Dream Slot-2 Xeon Build \ VOGONS

Dream Slot-2 Xeon Build

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First post, by SWZSSR

Posted on 2026-01-07, 07:05

SWZSSR Offline

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Rank: Newbie
Posts: 54
Joined: 2018-01-16, 04:32
Location: South Australia

1. The Beginning - Finding a Motherboard & CPUs

Hey all

I recently got the urge to build a Slot 2 Xeon build.

Had a look on ebay without luck and decided to make a post over at the Aus Vintage facebook group. My friend in interstate reached out and said he knew where one was..

He later contacted me and confirmed its still there inside a Nortel Networks Contivity Extranet Switch 4500. After some time he got a hold of it & dismantled the motherboard, cpus, ram, cards from it and sent some photos.
Lucky score! Intel MS440GX MarlinSpike with matched Pentium 2 450mhz/512k Xeons.

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The parts are currently on the way to me. Next post will be a bang/smoke test & build plans.

Keep you updated

Last edited by SWZSSR on 2026-02-06, 04:57. Edited 2 times in total.

LS486/5x86@180/Banshee/SoundscapeElite/DOS6.22
5TH/Dual233MMX/MGA2164W/Voodoo2/AWE64Gold/NT4.0&W9X
P5A(1.6)/K6-3+550/Ti500/EWS64XL/W9X
CUV266D/Dual1.4TUAL/HD4670AGP/XONAR/XP
780iFTW/QX9650/3x8800U/VISTAx64
Z87/4790K/TITANX/AuzBravura/XPx86

Reply 1 of 6, by Intel486dx33

Posted on 2026-01-07, 18:47

Intel486dx33 Offline

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If you had a dual CPU computer workstations back in 1990s and Running WinNT you where elite
Very reliable computers.

Reply 2 of 6, by SWZSSR

Posted on 2026-02-06, 04:48

SWZSSR Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 54
Joined: 2018-01-16, 04:32
Location: South Australia

UPDATE - Motherboard Arrival & Smoke Test

The motherboard has arrived, packed very well.

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List of what I received.

1x Intel MS440GX (MarlinSpike)
2x Pentium 2 Xeon 450/512/100
4x 256MB PC-100 CL2 ECC Modules

Board

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CPUs with Cooling System\Mounting

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Onto testing it. Used my trusty Enermax PSU with 35amp 5V Rail & 6pin Aux

Posted first shot!

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Will deal with the bios password next

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All good so far. I will clear the bios password and look at flashing the latest P20 Bios

Stay Tuned

Last edited by SWZSSR on 2026-02-06, 04:59. Edited 1 time in total.

Reply 3 of 6, by SWZSSR

Posted on 2026-02-06, 04:56

SWZSSR Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 54
Joined: 2018-01-16, 04:32
Location: South Australia

Next Step: The Case

The MS440GX is a large form factor, EATX with a special 4 hole CPU mounting bracket that needs to screw into the motherboard tray. I could just use nuts and washers on the rear of the board but I don't want the board to warp in that area.. I'm a perfectionist and this has to be done properly.

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After doing a LOT of research only a few cases actually had support for this.

Inwin Q500 \ Q500N
Industrial 4U Rack Cases
Addtronics 7896A

I have recently spotted a complete Inwin Q500N on Ebay. I'm going to make an offer and see if I can secure it.

Reply 4 of 6, by Gold Leader-B747

Posted on 2026-02-09, 16:47

Gold Leader-B747 Offline

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Posts: 51
Joined: 2025-09-30, 08:12

Hey nice build there SWZSSR, good to see you here as well, you could give that system a pair of Intel Pentium !!! Xeon 900Mhz 2MB's, that is if it's Bios & VRM's would allow that, keep this place posted on it's progress, looks tempting!

The Addtronics 7896A Server Tower as well as the 6896A Entry Level Server Tower both support that feature btw, I can confirm that as I have these two cases myself including the original Manual.

Reply 5 of 6, by Vandal

Posted on Today, 05:00

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Joined: Yesterday, 15:32

Those Xeons are sexay. Get everything up and running yet??

Reply 6 of 6, by Intel486dx33

Posted on Today, 07:25

Intel486dx33 Offline

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SWZSSR wrote on 2026-02-06, 04:56:
Next Step: The Case […]
Show full quote

Next Step: The Case

The MS440GX is a large form factor, EATX with a special 4 hole CPU mounting bracket that needs to screw into the motherboard tray. I could just use nuts and washers on the rear of the board but I don't want the board to warp in that area.. I'm a perfectionist and this has to be done properly.

The attachment mounting.jpg is no longer available

After doing a LOT of research only a few cases actually had support for this.

Inwin Q500 \ Q500N
Industrial 4U Rack Cases
Addtronics 7896A

I have recently spotted a complete Inwin Q500N on Ebay. I'm going to make an offer and see if I can secure it.

Hey, I had the little brother Inwin-s500 case back in 1999 ( $45 )

I used it to build a Sun Solaris server for programming training .

I used the Intel motherboard DK440LX ( $250 }
Dual Pentium-II @333mhz ( $150ea )
ATI Rage98 video card PCI ( $50 )
64mb ram ( $120 )
sound baster 16 ISA ( $30 )
Dual SCSI hard drives 4gb ( $200ea )
1999 Prices for NEW components

It ran a little HOT and loud but very reliable.
SCSI hard drives made noise and ran HOT

It's an EATX motherboard too and it fit fine in the Inwin-s500 case

This is the last modern computer I assembled from components

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