My new build (work in progress)

[Calum]

Haha, nice idea

[homer]

Haha, nice idea

ditto 

[Calum]

Update: have decided not to make a switch after all.
I'm using either Wake On LAN, or the automatic "power on after AC loss" BIOS function.  Basically, if I shut it down and then use the PSU on/off switch, next item I want it to turn on I just flick the switch and wait a few seconds and it fires up.  When I get a new network switch I'll use WOL to turn it on I think.

[patio]

So the seat cushion is out of the question i guess ? ?

[Calum]

I think so, yes.
Don't really want to rip into my seat, and if I put a cushion on it to put the switch in the height will be all wrong.
Also, I tend to fidget around a lot, so the computer woudl be on and off constantly because I'd keep clicking the switch as I move.
Might consider it for another project though.

[patio]

            

Is she up and running ? ?

[Calum]

No OS yet, had a few teething troubles.  Eventually tracked them to a broken CD drive, but it basically kept booting to some Unix or Linux server OS that was on the HD, and failing because it came from a different machine.
Replaced the CD drive with a known working LG DVD drive and will try again soon.
It definitely powers up, shows a display, etc, and I can access the SCSI BIOS to configure various things.
The display was oddly wavy at first, lots of wavy lines, almost like static.
It was running for around 30 minutes in total though, whilst I checked BIOS settings and so on attempting to persuade it to boot from my Windows Server 2003 CD, and the display seemed to clear up.  not sure what caused that, but I'll have to keep an eye on it, maybe pick up a PCI video card for it.
The HDD passed the SCSI controller's built-in diagnostic test anyway and all hardware is recognised by the BIOS, so I think it should be good to go when I have time to install an OS.

[Calum]

OK, one of the heatsinks has fallen apart.  I'm postponing installation now until I have a replacement for it - I could go ahead and install an OS with one CPU, but I don't want to.
The wavy lines are still there in the BIOS menu but not whilst installing an OS (it got partway through and hung, probably due to CPU2 overheating - the heatsink looked secure, but it turned out it wasn't.  Any ideas on that, anyone?
Also, the RAM is getting rather hot, probably due to lack of airflow near the RAM.  The CPU coolers blow a lot of air across most of the board, including the PCI slots, graphics chip, northbridge and SCSI chip, but they only get cool air to the base of 1 RAM stick.  might have to mount a small fan up there to give them some airflow, they're packed very tightly together.

[patio]

Hit up your local PC repair shop for some older (hopefully FREE ) heatsinks...they probably have a bunch lying around.

[Calum]

I don't have a local PC shop, heh.
I think I have a spare arm (that's all it is, just the plastic part that holds the HS on) somewhere for it anyway.
Or, I could just hold it down really tightly

[patio]

Which style hold down is it for the heatsink/fan assembly ? ?
I may have something lying around the shop...

[Calum]

Standard Socket 370 - http://mdsurplus.com/store/images/sock370.JPG
Socket A/462 uses the same mounting system AFAIK, so when I can get to my Athlon XP computer (it currently has some models drying on top of it . . . no, plastic models . . . for a club at my old school) I'll see if I can scavenge the arm from the heatsink on that, as I'm replacing it with a better cooler anyway as it runs very hot.
I did superglue the arm originally when I broke it (nothing to lose, so it was worth a shot), it held the heatsink down just fine which surprised me, but I think the fan's vibrations undid the join.

[Calum]

OK, well the heatsink now seems to be fine with a scavenged arm holding it on.
However, I managed to drop the entire assembly onto the floor and I'm 99% sure I killed the HDD.
Everything powers up just fine, but then I get the dreaded "Start request unit failed" message from the SCSI controller.
I did get this when I first powered up the computer but from then on it was OK.  When I have the time I'll see if I an persuade it to work, but I'm fairly sure it's toast.  Unfortunately I can't afford a new drive right now (there's the exact same one on Ebay for £10, but I need the money for driving lessons) so it'll have to wait until I can splash out on all the new stuff I need.
The whole dropping on the floor thing though shows that the Intel board is pretty tough, I expected it would have cracked, taken damage form ESD from the carpet, or been otherwise damaged, but it's fine.