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CLIENTPRO 365's  I have noticed that there is no reference to this hardware here, so I decided to see how things go and begin writing about them.  
{|
|[[File:Clientpro365 front.gif]]
|[[File:MPC365-MidTwr.jpg]]
|}


These machines are prevalent on eBay and many people do not know what to do with them as they are a rare breed, especially since MPC is no longer in operation. 
CLIENTPRO 365 and other MPC models can be prevalent on eBay, Craigslist, and other avenues at times if you are interested in finding these workhorses. (2012)
So; support and drivers are very limited if non-existent, unless you count mpcdrivers dot com. Which I have had no luck with.  


The 414's came without power adapters so I have not played with them yet, but they do look promising and adapters are available on eBay and other sites.
Judging from Google searches; Most people (Windows users) do not know what to do with them as they are a proprietary mix-up where support and drivers for Windows are virtually non-existent. Especially since MPC is defunct.  
The 365's are very impressive 3GHz HT P4's on a decent Intel&reg; board <small>(Which I am currently writing a page about and will link here.)</small> although these MPC's are proprietary with there unusual* power routing, network, and video chips. [[File:Intel D915GRV-02.jpg|thumb|125px|right|*Unusual power connection, where both 4-pin sockets are connected and the 20/24 is using only the 20 pin.]]
This is why so many people are having difficulty configuring their products.
This is good in a way since that difficulty keeps the prices down to an awesome level.  
<small>(I have 8 machines on a modest budget.)</small>


My first experience was naturally with the 365 since it has a fairly standard PC chassis and PSU for the most part.* <br>(*Sort of traditional; comes in 2 flavours: Mid tower and a smaller Desktop which I have. )
However;
*'''Cons:'''
Hail to the Linux developers! For giving us a nice welcome OOTB experience. No Worries, it just works with LINUX!
** 1. The smaller desktop is a low profile box which limits expansion card height.
** 2. The board has limited slots on both models afaik.


I threw in a WD 320GB and a 1GB ram stick then loaded Winblows XP pro and tried Ubuntu 12.04 in a dual boot config.


I started reading about LinuxMCE today and thought these machines would be perfect for such a task.
A little disturbed about the driver issue, I later read on this site that 8.10 was the latest stable release, which got me thinking...
Yep, these are older machines and the latest Ubuntu releases are focusing more on the newer hardware, let me dig through my archives.
I dug out an old 8.04 386 kubuntu release and I am currently running it in live mode; Wow!
As I suspected; Everything works without a hitch. Right OOTB, a marriage made in heaven.


So I will clean up this page and give you very specific hardware info on the 365 soon.
== '''Pros:''' ==
As of right now it looks like LinuxMCE and the MPC CLINETPRO 365 with [[Intel D915GRV]] are going to get along great.  
These boards can handle up to 4gb of ram and have a LGA775 socket with a mean cooler & fan combo.  
* The 365 is a impressive Dual-Core P4 (socket 775) machine that shipped with a 3-3.2GHz HT P4 mounted on a decent Intel&reg; 900 series board.
* MPC products can usually be found at low prices for budget conscious shoppers.
* The CLIENTPRO 365 came in two configurations; A Mid-Tower and a Low-Profile Desktop.


== '''Cons:''' ==
* The smaller low profile compact box limits expansion card height and sata header access when using a full size 3.5 Hard Drive (HD).
* The [[Intel D915GRV]] has a limited number of expansion slots: 1 PCI Express 1x16, 2 PCI, and 1 PCIE. 
* The CLIENTPRO 365 / [[Intel D915GRV]] combo uses a somewhat unusual* power routing connection scheme where there is an extra 4pin molex on the board and the main power supply connection only uses a 20 pin connector in a 24 pin socket.
== Low profile 365 workaround suggestions* ==
<small> * The following suggestions belong solely to the author of this article: RjBradlow.</small>
* It would be better to use '4' 2.5 laptop drives with a Icy Dock MB994SP-4S Quad Bay 2.5" SATA/SAS Mobile Rack for use in a single 5.25" device bay above where the hard drive normally sits since using a 3.5HD in the factory location covers 3 of the 4 SATA ports when fully inserted.
*This way you get 4 drives up above the board that you can RAID, and then use a PATA/IDE DVD drive. This fills in the 2 available 5.25 bays and leaves room under for the board and cables.
**(ICY DOCK MN's: MB994SP-4S, MB994SP-4SB-1, or MB971SP-B  'DuoSwap dual multi-drive cage'.)
{|
|[[File:Intel D915GRV-Extra Molex.jpg|61px|thumb|*Unusual power connection]]
|[[File:D915GRV-20-24-PwrCon.jpg|thumb|67px|Do not use a 24 pin power connector!]]
|[[File:CP365-HD-obstruction.jpg|thumb|331px|HD Interference.]]
|[[File:MB994SP-4S.jpg|thumb|278px|ICY DOCK MB994SP-4S]]
|}
Visit the [[Intel D915GRV]] page for more details.
--RJBradlow 10:30, 23 April 2012 (CEST)
--RJBradlow 10:30, 23 April 2012 (CEST)

Latest revision as of 21:20, 24 April 2012

CLIENTPRO 365 and other MPC models can be prevalent on eBay, Craigslist, and other avenues at times if you are interested in finding these workhorses. (2012)

Judging from Google searches; Most people (Windows users) do not know what to do with them as they are a proprietary mix-up where support and drivers for Windows are virtually non-existent. Especially since MPC is defunct.

However; Hail to the Linux developers! For giving us a nice welcome OOTB experience. No Worries, it just works with LINUX!


Pros:

  • The 365 is a impressive Dual-Core P4 (socket 775) machine that shipped with a 3-3.2GHz HT P4 mounted on a decent Intel® 900 series board.
  • MPC products can usually be found at low prices for budget conscious shoppers.
  • The CLIENTPRO 365 came in two configurations; A Mid-Tower and a Low-Profile Desktop.


Cons:

  • The smaller low profile compact box limits expansion card height and sata header access when using a full size 3.5 Hard Drive (HD).
  • The Intel D915GRV has a limited number of expansion slots: 1 PCI Express 1x16, 2 PCI, and 1 PCIE.
  • The CLIENTPRO 365 / Intel D915GRV combo uses a somewhat unusual* power routing connection scheme where there is an extra 4pin molex on the board and the main power supply connection only uses a 20 pin connector in a 24 pin socket.


Low profile 365 workaround suggestions*

* The following suggestions belong solely to the author of this article: RjBradlow.

  • It would be better to use '4' 2.5 laptop drives with a Icy Dock MB994SP-4S Quad Bay 2.5" SATA/SAS Mobile Rack for use in a single 5.25" device bay above where the hard drive normally sits since using a 3.5HD in the factory location covers 3 of the 4 SATA ports when fully inserted.
  • This way you get 4 drives up above the board that you can RAID, and then use a PATA/IDE DVD drive. This fills in the 2 available 5.25 bays and leaves room under for the board and cables.
    • (ICY DOCK MN's: MB994SP-4S, MB994SP-4SB-1, or MB971SP-B 'DuoSwap dual multi-drive cage'.)


*Unusual power connection
Do not use a 24 pin power connector!
HD Interference.
ICY DOCK MB994SP-4S

Visit the Intel D915GRV page for more details. --RJBradlow 10:30, 23 April 2012 (CEST)

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