My IBM ThinkCentre A50p tower upgrade

[ThinkPad560X]

I've been using my IBM ThinkCentre A50p for over 10 years, nice mid size tower and built solid, but heavy. My setup basically, Have all this "Monitor, mouse, ThinkPad keyboard. http://www.pasocomclub.co.jp/img/1100000141914-1.jpg

The System right now is a Intel Pentium 4 3.0GHz HT, 4GB RAM Maxed. Stock 350Watt PSU, Nvidia GeForce GT 520 card, CD/RW Drive, CD/RW/DVD-ROM Drive, 1.44MB Floppy Drive. IBM PCI WiFi card, AverMedia PCI AV/S-Video/Cable capture card, PCI PCMCIA plug card. 80GB HDD running Microsoft Windows XP Professional, SATA 1TB 2nd HDD.

This machine still runs great for me but need to upgrade the board to play newer games on it.

So far I got these, and they should last me for a long time for all I do.

Intel Motherboard DB75EN, 8GB RAM "Maxing it later to 32GB over time" New Intel Celeron Processor 1155LGA "Just to get the system up and running, Getting a Intel Core i7 later" Currently going to use the Nvidia GeForce GT 520 card for now and may get the latest one later, Nvidia 980 card, should last me for years. Need to get a PSU. What size do I need? I was thinking just a 1000Watt and would be fine. what would be recommended for a i7 and Nvidia 980 card?

SATA CD/RW/DVD-ROM Drive, SATA Blu-Ray Drive. Bought a brand new 1TB SATA HDD.

[axur-delmeria]

I'm more worried about the cooling and airflow of that casing, especially since you intend to put an i7 and a Geforce 980 in there.

Modern desktop casings have 120mm fans, plus vents or perforated metal sheets to let more air to come in.

I've encountered Thinkcentre minitowers before, and IIRC there's one 80mm exhaust vent in the rear (which I had to drill holes to in order to attach a fan) and a 92mm mount in front which is obstructed by the very restrictive intake vent in the lower part of the front bezel. You can use high-speed fans to overcome that, but the resulting noise might be unpleasant.

PSU-wise, even a 750w unit is OK.

CPU-wise, there's little benefit in getting a K series (overclockable) processor since only the Z-series chipsets allow overclocking, unless you get one for cheap.
A circa-2011 Core i7-2600 (Sandy Bridge) is still quite powerful. You should also upgrade the CPU cooler as well, as the stock Intel cooler is inadequate for an i7 IMO, though I have to admit choices are quite limited as tower coolers with 120mm fans probably wont fit inside that casing.

[ThinkPad560X]

It has a fan in the front and one in the back, I maxed everything out when I bought this tower, even has the built in speaker. The Intel cooling fan, I bought the recommended i7 cooler then the celeron one. The i7 has a copper base the the stock Celeron metal. Their is air vents on the side on the case, can't see it in the image. The other problem I'm going to run into is the motherboard port shield isn't going to snap in / fit. The IBM board uses a folded tin plate attached to the board and just fits in. http://cnet2.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/r/201 ... back-2.gif

http://images.esellerpro.com/2131/I/540/74/M50.jpg

Also debaiting if wanting to install my retail Windows 7 Professional 64bit copy on it or Windows 10 Pro, or keep Windows XP Pro on it still. I have x64-bit too. Some games have problems with Windows 7 and XP still plays them fine witch is why this system still has XP on it with Chrome browser. And then read the bad things the current OS, Windows 10 has so don't know if I want to go to 10 Pro or not.

What brand PSU is the best to get then that is a 750WATT? I found a 1000WATT no name brand on ebay for $49.00, but don't trust no name brands. I looked for IBM PSUs and the highest they made was 400WATT HIPOINT.

[axur-delmeria]

I would suggest Seasonic PSUs despite the price, as most of their models have a 5-year warranty.

Regarding the airflow issues, I'm just voicing my concerns based from previous experience with that type of casing. If your system runs cool , that's well and good. But if you experience higher-than acceptable temps, you may end up modding the casing to improve airflow.

The other problem I'm going to run into is the motherboard port shield isn't going to snap in / fit.

I can't remember if I cut off part of the back of the casing (with a Dremel) to make the I/O shield fit-- the casing isn't with me anymore as it was part of a one-off PC build for a client, and that was 4 years ago. I've modded quite a few casings since then and can't remember all the details.

[RealBlackStuff]

+1 for Seasonic PSU.
Measure the metal plate around the ports.
If the new mobo's plate is bigger than the case-opening, cut something away from the case.
Difference shouldn't be all that big.

[ThinkPad560X]

After hours of installing the motherboard and getting Windows installed without the CD drive, since I forgot I only had IDE drives in this "Ordered a SATA CD/RW/DVD Drive" I have it up and running. I installed the new 1TB HDD and put the old 80GB in the box to save the files later. I did a complete new install of Windows XP Professional 32bit on the 1TB HDD and had to set bios to IDE compat. I finished installing Service Pack 1,2,3 and got the Intel board drivers installed and built in speaker working. Got Google Chrome installed and running. Before I can install the older games, I wanted to get the latest updates for Windows XP to have it fully back up to date. When I click on Windows Update in the START, It doesn't bring me to Windows Update. instead it takes me here: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ A blue metro site called Windows Server IIS.

[ThinkPad560X]

Well I just ran Windows Update on my ThinkPad Z60m that had Windows XP on it for years and it still loads up Windows Update. I don't know why the new install is bringing me to that other site. I'm going to try to install IE8 and see if it works.

By the way their is still updates for Windows XP being made. I just updated 3 security updates for windows xp, 10/04/2015 are the release date is says for them.


It was the IE6, after the install of IE8, I was able to load the WindowsUpdate page.

[Easy Wind]

After hours of installing the motherboard and getting Windows installed without the CD drive, since I forgot I only had IDE drives I finished installing Service Pack 1,2,3

FYI - You can go straight to SP3 and install that as that gets you the same updates that SP1 and SP2 give you

[ThinkPad560X]

Here's a update on my IBM ThinkCentre A50p with images. http://patcomps.weebly.com/

Now the A50p has 5 Windows OS running on it with each having its own 1TB HDD. Microsoft Windows XP Professional 32-bit "Didn't want to install the x64bit", Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit, Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit, Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit and still on the waiting to install Windows 10 Pro 64-bit. The faceplate even got replaced with a NetVista of the same model case with added Intel inside Core i7 sticker. Has a CD/RW/DVD-Rom drive, CD/RW/DVD LightScribe Blu-Ray Drive and the 1.44MB Floppy Drive still. Running a Intel Motherboard DB75EN that has all the classic ports hardware. Intel Core i7 3.0GHz, 8GB RAM so far, maxing to 32GB later. Running the Graphics card from the A50p original motherboard Nvidia GeForce 520 1GB, will be getting a new one later. On the desktop next to the tower is the 19" IBM ThinkVision LCD along with the IBM travel keyboard and mouse. Next to the monitor is my notes PC, a IBM NetVista X40 Pentium III Windows XP Pro machine. It is a all in one PC and I think the only all in one PC IBM made X40 and X41. X41 had a Pentium 4 with a external AC PSU, X40 has it built in and chose that.

I have another IBM NetVista tower that is a Pentium III that runs 4 Windows OS. Microsoft Windows 95, 98SE, ME and 2000 Pro. Only used for older software.

Also all the HDDs in the PCs only 1 drive is powered, the others are not so it should stay cool and low powered, I have to unplug and plug in each drive I want to use at that time.

[ThinkPad560X]

Having a problem with my HDDs. I was recently using Windows Vista Ultimate getting it fully up to date and such, I wanted to switch over to Windows 7 Ultimate and so I shut off the computer unpluged the sata and power cord and pluged into the 7 HDD. Boot the computer and on the Windows load screen I get the flicker of blue screen and restarts. I did repair/restore. Did the same thing. I pluged in Windows 8.1 Pro, It blue screened and then Windows XP Pro, It blue screened on Windows load and now pluged back in Vista and typing this.I don't know if Windows does something to the motherboard or not but none of the other OS want to load now. If the computer isn't meant to run more then one Windows I might have to install each version of Windows on a PC and that would be a lot of space plus this made it easy to have one PC and all Windows on it.

[axur-delmeria]

Did you turn off the PSU (via the switch at the rear if your PSU has it) or unplug it from the outlet before moving the SATA cables?

[ThinkPad560X]

No, I never done it before.

[ThinkPad560X]

I just tried out all the drives and and unpluged the desktop and even discharged it by pressing the power button. Still all get blue screened except for Windows Vista that was last ran.