Preserved Topic: Journey With Me Into My Upgrade (Page 2 of 2)

This is really fun reading while listening to the 'Asylum Street Spankers.' GO WES! GO! You going along quite well! Keep it up man! 'The Infernal How - To Manual to Building Your Own Computer for Beginners' by Wes! hehehehehehe!



'Me no here. Me go bye. Leave me message. Me reply.'

Wolfen's Sig Site

btw Wes, I really like the 'tunes!' <lol> What's playing now?

go wes, go wes, go wes, go wes...

Let's Dance

Darkshadow - Those are just two of the many Shiner Bocks I had the other night. After the spicy food last night, I didn't think beer would be a good idea. And don't jynx me! I've got a long way to go.

CPrompt - Just wait till I install the window.

Jiblet - I've been taking many more pictures in case I have the time to put together a sort of tutorial for the GN, if they'll have me.

Magic Man

So, hello all. I'd say good morning, but when I first started to write this earlier today, it somehow got lost and I didn't feel like retyping it. I picked up someone's shift tonight at the station and I wanted to see what I could get done, which turns out, wasn't much.



As I mentioned earlier, I picked up some extra peripherals from my dad so I could work with all three computers without constantly having to switch out cable connections. Makes things quite a bit easier, although I don't like to think what kind of radiation that old monitor is throwing at me.

So, I poured myself a cup of coffee, checked the newest ways I could lower my insurance costs and increase my bust size, and got to work.



I dug out an old network card to stick in Silver so I could more easily acquire software updates. When I tried to stick it in, however, I remembered its an ISA, a slot for which does not exist in Silver. So, I had to pull out my 10/100 PCI from Fat Man, put that in Silver and put the 10Mbps ASI in Fatty for now.

I also found a really long patch cable so I could run Silver into my router located over on my desk.

Setting up the connection, I discovered a strange problem. The long, orange cable would work from the computer directly to the modem, but wouldn't work with the router. Any other cable would. Just the orange cable and just when connected to the router. Weird. The Anger Bunny took a beating over that one, I can tell you. I really hate networking.



So, this introduced a proximity predicament. I was forced to put the router on the floor under my work table and pull the modem over to the end of the desk. However, I was able to connect to the Internet and begin installing drivers and Windows updates. (I do, however get a strange connection error that I will ask you networking gurus about later.)

Paul Revere

Had to run to my parents' place during my dinner break to borrow a patch cable from my dad so I could get all three computers hooked together. (I'm so glad I got the 4 port router.) While I continue updating SIlver, I'll get these others to talk to each other again.

I'm off again tomorrow, so I've broken out the beer and will try to update you guys on my progress as often as possible.



Argh! Wheeling back and forth between the desk and the card table has just caused me to run over my toe!

And just a quick note while I'm running Windows Update...

I gotta tell ya, I'm in geek heaven here. Playing with three networked computers, listening to 80s pop and watching Doctor Who on PBS!

Tom Baker was such a badass. And that Sarah Jane...I think I still hold her up against every woman I meet.

Takes me back to my C64/RMAC days. If only I had one of those thin, 99-cent microwave pizzas...

I could swear ive seen 99cent frozen pizza down here. If you live in fort worth it's only a 200 mile trip down south just head down I-45

----------------------
how did I get in a cell?
Cell 650

The world can always use a new website...
MetalHead Magazine

Well, I tried posting this last night (i.e. 4:00 AM), but it was all lights out at the Asylum. So, here it is today:

Let's Dance

After completing all the necessary Windows updates, meanwhile discovering that my headphones will reach all the way to the toilet*, I get back to the fun hardware stuff.



I removed the Promise RAID card from Fat Man, as well as both 60Gb hard drives from their fan-cooled drive docks. I quickly discovered that those drive docks didn't keep the drives as cool as I thought ? couldn't hold the drives in my hand they were so toasty.

The dual 80mm fans in Silver, though, should keep them pretty cool in their new cage. And as for those drive docks, I've got plans for at least one of them later. (I'll give you one hint: I'm a paranoid, precautious son of a bitch.)

The RAID card popped in quite easily onto the new motherboard, at which point I discovered Silver will automatically boot up if you poke him. Oops ? forgot to pull the plug first.



The drive cage, which holds 5 drives, BTW ? perfect for upgrading that RAID ? slides in easily and fastens down with two thumb screws. (Did I mention I like this case?) Mounting those hot drives into the cage warmed up that cage pretty quickly, too, which assures me that it will act as somewhat of a heat sink, making it easier for those fans to blow the warmth away.



And more blue, round cables just to add to the coolness.

Brass Monkey

Boot-up went nicely. No need to set the array up again or reformat the drives after moving them. You just have to make sure you plug the same drives into the same IDE connections. All the data is preserved. (It was, of course, properly backed up, though, just in case.)

You know, there's really not much else to say here. RAID transfer = incredibly painless. Flash the BIOS, update the Windows drivers, reassign the drive letters the way I want them, and that's that.

The true test is yet to come, though. Gotta make sure my DVRex works well with this motherboard. I'll wait to relieve myself of that tension till tomorrow I think.


*Yes, I'm one of those people who actually tries not to disturb his apartment neighbors, although it's really not about respect as much as it's about not getting my cute little ass kicked. And on the way to the toilet, I once again realize what a pain it is having to step over all those blasted patch cables. But, I give the Anger Bunny a good head squish for it with each egress.

I have made an enormous mistake.

One of the problems I had when choosing a case was that I had to make sure the DVRex card had room. You see, the Rex card is a good 12" long.

So I had to make sure that the case, with all its drive cages, had clearance for the card. This is another reason I didn't want to order a case online. I wanted to physically measure the cases to make sure there was a spot for the Rex. I did so with this Lian-Li.

There are 7 slot openings in the case. The top one I left for the AGP slot. The next one down was for the first PCI; I could plug the Rex in there. Would the Rex bump into the built-in 3.5" drive cage? Nope. Would it clear the top of the removable drive cage? Yes. A 12" card using the 2nd slot opening down would indeed have room.



However, the top slot opening in the case isn't used with this motherboard. the AGP aligns with the 2nd opening down and the first PCI with the 3rd. Therefore, there isn't room for the Rex.

There are 7 slots in this board and 7 slot openings in the case. It made total sense that they would line up correctly. I assumed that CNR slot, whatever it was, was meant to use the bottom opening.

My only choice now is to remove the drive case, stick the RAID drives back in those docks and put them in the 5.25" bays above.

Or I could (a) spend another $1000 and get the newest Canopus card, which I believe is shorter, or (b) shop around for another motherboard that will fit. I never really came across another case that came close to working without getting a monster tower.

So, anyone want to buy a DVRex? I'm serious. It's an incredible editing system. I love it. The card is just long. I'll give you a good deal and I'll throw in Premiere 6.

No thanks...got my EZDV and ADVC, I'm all set...came with Premiere 6...bargain at AU$1500.

Koan 63, written on the wall of cell number 250:
Those who Believe
Can
Those who Try
Do
Those who Love
Live

This is fascinating. I have started a FAQ on building/upgrading a computer:
http://faq.ozoneasylum.com/672/

and customising/modifying your computer:
http://faq.ozoneasylum.com/673/

so throw in any tips and resources you know of.

DS: I've thrown in some links to some case manufaturers in the first one and there are various (UK focused) sites for buying computer stuff in both so you might be able to track down a case manufaturer. Have a look at the Frozen Case aluminium cube though

Wes; Keep up the good work We might need an Anger Bunny Rescue Center though by the end of this

___________________
Emps

FAQs: Emperor

Emps: added an apple site that had case mod ideas. applefritter.com



'Me no here. Me go bye. Leave me message. Me reply.'

Wolfen's Sig Site