This is the 486 machine that my sister found me at a thrift store a couple years ago. It started out with a 468SX 33Mhz, but I toasted that cpu by inserting it backwards into the CPU socket (curse you socket 3 and not being keyed). Seriously, could they have made a socked make less sense? There are too many pinholes for the CPU and there isn't an arrow, all you have to go by is one slightly out of place pin. Still ticks me off to this day. Anyway, I replaced it with a 486DX 33Mhz. Earlier this year I replaced the CPU again, this time with an Intel 486DX2 66Mhz. When I got it, it had some hardware missing, but luckily it had the I/O controller and the VLB video card still in there. So I just stuck in a Sound Blaster 16 and a WDC 21100 1.1GB drive in there. The BIOS didn't like anything over 500MB, and I didn't want to bother with a DDO, so I bought a Conner CP3000E or something like that, a 240MB HDD. I love the sounds these old drives make 😁 I like the case design, although it can be a bit short for anything taller than your standard expansion card. Also the top sucks ass, plastic with this thin RF shield, it doesn't like going back on the case properly. One thing I need to get in the future is L2 Cache, it doesn't have any right now.

Another horror story with this computer besides the toasted CPU is the CMOS battery situation. It had one of the canister battery, but the last owner took it out and tried to solder what appeared to be a pack of AAs to the battery terminals and taped it to the side of the PSU. Ironically, the replacement battery leaked all over the place, on the power supply, the ram slots, all that. I cleaned everything up with vinegar and a bit of water. After that everything was nice and clean. The horror story starts here. I was being a dumb ass and put the computer together after a couple hours, which obviously isn't enough time for it to dry. After about 5 minutes of being on, the computer shut off, not even the PSU was working. I was thinking "how odd, AT computers don't do that..." So I turn if off and back on and hear a buzzing sound, I was like "OH SHIT!" and shut it off for the night. I let it sit for another 2 days before turning it back on again. After that it worked. This computer has been through a lot 🤣.

Anyway, now it has:
Intel 486DX2 66Mhz
20MB 30pin SIMMs
Cirrus Logic CL-GD5424 512K VLB
Sound Blaster Vibra 16C (a real SB16 would be nice in the future)
Teac CD ROM
1.2MB 5.25" floppy
1.44MB 3.5" floppy
Generic old 200w PSU.

This battery is actually connected to the external battery header, it won't be leaking any time soon. Also, it was made using safe practices, soldering batteries. 😁