Epicenter
07-17-2008, 04:20 PM
We already know Socket 7 was the greatest socket ever produced. But just what is it really capable of? ...
The Goal: The ultimate Socket 7 system, built almost a decade later, combining the best possible balance of performance and versatility. With a touch of style as well.
Part I. The CPU.
Since Intel abandoned Socket 7 for the Pentium II architecture on Slot 1 (for shame!) and VIA's offerings are more geared toward low power/heat rather than higher performance, AMD is the rational choice for CPU in this project. So it's down to the K6-2, K6-2+, or K6-III.
The K6-2+ and K6-III *appear* to be the same architecture, except the K6-2+ has less L2 cache. It's well known that when a K6-III is used in a board with L2 cache soldered on, it acts as L3 cache, and providing a performance boost. If K6-2+ processors offer this functionality, however, is unknown.
K6-2+'es came out at up to 550 MHz, and some claim, 570 MHz. K6-IIIs though boasting superior performance, only came out at up to 450 MHz. I've heard of K6-2+'es achieving 600 Mhz using the 2x Multiplier setting, which is interpreted as 6x by the chip, yielding 100 Mhz FSB x 6 = 600 MHz. Are the K6-IIIs so scalable and might one achieve better performance at the same high clockrates?
Quite a dilemma. If I don't get some good ideas in that regard I'll just grab a bunch of K6-2's, K6-2+'es and K6-IIIs and see what happens.
II. The Motherboard
Probably the most crucial part of this project. I've opted for an mATX form factor, as I'm especially fond of the form factor for producing a neat, tidy machine that is still packed with power.
This leaves us with a number of choices. Most boards only allow up to the standard 100 MHz FSB. However some of them, like this one I've chosen (unless I hear some better ideas), allow up to 133 MHz to be used!
The board: Gigabyte GA-5SMM (http://www.motherboard.cz/mb/gigabyte/GA-5SMM.htm)
So, with a 133 Mhz FSB, 133 MHz SDRAM, and the right CPU, using a 6x multiplier, we have a theoretical maximum CPU clockrate of 798 MHz! The board also provides onboard AGP video, audio, and many other features. I'll be adding my own video and audio shortly as you'll see, as well as adding Ethernet capability. But we'll get to that.
Note there is no discrete AGP slot. However it is my opinion that given the CPU/RAM maximums involved in the Super7 arena, the PCI bus will be sufficient for providing the needed graphics performance. Instead of AGP, we get 3 PCI and 2 ISA slots, which will be thoroughly utilized.
III. Memory
PC133 will be a must, and I'm aiming for about 512MB. The OS I'll be running is Win98SE, so much more would be pointless. But the RAM absolutely must be capable of going to 133 MHz with the system bus.
IV. Video
This is quite a decision. There's just so many cards to choose from. My first instinct is to grab a 3Dfx VooDoo 3 2000 PCI 16MB like I had many years ago. That one overclocked from 143 to 230 MHz, where the clock generator maxed out-- and still ran stable. It even handled UT2003 in that state, paired with a K6-2 450 MHz. So what's our best choice for maximum performance within PCI?
V. Audio
I've decided on two distinct audio adapters. One will be for playback and MIDI synth-- so, the Yamaha YMF719 (ISA). The other will be for audio input/output to a few devices (read on). What the 2nd card will be is as yet unknown. If it is an ISA device, it will probably be an Ensoniq Soundscape. If a PCI one.. unknown. The onboard audio will most likely also be utilized, IRQs/DMA channels permitting.
VI. Power/Case
I'm looking at this case. It's a nice combination of compactness, attractiveness, understatedness, other things that don't end in -ness, provides sufficient space, and should provide more-than-effective cooling:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119088
As for a power supply, I'm looking at this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817194023
... a bit overkill, probably, but it can't hurt.
VII. Storage
I still need to investigate the largest HDs this board can work with. Ideally, I'd like to add a modern Western Digital SE16 disk (EIDE version) for maximum quiet. Removable drives will include at least one 5.25" floppy drive, a 3.5" floppy drive, and potentially some type of IDE-based card reader. If I have a front panel slot free, maybe I should put a fan controller or system monitor in there somewhere.
VIII. Cooling
With all this overclockery, I'd still like the machine to stay quiet. Very quiet. My other desktop's near silent, and once the older HDD is removed, fully silent. In the spirit of applying new technology to old, I intend to liquid-cool this system.
I've ordered one of these, for $45, the Thermaltake Aquarius II:
A simple affair with an 80mm radiator, a slow but quiet submerged pump and small hose diameter. Nothing too fancy, but more than up for the job, as it's able to effectively cool P4s at >3 GHz and high-TDP Athlon T-Birds and XPs. I may replace the slow pump with a much nicer X2O based submerged one with a higher flowrate.
What will this machine do?
I've got some specific goals in mind that a modern PC, with its lack of legacy ports and poor support for older OS'es with direct port access, aren't up to. In addition, real DOS support is crucial.
Other system functions:
- Interfacing with a shortwave radio transceiver via DB9/COM1 to control the PLL frequency, sweep/scan for signals. Capturing audio through one sound card, performing DSP-based processing and decoding of digital information sent via radio, displaying onscreen, recording, re-encoding to digital modes and transmitting via that sound card. Output to user via another card.
- Interfacing w/ a Famicom Disk System drive, for reading/writing of disk images and emulation of an FDS drive connected to an FDS RAM Adapter, all done over DB25/LPT1.
- Interfacing of a Sega Genesis to DB25/LPT2 for debugging functionality.
- Interfacing of a sound card to a Famicom Keyboard for emulation of cassette-based data storage/recall.
... and many more odd projects of mine.
Phew! That's it for now. I'm still in the "collecting parts" phase so I am open to any and all ideas on this endeavor. I will keep you all updated with my progress. Hope you enjoy. Also if you have any old Socket 7 era gear you'd like to donate to the project, or sell me for a reasonable price I'd be extremely interested. Please let me know. :) Take care everybody.
The Goal: The ultimate Socket 7 system, built almost a decade later, combining the best possible balance of performance and versatility. With a touch of style as well.
Part I. The CPU.
Since Intel abandoned Socket 7 for the Pentium II architecture on Slot 1 (for shame!) and VIA's offerings are more geared toward low power/heat rather than higher performance, AMD is the rational choice for CPU in this project. So it's down to the K6-2, K6-2+, or K6-III.
The K6-2+ and K6-III *appear* to be the same architecture, except the K6-2+ has less L2 cache. It's well known that when a K6-III is used in a board with L2 cache soldered on, it acts as L3 cache, and providing a performance boost. If K6-2+ processors offer this functionality, however, is unknown.
K6-2+'es came out at up to 550 MHz, and some claim, 570 MHz. K6-IIIs though boasting superior performance, only came out at up to 450 MHz. I've heard of K6-2+'es achieving 600 Mhz using the 2x Multiplier setting, which is interpreted as 6x by the chip, yielding 100 Mhz FSB x 6 = 600 MHz. Are the K6-IIIs so scalable and might one achieve better performance at the same high clockrates?
Quite a dilemma. If I don't get some good ideas in that regard I'll just grab a bunch of K6-2's, K6-2+'es and K6-IIIs and see what happens.
II. The Motherboard
Probably the most crucial part of this project. I've opted for an mATX form factor, as I'm especially fond of the form factor for producing a neat, tidy machine that is still packed with power.
This leaves us with a number of choices. Most boards only allow up to the standard 100 MHz FSB. However some of them, like this one I've chosen (unless I hear some better ideas), allow up to 133 MHz to be used!
The board: Gigabyte GA-5SMM (http://www.motherboard.cz/mb/gigabyte/GA-5SMM.htm)
So, with a 133 Mhz FSB, 133 MHz SDRAM, and the right CPU, using a 6x multiplier, we have a theoretical maximum CPU clockrate of 798 MHz! The board also provides onboard AGP video, audio, and many other features. I'll be adding my own video and audio shortly as you'll see, as well as adding Ethernet capability. But we'll get to that.
Note there is no discrete AGP slot. However it is my opinion that given the CPU/RAM maximums involved in the Super7 arena, the PCI bus will be sufficient for providing the needed graphics performance. Instead of AGP, we get 3 PCI and 2 ISA slots, which will be thoroughly utilized.
III. Memory
PC133 will be a must, and I'm aiming for about 512MB. The OS I'll be running is Win98SE, so much more would be pointless. But the RAM absolutely must be capable of going to 133 MHz with the system bus.
IV. Video
This is quite a decision. There's just so many cards to choose from. My first instinct is to grab a 3Dfx VooDoo 3 2000 PCI 16MB like I had many years ago. That one overclocked from 143 to 230 MHz, where the clock generator maxed out-- and still ran stable. It even handled UT2003 in that state, paired with a K6-2 450 MHz. So what's our best choice for maximum performance within PCI?
V. Audio
I've decided on two distinct audio adapters. One will be for playback and MIDI synth-- so, the Yamaha YMF719 (ISA). The other will be for audio input/output to a few devices (read on). What the 2nd card will be is as yet unknown. If it is an ISA device, it will probably be an Ensoniq Soundscape. If a PCI one.. unknown. The onboard audio will most likely also be utilized, IRQs/DMA channels permitting.
VI. Power/Case
I'm looking at this case. It's a nice combination of compactness, attractiveness, understatedness, other things that don't end in -ness, provides sufficient space, and should provide more-than-effective cooling:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119088
As for a power supply, I'm looking at this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817194023
... a bit overkill, probably, but it can't hurt.
VII. Storage
I still need to investigate the largest HDs this board can work with. Ideally, I'd like to add a modern Western Digital SE16 disk (EIDE version) for maximum quiet. Removable drives will include at least one 5.25" floppy drive, a 3.5" floppy drive, and potentially some type of IDE-based card reader. If I have a front panel slot free, maybe I should put a fan controller or system monitor in there somewhere.
VIII. Cooling
With all this overclockery, I'd still like the machine to stay quiet. Very quiet. My other desktop's near silent, and once the older HDD is removed, fully silent. In the spirit of applying new technology to old, I intend to liquid-cool this system.
I've ordered one of these, for $45, the Thermaltake Aquarius II:
A simple affair with an 80mm radiator, a slow but quiet submerged pump and small hose diameter. Nothing too fancy, but more than up for the job, as it's able to effectively cool P4s at >3 GHz and high-TDP Athlon T-Birds and XPs. I may replace the slow pump with a much nicer X2O based submerged one with a higher flowrate.
What will this machine do?
I've got some specific goals in mind that a modern PC, with its lack of legacy ports and poor support for older OS'es with direct port access, aren't up to. In addition, real DOS support is crucial.
Other system functions:
- Interfacing with a shortwave radio transceiver via DB9/COM1 to control the PLL frequency, sweep/scan for signals. Capturing audio through one sound card, performing DSP-based processing and decoding of digital information sent via radio, displaying onscreen, recording, re-encoding to digital modes and transmitting via that sound card. Output to user via another card.
- Interfacing w/ a Famicom Disk System drive, for reading/writing of disk images and emulation of an FDS drive connected to an FDS RAM Adapter, all done over DB25/LPT1.
- Interfacing of a Sega Genesis to DB25/LPT2 for debugging functionality.
- Interfacing of a sound card to a Famicom Keyboard for emulation of cassette-based data storage/recall.
... and many more odd projects of mine.
Phew! That's it for now. I'm still in the "collecting parts" phase so I am open to any and all ideas on this endeavor. I will keep you all updated with my progress. Hope you enjoy. Also if you have any old Socket 7 era gear you'd like to donate to the project, or sell me for a reasonable price I'd be extremely interested. Please let me know. :) Take care everybody.