Compaq Deskpro EN vs. Windows Genuine Disadvantage

This Compaq Deskpro EN can do just about everything except pass the Windows Genuine Advantage test required to install Windows XP Service Pack 3. But I'm not too concerned about that, because it runs everything I need it to, including YouTube, and I have the hardware pretty much as fully upgraded as possible within its Small Form Factor case.

I've seen conflicting information on whether or not a later "Tualatin"-core Pentium III CPU will work directly with its motherboard, so for now, I have a "Coppermine"-core 1 GHz Pentium III installed, with a possible upgrade to 1.1 GHz, although that slight increase in clock speed might be cancelled out by the bus speed being reduced from 133 down to 100 MHz.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• compaq
• deskpro
• en
• sff
• small
• form
• factor
• pc
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• desktop
• case
• piii
• pentium
• iii
• 1.1
• ghz
• 1000
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• mhz
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• dvd
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• firewire
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• 2.0
• pci
• card
• aureal
• vortex
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• wireless
• 802.11g
• upgrade
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• windows
• xp
• sp2
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• genuine
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• fail
• failure
• warning
• product
• key

[Trance88]

Wow! Nice older computer. Probably one of the oldest that's still capable of doing most normal computing today. When is if from? 1999 or 2000 maybe?

[vwestlife]

@Trance88 Yes, it is from 2000.

[uxwbill]

It's also interesting to see that yours has Intel 815 graphics. Every one I've found has an nVidia GeForce MX100/200 chip built into the motherboard, right under the PCI slots. (Does yours have solder pads there?)

[vwestlife]

@uxwbill Both of my Deskpro ENs have Intel i82815 graphics. I do recall seeing lots of blank real estate on the motherboard under the card riser, with unused solder pads.

[NJRoadfan]

Well then find a key that works ;)

I'll take the PIII, I got a 440BX board here that can use an upgrade (just needs a slotket). A 550Mhz PIII can't cut it on youtube anymore. :(

[vwestlife]

@NJRoadfan It only cost me about $7 on eBay. And I noticed that Opera 11.51 plays video smoothly on the EN, while Firefox 6.0.2 is jerky (lots of dropped frames).

[vwestlife]

@wobblyman2000 While I support Linux in theory, in actual practice I need an operating system to get work done, not to play around with. Linux may work well for a small minority of people, but it does not fit my needs.

[Visuttaja]

@94gwilliams

1ghz Pentium 3 is more powerful than 1.2ghz Celeron ;)

[an65001]

@vwestlife You think Windows 2000 is a toy OS? XP is! I only use XP to play, but use Win2K and Win7 for real performance. And I am sick of seeing XP computers, however I do hope I vomit on them LOL. :P

[EtheradeLioncourt]

This computer is similar to the HP E-PC C10 that i had, Same CPU, chipset, but it was the e-pc form factor with a 3.5-inch bay for the HDD and a Laptop CD Drive Bay, it also ran Windows XP

[TechTipsForYou]

Hey vwestlife. Don't know if you remember me but I commented on your old Compaq Deskpro vid with my old account. I wish I still had this computer. Was a great little machine and it was pretty fast for daily use and for 20 bucks, I just considered that a great deal. I currently don't have that computer but man this made me think of what I used to run back in 08-09 lol. Great vid

[Gordonfreeman882]

tell me about soo adatpater for tulatin please or give me a link??

it´s important

[ChiefLeftenant]

@vwestlife also at Walmart. i got me a stereo 4 head Westinghouse VCR at Walmart for like 100 bucks about 10 years ago that it finally died about 2 years ago. i also got a Panasonic stereo 4 head VCR that got destroyed when i moved about 7 years ago. I really need to get a decent VCR again so I can digitally archive all my VHS movies.

[Dell0304]

This computer is very similar to my Dell Optiplex GX110. Same CPU, chipset, form factor, everything.

[yorgle11]

I got one of these machines today at a thrift. I was surprised mine has a 1.13GHz in it. I haven't figured out how to remove the heatsink yet but it must be a Tualatin, not a Coppermine (or it would be melting). I intend to try the ultimate P3 in it, a P3-S 1.4Ghz/512KB.

Check the model code on your chipset. If it's SL5NQ, it's a B0 stepping which supports Tualatin (might still need a BIOS flash maybe). There might be other Tualatin-compatible SL codes but that's the one I've seen documented.

[yorgle11]

Oh dude - you have THE keyboard!

Our first PC was a Wang with that same keyboard, I used it for many years and to this day I still can't type nearly as well on anything else.

One fateful day my dog stepped on it and broke the space bar, and I've been in mourning ever since. Every time I search ebay I come up empty.

I'm using that IBM Model M everybody raves about.. it's well built for sure but I can't type on it to save my life, I hope I can find one of those Wangs again.

[MichaelYoshiFan]

i have the same compaq deskpro EN 866 MHz :) 512 MB ram and 15 GB harddrive and cd-rom drive

[LAUGHINGMANWILL]

@Visuttaja cache size does matter lol