Got a couple NEW Socket A motherboards for gaming builds.
at Phil's computer lab recommendations.

These should work very well for my needs.

Going to add a Yamaha YMF-744 Audio
Nvidia Geforce FX 5500
And DVD drive.

For a very good DOS gaming computer build.

My precious has arrived:

Normally I don't do 'new-in-box' stuff as I'm interested in the hardware, not the fluff. But here I make an exception - I'm hoarding as many Trackball Explorers as I can find, as I intend to keep using these things until either I die or there is no more electricity to run computers on, retro or otherwise. Second hand ones are a mixed bag (note the yellowing and traces of heavy use on the one not in the box), but new is the holy grail. I know I could flog this on an auction site for significantly more than I paid, but no way am I parting with this now or in any forseeable future. It goes deep in a dark cupboard until needed.

The seller had a similar attitude (indeed, that's where he dug it up from), but despite the fantastic ergonomics of the Explorer, he's got a bad case of RSI made worse by these things, and his doctor ordered him to stop using them. Sounds like a nightmare-scenario, but at least he was happy it went to someone similarly obsessed with these things 😀

dionb wrote:

My precious has arrived: […]
Show full quote

My precious has arrived:

Normally I don't do 'new-in-box' stuff as I'm interested in the hardware, not the fluff. But here I make an exception - I'm hoarding as many Trackball Explorers as I can find, as I intend to keep using these things until either I die or there is no more electricity to run computers on, retro or otherwise. Second hand ones are a mixed bag (note the yellowing and traces of heavy use on the one not in the box), but new is the holy grail. I know I could flog this on an auction site for significantly more than I paid, but no way am I parting with this now or in any forseeable future. It goes deep in a dark cupboard until needed.

The seller had a similar attitude (indeed, that's where he dug it up from), but despite the fantastic ergonomics of the Explorer, he's got a bad case of RSI made worse by these things, and his doctor ordered him to stop using them. Sounds like a nightmare-scenario, but at least he was happy it went to someone similarly obsessed with these things 😀

I feel the same way about this model.

liqmat wrote:

dionb wrote:

My precious has arrived:

I feel the same way about this model.

The attachment IMG_1840.JPG is no longer available

Its earlier version had brilliant ads - I can't find the two-pager now, but here is one-page version in atrocious resolution that I've found on the spot:

* * *
Coincidentally, a bit of a question: considering CRT monitor for DOS games (mostly). Alternatives are 17" SONY Trinitron CPD - E220E (excellent image, I used to have one long time ago, but it's HUGE) and 15" SONY Multiscan E100 Trinitron (essentially a bit of a smaller sibling, not sure about its footprint and quality) - does anyone here have an opinion on either of them?

I looked into the E2xx series (along with some Iiyamas and AOCs) back in the day when choosing a 17" CRT and went for a Philips 107P instead, though I can not remember why.. I believe I was charmed by the obscenely high resolution and refresh rates the 107P offered. E2xx was a good series though.

In other news: I found a guy selling a bunch of 486 boards, any of them particularly worth buying?

I want to buy two of these but I can't decide which two..

appiah4 wrote:

I looked into the E2xx series (along with some Iiyamas and AOCs) back in the day when choosing a 17" CRT and went for a Philips 107P instead, though I can not remember why.. I believe I was charmed by the obscenely high resolution and refresh rates the 107P offered. E2xx was a good series though.

In other news: I found a guy selling a bunch of 486 boards, any of them particularly worth buying?

I want to buy two of these but I can't decide which two..

Just based on general layout I'd prefer #3. Less things obstructing other things. That being said I don't have any experience with either of those.

I've been on the road for six days straight and I am finally at my new winter digs as of last night. Any new public announcements on the massive new-old-stock Pentium Pro haul will be over at Luckybob's dedicated thread. Hint: There is much, much more than just the PPro gear.

The great Pentium Pro haul of 2018

Are those PPros gonna keep you warm during the winter?

appiah4 wrote:

I looked into the E2xx series (along with some Iiyamas and AOCs) back in the day when choosing a 17" CRT and went for a Philips […]
Show full quote

I looked into the E2xx series (along with some Iiyamas and AOCs) back in the day when choosing a 17" CRT and went for a Philips 107P instead, though I can not remember why.. I believe I was charmed by the obscenely high resolution and refresh rates the 107P offered. E2xx was a good series though.

In other news: I found a guy selling a bunch of 486 boards, any of them particularly worth buying?

MB1.jpg

MB2.jpg

MB3.jpg

MB4.jpg

I want to buy two of these but I can't decide which two..

Get the Lucky Star LS-486 for sure.
The baby AT with button battery.

dionb wrote:

My precious has arrived: […]
Show full quote

My precious has arrived:

Normally I don't do 'new-in-box' stuff as I'm interested in the hardware, not the fluff. But here I make an exception - I'm hoarding as many Trackball Explorers as I can find, as I intend to keep using these things until either I die or there is no more electricity to run computers on, retro or otherwise. Second hand ones are a mixed bag (note the yellowing and traces of heavy use on the one not in the box), but new is the holy grail. I know I could flog this on an auction site for significantly more than I paid, but no way am I parting with this now or in any forseeable future. It goes deep in a dark cupboard until needed.

The seller had a similar attitude (indeed, that's where he dug it up from), but despite the fantastic ergonomics of the Explorer, he's got a bad case of RSI made worse by these things, and his doctor ordered him to stop using them. Sounds like a nightmare-scenario, but at least he was happy it went to someone similarly obsessed with these things 😀

Wow, Those mice are expensive !
I hate meeeces to peeeces. ( "Quote" Jinx the Cat ) 😊

dionb wrote:

My precious has arrived:

Normally I don't do 'new-in-box' stuff as I'm interested in the hardware, not the fluff. But here I make an exception - I'm hoarding as many Trackball Explorers as I can find, as I intend to keep using these things until either I die or there is no more electricity to run computers on, retro or otherwise. Second hand ones are a mixed bag (note the yellowing and traces of heavy use on the one not in the box), but new is the holy grail. I know I could flog this on an auction site for significantly more than I paid, but no way am I parting with this now or in any forseeable future. It goes deep in a dark cupboard until needed.

The seller had a similar attitude (indeed, that's where he dug it up from), but despite the fantastic ergonomics of the Explorer, he's got a bad case of RSI made worse by these things, and his doctor ordered him to stop using them. Sounds like a nightmare-scenario, but at least he was happy it went to someone similarly obsessed with these things 😀

Nice find, but, I have two questions:

1: Is there anything good about them besides the ergonomics (how's the sensor ,etc)?
2: WHY ARE THEY SO EXPENSIVE?!

Hamby wrote:

Wait, you're working on the soundtrack for 8-Bit Guy's X3 game?

(sorry for the late reply, forgot to check this thread)
Yup, doing the music conversion to the supported sound platforms and some music.

found a classic 3 button logitech mouse.. Been looking for one of these in the wild for quite some time.

Found an IBM PS/1 Essentials 486dx33 Desktop PC.
Model - 2155-W76 ( late 1992 )

I really like these IBM PS/1 486 computers. Really easy to fix and upgrade and repair and configure.
And lots of resources available for restoring these old computers.

I am going to add a CDROM and Sound Blaster 16 like the PS/1 MultiMedia edition of 1994.

^ very nice! jealous!

DaveJustDave wrote:

found a classic 3 button logitech mouse.. Been looking for one of these in the wild for quite some time.

The attachment l3bm.jpg is no longer available

This one had cool ads as well!
(yes, I love vintage computer ads)

A big box of sound cards arrived today. Some nice cards in the lot. Really happy with the Aztech cards.

Have a "Rage 128 Pro" on the way 🤣

luckybob wrote:

Oh lord yes.

Too much for one person. I know it's sacrilege to even say it. But if you're in the market for a p-pro system, they are coming.

Might be time to look into that PPro / Voodoo 1 machine I’ve always wanted to build!

dionb wrote:

SpectriaForce wrote:

By the way, are you interested in a NOS AOpen HQ08 with the iMac blue plastic trim? I have one and don't really have use for it.

I believe I found the same source you likely got yours from. Recently bought 4 of them there, one of which I left in pristine state, the other three (two of which were damaged/incomplete - I specifically asked for those) I cannibalized for the bits I needed and scrapped the rest. I did keep the colour bezels, so I now have AOpen purply blue, iMac transparent blue and a sort of sickly mint green too.

The only bit of an HQ08 I actually could use right now is the motherboard tray, apart from that I'm trying to get rid of cases, not get more 😉

Yes I know that you've bought there. He actually did have one case with the transparent blue bezel (the boxes have different codes, he recognized the code for this specific bezel), which I took home last time. I have enough new white / beige cases for all my projects, so this one can go. If you want more motherboard trays, then I would buy some more cases, he has plenty left over 😵

cyclone3d wrote:

Have a "Rage 128 Pro" on the way 🤣

rage_fury_maxx.jpg

Got mine the same way where it was listed as a "Rage 128 Pro". I think the last 3 or 4 have been listed that way at decent/good prices.