I would keep the 286, 386, one 486 and only one Socket 7 machine, preferably super socket 7.

I suggest that you try to find space and store them as there will come a time that you will miss some of those toys. If you are good at packing things you can hide a few in closets ect where they won't be a problem.

I would keep the 286, the 386DX-40, the DX4-100 and the P200.

What I did was ditch all the cases and have the boards, cards and everything bagged and tagged. Then I pull out whatever I need and play with it on my "test-bench".

if it was me, I would have kept 3 systems minimum , the 286 , the 486DX4 100 and the K6-2 , those 3 should cover a pretty good amount of games, not too many games these can't run well (especially with slowdown utilities and such).

286-16 newly acquired
386DX-40
486DX4-100
Pentium 200 non-MMX (my old system from the late 1990s)
AMD K6-2@300
Duron 800 (socket 462)

I can recommend you to keep those systems..
For the rest i personnally should thake the hardware out en store them as `back up parts` The cases ill sell them on ebay or so..

Why do you need that much of pentium systems?? The 200mhz / 233mhz covers them all!

jm2c:

286-16 newly acquired

keep

386DX-40

keep

486DX2-66

keep

486DX4-100

don't keep, the DX2 is fast enough for all VGA games.
for most SVGA games the DX4 is still too slow

IBM PS/1 2133 386-25

don't keep

Pentium 120

don't keep

Pentium 200 non-MMX

keep, if it's too fast just slow it down to 133

Pentium 133

don't keep, use the p200

AMD K6-2@300

don't keep, can be too slow for some win98 games

Duron 800 (socket 462)

keep, will make a nice win98 system with plenty reserves

Celeron 333 (Slot 1 AT)

don't keep, can be too slow for some win98 games

Cool! You can either store machines or cash in by selling them 😊

I have a similar challenge. I currently have 3 8086s, 1 80286, 2 80486s (one defective), 1 Pentium and 1 Pentium MMX. Only the desktops (& 1 mini tower) though. I do not have all the CRTs and other stuff to go with it. 🤣

I already have two socket 7 and two 486 boards in storage along with at least 2 more slot 1 boards, a box full of old VGA/sound cards and a box of hard drives.

I'll try selling this stuff and make some room. AmiBay hasn't turned out that great for selling so far...

I have the same kind of problem... Too many machines. I'm actually thinking about putting away my Compaq as well.

Here is what I got

386 DX20
386 DX33
486 DX66
486 Pentium Overdrive w/ VLB
Pentium 60 Socket 4
Socket 7 AT 200mhz
Socket 7 Compaq 400mhz K6-III
Socket 7 ATX AMD K6-2 350mhz
440BX system with Pentium III 1400mhz

My list would then be:

-386 DX33 (for 386 games) - SB 2.0 Pro + CM32L
-486 Pentium Overdrive with VLB (quick VGA machine & early SVGA) - CM500 + NEC XR385(SB AWE32)
-440BX system with Pentium III 1400mhz - For all LATE SVGA DOS gaming + Windows 98 gaming + early Windows XP (2002-2003). PCX2 + Voodoo 2 SLI + Geforce 5950Ultra. SC55mkII & NEC XR385(Vortex 2).

3 machines with great flexibility. Only thing missing would be a SS7 ATX system for more control of SVGA titles that can't run properly on the 440BX system and is too slow on the 486 (can't think of any).

My place looks like a more chaotic version of Tetrium's attic right now.

Well, I have an 133 Mhz 486 (Socket 1-based with 12 Mb 30-pin SIMM memory and no cache), it has hard time running Duke3D even in VGA mode. The demo is lagging a bit.

Very often eBay works great I find. The problem with selling desktops versus parts is that few people are willing to pay $ for shipping so it may take up to 1 or even 2 year(s) to sell those. Good luck! 😊

Vintage Computer Forum works great as well sometimes. 🤣

The reason you keep the DX4-100 and not the DX2 is that the DX4 (assuming it's not an overdrive) can set the multiplier to either 2X or 3X, so you can use it as a DX2-66 if you want. Not to mention the DX4 motherboard is 3.3V, which lets you use any kind of socket3 CPU without a VRM module.

Keep everyting.
If you dont have enough room at your place you could always visit your parents and hide stuff in some of their closets while they are sleeping and/or at work 😉

You will be glad you diddnt throw anything away in 30 years when old PC stuff will be worth much more.
Collecting old computers is not a passing trend.
The computer revolution is a huge milestone that I dont think we fully understand yet.

I often regret throwing things away.
I never regret keeping things.

Keep it all. This coming from a guy that has well over 100 complete computers. I don't have a Pentium 120mhz. I have all the pentium I stuff except for Pentium 120mhz and 150mhz. Stuff wears out and always good to have spares. The celeron is good for ZDoom and other source ports and Quake II.

I think you have to decide what your priorities are. Do you need the physical space or are they just on your mind. What do you need these computers for? How few can do those things? Keep 1 or 2 sets of spare parts. Anything left over: if it's likely to sell for a good amount then sell it. Chuck ["recycle"] the rest, and enjoy more mental headroom and physical space.

I'm in a similar situation as you with probably about 30-40 systems all the way from an IBM Model 30 8086 to newer P4s and an Athlon XP. and I've got the monitors. 😲

nforce4max wrote:

I suggest that you try to find space and store them as there will come a time that you will miss some of those toys. If you are good at packing things you can hide a few in closets ect where they won't be a problem.

The only problem I've found is that if you don't use the motherboards or keep them plugged in, the CMOs battery dies and then you have a problem system. Of course, a lot of these batteries will die anyways, but I've noticed they stay in good shape if you use the system.

I've thought about the same issue for me as well. I love all these computers and doing all the odd things with them, but only the vintage computer enthusiasts can appreciate all this. I was originally going to start a museum, 🤣. I've got TI 99/4a's and lots of Commodore stuff, as well as (working as of the last time I checked) original Atari 2600.

Samir wrote:

I'm in a similar situation as you with probably about 30-40 systems all the way from an IBM Model 30 8086 to newer P4s and an At […]
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I'm in a similar situation as you with probably about 30-40 systems all the way from an IBM Model 30 8086 to newer P4s and an Athlon XP. and I've got the monitors. 😲

nforce4max wrote:

I suggest that you try to find space and store them as there will come a time that you will miss some of those toys. If you are good at packing things you can hide a few in closets ect where they won't be a problem.

The only problem I've found is that if you don't use the motherboards or keep them plugged in, the CMOs battery dies and then you have a problem system. Of course, a lot of these batteries will die anyways, but I've noticed they stay in good shape if you use the system.

I've thought about the same issue for me as well. I love all these computers and doing all the odd things with them, but only the vintage computer enthusiasts can appreciate all this. I was originally going to start a museum, 🤣. I've got TI 99/4a's and lots of Commodore stuff, as well as (working as of the last time I checked) original Atari 2600.

Losing coin cell batteries doesn't bother me, it is when I lose expensive laptop batteries that can easily cost $80 or more is when I get upset. Got one laptop that I can't really use for school ect because finding a replacement battery is over $100 and as much as $150 on eBay no less. Finding good parts for Clevo/Sager gaming laptops isn't easy or cheap 😵

If all else ditch some of the monitors and pull the boards.