Difference between revisions of "MPC CLIENTPRO 365"

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m (I'm still working here... I just tried to get off of my iPad and finish editing this from the 365 running kubuntu 8.04 live... But can't find this page!)
 
m (Workaround Suggestions)
 
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This just in and more to follow as I explore the full hardware compatibility for these 2 machines.  
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{|
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|[[File:Clientpro365 front.gif]]
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|[[File:MPC365-MidTwr.jpg]]
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I have 2 MPC CLIENTPRO 365's and 6 MPC CLIENTPRO 414's and I have noticed that there are no references to this hardware on this site so I decided to see how things go.
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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)
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.  So support and drivers are very limited if non-existent, unless you count mpcdrivers dot com. Which I have had no luck with.  
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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.
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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 HT P4's on a well done intel board although all MPC's are very proprietary and this is why so many people are having difficulty with their product lines. Which is good since that keeps the prices down to an awesome level. (I have 8 machines on a modest budget.)
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My first experience is naturally with the 365 since it has a standard PC chassis and psu for the most part.
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However;
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.
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Hail to the Linux developers! For giving us a nice welcome OOTB experience. No Worries, it just works with LINUX!
The network and audio do not work in either instance.
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After a little research I tracked down some drivers and got the network to run in xp.
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I started reading about LinuxMCE today and thought these machines would be perfect for such a task.  
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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...
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Yep, these are older machines and the latest Ubuntu releases are focusing more on the newer hardware, let me dig through my archives.
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I dug out an old 8.04 386 kubuntu release and I am currently running it in live mode; Wow!
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As I suspected; Everything works without a hitch. Right out of the box, a marriage made in heaven.
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So I will clean up this page and give you very specific hardware info on the 365 soon.
 
As of right now it looks like the 365 with its 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.
 
  
More to come soon.
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== '''Pros:''' ==
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* 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.
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* MPC products can usually be found at low prices for budget conscious shoppers.
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* The CLIENTPRO 365 came in two configurations; A Mid-Tower and a Low-Profile Desktop.
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== '''Cons:''' ==
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* The smaller low profile compact box limits expansion card height and sata header access when using a full size 3.5 Hard Drive (HD).
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* The [[Intel D915GRV]] has a limited number of expansion slots: 1 PCI Express 1x16, 2 PCI, and 1 PCIE. 
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* 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.
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== Low profile 365 workaround suggestions* ==
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<small> * The following suggestions belong solely to the author of this article: RjBradlow.</small>
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* 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.
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*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.
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**(ICY DOCK MN's: MB994SP-4S, MB994SP-4SB-1, or MB971SP-B  'DuoSwap dual multi-drive cage'.)
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{|
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|[[File:Intel D915GRV-Extra Molex.jpg|61px|thumb|*Unusual power connection]]
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|[[File:D915GRV-20-24-PwrCon.jpg|thumb|67px|Do not use a 24 pin power connector!]]
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|[[File:CP365-HD-obstruction.jpg|thumb|331px|HD Interference.]]
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|[[File:MB994SP-4S.jpg|thumb|278px|ICY DOCK MB994SP-4S]]
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|}
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Visit the [[Intel D915GRV]] page for more details.
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--RJBradlow 10:30, 23 April 2012 (CEST)

Latest revision as of 22:20, 24 April 2012

Clientpro365 front.gif MPC365-MidTwr.jpg

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)