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I have a 1U rackmount server lying around with an old Pentium 4 motherboard (Super Micro P8SCi). To upgrade this server (on a small budget), can I keep the case/chassis and simply replace the motherboard with a newer generation motherboard? If so, which class of motherboards must I look for?

Thanks in advance

P.S. - The motherboards I have in mind for this upgrade are either the Intel XEONs or Core i7's. And yes I'm aware I need new memory too.

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2 Answers

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Technically it might be possible but is the chassis worth that much? Unless you can receive assurance that the new MB fits 100%, it may be too much grief. As noted you need new MB, RAM and CPU and possibly power supplies And keeping old power supplies would be asking for a failure.

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+1 for old power supplies being a pain. People always overlook those. – ErnieTheGeek Jun 10 '11 at 21:05
Good point. The PSU issue did cross my mind but I ignored it. The thrill of turning nothing into something blinded me – crashintoty Jun 11 '11 at 7:18
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Personally, I wouldn't bother for a 1U box. I've built a few rack-mount boxes over the years, but almost all 2U, simply because it's easier to fit things in and easier to buy stuff that will fit.

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Like what things? – crashintoty Jun 11 '11 at 7:20
Fans, memory, daughter cards, hard drives, power and data cables, everything. It's fun once or twice to fit all the pieces nicely in a 1U, but it's a lot faster with the extra space in a 2U. – Ward Jun 12 '11 at 1:50

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