IRQ's and D865PERL

kaju · Post by **kaju** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 3:37 am

I upgraded my Scope Luna/Home-based system with a Scope Professional card.
I even managed to get room for it in the Antec Sonata case by moving the three HDs as far as possible upwards.

Now the only position where to get the long Pro card in is the 5th PCI slot.

The IRQ available for this slot seems to be 18.
It's shared by one USB controller and ATA/Ultra ATA storage controller.

The USB is not a problem. There are already enough USBs for my use (I just need 2. One for Syncrosoft/Steinberg dongle and one for general use).

Now, my question #1 is:

Is the shared IRQ with the ATA/Ultra ATA Controller a problem?
I haven't found anything yet, but...

My Luna/Home card has a unique IRQ 22 - PCI slot 2 - and PCI slots 3 and 4 are free, but there's no other place for the Pro card than at slot 5.

Question #2:

Does the 380W Antec Truepower psu cope with a (future) system with
Scope Home, Scope Project/Expander and a Scope Pro boards, plus my comp system with 3 HDS, Matrox 550, 2-3 USBs and CD/DVD writer, plus one extra case fan?

Or would I better move everything into a larger Antec TX1088 case?

I'd rather not, but if I have to...

Post by **garyb** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 10:51 am

the ata controller should be no problem at all. disable the usb controller, you won't need it.

the power supply is most likely enough, the antec powersupplies are well built. you can safely cross that bridge when you come to it , you can always get a bigger supply in the off chance you have problems. personally though, that's one of the reasons i use the tx-1088 case, it comes with the 480watt true power supply(that and it has room for a full length card like scope professional...).

i think that the sonata(like most cases) only accepts the project length boards. but you should check. if the hd cage is out of the way at least for a card in the last slot to reach past the cage to the far wall, you're good.....

[ This Message was edited by: garyb on 2006-02-18 11:20 ]

kaju · Post by **kaju** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 11:27 am

Thank you gary.
I just needed your "blessing", to be completely sure.
I've already done what you suggested.

Yes, as I told, there's room for one 14DSP board, if you move your HD's as far up as possible. The HD's situate sideways in a 90 degrees angle to the long axis of the case, as you know.
So there's no cage, just frames with rails.
There's an opening in the frame, just enough for a long card. Just in the right place for the 5th PCI slot.

And when I get an extra front fan it blows directly into the the 14DSPs. And puts the air in the case into movement towards the back of the case.

The long board is in it's place already and looks quite happy, I think

.

If I'd known I had bought the TX1088 case in the first place.
In the mean time I think I'll get on with the Sonata case.

If necessary I'll get the TX1088 box.

The idea of taking the old system apart and transferring everything into a new case is a little bit frightening.
There's still lot of questions open...

Like:
Taking the motherboard out. It's equipped with a heavy Zalman copper cpu cooler.
Am I right if I think it's best to keep it 'whole' without trying to take the Zalman out first?
Is it safe to handle the motherboard with this heavy copper lump attached?

Basically I'm of the careful type, but there's a limit how much I'm able do, even if I knew what to...
I'd not like to destroy the D865PERL as they are almost impossible to get anymore, at least here.

[ This Message was edited by: kaju on 2006-02-18 11:38 ]

[ This Message was edited by: kaju on 2006-02-18 11:53 ]

Shroomz~> · Post by **Shroomz~>** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 12:21 pm

Hi, it should be safer & easier to leave the copper lump attached as long as you're relatively careful & support the heatsink's weight when necessary. The process of removing & refitting the Zalman would almost certainly, although simple, be more involved & potentially more risky as they're often a pain in the ass to change due to the deliberately tight fit. If you can carefully get it out in one, I'm sure that would be best.

kaju · Post by **kaju** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 1:23 pm

Thanks shroomz.
That's exactly what I've been thinking too.

Of course I can get someone else do it for me, but, you know, it involves some money

Thank you anyway.
If I have some hair raising stories to tell, you sure will hear them.
[ This Message was edited by: kaju on 2006-02-18 13:25 ]

[ This Message was edited by: kaju on 2006-02-18 13:25 ]

[ This Message was edited by: kaju on 2006-02-18 13:28 ]

[ This Message was edited by: kaju on 2006-02-18 13:28 ]

next to nothing · Post by **next to nothing** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 6:37 pm

there should be no problem moving your setting to another case. just be sure that when you unscrew your motherboard and lift it up your case is lying down, not stand up as it would normaly do. this way the forces from the heavy cooler will press down on the motherboard, not try to "break it off" if you get my point.

[ This Message was edited by: piddi on 2006-02-18 18:37 ]

Post by **garyb** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 6:57 pm

yes, and as you said it all fits in the sonata case, which is a very good case...

as an aside, intel is still making the d865perl and they CAN be found pretty easily at the moment(i bough two last week!). they were really hard to find a few months ago

kaju · Post by **kaju** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 3:03 am

That was really good news, gary

Thank you for the info.
I'll check the situation here in our country. Just in case...

And now when they are available (again), I can always get one from Germany.

[ This Message was edited by: kaju on 2006-02-19 03:04 ]

dawman · Post by **dawman** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 4:57 pm

I have a Supermicro P4SCT+II in one box which is overkill. Designer made this a 2 x Scope Pro. box. The extra drives are the only bonus, and the higher price! My second box has the Intel 865 and works w/o incident in live scenario also. IMHO this board was made for Scope. It's a no frills Mobo. The only other board I can see that would be a good choice is the D875PBZ. I just purchased some spare parts myself, for I'm not sure of the future that CWA is choosing. So for 830 USD I have 2 x 875s, 2 x Northwood 3.2s, and 2 GB of Samsung EEC DDR RAM. I also have spare HDDs w/ Win.98SE, and XP in dual boot mode so I can still use MC-500MkII and Scope for a long time to come. Thanks for stable rig GaryB!!

Post by **garyb** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 8:08 pm

kaju · Post by **kaju** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 1:28 pm

On 2006-02-18 18:57, garyb wrote:
intel is still making the d865perl and they CAN be found pretty easily at the moment

I googled around during the weekend and tonight. Result: D865PERL nowhere available neither here nor in UK or Germany. Ordering from US becomes easily too expensive.

So I've better treat my treasure well.

Thanks gary, anyway

Post by **garyb** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 2:21 pm

they seem to be showing up again slowly... check again in a week or two.

kaju · Post by **kaju** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 10:59 am

I will.
Thanks again, gary

dawman · Post by **dawman** » Sun Feb 26, 2006 12:56 pm

I find them in pricewatch.com Lots of cheap spare parts and such. Pentium M780 for 348 USD, possibly the coolest low power single threaded CPU ever built. But I'm not using sequencing host, so I'm happy w/ 865. I bought a packaged deal w/ 3.2ghz Northwood for 235 USD!! Happy hunting.

kaju · Post by **kaju** » Sun Feb 26, 2006 1:48 pm

Thanks scope