Odd Slot1 card in old Dell...?

[Kruzin]

Maybe ignorant, but I have no exp. with multi-proc moboards...

My stepmom has asked me if I can resurect an old rig she rescued from the dumpster where she works. Old Dell CAD rig. It's an early P3 dual Slot1 mobo, with an Intel chipset. It has no processors (or PS). By the jumpers, it set to a p3 500.

In one of the slot1 slots is a card with nothing more than than some printed circuitry and a few caps. What is this thing? Just something needed on muti-proc boards to fill the slot? Some Dell proprietary BS (which I fear may be the case with the missing PS, judging by the odd looking case layout)?

[Wombat]

Well, Dell definitely uses their own power connector.

I couldn't find anything about this dummy SEC, but I think it's just an impedence load to keep the clocks and busses happy.

The slots on that motherboard should be marked "primary" and "secondary". If that dummy card is in the secondary slot, you're probably good to go.

[KvHagedorn]

Funny how people just throw stuff out like that.. maybe it's a dead board though. you can get Dell power supplies from PC Power and Cooling if you want to fire it up.

[Marshmallowman]

QDI, used to make dual board with a single "special " slot?

[KeiFront]

Re: Odd Slot1 card in old Dell...?

Originally posted by Kruzin
In one of the slot1 slots is a card with nothing more than than some printed circuitry and a few caps. What is this thing? Just something needed on muti-proc boards to fill the slot? Some Dell proprietary BS (which I fear may be the case with the missing PS, judging by the odd looking case layout)?

That "thing" is called a termination board, When you use only one processor slot from the motherboard, you must install a termination board into the empty slot.

About the PSU, probably it's a proprietary Dell PSU , but I think they wouldn't be hard to find in the States.

P.S. Be sure to check if the board also needs a VRM (voltage regulator module) most slot-1 dual processor boards need a VRM for every processor, but some boards don't require them.

[rylan]

Yeah, termination board for the unusued cpu slot. Any unfortunately most of those "dell specials' did use proprietary power supply units.

[moreau]

BTW, a lot of the old Dell Mobo's are Intel in make.

Often just re-biosed intel reference boards.

If you haven't seen an intel board before, they often have no silk-screened information about model/rev. rather , they have a series of narrow stickers around the periphery of the board with model and serial code numbers. it is possible to google these and find out what intel model name they correspond to.

CEM

[Kruzin]

Thanks for the info, folks.
I doubt this machine will run again, as she thought she had all the parts for it. I doubt she'll wanna shell out for a PS and proc.

[moreau]

Too bad. Would make a great "free" box for some dedicated purpose, (linux server, file storage dump box, etc.)


Might even prove servicable for a Word machine.

Those Mid age Dell boxes were well engineered, and fairly compatibile with commodity parts.

CEM

P.S. You could always throw the carcass onto Ebay, and see if anyone needs it for spares...

CEM