Need suggestions for a cruncher

[TheGrandHooHa]

I stumbled across an old Pentium 3 processor today (probably in the 500-600mhz range). It is a Slot processor (not sure what slot no. Intels are...I want to say Slot 1 but that may be AMD... my knowledge of slot processors is limited) with the factory heatsink. I would like to put this thing to use as a SETI cruncher. I need a few things:

1) What fan can I get to put on the stock heatsink? Do I even need a fan?
2) I am going to be checking around for motherboards... I doubt I can get any new... so can anyone recommend one or perhaps sell me one? (I am thinking something very cheap, like this one on eBay.
3) Would 128MB of RAM be enough to maximize the crunching capabilities of this machine? Or should I add more? I have plenty laying around but I don't want to waste any.
4) If anyone knows of any dirt-cheap cases, give a holler... but I may just leave this one as just the motherboard, hard drive, and processor without a case if that is cheapest.

Thanks folks! Hope to add this thing to TeAm AnandTech's power soon!

-Chris

 

[Coolkid]

1) What fan can I get to put on the stock heatsink? Do I even need a fan?

It will probably run w/o a fan if it has a large enough heatsink, if not or it gets quite hot, any sorta fan should do 🙂

2) I am going to be checking around for motherboards... I doubt I can get any new... so can anyone recommend one or perhaps sell me one? (I am thinking something very cheap, like this one on eBay.

Not sure about Mobo, maybe a teammate has one they could sell for cheap?

3) Would 128MB of RAM be enough to maximize the crunching capabilities of this machine? Or should I add more? I have plenty laying around but I don't want to waste any.

128MB would be plenty for a dedicated cruncher if its gonna be running XP.
If not, 64MB should be fine 🙂

4) If anyone knows of any dirt-cheap cases, give a holler... but I may just leave this one as just the motherboard, hard drive, and processor without a case if that is cheapest.

Bah, who needs a case? Jus run it on a shelf/desk somewhere 😀

 

[n0cmonkey]

IIRC:
slot 1: pentium
slot 2: xeon
slot a: athlon

No real recommendations, my only p3 ever was a dual p3. Still crunching away. 😀

 

[TheGrandHooHa]

Thanks for the info guys...

I will try running without the fan ... the 100% usage (via SETI) oughta be a decent stability test.

I got a motherboard from work (no inventory number on it...what a pity :evil: )

I'll toss 64MB in (it will be running Win2k). Probably case-less as well 🙂

Thanks again folks.

 

[Unforgiven]

good thing you are gonna be running 2k, the xp suggestion with 128 megs of ram is a bad idea even if its just gonna be a cruncher and do nothing else! in the summer months you may want to try to pick up a fan just to be on the safe side because 100% cpu utilization for long periods of time is gonna generate a ton of heat!

 

[TheGrandHooHa]

Originally posted by: Unforgiven
in the summer months you may want to try to pick up a fan just to be on the safe side because 100% cpu utilization for long periods of time is gonna generate a ton of heat!

Is there some off-brand fan that will fit the stock Intel heat brick? Or do I have to go searching for that exact fan?