Re: I recently found this hardware, AKA the Dumpster find thread.

Posted on 2016-06-15, 21:00

by

by h-a-l-9000

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

First you'd want to find the shorted rail with a multimeter. If it's not the +5V rail (chances are it's -12V), there won't be too many caps in question. You can just remove them until the short is gone. For the +5V rail my favourite method is not for the frightened 😀

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Re: I recently found this hardware, AKA the Dumpster find thread.

Posted on 2016-06-14, 21:27

by

by h-a-l-9000

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

> as long as the PSU is connected to the AT power connector, you can't power on anything. There's a high chance it's only shorted tantalum caps.

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Re: Tseng ET6000 PCI Issue

Posted on 2016-06-14, 20:35

by

by h-a-l-9000

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Something similar happens with many ISA cards - with ET4000 at resolutions that use the 25MHz pixel clock (320x200, 640x400) when using a flat screen monitor. Doesn't happen on a CRT. Haven't found the cause or a workaround yet. It almost looks as if some oscillation is building up in the cable.

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Re: Most useless/undesirable piece of vintage computer hardware

Posted on 2016-06-13, 18:23

by

by h-a-l-9000

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

How about the serial 9-to-25-pin adapters?

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Re: Going to restore this IBM. Any advice if something to look for!!

Posted on 2016-06-10, 23:06

by

by h-a-l-9000

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

> It passed everything, so it is not the IC's that have any defect. I seriously doubt that any tool exists for end users that can test 100%... The mainboard might not like that you are powering it on from external - it has its own power switch and PS-ON cirquit. Did you give it the 5Vsb at least?

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Re: Repairing old laptop LCDs?

Posted on 2016-06-10, 22:52

by

by h-a-l-9000

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

> Or are all panels fairly proprietary in regards to how they connect to a PCB? Even if the connectors are the same (which they are often not) you need to compare the datasheets to be sure.

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Re: Repairing old laptop LCDs?

Posted on 2016-06-10, 22:50

by

by h-a-l-9000

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

If your problems only relate to the backlight you can replace those with LED nowadays.

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Re: Having a bit of trouble with a socket 7 computer

Posted on 2016-06-08, 19:53

by

by h-a-l-9000

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

You don't need to bath the whole board - only the affected section.

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Re: Bought these (retro) hardware today

Posted on 2016-06-08, 17:55

by

by h-a-l-9000

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

> Any idea if this thing would support Hercules graphics? It has 64kB RAM which is typical for Hercules cards.

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Re: EGA display adapter, CGA monitor?

Posted on 2016-06-08, 17:38

by

by h-a-l-9000

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Only the 640x350 video modes (text and graphics) are EGA only. The others are CGA monitor compatible. There are however "superEGA" cards that can do some higher frequencies. So configure the card properly for a CGA monitor.

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Re: Having a bit of trouble with a socket 7 computer

Posted on 2016-06-08, 17:32

by

by h-a-l-9000

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Get rid of the remaining 'battery base' by removing everything removable and the battery and bathing the board in thinned vinegar essence for a an hour or two. Afterward wash with clear water. Swing the board around so larger spots of water are forced away. Let it dry, if possible at a higher …

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Re: Having a bit of trouble with a socket 7 computer

Posted on 2016-06-08, 17:10

by

by h-a-l-9000

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Looks like you have corroded traces under the battery and at the keyboard connector.

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Re: My 3dfx Voodoo 3 has artifacts. Any way to repair?

Posted on 2016-06-04, 21:34

by

by h-a-l-9000

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

> Also, all of these chips (not necessarily the heatsink or stickers) are exposed to solder melting temperatures at some point. By baking it or using a heat gun you aren't doing anything that hasn't been done already. In the factory the ciritical temperatures are applied for a tightly controlled …

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Re: My 3dfx Voodoo 3 has artifacts. Any way to repair?

Posted on 2016-06-04, 21:26

by

by h-a-l-9000

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

I highly doubt you will be able to do any damage or good with a usual blowdryer. The problem with baking is you have to leave it in there for a rather long time (for the temperature) to have an effect. Some parts that can't withstand the temperature may melt/crack in the meantime. You will be …

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Re: My 3dfx Voodoo 3 has artifacts. Any way to repair?

Posted on 2016-06-04, 20:39

by

by h-a-l-9000

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

blow dryer will never reach that temperature

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Re: My 3dfx Voodoo 3 has artifacts. Any way to repair?

Posted on 2016-06-04, 20:24

by

by h-a-l-9000

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

In case it's really the balls (you might be able to confirm by strongly pushing chip/heatsink and PCB together with the hand and powering on) your options are: - 'bake' the card (above the melting temperature and hope the problem fixes itself) - reball + resolder - ghetto solution: something c-clamp …

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Re: Sound Blaster CT2950 makes farting noises...

Posted on 2016-06-01, 18:00

by

by h-a-l-9000

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Some games use the mixer themselves. You could put a voltage divider (4 resistors or a stereo potentiometer) into the audio cable.

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Re: Thoughts on using this 486 single-board computer I bought?

Posted on 2016-05-30, 18:21

by

by h-a-l-9000

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Yes, the PLCC-44 chip is the keyboard controller. If they have kept the pinout then KBD CLK (TEST0) should be on pin 2, KBD DATA (TEST1) on pin 43. A reference schematic of the PC AT is attached. The 74ALS05 is very similar to 74*07, and very close too. Also the 10k resistors are present. @ …

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Re: Thoughts on using this 486 single-board computer I bought?

Posted on 2016-05-29, 21:40

by

by h-a-l-9000

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

You are mistaking 'bank' with 'stick of RAM'. A bank is usually the width of the CPU bus -> 1 stick [30-pin SIMM] on 8088, 2 sticks on 286, 386SX, 4 sticks on a 32-bit 386/486. Or 1 stick of 72-pin SIMM for the latter. 8 30-pin SIMMS populated on a 386DX/486 will be two banks. Theoretically it would …

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Re: Thoughts on using this 486 single-board computer I bought?

Posted on 2016-05-29, 03:40

by

by h-a-l-9000

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

That is likely a 16-bit 486 variant (SLC) though.

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