VOGONS


Found my white buffalo...

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First post, by x_86

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Hey everyone, its been a while since I've made a post. Here's something new. I haven't taken any time to really inspect anything other than that it powers up and seems to function correctly.

From: General Store - Helena, Montana

Pros: In original packaging with original keyboard.

Cons: Dead CMOS, unknown HDD size

Specs: https://stason.org/TULARC/pc/motherboards/A/A … CHE-386-25.html (I believe this is it)

i386DX - ? (I can only make out 'A80386D, SX217, L006052.' because of a sticker)

i387DX-25, SX106, L9440311

- I guess I'll update this thread as things progress. I've got another build in the making that I've been slowly piecing together for over 3 years, there's an interesting story to go along with it too. More than likely I'll focus on finishing that build before I progress with this new one.

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Last edited by x_86 on 2018-12-03, 08:13. Edited 1 time in total.

Reply 5 of 20, by buckeye

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When you listed "General Store" I pictured some place out of a western film like Silverado, High Plains Drifter & etc.

Sweet find! I mean what are the odds???

Asus P5N-E Intel Core 2 Duo 3.33ghz. 4GB DDR2 Geforce 470 1GB SB X-Fi Titanium 650W XP SP3
Intel SE440BX P3 450 256MB 80GB SSD Radeon 7200 64mb SB 32pnp 350W 98SE
MSI x570 Gaming Pro Carbon Ryzen 3700x 32GB DDR4 Zotac RTX 3070 8GB WD Black 1TB 850W

Reply 6 of 20, by SW-SSG

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x_86 wrote:

i386DX - ? (I can only make out 'A80386D, SX217, L006052.' because of a sticker)

"SX217" points to a 20MHz chip.

Case looks nicer than usual for a non-OEM machine; not only is the metal painted but there is a tiny (60mm?) exhaust fan at the back, instead of exhaust duty being solely up to the PSU's fan like most AT whiteboxes.

Please show the innards!

Reply 7 of 20, by x_86

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I know what you all mean, I'll admit I was quite shocked. The next venture will be to mod or remove the RTC, its dead. Maybe that's how I'll continue this thread for a while. Other than that this thing smells new, and runs surprisingly quiet.

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Reply 8 of 20, by x_86

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Reply 9 of 20, by x_86

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Reply 10 of 20, by SW-SSG

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x_86 wrote:

... unknown HDD size

That'll be 44MB or 65MB, depending on whether MFM or RLL is in use by the controller card. That's an HDD from before Toshiba switched to specializing in laptop HDDs in the mid-1990s.

Looks like the keyboard connector on the front panel was never hooked up.

Reply 11 of 20, by DeafPK

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x_86 wrote:
IMG_20181115_181553490_HDR.jpg

Neat, you can move the keyboard connector to the front of the case. Similar to how it's done on old portables.

So much so right about this system, nice find!

"an occasional fart in their general direction would provide more than enough cooling" —PCBONEZ

Reply 12 of 20, by MMaximus

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coincidentally while browsing old computing magazines online I found an article where they reviewed a system in an identical case as yours. Screen capture below:

C8aczsR.png

Hard Disk Sounds

Reply 13 of 20, by x_86

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SW-SSG wrote:
x_86 wrote:

... unknown HDD size

That'll be 44MB or 65MB, depending on whether MFM or RLL is in use by the controller card. That's an HDD from before Toshiba switched to specializing in laptop HDDs in the mid-1990s.

Looks like the keyboard connector on the front panel was never hooked up.

Yeah, the hole has a plug that's the same color as the case, kind of got pressed in there too far. I plan on trying to gently pull it out.

MMaximus wrote:
coincidentally while browsing old computing magazines online I found an article where they reviewed a system in an identical cas […]
Show full quote

coincidentally while browsing old computing magazines online I found an article where they reviewed a system in an identical case as yours. Screen capture below:

C8aczsR.png

English translation of that mag by chance?

Reply 14 of 20, by Errius

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Google Translate:

PSI […]
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PSI

The PSI is the most amazing computer in this test since it is the only one to be equipped with a 386 sx at 20 MHz. But by not doing like everyone else, the PSI has chosen to install in addition a 25 MHz clock. The different components of the motherboard specified at 20 MHz are therefore increased to 25 MHz. It's very simple and it's going (very) fast. Unfortunately, it does not work all the time, which can be very embarrassing for professional use!

We recommend it above all to adventurers and other hackers. The others will have to abstain and opt for a 386 sx / 20 of PSI actually clocked at 20 MHz. In this case, the configuration seems more acceptable: a hard disk of 40 MB, 4 MB of memory, two floppy disk drives. 8 expansion slots and a 1 MB VGA card (1024 x 768 with 256 colors). Who says better…

For more information, click on 185

OLIVETTI

The most beautiful computer of our comparative. Its mini-box is as beautiful from the outside as from the inside: once the case is open, you will have to remove the various protections before accessing its mother board. The electronics of the Olivetti is like most computers of this manufacturer, very good quality. The Olivetti is not only the most beautiful computer of our comparison, but it is also one of the fastest, only the slowness of his hard drive prevented him from getting the first prize ... A more than attractive machine of which the efficiency is not in doubt.

For more information, click 184

SIATEL

Another workstation with a look very appreciated by the Laboratory. But do not be fooled, the mini-case of Siatel is well filled: with a 40 MB hard drive, four expansion slots (all 16 bits), a power supply of 150 W and especially 4 MB of RAM, this station at 15 100 F is one of the most muscular configurations of the comparative. If you add a VGA monitor color and performance just slightly lower than the GoldStar, Siatel station is a machine that has a quality / price ratio quite exceptional.

For more information click 183

WINNERS

The slowest of our comparison, but it takes a good one. Pro Winners is catching up with an acceptable configuration. With 1 MB of RAM, a 115 MB hard drive and a 14-inch color VGA monitor, this computer is a solution for all your applications that need a significant amount of secondary memory. It is true that the very poor performance of the Pro Winners do not push us to advise you: if you still decide to buy it, you can console yourself by saying that few manufacturers offer such an impressive equipment for less than 15 000 F.

For more information, click 182

Is this too much voodoo?

Reply 15 of 20, by MMaximus

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I was about to translate it myself before seeing this ^
didn't know that google translate could process images as well 😲

I also found this advert in the same magazine:

9zKVQFE.png

Hard Disk Sounds

Reply 16 of 20, by Anonymous Coward

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I would keep everything in that system together. These days it's really rare to see a 386 like that with all the original parts that hasn't been messed with. That motherboard is pretty unique. It looks to be made by a company called "CTI". I recently also picked up a CTI motherboard. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find much on them, except that they were based on connecticut. I believe this may be the same company:

http://www.ctielectronics.com/

"Will the highways on the internets become more few?" -Gee Dubya
V'Ger XT|Upgraded AT|Ultimate 386|Super VL/EISA 486|SMP VL/EISA Pentium

Reply 17 of 20, by x_86

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Hey thanks for the translates and article pics, I'm impressed 🤣. After a busy couple weeks and finals 2 days away, I managed to do the RTC mod, picked a drive type in cmos, saved, and she rebooted into dos5. I typed win, and she dropped into Windows 3.1 (non workgroups). Not too shabby. There's one game, various custom art/pics indicating this computer belonged to 'Montana Signs,' for the 10 people that care 😀, and some Norton stuff. Last file edit on anything was year '94, oldest files show '89. The FDD is quiet. Just from browsing around it looks like this machine was possibly upgraded to Windows 3.1.

If anyone has suggestions on what I should do next please feel free to chime in. I mean....in my mind its benchmarks 😎

Anonymous Coward wrote:

I would keep everything in that system together. These days it's really rare to see a 386 like that with all the original parts that hasn't been messed with. That motherboard is pretty unique. It looks to be made by a company called "CTI". I recently also picked up a CTI motherboard. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find much on them, except that they were based on connecticut. I believe this may be the same company:

http://www.ctielectronics.com/

I completely agree! I've got a sxl2-50 I'd like to try out some time, but this machine is so nice I don't even want to mess with it past the RTC mod.

Reply 18 of 20, by 386_junkie

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As far as 386 systems go... this is a real nice system you have there, real nice!

The motherboard has a SIMM, IC combo for RAM install... something i've only seen before in an ALR system.

I'll echo AC's sentiment in keeping everything together.

Compaq Systempro; EISA Dual 386 ¦ Compaq Junkiepro; EISA Dual 386 ¦ ALR Powerpro; EISA Dual 386

EISA Graphic Cards ¦ EISA Graphic Card Benchmarks

Reply 19 of 20, by Matth79

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Ooh, dual 5 1/4" + 3 1/2" floppy setup, that places it in the transition period - also a time when the 3 1/2" gradually moved from B: to A:

Well into the 3 1/2" era, I had a 5 1/4" added as B: after passing up a nice bit of software that was on 5 1/4"

My favourite setup was my "7 bays in a desktop", where the 3 high 5 1/4" block carried a floppy in the middle, and 2 other drives which evolved … CD & CD-RW (don't waste the writer!), with the CD being replaced by a DVD-ROM later. The 2x vertical 3 1/2" carried floppy & tape drive, and there were two hard disks in the back hanger.... all in a standard desktop case, not a tower