Caluser2000 wrote on 2021-09-17, 19:46:

EvieSigma wrote on 2021-09-17, 19:32:

I got this interesting Nortel network appliance...thing off eBay, not because I have any real interest in using it for its inten […]
Show full quote

I got this interesting Nortel network appliance...thing off eBay, not because I have any real interest in using it for its intended purpose, but because it's an interesting small form factor PC using (in this case) a 400MHz Socket 370 Celeron CPU. I think this chassis might actually be made by Intel and just OEM'd by Nortel, as I saw one of these machines on eBay once minus the Nortel branding.

PXL_20210917_173436045.jpg

PXL_20210917_173131741.jpg

PXL_20210917_172540645.jpg

PXL_20210917_172538475.jpg

PXL_20210917_165750479.jpg

Cool. I'm a fan of odd form factors as well. Smaller the better...😉

This thing is roughly 10 inches by 12 inches, which makes it quite small indeed. Not as small as a Mac Mini or a NUC but smaller than most hardware of the late 90s/early 2000s.

AGP stuff. It won't fit in contemporary desktops without a hammer, so it's retro. 😉
This summers' finds:

Stumbled on a USB to Serial port adapter using the Prolific PL-2303 for $1 at a thrift store, they first came out about 2002 or before from digging in archive org.
Mine has the PL-2303 H version chip so is only USB 1.1 but figured it might be fun to play with 😀 Has vender ID of USB\VID_067B&PID_2303 // USB\VID_067B&PID_2303&REV_0202
Found old Win 98, XP,etc 32 bit drivers digging around here: http://web.archive.org/web/20060708183356/htt … oad-2.asp?ID=17
Found the drivers for Win9x, Win2k, XP, Win7 32bit/64bit too. http://web.archive.org/web/20110703171921/htt … loads.asp?id=31
Sure glad Archive org is around as could not find much on it without them..

You shoulda held out for a USB 3.1 version so it could wait for serial data at 10 gigabits per second. 😉

Yah I picked up similar piece a month or so ago, didn't need to hunt drivers. Windoze and ubuntu both found and configured it.

BitWrangler wrote on 2021-09-17, 23:43:

You shoulda held out for a USB 3.1 version so it could wait for serial data at 10 gigabits per second. 😉

Yah I picked up similar piece a month or so ago, didn't need to hunt drivers. Windoze and ubuntu both found and configured it.

Heheee Yeah if it was USB 3 would would be more thrilled but for a $1 am not complainin and it is sort of vintage being USB 1.1 (first released 1998)

Hah... I'm pretty sure there aren't any USB 3 to serial adapters but I could be wrong.

The place I used to work at had some equipment that would only work with genuine serial ports and so when serial went away on most machines it was a pain trying to find a USB to serial adapters that would work properly.

cyclone3d wrote on 2021-09-18, 02:57:

Hah... I'm pretty sure there aren't any USB 3 to serial adapters but I could be wrong.

The place I used to work at had some equipment that would only work with genuine serial ports and so when serial went away on most machines it was a pain trying to find a USB to serial adapters that would work properly.

I have a serial PCI card and this is the only reason it's still kicking around. Ya never know when it might be useful!

Creative 3DBlaster GeForce Annihilator - GF256 32MB SDR
Ati Radeon 9600XT 256MB with AC VGA Silencer
Intel 486 DX2 66MHz ES Sk.3
Gigabyte GA-5AX Rev 4.1 - SS7 with mistery K6-2 or (wishful thinking) K6-3. The cooler is stuck firmly and I'll power it up next week to see what's what. 😁 Also it needs a few caps.
Misc. i7-3770K and 6x I5-650 CPUs.

Couldn't resist another retro purchase, this time an Intellivision -

A console I never owned back in the day, but was curious about.

Bought the console itself as "untested" from eBay for a reasonable price, taking another gamble. I didn't have any games, so bought the cheapest game I could find on eBay - Soccer as pictured above.

I opened up the console first to check for anything nasty, all looked good so I powered it on and it worked!

After some pot tweaking, it's looking as good as can be expected with RF on a modern TV:

Robert B wrote on 2021-09-18, 10:31:

Gigabyte GA-5AX Rev 4.1 - SS7 with mistery K6-2 or (wishful thinking) K6-3. The cooler is stuck firmly and I'll power it up next week to see what's what. 😁 Also it need a few caps.

Uh, Ali Aladin V rev.E? I wouldn't mind a K6-2...

Robert B wrote on 2021-09-18, 10:31:

Creative 3DBlaster GeForce Annihilator - GF256 32MB SDR Ati Radeon 9600XT 256MB with AC VGA Silencer Intel 486 DX2 66MHz ES Sk.3 […]
Show full quote

Creative 3DBlaster GeForce Annihilator - GF256 32MB SDR
Ati Radeon 9600XT 256MB with AC VGA Silencer
Intel 486 DX2 66MHz ES Sk.3
Gigabyte GA-5AX Rev 4.1 - SS7 with mistery K6-2 or (wishful thinking) K6-3. The cooler is stuck firmly and I'll power it up next week to see what's what. 😁 Also it need a few caps.
Misc. i7-3770K and 6x I5-650 CPUs.

Nice SS7 board. I wouldn't mind one of those atx models.

Nice stuff Robert..

Robert B wrote on 2021-09-18, 10:31:

The cooler is stuck firmly and I'll power it up next week to see what's what. 😁 Also it need a few caps.

From the look of the cooler, it's one that came with "pink goo" a thin rubberlike thermal pad that melts into the CPU in use. Best guess is to run it hot, then try to twist it off.

Yeah guys. This is also a first for me. The very first ATX SS7 I own. The jumper settings indicate a K6-2 450 or a K6-3 450. Any way it turns out, this board was a catch no question about it. Also, I'll replace only the caps near the socket and the smaller ones only if needed.

Yeah I think that's it! 😀 Pink goo. I'll submerge the heatsink with the CPU stuck on it in IPA 99% for a few hours and see what I get or I'll make it hot and toasty by running it (although the caps look pretty iffy) or by using very carefully a hair drier, then I'll try to twist it gently.

I'd go with running the CPU for a good while until it gets hot enough. I know this from the OG Xbox (HUEG) where most people run it enough for the heatsinks to get soft enough to be twisted.

PTherapist wrote on 2021-09-18, 11:18:

Couldn't resist another retro purchase, this time an Intellivision - […]
Show full quote

Couldn't resist another retro purchase, this time an Intellivision -

0INTELLIVISION.jpg

A console I never owned back in the day, but was curious about.

Bought the console itself as "untested" from eBay for a reasonable price, taking another gamble. I didn't have any games, so bought the cheapest game I could find on eBay - Soccer as pictured above.

I opened up the console first to check for anything nasty, all looked good so I powered it on and it worked!

After some pot tweaking, it's looking as good as can be expected with RF on a modern TV:

WhatsApp Image 2021-09-18 at 12.07.40.jpeg

Oh boy. That rabbiit hole can go VERY deep if you let it. The Mattel Intellivision holds a special place in my history. It was my first console as a kid. Absolutely loved it. If you ever want to see an amazing homebrew scene, Intellivision has a very dedicated bunch that still make high quality games for it to this day. AtariAge.com forums has a very active Intellivision group with some very avid collectors and can help you with pretty much anything related to the console. I mean come on, someone actually figured out how to fit "Defender of the Crown" on that console and was released in 2018. Insane, considering its limitations.

https://youtu.be/M6FnCayEqlM

Tried to find a GeForce 2-4 (non-MX model) as my better AGP cards are Radeon 9600 Pro and 9000 Pro with no table fog support; yet I found an FX 5600 XT (Asus V9560XT) for NT$350 (US$12.5 or €11) from a reputable used computer parts store.

Will try to test nglide on it; any suggestions and tips?

Got this for a very good price.
A Roland SC-55 with the "GS Standard" front. It contains ROM version 1.10.
Now I have the GS Standard front with ROM 1.10, the GS front with ROM 1.21 and the GM/GS front with ROM 2.00.

286 "CHIPS" mainboard from TULIP.
Unfortunately dead 🙁

Wolfus wrote on 2021-09-16, 13:11:

I also have no clue what the hell is the oscillator-hacked chip supposd to do.

Looks like it makes OSC signal for keyboard controller.
Something similar I was recently 'investigating' 😉
(SOLVED) ASUS ISA-386C board question....

Locutus wrote on 2021-09-18, 16:38:

286 "CHIPS" mainboard from TULIP.
Unfortunately dead 🙁

IMG_1229.jpg

A copiously socketed board is never dead Frodo Baggins, a copiously socketed board works precisely when it means to. 🤣

Meaning a full weekend with a can/bottle of contact cleaner and those interdental brushes might get it working again.