My little, unique computer - need ideas

[skurczybyczek666]

Hello. I began to assemble a computer consisting mainly of old, but unique components. At this point I have a Voodoo 5 5500 AGP, Voodoo 1, Voodoo 2, Vortex 2 sound card, 800 MB HDD and 80 GB HDD.

I have a serious problem with the decision on the CPU and motherboard. I wanted to get the Pentium Extreme Edition 840 (the first dual-core processor for home computers), but there are no motherboards that support this processor and the AGP Universal 3.3 V. The solution could be adapter for AGP (AGP riser?), but I do not know how it could look like in action.

I also thought a Pentium III 1 GHz on Slot 1, but it's hard to find a motherboard for it, and it is not so efficient. Athlon 64 Fx 51 and 53 (the first 64-bit processors for home computers) are impossible to find. Athlon X3 and motherboards for it are too modern.

Now I do not know what to do. I need a unique, efficient processor with support for 64 bits.

I have no ideas what other components might be matching. I intend to get the mouse Razer Boomslang 2000 and very good Be quiet PSU. I'm dreaming about the CD-ROM drive Kenwood True-X 72x (but it's impossible to find).

What else can I add to the set? What CPU and motherboard I should get? Do you have any ideas?

[goriath]

If you are worried about that (CPU, motherboard etc..) your best bet would be Voodoo5 5500 PCI. You can install that card in every system has a PCI slot, older and newer. Simple, easily achievable, logic.

[skurczybyczek666]

Finding a Voodoo 5 PCI card is too difficult.

[Risky50]

If you plan on getting Voodoo5 PCI, 2 Things you may need to considure.

1 - According to goriath, if you want to enjoy the MAXIMUM out of the card, get the motherboard with PCI-X. This what he mentioned "You can install Voodoo5 5500 PCI in any standard PCI slot (32bit x 33MHz = 133 MB/s). But in order to enjoy the full bandwidth, you must install the card in a motherboard with a PCI-X slot (32bit x 66MHz = 266 MB/s...the same as AGP)."

2. - (Optional) If possible, get the Voodoo5 MAC PCI version, as they have DVI Output. I am waiting for my own Voodoo5 MAC PCI to arrive anytime soon, and assuming if I'm right, I will use the DVI to HDMI converter, and plug in to my LCD TV. That should give me approximately 1680X1050 & Play 3dfx Games on WIDE TV screen, LIKE NEVER BEFORE!. That's just me.

Hope this should give u some idea. =)

[skurczybyczek666]

In what ways is the MAC version better than normal version? Is it only because it is more suitable for connecting your TV?

[TheJohnKerrys]

Good luck on finding a dual core agp 2.0 board..So that idea is out,I would say the best you could do is a Socket 478 P4(HT) with agp 2.0 or the single A socket KT333.There a list of boards on here somewhere for socket A and 478 that work with the 5500's.For my build iam going athlon KT333 only because a friend gave me a CPU for free.

[bytesaber]

I am waiting for my own Voodoo5 MAC PCI to arrive anytime soon, and assuming if I'm right, I will use the DVI to HDMI converter, and plug in to my LCD TV. That should give me approximately 1680X1050 & Play 3dfx Games on WIDE TV screen, LIKE NEVER BEFORE!. That's just me.

I'm also considering getting a Voodoo5 MAC PCI version of a 5500.  Curious what your outcome was.  Does flashing it to PC really work?  I'm interested in trying out the same but having a hard time finding out what widescreen resolutions can be done on either the VGA or DVI port.  I am assuming it boils down to what the game engines are willing to do.  While not gaming and just using a desktop, a widescreen resolution would be great too.

Wikipedia says the MAC versions did not have the same mpeg2 decoding ability as the PC versions.  Do you think that is fixed if flashed to a PC version?

Do you have any flashing advise?  Total newb here.

[TheJohnKerrys]

Theres a post on the forum here of a list of 3.3v agp P4 boards and socket A stuff for voodoo5's..I know from digging for months that 533FSB is as big as ya gonna find with 3.3v agp..I used this site to search for the cpu i had and then checked the board for 3.3v compatablity by going to the makers web site for drivers http://www.cpu-upgrade.com/index.html

[TheJohnKerrys]

One more thing..If ya gonna go P3 get a tualatin cpu compatable board(Intel 815eea2) some of them are b steping boards and can use teh P3-s (512kb l2 instead of 256)I just got a p3-s 1.2 for 5$ from ebay