It started as a simple processor upgrade.

[Siliconjunkie]

Monday, I ordered my spiffy new XP2500 Barton from Newegg. It got here Thursday morning as expected. I immediately began sugery to install it and all went well. Then I powered it up. BIOS says XP1700. So I double check everything and all appears right. I let it boot and WCPU confirms it is only running as a 1700+.

A quick trip to Gigabytes site tells me that my GA-7VRXP won't support it. After a bit of cussing myself for not doing my homework I head off to fry's to see what they have that will work for me.

After some shopping I walk out with a shiney new Soyo SY-KT400 DRAGON Ultra. After getting home and backing everything up I swap it out, and all is good. Still tinkering with it and getting settled back in, if there is interest I will post some more info on what I think of it.

For now here are some pics, follow the links for full size. Or just goto here for the spiffy gallery thing.
Full SizeFull Size Full Size

That's a pretty shiny mobo, there, SJ!

Did it come with many extras? SOYO used to ship lots of goodies with their mobos.

Cheers
Mick

edit:... and is that the stock GlobalTech HSF that came with the XP, or not??

[iNeb]

Nice board, shiney like mick says. How's the new 2500+ treating you?

[Urban_Squrill]

I had a mobo just like that. Then a screw driver attacked it anc my cpu when attaching a hs/f. Killed them both. Watch out for those sam screwdrivers.

[Siliconjunkie]

Mick: mmmm, extras. Yes, it came with a front USB2/CF reader that goes in the floppy bay or in a full size bay with an adapter. But, I dont run a floppy so it fits there nicely.

HSF is a GlobalTech Silent Breeze (replaced a Zalman that was repurposed) so far its quiet, not exactly cool, but within reason.

Ineb: So far so good, I upgraded from a 2100+ (also repurposed) so its not a huge leap, but its a bit snappier.

Squrill: A friend at work did that to his 7VRXP as well. Doing that always made me nervous. I liked the little tool that came with my Zalman. Made life so easy.

I have a couple of little gripes, they should have used black ink to mark the jumpers and such, white on silver is hard to see down in the case. The diagrams for the USB/CF reader were terrible, had to figure that one out. RAM had to be in the #3 slot for it to boot. I would have preferred a brand other than VIA for the NIC, but it works. Just have to make a new ghost floppy. There are a couple other things, but I can't think of them at the moment and I actually have to be at work during the day tomorrow so I have to run.

[EvilCrow]

Siliconjunkie, would you mind telling me your complete specs? I'd like to know what you've put into that baby!

[Bullion]

That always happens
Secretly i think we do it on purpose to get a new toy

[ChubTub]

Wow like that MB. going to have to get me one of those.

Wonder what color of cold caths I would need to put in there to make it look cool.

[EvilCrow]

Originally posted by ChubTub
Wow like that MB. going to have to get me one of those.

Wonder what color of cold caths I would need to put in there to make it look cool.

Probably red would look cool. It really doesn't matter much since the color of the board is silver/gray.

[Bob The Great]

very nice! I don't think you mentioned your vid card? Is it black??? The whole system sure looks nice together!