Gateway 6400 FAQ-UUUUUUUU

[Kostya17]

Hello,

there used to be a forum on that a while ago--now it's gone Well, let's try to reanimate it. I guess quite a few people got GW6400 half a year ago and now it's about time to upgrade

Here's a list of hardware I tesed with my beloved cowbox. Starting with successfull attempts:
1. Sound blaster Live! Value-works OK in Win2K, requires latest Creative drivers. Built-in Win2k driver lacks 2 rear channels
2. Maxtor Ultra-ATA100 controller board (rebadged Promise)--works great, recognised as SCSI (?) in Win2k
3. HP9900 DVD/CDRW/CD combo--very slow on built-in IDE, crushes Windows if busmastering enabled. Works as advertised when connected to Ultra-ATA card.
4. From "highly tech forum"--built-in SCSI default mode is NON-Sync, so included IBM U160 HD runs at 12 MB/sec. Press Ctrl-C during boot when prompted and change SCSI setting to Sync160 for the hard drive. The sustained data rate would increase to approx. 25 MB/sec (that IBM HD is really not "latest&greatest")

Now troublesome upgrades: :frown:
1. Cybermail videoe-mail video-in board: Win2K driver bluescreens during boot, computer unusable
2. Cybermail videoextreme video-in board: Works OK with its own software, bluescreens with powerVCR
3. ATI All-In-Wonder (Rage 128)--would not boot at all, BIOS would not let me disable built-in video.
4. Windows98: says "2 PCI Bus controllers found: please refere to you computer manufacturer for the latest BIOS upgrade"
5. Attempted to flash BIOS (6400 uses ASUS CUR-DLS) to rectify 3 and 4--aflash.exe won't work with stupid message "unknown BIOS"

 

[oxide]

maybe there's a problem between your keyboard and chair



Seriously tho, what is wrong with the on-board video? What kind is it?

 

[Kostya17]

<<maybe there's a problem between your keyboard and chair>>
Only when I'm not sittin' there

The video is ATI Rage XL 4 mb--Winders desktop is OK 1024x768x32bit, but DVD/Divx is unwatchable above 800x600x16bit. There also appears to be an issue with video input card(s).

Hey, anybody got a working VIVO card in Gateway 6400?

 

[Apex]

Gateway 6400 FAQ

I've found that to be a good place to start.

Using an Asus V7100 Pro (MX400 based PCI card) on it. It disables the onboard video.

 

[Kostya17]

Thanks for the info!
so you just plugged V7100 Pro in without changing BIOS at all? Which PCI slot did you use?

 

[Apex]

<< Thanks for the info!
so you just plugged V7100 Pro in without changing BIOS at all? Which PCI slot did you use? >>



I tried every single 32bit pci slot. They work in all of them. Alas, the built in VGA turns itself off automatically. The Asus version gives you the option to keep it on or turn it off in the BIOS. That makes much more sense.

 

[Kostya17]

<<The Asus version gives you the option to keep it on or turn it off in the BIOS>>

OOOPSSS! So your mainboard has ASUS BIOS? What's the manufacturer's code on it? Mine has Gateway's AMI BIOS with USA code according to AMI spec. I tried to flash it--would not work :|

 

[Apex]

<< <<The Asus version gives you the option to keep it on or turn it off in the BIOS>>

OOOPSSS! So your mainboard has ASUS BIOS? What's the manufacturer's code on it? Mine has Gateway's AMI BIOS with USA code according to AMI spec. I tried to flash it--would not work :| >>



No, I called asus asking about it. Mine is AMI unfortunately.

 

[Kwad Guy]

Hey, a thread on the Gateway 6400. Good. I wanted to post this
tidbit, but didn't want to start a new thread for it...

You know those drive rails the Gateway 6400 uses and of which
way too few are included to fill all the drive slots? No one could
locate a cheap source for them. I still haven't...necessarily...but
I have located another computer that uses them.

We got some (CRAPPY) Micron PCs into work last week. These are
new ClientPro PCs. And guess what? They use those same rails!
I went to the hideous MicronPC.com web site, but couldn't find
any link to purchasing the rails. However, who knows if you call
them up? Maybe they could help...?

(An aside: MicronPC is the absolute WORST web site I have ever
seen supporting a PC line...Almost no info available, no manuals
to speak of, etc....If they think they'll be able to maintain
a presence with this kind of support, they're on crack...)

Kwad

 

[neuralfx]

oh god , i remember a long time ago, a thread about the gateway 6400 .. it was like 100+ .. i just dont understand why, what was so special about this gateway ? ..
-neural

 

[Kostya17]

<<i just dont understand why, what was so special about this gateway ?>>

1. It appeared in "Hot Deals" forum because of a bug in GW ordering system--you could strip the overpriced components and get server really cheap.
2. It appeared in other forums because it's not your "average" PC with Intel chipset. The most interesting (for me) features are built-in Ultra160 SCSI and dual independent PCI bus. Kinda unusual for sub $400 server, isn't it?

 

[Santa]

Has anyone installed an Onstream ADR50 Tape backup drive on this gateway server before? Seems I can't get it to recognize in windows 2000 server at all.

It sees it in the Scsi bios but no go when trying to search for it in windows to install the drivers.

It uses the LVD U160 interface.

 

[Archac]

<3. ATI All-In-Wonder (Rage 128)--would not boot at all, BIOS would not let me disable built-in video.>
I have the same AIW(128) and it was booting and working in w2k without any problems as video card. DVDs and Video CDs are very good with DMA on. However, I am not getting TV signal at all. Any ideas?

 

[Apex]

Getting an Inno3d GF2MX400 based pci card, with dual VGA. Will report how that goes.

 

[badbilly27]

I'm glad I saw this post. I'm so disappointed the original thread is gone. I got in on the orginal deal and bought a gateway 6400 with big plans to upgrade and learn from the board how to piece it together and who were upgrading theres. Well 6 months and a baby later, now all that great advice is gone. Please help.

I'm running win2000 server and am looking for advice on:

1. Ram upgrade - which brand, specs I should know, and best place/price you recommend to buy it at
2. Second P3 processor - same as above
3. PCI sound card - least hassle in installing but good solid value
4. DVD/CDR combo drive - or seperate I guess help me here
5. Speakers - any decent speaker deals you guys would recommend

You guys rock and I hope this thread grows like the old one. If not, I truly appreciate any advice you guys can give a tech geek novice. I bought this server to learn and build to be a solid internet/gaming/and business workstation. If you prefer to email me feel free.

 

[Santa]

First off.. there is no such all in one as you speak of badbilly27. This machine is probably best for a server to learn on. Unless you find a good PCI video card your pretty much out of the gaming areana.

For Ram I would purchase from crucial using the discounted AT link in Hot Deals. That seems to be the best bang for the buck.

I couldn't really comment on the other things since some of it I couldn't help you on advice and the others would be more personal preference than anything (speakers, video card)

I would just go with whatever deals there are in the Hot deals area or at least ask more specific questions of what you "might" chose and whether someone has had a problem with it.

I currently use mine as a Terminal Service Server, Domain Controller, Backup Server, CD Burning Server, and Virtual PC server.

I bought and installed Crucial Ram which works great, a Yamaha 16X10X40X Firewire Burner with Belkin Firewire Card, Onstream ADR50 Digital Tape Backup drive which runs off of the onboard Ultra2 scsi controller. All of those works out great. Took a little fussing to get the Onstream Tape drive to work but its working great now after firmware upgrade.

good luck

 

[Apex]

The Inno3d dual VGA unit worked great. Just FYI.

 

[purpledemon]

i've been using my 6400 for a while as my main home machine without too many problems ...

video : i've tried both a creative annihilator mx pci and voodoo 5 5500 pci ... using the voodoo right now ...
sound : using the hercules gtxp and that works just fine
speakers : klipsch promedia v2. 400's
os : winxp pro
ram : 384 crucial ram
cd/dvd drives : pioneer dvd 106s, plextor 12/10/32A (had to switch the plextor to pio mode only)


i've had most of my apps and games work well ... most of problems arise with games ... tho my video drivers prolly coz those problems ...

 

[amgine]

Anyone find those drive rails yet. Gateway charges 30 bucks and you only get one set for floppy cdrom and hard drive....6 whole peices of plastic in all.

 

[purpledemon]

hey ..

im goin to put in 2 1ghz p3's in this machine ...
and i was wondering what cooling people on this board have used ?

i heard the retail heatsinks dont really fit ....

suggestions ?

thanks

 

[amgine]

I got two 1ghz processors boxed retail and used those sinks, works great.

 

[PlatinumGold]

i got this machine w/ 2 P3 1ghz. Using Alpha Pal 6035. fits nicely.

 

[rlc]

anyone know any geforce4 mx420 pci card that will fit on this gateway 6400 server? i have tried the visiontek geforce4 mx420, but it have a bad conflict w/ the onboard scsi controller.....

any suggestion?

thanks

 

[camara120]

<< 5. Attempted to flash BIOS (6400 uses ASUS CUR-DLS) to rectify 3 and 4--aflash.exe won't work with stupid message "unknown BIOS" >>



I have a computer with the same motherboard. Its not a 6400, but the motherboard has the gateway bios. I just ordered a bios chip from www.badflash.com that has the latest Asus bios for the CUR-DLS on it. I should get it on Monday or tuesday. Hopefully it will work ok.

 

[Kostya17]

rlc,
I tried to run this videocard. As soon as I install it, SCSI would disappear. Tried to stick it to every PCI slot, disable/enable SCSI--no effect. CompUSA "free installer" was unable to resolve that problem :-( I ended up returning the card...

I got some success with ATI AIW Rage PRO (NOT Rage 128). It would work in 64-bit PCI slot ONLY (weired, huh?). ATI software would bluescreen Sux2K; PowerVCR works OK. My only complain is that old PowerVCR I'm using would not capture at SVCD resolution (MPEG2 480x480).

camara120,
that's really cool! I didn't think about such a simple trick! Let us know how it goes...