PlanetZ forums - scopeusers.com

Hi everyone,

since i'm planning to downgrade i'd like to know if my current mainboard is ok with a pulsar II, any inputs appreciated!

Here's the specs:

Dell Optiplex 780 MT (Mini Tower)

Processor
Socket: LGA775 Socket

RAM
Type: DDR3 SDRAM (non-ECC memory only)
Speed: 1067 MHz
Connectors: four
Capacity: 1 GB or 2 GB non-ECC
Minimum memory:1 GB
Maximum memory: 8 GB

Video
Integrated: Intel graphics media accelerator X4500 up to 256 MB shared video memory (total system memory greater than 512 MB)
Discrete: PCI Express x16 slot supports either a PCI Express card or a DVI add-on card (for dual-monitor support)

Audio
Integrated: Intel high definition audio

Network
Integrated: Intel integrated network interface card capable of 10/100/1000 Mb/s communication

System Information
Chipset: Intel® Q45 Express chipset w/ICH10DO
DMA channels: eight
Interrupt levels: 24
BIOS chip (NVRAM): 64 Mb

Expansion Bus
Bus type:
PCI 2.3
PCI Express 2.0
SATA 1.0A and 2.0
eSATA
USB 2.0

Bus speed: PCI:
133 MB/s
PCI Express:
x1-slot bidirectional speed — 250 MB/s
x16-slot bidirectional speed — 8 GB/s
SATA: 1.5 Gbps and 3.0 Gbps
eSATA: 3.0 Gbps
USB: 480 Mbps

Cards
PCI: up to two full height cards
PCI Express x1: one full height card
PCI Express x1: 6one full height card
NOTE: The PCI Express x16 slot is disabled when a display is connected to the integrated video connector.

System Board Connectors

PCI 2.3: data width (maximum) — 32 bits, two 120-pin connectors
PCI Express x1: data width (maximum) — one PCI Express lane, one 36-pin connector
PCI Express x16: one 164-pin connector, data width (maximum) — 16 PCI Express lanes
Serial ATA: four 7-pin connectors
Memory: four 240-pin connectors
Internal USB device: one 10-pin connector (supports two USB ports)
Processor fan: one 5-pin connector
Hard-drive fan: one 5-pin connector
Front panel control: one 40-pin connector
Processor: one 775-pin connector
Power 12V: one 4-pin connector
Power: one 24-pin connector

and here's the block diagram i found at Intel:

yeah, it should work.

Thanks Gary I'll give it a shot...

you know, since it's a mini tower, the real question is "will the card fit in the case?"....

well, it's called a mini tower, but the manual states there's room for 2 full lenght pci cards...
I'm more worried with all the onboard stuff I don't need..

well, that's not a problem. just disable ports you aren't using in the bios. if there are irq issues between Scope and usb, you can disable the offending usb contrller in the device manager. i find that newer motherboards(socket 775 and later) generally work with little hassle. you will need to disable power stepping and the like, but this is for performance over power savings, so it's a small issue as well.