V2XT P3 Upgrade finally complete

[zcases]

We just completed our P3 Motherboard upgrade on our V2XT that gave us the "machine check failed" error over a month ago. Thanks to the clues here and EMI, we found the original problem was a bad com port on the motherboard. We went with the EMI patched software, and supplied our own motherboard and a new flatscreen monitor. Thanks all......if anyone wants detailed drawings on the monitor enclosure sheetmetal let me know.

Scott

[Riverside192]

I'm trying to do the same upgrade and I am having some problems. What mother board did you use and what brand of monitor are you using?My monitor an old one from Compac keeps blanking out. D.

[machintek]

Nice job! For the benefit of others, what was your cash outlay? And how many hours invested?

George

[zcases]

Riverside - I just saw your post, yes thats exactly what we did. We used a NEC Multi Sync 1560 monitor, and a Dell Pentium III motherboard w/ Windows 98. I think our monitor may be sleeping quicker than we want, but just hitting a key wakes it up.

[Riverside192]

Thanks for the info and from the looks of it you have a newer machine than mine. I take it that you have the BMDC and not the FMDC that I'm dealing with. Nice clean installation! I'll try to get some pictures when I get this thing up and running again. Hope mine turns out as well as yours did. D.

[NEATman]

Zcases-
I would be interested in the drawings that you have for the sheetmetal enclosure. I have an older V2XT that I have been using manually (I added handles) until I decide on the proper upgrade. Unfortunately I know that I have the older FMDC board. Can you confirm that yours is the newer BMDC? Also, if you can disclose the cost, it would be helpful. Any other tips or suggestions for someone in the planning stages?

Keith

[zcases]

Ours is actually an older FMDC machine.
NEATMan - what CAD system do you use? I could send model and drawings if you use Pro-E, or I can translate them.......or I can just send a pdf of the drawing.

Scott

PS - I will try to put together a cost summary as you requested George.

[NEATman]

Zcases-
Well, we have several cad packages. We are currently transferring to Pro-e, so that format would be great. That would allow me to alter it if I need to fit a different monitor, etc. I have sent you a private message with my e-mail.

Also, not to be a pain, but do you have a list of any additional parts you ordered to accomplish this? I would be greatly interested in the costing information as well.

Thanks-
Keith

[zcases]

NEATman - you should have drawings now. Sorry for the delay. The only additional items not shown in the drawings is a sheet of polycarbonate to protect the monitor. Not necessary.......but probably worthwhile.

The time/money is a difficult question. If I eliminate the extremely variable troubleshooting time as we were going through this upgrade......just the mechanics of installing and designing covers, fitting motherboard, laying out wiring, etc is probably in the 40 hour neighborhood.

We had our internal fab shop do the covers, and pulled the motherboard off a shelf, took the monitor out of stock. Monitors probably worth ~$350, sheetmetal ~$200, powdercoating ~$90, motherboard $??, EMI software $250.

I think in the long run it was the way to go. To replace the standard motherboard would have cost about the same, with less labor time, but now we have a better situation next time something goes bad on the PC side. And if that something is on the machine side, well then were poised for a gecko/Mach retrofit.

[Engo]

i need the booting disk for my v2xt sx15 contro.Machinetek inform me that he upload this file on yahoo groups but i cant find it

[NEATman]

You need to become a member, but here is the site.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/v2xt/files/

Down near the bottom. If you still have trouble, PM me and I can e-mail it to you.

Neatman