BeigeXPS Re-Build

[Sousuke]

BeigeXPS Re-Build 

 

​I've decided to rebuild a Dell Dimension XPS T700r from 1999 to use as a Windows 95 to 98 Gaming PC.

 

Current Specifications:

Intel Pentium 3 @ 700Hz

760MB of SD Ram

40GB IDE Hard Drive

CD-Rom Drive

10/100 Ethernet Card

3.5" Floppy Disk Drive

nVidia TNT2 32MB Graphics Card.

 

 

What are my plans?

 

This system hasn't got to me yet so when I get it I will be uploading plenty of pictures, cleaning the system up, installing Windows 98 SE and some retro games!

 

Perhaps even upgrading this system to be a killer gaming rig ... for 1999 

 

Here is the only Pic I have at the moment from the eBay Seller:

 

 

I think it will be a blast of the past and have a little bit of fun :lol:

 

If you have any ideas for me then post it

[flibberdipper]

Get a GeForce4 MX440 off of eBay. 64MB at least, 128MB is great. Mine was a beast.

 

#VooDoo3MasterRace

[Norman_the_Owl]

Ah man, beige cases are the best...i should get one

[Sousuke]

Get a GeForce4 MX440 off of eBay. 64MB at least, 128MB is great. Mine was a beast.

 

#VooDoo3MasterRace

Sounds like a plan, found one on eBay for £10 so may get that

 

Ah man, beige cases are the best...i should get one

I know they are awesome, too bad its hard to find good ATX ones in the UK otherwise i'd have used one in my gaming PC for just the fun of it!

[Sousuke]

Sorry guys this is officially canceled.  Rebooted!

 

There was a fan missing that I didn't know about and the CPU Fried itself when I was trying to install Windows 98.

 

I am MAJORLY pissed off & I give up on any project like this. So this computer is now going into the Skip.  Getting some TLC

Edited October 30, 2014 by Sousuke

[flibberdipper]

Sorry guys this is officially canceled.

 

There was a fan missing that I didn't know about and the CPU Fried itself when I was trying to install Windows 98.

 

I am MAJORLY pissed off & I give up on any project like this. So this computer is now going into the Skip.

You're dead to me for killing a PIII.

 

And why do you give up on projects like this?

[Sousuke]

You're dead to me for killing a PIII.

 

And why do you give up on projects like this?

 

I'm not in the best place at the moment mentally, lost my job a few months ago and just wanted to get this up and running clean it up and when i got a job start upgrading but when it failed I was just like WTF FU. Its still in bits on my desk so may buy another Slot 1 P3. 

 

I don't know much about these older dells and didn't think to check if there should have been some sort of CPU Fan as the older designs used to be fanless. So kicking myself about that as I never checked to see if the CPU Was overheating.

[flibberdipper]

I'm not in the best place at the moment mentally, lost my job a few months ago and just wanted to get this up and running clean it up and when i got a job start upgrading but when it failed I was just like WTF FU. Its still in bits on my desk so may buy another Slot 1 P3. 

 

I don't know much about these older dells and didn't think to check if there should have been some sort of CPU Fan as the older designs used to be fanless. So kicking myself about that as I never checked to see if the CPU Was overheating.

Damn. I was looking at Slot 1 PIII's on eBay today for HELIOS, oddly enough, and I was seeing 500MHz variants going for $20 or so with the fan and stuff.

[Sousuke]

Damn. I was looking at Slot 1 PIII's on eBay today for HELIOS, oddly enough, and I was seeing 500MHz variants going for $20 or so with the fan and stuff.

 

Well fuck it, just spent £10 on a 833MHz PIII ... Why not.

[flibberdipper]

Well fuck it, just spent £10 on a 833MHz PIII ... Why not.

Man, that's not a bad deal, TBH.

[Sousuke]

Man, that's not a bad deal, TBH.

Its not bad at all and I have the fan from my AMD 6300 CPU that I can put onto it with a bit of a bodge. 

[Sousuke]

Right so will update this what i've done so far ... Mostly cleaning as with the CPU Failure (Think that it was on its way before I received it after I took it apart and the thermal pad/compound was well ... shit. Right so lets post what I've done so far.

 

The pictures are large as was taken on a D3200 DSLR so all of the images are in spoilers.

 

So here is the system in question a Dell Dimension XPS T700r:

 

First thing I did was take everything out and make sure that the dust was removed, which there was quite a bit of dust, not the worst i've seen but still took 5 years off my lifetime.

 

Some more internal shots:

 

Here is the Graphics Card:

 

Here is the original 700MHz P3 CPU (RIP):

 

Now I am a noob with it comes to older PCs So I didn't know that a fan was missing as some of these older machines didn't have a CPU Fan. So this is as far as I got with the Software Installation:

 

After formatting the system restarted and then the CPU Failed the Bios CPU Self Test, no matter what I did the CPU Would not work so I've bought a replacement P3 CPU, a 833MHz P3 so will be faster than the original so I'd call it a forced upgrade.

 

Thats on its way so with this time to spare ... I am going to take the time to give the eternal case some TLC. 

 

Plus I had a spare IDE DVD Drive from the same era (So Pre 2000) so thats going on the machine as its going to be a killer Pre 2000 built machine

[Sousuke]

So this machine cleaned up very well, unfortunately some marks you just can not get out however I think i've done really well on this machine.

 

Before:

 

 

After:

 

 

She looks almost brand new Now only to install a new CPU and she'll be running Windows 98 SE In no time!

[Sousuke]

Update Time.

 

So for some reason the CPU Didn't want to work, kept on coming up as a Autoresize Cache error. So Decided to take off the heatsink of it and put it onto my P3 700MHz.

 

Now I was still annoyed so I decided to investigate further and BAM It hit me, the Memory inside the system was miss matched and the system didn't like 2 of the memory chips, turns out that 1 stick (Probs the original Dell memory) was 100MHz whilst the other 2 was 133 MHz which was annoying as it now left the Memory at a small 128MBs. Perhaps I will buy 2 more 128MB sticks to get it up to a reasonable amount.

 

The 700MHz CPU Isn't Dead so @tmcclelland455 your faith can be restored in me. So I've still got a 833MHz P3 here which I may or may not just keep as a ornament or when I decide to get another P3 system :lol:

 

So here is a Picture of the system all up and running and with my "Modified" CPU Cooler!

 

 

Yes I know the fan is overkill however and the thermal compound is Arctic Silver 5 so once again overkill.

 

So something Ive only just found out is that there is NO Sound card in this computer ... which is strange to say the least :lol: So will need to source one of those!

[flibberdipper]

Awww, I can't see the pic, since school blocked whatever service you're using.

[Sousuke]

Awww, I can't see the pic, since school blocked whatever service you're using.

 

Schools are crap aren't they! I use Photobucket as I own a DSLR I actually have a premium account with them.

[Sousuke]

 

Yes an old school Microsoft "Mouse Port Compatible Mouse 2.2A"

 

I am trying to do a 100% Beige Setup just for the heck of it, finding a good flat CRT or Beige LCD is a challenge however I am keeping my eyes out for one!

 

I know this isn't the most eventful build log but don't worry more is to come as a Sound Card is on its way and I will need to replace some faulty RAM Modules (512mb of the RAM Was faulty so need to replace them) Plus new GPU will be installed!

 

Stay Tuned as soon this will go from boring to awesome (I hope).