Converting a 1u Server Into a Desktop

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Nexus109

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Sep 1, 2014
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Hello,
I am looking into converting a 1u HP Proliant 160 G6 server into a desktop gaming computer. Would it be possible to buy a new tower case for the motherboard and a PSU and throw an R9 290x inside? Another question I have, would the 2x Intel Xeon L5639 @ 2.13GHz pose a serious bottleneck because of its low single thread performance?
(I figured I would bite the bullet and ask the question now because I have the opportunity to buy a R9 290x for 399 today only)

Link to motherboard schematic:
http://h20565.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/template.PAGE/public/kb/docDisplay?javax.portlet.begCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&javax.portlet.endCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&javax.portlet.prp_ba847bafb2a2d782fcbb0710b053ce01=wsrp-navigationalState%3DdocId%253Demr_na-c01725635-5%257CdocLocale%253D%257CcalledBy%253D&javax.portlet.tpst=ba847bafb2a2d782fcbb0710b053ce01&ac.admitted=1409586150144.876444892.492883150

Other system information
http://www8.hp.com/h20195/v2/GetDocument.aspx?docname=c04286583

Thanks! (Hopefully this is the semi correct place to put this question)
 
Solution
S
Don't waste your time on this. There are several roadblocks that will cost you more in the long run to bypass:

The fans have a proprietary pinout and are speed monitored, the system will either be noisy as a jet engine running the right fans, or refuse to boot when swapped for larger, slower, quieter fans. It will think the big fans are running to slow and halt to prevent overheating unless you set it to HIgh Performance Mode to run the fans full speed 24/7, and even then it might throw errors constantly.

The motherboard doesn't take standard ATX power supplies. It's meant to work with Common Slot power supplies, which have enhanced sensors that the motherboard looks for, and it will fail the power supply if it can't get this info...
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Saberus

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Aug 23, 2013
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Don't waste your time on this. There are several roadblocks that will cost you more in the long run to bypass:

The fans have a proprietary pinout and are speed monitored, the system will either be noisy as a jet engine running the right fans, or refuse to boot when swapped for larger, slower, quieter fans. It will think the big fans are running to slow and halt to prevent overheating unless you set it to HIgh Performance Mode to run the fans full speed 24/7, and even then it might throw errors constantly.

The motherboard doesn't take standard ATX power supplies. It's meant to work with Common Slot power supplies, which have enhanced sensors that the motherboard looks for, and it will fail the power supply if it can't get this info.

Lastly, the PCI-e connectors are not set up in a standard configuration, they are positioned to accommodate a riser cage to fit the cards in the 1U space. The back panel connectors won't fit in the standard IO panel space on an ATX chassis.

The L5639 processor is not officially supported, and there is the risk the system will not boot with them installed. The heat sink mounts may be not designed for active heat sinks, only the passive blocks it comes with.
 
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