Wes1262 wrote on 2024-08-03, 03:07:

So the seller cancelled the sale and refunded me. Probably realized he could've sold the 939 dual vsta for more. I imagine it will reappear soon at a higher price. Ripperonies

Man, that stinks. Sorry to hear that.

Though if you haven't talked to the seller, you may want to contact him about it. Sometimes sellers will start packing something up, notice a flaw, then just cancel an order rather than deal with returns or bad feedback. A lot of people are just awful at communication these days and will say nothing unless you contact them.

If it has bad caps or something it's still worth grabbing at a discount if they're willing to sell it.

BitWrangler wrote on 2024-08-03, 00:12:

Shponglefan wrote on 2024-08-02, 22:11:

Found this motherboard (Soyo SY-7VBA133U) while browsing thrift stores today. It came with a 1.4 GHz Celeron processor.

It will need a recap as most of the caps are bulging / leaking. Not sure if it works but for 10 bucks I figure it was worth a shot.

Nice, yah, that was probably worth the shot. Good luck with the caps behind the parallel port, looks easy to get jammed up in there, particularly if replacements are 0.5mm fatter. I can't recall right this second which site the extra pins on newer ATX connectors are, but while you are messing around with solder, might wanna see if you can lean that inductor over a bit for clearance.

I always try to source matching sizes of caps, so I'm hoping fit won't be too much of an issue.

Shponglefan wrote on 2024-08-02, 22:11:

Found this motherboard (Soyo SY-7VBA133U) while browsing thrift stores today. It came with a 1.4 GHz Celeron processor.

It will need a recap as most of the caps are bulging / leaking. Not sure if it works but for 10 bucks I figure it was worth a shot.

That's a nice one. I have one of those waiting to be recapped. But like you say, it may work, or it may not work.
The CPU is probably fine and it's worth more than $10.

Ozzuneoj wrote on 2024-08-03, 02:56:

Well, it does have a 1.4Ghz Celeron in it, so that would be the first indicator of Tualatin compatibility. 😀

And yes, Apollo Pro 133T and Tualatin-compatible Intel chipset boards have been pretty uncommon for a while. I remember being pretty stoked when I came into possession of some (in various states of disrepair) about 6-7 years ago. They have only gotten less common since then and I rarely find any in the lots I pick up. Though really, what is really rare and sought after are Tualatin compatible boards with ISA slots. The fact that this Soyo has two honestly makes it a bit of a unicorn. TRW has only 3 boards on record with Tualatin support and 2 ISA slots (including this Soyo), and only two industrial boards have 3 slots. So yeah, this is absolutely worth fixing.

The blue sockets can be an indicator, but only a very small portion of Tualatin compatible boards have them.

There are ways (permanent and not permanent) to mod Tualatin CPUs in order to make them compatible with other chipsets/boards. It's not easy but it's doable. I've done it lots of times with all sorts of boards, but I don't have a list. If you are after ISA slots, you can mod regular Mendocino or Coppermine slotkets to use Tualatin CPUs with the 440BX chipset and others.

tauro wrote on 2024-08-03, 04:17:

Ozzuneoj wrote on 2024-08-03, 02:56:

Well, it does have a 1.4Ghz Celeron in it, so that would be the first indicator of Tualatin compatibility. 😀

And yes, Apollo Pro 133T and Tualatin-compatible Intel chipset boards have been pretty uncommon for a while. I remember being pretty stoked when I came into possession of some (in various states of disrepair) about 6-7 years ago. They have only gotten less common since then and I rarely find any in the lots I pick up. Though really, what is really rare and sought after are Tualatin compatible boards with ISA slots. The fact that this Soyo has two honestly makes it a bit of a unicorn. TRW has only 3 boards on record with Tualatin support and 2 ISA slots (including this Soyo), and only two industrial boards have 3 slots. So yeah, this is absolutely worth fixing.

The blue sockets can be an indicator, but only a very small portion of Tualatin compatible boards have them.

There are ways (permanent and not permanent) to mod Tualatin CPUs in order to make them compatible with other chipsets/boards. It's not easy but it's doable. I've done it lots of times with all sorts of boards, but I don't have a list. If you are after ISA slots, you can mod regular Mendocino or Coppermine slotkets to use Tualatin CPUs with the 440BX chipset and others.

Of course. And that would be a logical way to go. Still, people will go crazy over hard-to-find parts, even if they could get similar functionality from something more common with a few mods. Like paying out the nose for a Voodoo5 when a Geforce 3/4 with a Glide wrapper will beat it in nearly every way.

I have actually been considering modding one of my slotkets to use a Tualatin in my 440BX Windows 98SE tester machine. Haven't looked into it much though honestly. Generally if I need anything faster than a Pentium III 850 I just move right to my Athlon XP or Athlon 64 X2 systems.

... I guess part of what has tempered my Tualatin enthusiasm is that I have a couple of rather insane IWill DVD-266U Dual Tualatin, DDR-equipped boards that I have been storing for several years because they need basically every capacitor replaced. It is going to be a huge undertaking and I don't think my current skill level and tools would make it much fun. I am getting closer though! Some day these things will live again and I will have more "Tualatin" than I'll know what to do with.

Got some commodore stuff today! 30 moneys each - Commodore 64 slim model and an Amiga 500. Sold as-is. Apart from scuffs and missing keys I could not find anything that looks bad on the inside when cleaning them. Got a couple of PSUs for the C64 - will test if voltages are safe later.

Amiga 500 will be harder to get running - I have 0 peripherals, cables, software or even a PSU for it. Replacements seem to be expensive.

Anyone here with more experience with these have any tips or warnings for me for getting them up and running again?

Linoleum wrote on 2024-08-01, 21:17:

Result of my last few weeks of thrift store treasure hunting... Paid $2 to $4 for each game. Pretty happy I got my hands on MS Office 95!

Nice gamepad 😻

Munx wrote on 2024-08-03, 10:52:

Got some commodore stuff today! 30 moneys each - Commodore 64 slim model and an Amiga 500. Sold as-is. Apart from scuffs and mis […]
Show full quote

Got some commodore stuff today! 30 moneys each - Commodore 64 slim model and an Amiga 500. Sold as-is. Apart from scuffs and missing keys I could not find anything that looks bad on the inside when cleaning them. Got a couple of PSUs for the C64 - will test if voltages are safe later.

Amiga 500 will be harder to get running - I have 0 peripherals, cables, software or even a PSU for it. Replacements seem to be expensive.

Anyone here with more experience with these have any tips or warnings for me for getting them up and running again?

A500 will run off an AT or ATX (jumpered) supply if you can get the power into it. Obviously it would be nice to get even a dead PSU to steal the connector from, but those would also be as hard to find. Find something cheap with a 5.25 ata drive power socket, like a Y adapter or SATA power adapter, and wire that into the back or underside of the power socket, and dangle it outside the case, then you can power through that. Until you find a mouse or build an adapter for PS/2 then you can use the right amiga key and the arrow keys to move the cursor. Though without disks, which are not writeable on a PC Drive, you're not going to do much apart from look at the disk insert screen. Media is also a bugger to find as it needs "720k" DSDD disks. I think the "Greaseweazel" doohickey lets you make amiga disks though. If finding games at thrifts, a lot are "booters", but some "management" type games may boot a workbench and give you an icon to click. They may have enough "workbench" on there to do rudimentary things, like make a copy of the disk, so make a copy for the game and make a copy that you can delete the game off and use as a bare essentials workbench disk until you get a better version.

BitWrangler wrote on 2024-08-03, 12:00:

Munx wrote on 2024-08-03, 10:52:

Got some commodore stuff today! 30 moneys each - Commodore 64 slim model and an Amiga 500. Sold as-is. Apart from scuffs and mis […]
Show full quote

Got some commodore stuff today! 30 moneys each - Commodore 64 slim model and an Amiga 500. Sold as-is. Apart from scuffs and missing keys I could not find anything that looks bad on the inside when cleaning them. Got a couple of PSUs for the C64 - will test if voltages are safe later.

Amiga 500 will be harder to get running - I have 0 peripherals, cables, software or even a PSU for it. Replacements seem to be expensive.

Anyone here with more experience with these have any tips or warnings for me for getting them up and running again?

A500 will run off an AT or ATX (jumpered) supply if you can get the power into it. Obviously it would be nice to get even a dead PSU to steal the connector from, but those would also be as hard to find. Find something cheap with a 5.25 ata drive power socket, like a Y adapter or SATA power adapter, and wire that into the back or underside of the power socket, and dangle it outside the case, then you can power through that. Until you find a mouse or build an adapter for PS/2 then you can use the right amiga key and the arrow keys to move the cursor. Though without disks, which are not writeable on a PC Drive, you're not going to do much apart from look at the disk insert screen. Media is also a bugger to find as it needs "720k" DSDD disks. I think the "Greaseweazel" doohickey lets you make amiga disks though. If finding games at thrifts, a lot are "booters", but some "management" type games may boot a workbench and give you an icon to click. They may have enough "workbench" on there to do rudimentary things, like make a copy of the disk, so make a copy for the game and make a copy that you can delete the game off and use as a bare essentials workbench disk until you get a better version.

Thanks! After some googling I found amigastore.eu and that place has a cheap power plug listed, so I'll guess I'll just get that (and wire it up to an ATX PSU) and a scart/VGA cable just to see if it can even attempt to boot.

You can also look out for PC/Mac external CDROM and HDD power adapters, just need one that does 5V and 12V, the ones of those with a couple of amps on each are enough to run just an A500 system unit and one or two accessories. They look just like a laptop power supply but have a funky 4 pin ps/2 style plug on. However, if you want multiple external floppies, sidecards and trapdoor expansions you might need the AT/ATX. (Even an original PSU only goes so far for expansions)

AGP4LIfe? wrote on 2024-08-02, 17:09:

Presenting Non-existent CPU #2. AMD Opteron 156, Socket 939 3.0Ghz Single Core. […]
Show full quote

Presenting Non-existent CPU #2.
AMD Opteron 156, Socket 939 3.0Ghz Single Core.

Time for a bench battle??

Aw man what a setup! The retention bracket is that the original? First i thought it was a DFI board but then i noticed the dimm sockets. Is it a MSI k8N?

Can confirm that's a MSI board w/ DFI Lanparty retention socket. I'd recognize the green and purple color choice that's been MSI's trademark about anywhere.

BitWrangler wrote on 2024-08-03, 12:00:

Media is also a bugger to find as it needs "720k" DSDD disks. I think the "Greaseweazel" doohickey lets you make amiga disks though. If finding games at thrifts, a lot are "booters", but some "management" type games may boot a workbench and give you an icon to click. They may have enough "workbench" on there to do rudimentary things, like make a copy of the disk, so make a copy for the game and make a copy that you can delete the game off and use as a bare essentials workbench disk until you get a better version.

Isn't it 880k disks? Or is that just how the Amiga formats them?

H3nrik V! wrote on 2024-08-03, 23:03:

BitWrangler wrote on 2024-08-03, 12:00:

Media is also a bugger to find as it needs "720k" DSDD disks. I think the "Greaseweazel" doohickey lets you make amiga disks though. If finding games at thrifts, a lot are "booters", but some "management" type games may boot a workbench and give you an icon to click. They may have enough "workbench" on there to do rudimentary things, like make a copy of the disk, so make a copy for the game and make a copy that you can delete the game off and use as a bare essentials workbench disk until you get a better version.

Isn't it 880k disks? Or is that just how the Amiga formats them?

Yeah it's 1MB unformatted, which used to be on the box somewhere in the late 80s early 90s, but then they had 720k for the PC format on the box like 1.44MB for the DSHD 2.0MB unformatted.

G-X wrote on 2024-08-03, 21:47:

AGP4LIfe? wrote on 2024-08-02, 17:09:

Presenting Non-existent CPU #2. AMD Opteron 156, Socket 939 3.0Ghz Single Core. […]
Show full quote

Presenting Non-existent CPU #2.
AMD Opteron 156, Socket 939 3.0Ghz Single Core.

Time for a bench battle??

Aw man what a setup! The retention bracket is that the original? First i thought it was a DFI board but then i noticed the dimm sockets. Is it a MSI k8N?

Good eye! Its my K8N Neo2 Platinum board. Of which I'm actually the original owner! I bought it new in 2004, still have it to this day. Still works perfectly, no recap ever done 👍. I even still have the original box, although a little abused 😆.

PcBytes wrote on 2024-08-03, 21:48:

Can confirm that's a MSI board w/ DFI Lanparty retention socket. I'd recognize the green and purple color choice that's been MSI's trademark about anywhere.

Interestingly enough It never even dawned on me the retention socket is yellow and not black. I have no memory of ever swapping or breaking the retention clip, the yellow is its natural color in my mind . Maybe I got a freak?? But it's been so many years too.

Another thrift store find today.

Hadn't come across a case quite like this before. I do like early 2000s beige boxes, so grabbed this. Mostly wanted it for the pair of beige DVD drives.

Nothing too fancy inside, just a basic AMD Sempron system. Came with an ATI All-in-Wonder 9600 XT. Unfortunately since it requires a proprietary adapter, which I don't have, I can't test it to see if it works.

Shponglefan wrote on 2024-08-04, 00:38:

Another thrift store find today.

Hadn't come across a case quite like this before. I do like early 2000s beige boxes, so grabbed this. Mostly wanted it for the pair of beige DVD drives.

Nothing too fancy inside, just a basic AMD Sempron system. Came with an ATI All-in-Wonder 9600 XT. Unfortunately since it requires a proprietary adapter, which I don't have, I can't test it to see if it works.

I actually like the lines on that case. Also seems to be in very good condition. Nice find

zuldan wrote on 2024-08-04, 00:53:

Shponglefan wrote on 2024-08-04, 00:38:

Another thrift store find today.

Hadn't come across a case quite like this before. I do like early 2000s beige boxes, so grabbed this. Mostly wanted it for the pair of beige DVD drives.

Nothing too fancy inside, just a basic AMD Sempron system. Came with an ATI All-in-Wonder 9600 XT. Unfortunately since it requires a proprietary adapter, which I don't have, I can't test it to see if it works.

I actually like the lines on that case. Also seems to be in very good condition. Nice find

Thank you, I do like the line work on it as well. Reminiscent of earlier 90s cases. 😀

Unfortunately when taking it apart, it looks like there is a piece of the case missing. It seems designed for possibly screwless card insertion. There appears to be a bracket or cover that should go over above the rear slots, but that piece was missing.

I'll have to either try to find a replacement piece, or figure out some other solution to secure cards in this case.

Shponglefan wrote on 2024-08-04, 01:58:

Thank you, I do like the line work on it as well. Reminiscent of earlier 90s cases. :) […]
Show full quote

zuldan wrote on 2024-08-04, 00:53:

Shponglefan wrote on 2024-08-04, 00:38:

Another thrift store find today.

Hadn't come across a case quite like this before. I do like early 2000s beige boxes, so grabbed this. Mostly wanted it for the pair of beige DVD drives.

Nothing too fancy inside, just a basic AMD Sempron system. Came with an ATI All-in-Wonder 9600 XT. Unfortunately since it requires a proprietary adapter, which I don't have, I can't test it to see if it works.

I actually like the lines on that case. Also seems to be in very good condition. Nice find

Thank you, I do like the line work on it as well. Reminiscent of earlier 90s cases. 😀

Unfortunately when taking it apart, it looks like there is a piece of the case missing. It seems designed for possibly screwless card insertion. There appears to be a bracket or cover that should go over above the rear slots, but that piece was missing.

I'll have to either try to find a replacement piece, or figure out some other solution to secure cards in this case.

I might have a piece like that laying around if I didn't already get rid of it.

Edit: Not seeing it where I thought it might be. I'll keep an eye out for it and let you know if I find it.

However, the card hold down for that type of case is really just a long L bracket. See those two screw holes? The L bracket is held in place by two screws so it is super easy to make a replacement out of a thin piece of metal. Could also use wood or a simple 3D print.

AGP4LIfe? wrote on 2024-08-04, 00:21:

PcBytes wrote on 2024-08-03, 21:48:

Can confirm that's a MSI board w/ DFI Lanparty retention socket. I'd recognize the green and purple color choice that's been MSI's trademark about anywhere.

Interestingly enough It never even dawned on me the retention socket is yellow and not black. I have no memory of ever swapping or breaking the retention clip, the yellow is its natural color in my mind . Maybe I got a freak?? But it's been so many years too.

They're generally black for MSI, Gigabyte and almost everyone else. IIRC only DFI's Lanparty and possibly ECS's Photon have had different colour brackets. I have a K8T Neo here w/ its original bracket, as well as a few more 754 and 939 boards with black retentions. Not counting ASRock (and Shuttle's XPC line) since they love to use funky 478 retention brackets, with ASRock's bracket being a hybrid of 478 and 754/939. I even remember using one of their brackets on a Foxconn 865PE mobo (which I quite regret trashing.)