Okay, I got my lot of old parts today. This lot cost me around $50 shipped, which I thought was okay.
Can anyone help me identify the CPU with the Socket 3 board? Whoever messed with the thing last inserted the CPU in the wrong orientation and, being the first Socket 3 board I've ever seen, I didn't realize it. I powered it on and it didn't work but the little chip with the heatsink next to the socket gave off a "really really hot but not quite smoking" smell. Briefly before I turned it off. I looked online I noticed that the only way to tell which way the CPU goes in is by the notched corner... unlike newer boards where they physically don't fit. Oy...
Anyway, I get nothing when I try to turn it on... no beeps, no display. The battery is certainly dead, but I think it should at least power on, or beep when the memory is removed... something. So it doesn't look good. I got these to tinker with anyway, so I'm not totally heart broken, but I was happy to see a Socket 3 board. The other two boards need to have the batteries removed and some corrosion cleaned up but they don't look too bad... probably salvageable. The VLB board that I thought had a burn mark from the AT power being plugged in wrong actually just has a burn mark from a blown tantalum... which is less likely to be fatal. It has lots of tantalums, so I need to replace these before I can test this board.
The MediaVision Thunderboard is immaculate... the back plate has a pristine mirror finish! Amazing condition. I really don't trust the tantalums though... I wish I could tell if they were going to pop when powered. The card is from 1991 and looks lightly used, so I'd expect the worst.
Also, look at that crazy CD drive! Its a TEAC CD-55A. Really strange design with a slim tray.
Now for some blitting from the back buffer.