IT HelpLine | Computer systems customisations and modding

FUJITSU SIEMENS SCALEO E with Windows 7 Ultimate x86/x64

An example of extreme customisation we have done.

This computer has old specifications for today's requirements but the main reason for this PC worth upgrading is the casing and connectivity.This PC has a very good looking case and built quality found only on high end and expensive media centers. It also comes with built in media center remote control and wireless keyboard with integrated trackball.

Original specifications are: scaleo_e

- motherboard with P4 support and DDR memory

- best CPU installable P4 640

- only memory DDR @ 400Mhz dual channel

- only one PCi express x16 slot and 4 PCI slots

- ... and the usual's to make a PC work HDD, optical, sound, etc

The connectivity part witch made this PC worth upgrading: scaleoe_front

Front connectivity

- 1x microphone in

- 1x headphones out

- 1x mini FireWire 400

- 2x USB 2.0

- 1x audio in

- 1x video in

- 1x sVideo in

- 1x card reader SD/MMC/CF/MS/SMC

- front panel play access buttons

- and the best part the front display witch shows you in media center what is playing

The back connectivity is more impressive: scaleo_back

- 1x DVI

- 1x VGA

- 1x sVideo out

- 1x FireWire

- 8x audio outputs for 7.1 sound

- 1x optical out

- 1x SPDIF out

- 2x IR extenders

- 4x USB 2.0

- 1x LAN

- 1x SCART in

- 1x SCART out

- and from the TV tuner card 2x RF inputs and AV inputs

The job:

- the new configuration had to be a very good balance between performance and power consumption. This PC has a custom made PSU and delivers only 245W

- we changed all the leads in the PSU because they were incredibly short and wouldn't reach to the new motherboard connectors

- we searched for a modern motherboard to fit the back layout and worked down to component level to rebuild the internal connectors for audio/video part

- changed the old TV tuner because it was PCI and we opted for a low form PCIxpress one with dual tuners

- upgraded the CPU

- upgraded memory

- upgraded HDD

- upgraded optical drive

- added a FireWire card and changed the internal connectivity to make it work with existing connectors ( the new motherboard does not have a firewire option )

- added a new modern graphics card with HDMI output

- added a wireless card

- and because the SCART option seems so old we took it out all together and made room for a more larger active CPU cooler

So let's take a look how it looks inside before and after. You will see that everything is where it should be and no improvisations were used.

And now the result:

Motherboard supporting FSB up to 1600 and memory @ 1066Mhz

CPU Intel Quad Core Q8200

4Gb DDR2 800Mhz dual channel memory

Seagate 1.5Tb Sata300 HDD

LG 4x Bluray writer

ZyXel wireless card

Pinnacle card with 2 tuners to watch, pause and record live TV

Technisat DVB-S2 HD satellite tuner.

ATI HD4550 with 512Mb of memory and HDMI output for a fullHD experience with 7.1 sound output

The complete details can be found here.

Our customers

Sarah Genson
Date: Nov 04, 2009

Very quick and reliable. Dealt the problem with great professionalism. Highly recommended!