Why not just keep it if its your childhood computer? I regret losing track of my childhood computer. I know the specs, but I don't know where the original parts are or where we got it. If anything, just store it somewhere, i'm sure theres other things that have less sentimental value taking up space, right?

It is on a shelf, next to two other computers that don't currently work! It would be nice to have a working ISA system so I don't have to play DOS games with PCI emulation, is all! This technically isn't the first either. Briefly before this 486, I had this 386. I only remember it had a 40mhz CPU. One day I discovered the format command, but I didn't have the knowledge to reinstall DOS! So it was thrown out! 😢 And between these two there was this Pentium 3 that had a corrupted copy of Windows 98 on it. Of course, in both cases I could've fixed them knowing what I know now. Either way, I guess I'm still looking for consensus on whether I should convert this to a physically less painful system on try to restore it for ultimate nostalgic goodness.

I'd keep the system. Although in these forums people seem to prefer using DOS software on Pentium II+ systems, I think it's better to experience the software on the hardware it was intended to run on. 486s are quirkey, but you can trust me that 386s are no better.

If you think VLB cards are big, you should see a full length AND full height AT card.

This is a picture of the closest I have. It's full AT height, but not quite full length.

Believe me, my interest in 386s is purely because it would likely be pure ISA. At least AT cases are bigger than err... Baby AT cases. Makes sense, no?

Oh yeah, and I do generally prefer running games on newer systems when possible. However, I'd prefer it more if the newer systems I have had ISA.

First of all MOST 486 systems are ISA. VLB and PCI are the exception.
Why would a 386 be any easier to work on? 486 and 386 and even early pentium all use AT cases.

I agree with AC. Keep it!

Of curse the early 486 system were ISA only, but when 486 were finally more price friendly and people could actually buy one.. at that time VLB and later PCI were available. In my experience I have never got a hands on a ISA only 486 board. Even now I only had a VLB one that I sold. Now I have PCI ones only.

ISA bus died mostly with the end of P-III line in 2001/02 - but there are some rare exceptions. With P-II you could have a fully fledged ISA system (couse it has enough ISA slots).

smeezekitty wrote:

Why would a 386 be any easier to work on? 486 and 386 and even early pentium all use AT cases.

Soldered CPUs and no fuss with voltage and multipliers and (hardly ever) cache to start with...

Uhh... this is a Baby AT system. About the same size as my mATX Cooler Master Elite 343 tower for reference. There's a potential of it being easier due to not having super long cards right where the drive bays are. At the very least, with PCI or ISA, they could be in lower slots. There's also the potential I could find one with integrated I/O.

First off I was going to say sell it off. You don't seem to enjoy working on the system and a later system will most likely be more practical.
THEN you said its your childhood computer. That changes everything! I doubt you will use it much but I bet you'll miss it once its gone. If you have the space what's the harm keeping it?

Well, it looks like so far the consensus is on keeping it. What can I say? It will hurt a little putting it back together so it works again, but I guess I get to indulge in nostalgia. Now to save up for suitable replacement parts!