I guess it's because they get more if the "scrap" is pre-sorted, there's probably different prices /kg for different classes of scrap, metals, PCBs, ICs... hence why you find so many cards and boards with removed brackets, heatsinks ripped off, chips removed etc. it's a common sight.
I already bought scrap lots where the boards and chips got sold seperately (luckily from the same seller) and I had to puzzle them back together.

it's just that most people don't see any value in old electronics, it is literally scrap in their eyes, so they just care about $$/kg, same with the gold scrappers that would just smash up rare vintage cpus.

svfn wrote:

imi wrote:

derSammler wrote:

And the question is if the card is actually working. The chips were most likely removed without care because the card was dead.

scrappers mostly do everything without care, they usually don't care (no pun intended) if it was actually working before or not.

It makes me cringe sometimes seeing how working cards are thrown and flipped carelessly about onto each other, or maybe I am just too paranoid about handling 20+ year old hardware, even the ones with less value. So it amazes me when somethings from a junk pile still work.

Tbh I don't really blame the scrappers, they scrap stuff. I'd prefer they didn't scrap this stuff, but what they do is fit for the purpose. I get more worked up about sellers who actually see value in old electronics and then display it without antistatic bags on fluffy carpet or similar. No, that old Gf2MX isn't worth EUR 30, and even if it had been before giving it the ESD kiss of death, it sure isn't anymore...

Some hardware arrived here over the past few days:

- a couple of 'silent' 40mm fans - certainly quieter than my old G400MAX fan 😉
- a Trust CM8738-based PCI sound card with full digital in&out, both RCA and Toslink
- Asus V2740TV, probably the most feature-rich Intel i740-based card out there.
- Adaptec AHA-2940U
- STB Velocity 4400, the very first nVidia TNT-based card
- Logitech CST2 serial trackball - unfortunately dead, at least no motion detected, but the buttons work
- Oh yes, and two Creative CT6670 Voodoo 2 cards. Only 8MB each, but better than nothing.

Cool haul.

I would take that trackball apart and see if you see anything obvious with the movement sensors / assembly. Could be something as simple as dust bunnies or cracked solder connections.

cyclone3d wrote:

Cool haul.

Actually three separate purchases that arrived together while I was away on business.

I would take that trackball apart and see if you see anything obvious with the movement sensors / assembly. Could be something as simple as dust bunnies or cracked solder connections.

I certainly intend to. I have another one to fix too, a newer Kensington Orbit Scroll with RMB almost not working. Dead/dying microswitch, replacement already sourced, just need to get soldering on that one. Maybe this weekend...

Compaq Deskpro 486s/25m (1993).
A highly modular system featuring an Intel 486SX 25 MHz, 8 MB RAM, a Compaq QVision 1024/E graphics card (1MB) all on dedicated boards. While the system components (CPU, memory board) are located on boards with proprietary connector, the system bus for expansion cards is EISA. Two Connor IDE HDD's (120MB, 240MB) are installed and working fine (so far).

This little devil arrived by courier today. DVI-VGA connector to fit to my 2008 ASUS EeeBox. I've never actually run a system or monitor with DVI. Kinda missed the whole "experiance" as it were. I have a few video cards out in a box in the shed with the connection though from scrapped systems. I'll integrate the wee EeeBox into my home network very nicely. It comes with XP installed. You can run Windows 7 on the thing and there are drivers for both OSs. I think I will install something a bit more, shall we say, exotic on. I like using odd OSs and predominately smaller form factor setups. ASUS is great for support. I replaced my testing 15yo Transonic lcd tv panel last week which had a standard 15.6" lcd laptop panel. First time I'll have to deal with that sill UEFI setup so it should be fun.

Edit-Just tested the EeeBox and it is running sweet.

appiah4 wrote:

Predator99 wrote:

...
SS7 ATX with bulging caps...not worth any repair

IMG_2584r.jpg

Defiantly worth fixing as those full size SS7 ATX boards don’t come by very often today.

dionb wrote:

- Asus V2740TV, probably the most feature-rich Intel i740-based card out there.

I also own one of these cards, I had it in my PII PC in 1998 and managed to get a hold of one again early last year. I have very fond memories of using it alongside a Voodoo 2, it had very good image quality and I actually got a lot of use out of the video out.

ASUS made a lot of cards with fantastic VIVO functionality at the time. This GeForce DDR from my collection for example is also equally amazing:

Finished setting up my wee EeeBox.

Predator99 wrote:

Interesting SONY boards. Very heavy. Have to google what this was used for. At least some intersting ICs, e.g. 68030

Looks like it's from a Sony NEWS workstation. Probably not a NWS-1250, but many chips look from your board are present in the NWS-1250. Your looks like pulled from a big VME-based workstation.

I wanted a real vintage ISA POST analysis card for a while now, since I have two motherboards that don't work with the otherwise very decent new ISA/PCI versions you get for a few bucks on eBay. I made some money selling stuff and decided to get something nice:

Pretty much never used, the software is still sealed. One of the loopback connectors is missing but otherwise complete and in good condition. Money well wasted! 😉

retropol wrote:

my 486 dx2 setup:

btw - swap to ESCOM possible 😁

PC tower cases by year

GL1zdA wrote:

Predator99 wrote:

Interesting SONY boards. Very heavy. Have to google what this was used for. At least some intersting ICs, e.g. 68030

Looks like it's from a Sony NEWS workstation. Probably not a NWS-1250, but many chips look from your board are present in the NWS-1250. Your looks like pulled from a big VME-based workstation.

MANY THANKS for that hint!!! I didnt find anything so far. Maybe the smaller board is the graphics card? But all rather useless without case and more documentation. But too nice to scrap. I will extract the ROMs next to see whats inside.

This showed up yesterday. Media Forted Nvidia NV1 Card. Comes with some Cheap Pad and DB9 breakout for I assume a 2nd Pad. The box does say it can accommodate a Saturn Compatible Breakout Board but that wasn't included.

Predator99 wrote:

GL1zdA wrote:

Predator99 wrote:

Interesting SONY boards. Very heavy. Have to google what this was used for. At least some intersting ICs, e.g. 68030

Looks like it's from a Sony NEWS workstation. Probably not a NWS-1250, but many chips look from your board are present in the NWS-1250. Your looks like pulled from a big VME-based workstation.

MANY THANKS for that hint!!! I didnt find anything so far. Maybe the smaller board is the graphics card? But all rather useless without case and more documentation. But too nice to scrap. I will extract the ROMs next to see whats inside.

So I verified and the boards are indeed from a "Sony NeWS NWS-3710". I also extracted the ROMs and there is a string "SONY NET WORK STATION" in it. Connectors on the rear are the same as here:
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Sony_NEWS

What a pity that I didnt get the case with it. I contacted the seller and asked for it but I dont have much hope...this would be a very cool and unique workstation!

https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_sonynewsNE_21663823

Predator99 wrote:

...
SS7 ATX with bulging caps...not worth any repair

Incredible...thats a quality board. Gave it a try without exchanging anything and it POSTs...! Thanks for your "heads up"...was already in my scrap box 😎

Still a good idea to replace those caps though 😉

Predator99 wrote:

...was already in my scrap box 😎

😲 how dare you!

no scrapping allowed 😁

Bancho wrote:

This showed up yesterday. Media Forted Nvidia NV1 Card. Comes with some Cheap Pad and DB9 breakout for I assume a 2nd Pad. The b […]
Show full quote

This showed up yesterday. Media Forted Nvidia NV1 Card. Comes with some Cheap Pad and DB9 breakout for I assume a 2nd Pad. The box does say it can accommodate a Saturn Compatible Breakout Board but that wasn't included.

Nice! I want one so bad, but I just can't pay the collector's tax 😒

imi wrote:

https://www.vogons.org/download/file.php?id=67969&t=1 […]
Show full quote

OK, this is the coolest thing I've seen in a while. I hope you can get it restored.

I'm also really digging your opticlal drives. I've got a similar affection. 😀