VOGONS


First post, by Ammo_Headache

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I won this 2u rack mount "server" off ebay for a great price and want to do a good build around the case that will allow me to go from Win98 era up to newest reasonable possible without spending too much. It came with a Core2Duo Socket 479 mobo that seems to be made for server/embedded use. So the plan is to remove the motherboard and replace it. It has a PCI riser for two slots, so I will be limited in the build with what is built into the new motherboard and those two PCI slots. I know that will be a bit limiting. I am guessing one PCI will end up being video and one will be sound as embedded video and sound on mobo may not be good enough? The motherboard will be limited to mATX. So, I am looking for suggestions on what would be a good mobo, video and sound combo that would work with the case limitations? Initial thoughts would be an 865 chipset board, geforce 6200 pci and SB Live board for sound but am hoping the group might have other options. Thanks!

Reply 1 of 3, by paradigital

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Get a board with PCIe and use a flexible riser cable to utilise some of the other slots for a decent video card.

Reply 2 of 3, by tomcattech

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paradigital wrote on 2026-02-08, 10:01:

Get a board with PCIe and use a flexible riser cable to utilise some of the other slots for a decent video card.

^^This^^

Other than that if you want to stick with Win98 a PCI Voodoo 3 or FX 5500 PCI and the SB Live may be a good pair.

Between sitting on that PCI bus and driver issues in Windows 98, the 6200 may be a waste.

The GT 430 PCI is "better" with a core2duo but will only work in XP and newer.

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I either fix it or break it permanently... there is no try.

Reply 3 of 3, by Ammo_Headache

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Thanks for the suggestions. I am halfway thinking of leaving the existing mobo in there and just adding sound and video for now and upgrade later when I see if I hit any limitations. The PCIe ideas have merit but I would be limited to a single slot unless I find some multi slot riser and get a mobo that supports bifurcation.