Major Jackyl wrote on 2024-07-29, 22:38:

Alrighty! Time for a good PC building story! I went to the computer thrift store this weekend, to look for junk to fix and BEHOL […]
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Alrighty! Time for a good PC building story! I went to the computer thrift store this weekend, to look for junk to fix and BEHOLD! I did find junk, 🤣 The junk in question was a Gateway 2000 P5-200 Tower with a very attractive "$5" sticker on it. Closer inspection revealed the sad-shape this thing was in. Sticker(s) said "No CPU, No Mem, NO HDD" No NOTHING. PSU in there and the board (and a bunch of broken plastic bits). Heh, for five bucks, can't go wrong with the hours of fun that may ensue, so I grabbed it.

I got it home and it already fell apart in the car. All the plastic for holding on the face was broken including pieces holding sub-pieces for the face. Very yellow as well. A bit of an odor on that, too. I removed EVERY screw and added them to the collection and removed the board. Setting the case aside, I inspect the board. A bit dusty, but no bad pins, etc, so I cleaned the whole board with contact cleaner/air and let it chill. I want to test it, so I started digging about for some parts.

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I enjoy building and disassembling, so I went straight for a "new" case. The case I went with is an A-Open Flat-type desktop case. The first issue I ran into was as soon as I lifted the motherboard in: standoffs. The standoffs in the case are VERY unusual height (very tall) and I couldn't find ANYTHING to add any, so I had to move the ones there around (10-hole board) and now the board is held in with 6 screws. Next issue, was the IO panel. It was a flat metal piece designed for a special square bracket, etc, etc, Easy enough workaround: print a new one. I cleaned the rest of the parts while waiting for that and found a suitable heatsink for Socket 7 as well. When the panel finished, I installed it, the board, and the PSU. Almost a whole computer again. With the board in, I dug out my socket 7 CPUs and checked pins. I have 2 Pentium SY022 (133MHZ) and 3 Pentium MMX SL25N, SL26J, and SL27J (all 200MHZ). I only have two 32MB modules(known good), which is all the board can take, I believe. The rest are all known good parts: Cirrus Logic VGA, 3COM ethernet, and SB16Valu.

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I assembled the minimum (MEM, CPU, Video) and started the testing. First up was the SY022, which is what I wanted to have in here. Power cord - computer comes on... Nothing. No beeps. I yoink the heatsink and the CPU is getting VERY hot. Hmmm. Don't like that. I tried SY022#2. Power cord - Computer comes on... BEEP.... BEEP...BEEP. Three Long Beeps and then nothing. CPU not getting hot this time. I pulled the mem, checked again, same. Well damn. At least it's powering on, right? I removed the CPU again and powered it on empty (no RAM, CPU) and it does what you'd expect. Powers on and does nothing. I put the RAM back in and tried SL25N. Power cord - Computer comes on... beep, beep, beep. Three short beeps now. Which I believe is memory errors, so I tried reseating and other modules (which I knew may not work, too new), but the 3 short beeps persist.

I have it fully assembled (to save space)now, but non-functional.

Since then, I opened my computer (the one the 32MB modules were original to) and tested the 32MB modules again. Good.
I've also tried powering it on with and without memory, video card (none of the other cards were in for testing).

If I wait to find other memory modules, I might be waiting a while...

Is there anything else I can do with the parts/tools on hand? I don't have a diagnostic card, but I have scope and multimeter(s). I would like to confirm diagnosis before hunting parts.

I don't feel safe to assume the SY022s are bad yet, I would like to test in a board that booted already before writing them off. The hot one, might be done, though...
All 3 MMXs that I have yield the same result (3 short beeps). Only one was "known good" and I'm assuming the similar behavior means they are all good.
I only have one PCI video card to test with as well.

Is the processor VRM jumper (J6M1) set correctly? - pins 2-3 for standard = 3.135-3.63 V or pins 1-2 for VRE = 3.465-3.63 V

Have you tried running it outside the case?

PC Hoarder Patrol wrote on 2024-07-30, 03:45:

Major Jackyl wrote on 2024-07-29, 22:38:

Alrighty! Time for a good PC building story! I went to the computer thrift store this weekend, to look for junk to fix and BEHOL […]
Show full quote

Alrighty! Time for a good PC building story! I went to the computer thrift store this weekend, to look for junk to fix and BEHOLD! I did find junk, 🤣 The junk in question was a Gateway 2000 P5-200 Tower with a very attractive "$5" sticker on it. Closer inspection revealed the sad-shape this thing was in. Sticker(s) said "No CPU, No Mem, NO HDD" No NOTHING. PSU in there and the board (and a bunch of broken plastic bits). Heh, for five bucks, can't go wrong with the hours of fun that may ensue, so I grabbed it.

I got it home and it already fell apart in the car. All the plastic for holding on the face was broken including pieces holding sub-pieces for the face. Very yellow as well. A bit of an odor on that, too. I removed EVERY screw and added them to the collection and removed the board. Setting the case aside, I inspect the board. A bit dusty, but no bad pins, etc, so I cleaned the whole board with contact cleaner/air and let it chill. I want to test it, so I started digging about for some parts.

The attachment 20240728_144834.jpg is no longer available

The attachment 20240728_145003.jpg is no longer available

The attachment 20240728_145717.jpg is no longer available

I enjoy building and disassembling, so I went straight for a "new" case. The case I went with is an A-Open Flat-type desktop case. The first issue I ran into was as soon as I lifted the motherboard in: standoffs. The standoffs in the case are VERY unusual height (very tall) and I couldn't find ANYTHING to add any, so I had to move the ones there around (10-hole board) and now the board is held in with 6 screws. Next issue, was the IO panel. It was a flat metal piece designed for a special square bracket, etc, etc, Easy enough workaround: print a new one. I cleaned the rest of the parts while waiting for that and found a suitable heatsink for Socket 7 as well. When the panel finished, I installed it, the board, and the PSU. Almost a whole computer again. With the board in, I dug out my socket 7 CPUs and checked pins. I have 2 Pentium SY022 (133MHZ) and 3 Pentium MMX SL25N, SL26J, and SL27J (all 200MHZ). I only have two 32MB modules(known good), which is all the board can take, I believe. The rest are all known good parts: Cirrus Logic VGA, 3COM ethernet, and SB16Valu.

The attachment 20240728_164340.jpg is no longer available

The attachment 20240728_191647.jpg is no longer available

I assembled the minimum (MEM, CPU, Video) and started the testing. First up was the SY022, which is what I wanted to have in here. Power cord - computer comes on... Nothing. No beeps. I yoink the heatsink and the CPU is getting VERY hot. Hmmm. Don't like that. I tried SY022#2. Power cord - Computer comes on... BEEP.... BEEP...BEEP. Three Long Beeps and then nothing. CPU not getting hot this time. I pulled the mem, checked again, same. Well damn. At least it's powering on, right? I removed the CPU again and powered it on empty (no RAM, CPU) and it does what you'd expect. Powers on and does nothing. I put the RAM back in and tried SL25N. Power cord - Computer comes on... beep, beep, beep. Three short beeps now. Which I believe is memory errors, so I tried reseating and other modules (which I knew may not work, too new), but the 3 short beeps persist.

I have it fully assembled (to save space)now, but non-functional.

Since then, I opened my computer (the one the 32MB modules were original to) and tested the 32MB modules again. Good.
I've also tried powering it on with and without memory, video card (none of the other cards were in for testing).

If I wait to find other memory modules, I might be waiting a while...

Is there anything else I can do with the parts/tools on hand? I don't have a diagnostic card, but I have scope and multimeter(s). I would like to confirm diagnosis before hunting parts.

I don't feel safe to assume the SY022s are bad yet, I would like to test in a board that booted already before writing them off. The hot one, might be done, though...
All 3 MMXs that I have yield the same result (3 short beeps). Only one was "known good" and I'm assuming the similar behavior means they are all good.
I only have one PCI video card to test with as well.

Is the processor VRM jumper (J6M1) set correctly? - pins 2-3 for standard = 3.135-3.63 V or pins 1-2 for VRE = 3.465-3.63 V

Have you tried running it outside the case?

I had not tried running it outside the case. I wanted to secure it for handling around the room. The VRM jumper was on 2-3 and I've left it there. Cool to know what exactly it does, thank you for the info! It said "VRE" on it, so I assumed it was for power. Jumper set on J9C1 "C" is the only other one without description on the board. Jumper "D" is the multiplier and only goes to 2.5X, but my MMX would have a multiplier of 3, wouldn't it?

I'll have the board on my test bench in a few hours. I'll try to test my Pentiums in a working system as well.

I tested all the CPUs in another system. All worked except the suspect one. The working SY022 still exhibits different behavior from the MMXs. Three long beeps with the Pentium in and three short beeps with any of the MMX. Is my problem more simple, perhaps? Will it not run at all without a COAST module?

Major Jackyl wrote on 2024-07-31, 00:54:

I tested all the CPUs in another system. All worked except the suspect one. The working SY022 still exhibits different behavior from the MMXs. Three long beeps with the Pentium in and three short beeps with any of the MMX. Is my problem more simple, perhaps? Will it not run at all without a COAST module?

Nope, use of a COAST module (256 or 512KB) is optional - board should work fine without it.

Do you have any other suitable memory you could test (should support EDO / SDRAM).

Apart from the VRM jumper and the main jumper block (pic attached) everything seems to configure automatically on the board.

Have some experience with this board as I had a P5-166 in the 90s, and presently have a P5-133 in the garage. My money's on the RAM being the wrong type for the board - it needs PC66 RAM, of a certain density and timing (said to be '2-clock', https://theretroweb.com/motherboard/manual/te … d7865637310.pdf, pp.10-11 says PC66 Spec V1.0) - your RAM is newer than the board (1998) and the 48LC2M8A1TG chips are PC100-compliant, so might be best to ditch SDRAM and look for some 168-pin EDO - you can install up to 2x 64MB EDO on this board, can be had for about $20+post.

Aww shit, boys!! We cooking with... electricity!! Oh yeah, so stoked. I pulled the memory out of my Compaq Deskpro, since it was the oldest thing I have with OE memory. Just for testing of course, I like the Compaq quite a bit and use it regularly.

As soon as I put it in, I plugged it in and it came to POST immediately and counted the whole stick. I actually shut it down with the power button and then grabbed a floppy drive, to test boot. Heck Yeah!

I just need to find a few modules like this one and I'll be golden.

Hell yeah! It also it working fine with the SY022 that I really wanted to be running in this system!

Oh yes. Configured the CPU now and running at the proper 133 (I left the multiplier on minimum while testing)

I even had a drive with stuff on it to test further. Got sound and mouse. Got network drivers loaded and communicating with my main system.

I'm so happy right now. Best five bucks I've spent in a while 😁

Final update of the day: I ordered 2x16MB sticks and 2x64MB sticks of EDO memory, I plan on using the 2x16 in this thing and have the other two as back-up, in case I find another board like this one. I also ordered some stand-offs for that case, so I can properly assemble it.

Alright!! The 16MB modules I ordered showed up today!

I just went for it and put them both in at once. Booted right up. Got the hard drive ready with 6.22 and started filling the drive.

I only need to fill one blank 5.25 and replace the CD with an older unit. Looking good!

This computer brings me right back. The majority of systems we had as kids were Pentium-era and the way it is running is just like back then. Closest spec to the OG systems we were building from the endless dumpster computers.

Oh boy. I've been using the computer heavily and today, it won't turn on. Pulls a "On-Off" then will repeat. I'm investigating now.

Heh. Knew it. That punk. First test was a new PSU. I could feel the failure.

I wanted to inspect the failed unit next. Just a quick test, though; we may repair it in the future.

Now I get to open this replacement PSU and clean it/inspect it before installing. It is actually the factory PSU from this board. I hadn't used it because it was dirty, 🤣 AND I just now noticed I'm going to need an extra floppy header on this

Now that's a tight fit, 🤣

I had to omit the fan grill, but it'll do. The CPU fan is probably going to starve for air now, good thing it doesn't get very hot.

This thing is endless entertainment, 🤣

Collision detected! Whelp... that sucks

This will work, for now.

I never posted pictures of the original corpse. I realized this when I was in the garage just now.

I would have definitely liked to use it, but the plastic was destroyed and is crumbling. There was quite a bit of rust and other corrosion I didn't want to deal with, too.

Updates on the system:
I've been using it almost daily until... I got a influx of computer "crap" and had no place to set it up! The horizontal case is biting me in the ass, 🤣.

SO, after I got most of the stuff sorted and fixed, I came back to this to replace the case with one of these "industrial" Lian-Li cases. I have many power supplies now, too, so I'm going to replace that finally and put that one in another Gateway I picked up. (will go on about that one, too).

The most tedious part of the job was cleaning the case. It's usually not that bad, but I've cleaned a dozen of them last week. I had to remove all the fans and service them, too. They were actually seized. They are those sweet ADDAs that have the rubber plug, so they are like new again and bring an authentic noise level to the situation.

It went very smoothly and now I can play my games again while waiting for installs/prints. I was playing through SAM, on number 2. Also back to Duke3d when my brother comes over.

Here is the NEXT "Tower of Despair": Gateway G6-300

ONLY because of this BEAUTIFULLY OMINOUS label. My favorite type of broken. Hell yeah, 🤣

I've opened it so far and stole the CD drive (it was a Mitsumi), but it didn't work, so I replaced it in the case, so at least THAT shouldn't be an issue. Someone put and Antec 400W PSU in there. It had a TV tuner with caps leaking all over, a winmodem, Ensoniq ES1730 with weird juice on the board/chips, and a 4M nVidia Riva128(AGP). Hella Nasty in there, holy crap. Between the front panel and the case was filled with dust and hair. I forgot to document the process... I don't like breaking things, so I didn't even test it when I got it, I immediately set about cleaning this nasty box after I saw the horrors inside.

Dead CD drive, TV Tuner, Winmodem, Ensonic Audio PCI, Riva128

All highly sort after hardware 😉
actually, the last 2 are kind of useful for testing and no great loss if you can't save them