My retro computing passion is for Soltek Qbic systems. Soltek were a well established motherboard manufacturer in the late 90s who branched out into the barebones / Small Form Factor market in the early 2000s. They competed with Shuttle, who were the market leader and very much a premium priced offering. I feel that Soltek tried to compete in a couple of ways - thinking slightly differently in their SFF implementation; offering dual CD/DVD bays (a big thing back then!); and above all on price. Soltek Qbics were just so well priced for what you got, and could often be had with decent discounts from online retailers.

I got hooked because back in 2005 my now father in law bought 2 of them and we built them together. As a 20 year old, it was my first time assembling a computer and I went on to build many, many others, making a bit of a side hustle at uni by building to order and selling them on. So, the nostalgia is strong - a great time in my life, and great computer hardware back then. I was a massive AMD fan and socket 939 in a Soltek Qbic was the pinnacle for me. That and talking about it all via Sudhian Forums!

Week before last I went into my loft and got 2 of my systems down and “boom”! It all took me right back - the box, packaging, manuals, cables you name it. I’ve got 2 boys now, aged 10 and 8, and both of them said they look cool and want a system each. Alas, both are enoty from a motherboard / CPU perspective at the moment 😢

I had 7 different versions over the years, of which I still have 3.

- “Spring” black: 2 versions, both originally socket A, but 2 different chipsets, of which I still have 1
- “Classic” in brushed aluminium: 2 versions, socket 478 and socket 754, both sold
- “Classic” black with mirror front: socket 754, still have
- “Classic” white with mirror front: socket 939, still have
- “Mania” red: socket 939, sold

Here is a picture of one of the Solteks that I had back on 2008, and that I unfortunately sold on not long after. This is the “Mania” design, the more funky-looking chassis. I’m really keen to add one of these to my collection

My idea is to build a bit of a reference collection. So, different chassis, motherboards, boxes/packaging, and manuals.

Anyone else out there who shared (or still shares?) my love for these systems? Has anyone got one still running?