM they gave me what PC100, the other two were PC133, so it could be that the board doesn't play nice with PC100, but I have tried every combination of the three sticks in each of the available slots and got nothing and like I mentioned, the sticks all work fine in both another PC, and in an older G4 Macintosh.

I know my first thought when they said their eMachine didn't boot up anymore was a failed PSU (eMachines having that reputation) but it isn't dead. Anyone ever heard of a PSU providing brown-out levels of power? (just not enough to actually power up components beyond the mobo itself?)

The stock memory stick is a 128Mb PC133 SDRAM. Since they bought it, they have been running WinXP Home with onboard video sharing that RAM on this one stick. I never had the "pleasure" of seeing this thing limp along on this small amount of RAM, but I can imagine.