Got something relatively less common and most importantly affordable, which arrived today -

4x 256K SIPP RAM chips.

I have an 8088 motherboard that accepts these 256K chips and currently only has 1 stick of 256K (since I lost or damaged the other 3).

Going to see if I can at least get the board to 512K, as I'm not sure what would happen if I put 3x 256K sticks into the board, would it fail to POST or simply max out at 640KB?

The board has 4 banks and originally had 2x 256K & 2x 64K sticks, giving me the total 640KB.

PTherapist wrote on 2020-11-05, 15:33:

Going to see if I can at least get the board to 512K, as I'm not sure what would happen if I put 3x 256K sticks into the board, would it fail to POST or simply max out at 640KB?

The board has 4 banks and originally had 2x 256K & 2x 64K sticks, giving me the total 640KB.

The 8088 can address up to 1MB. Doesn't mean the motherboard will actually support it though.

Shuttle FV24 motherboard + Coppermine 1000 + 512MB RAM. Found this set on the local eBay for a reasonable price many months ago in a random Google search(!); the motherboard caught my attention because it's a fully integrated Socket 370 board not much bigger than ITX. It could fit in an ITX case with enough wiggle room.

Unfortunately the integrated VIA graphics chip is unstable, crashing to a black screen sometimes after POST and all the time when opening the display driver properties on Windows XP. These Shuttle boards appear to be notorious for bad capacitors, so I guess a recap is in order, even though the caps all look fine. There could be more issues, but I don't have PCI graphics cards to test on this board.

RichardG867 wrote on 2020-11-06, 00:09:

Shuttle FV24 motherboard + Coppermine 1000 + 512MB RAM. Found this set on the local eBay for a reasonable price many months ago in a random Google search(!); the motherboard caught my attention because it's a fully integrated Socket 370 board not much bigger than ITX. It could fit in an ITX case with enough wiggle room.

Unfortunately the integrated VIA graphics chip is unstable, crashing to a black screen sometimes after POST and all the time when opening the display driver properties on Windows XP. These Shuttle boards appear to be notorious for bad capacitors, so I guess a recap is in order, even though the caps all look fine. There could be more issues, but I don't have PCI graphics cards to test on this board.

If that had an ISA slot instead of PCI and the integrated graphics worked OK that would be a pretty awesome board.

Got the Biostar board yesterday and cleaned off a lot of corrosion off of the board. Next on the list: new resistors and 30AWG wire to patch the broken traces.

PTherapist wrote on 2020-11-05, 15:33:

Got something relatively less common and most importantly affordable, which arrived today - […]
Show full quote

Got something relatively less common and most importantly affordable, which arrived today -

4x 256K SIPP RAM chips.

I have an 8088 motherboard that accepts these 256K chips and currently only has 1 stick of 256K (since I lost or damaged the other 3).

Going to see if I can at least get the board to 512K, as I'm not sure what would happen if I put 3x 256K sticks into the board, would it fail to POST or simply max out at 640KB?

The board has 4 banks and originally had 2x 256K & 2x 64K sticks, giving me the total 640KB.

Those are SIMMs converted to SIPs (not that it matters - they are pin compatible). I still have a few of those pin kits which allow for such conversion. Nowadays I see people use the goldpins for this purpose which isn't a perfect solution.

imi wrote on 2020-11-04, 19:42:

ok... I finally did it, prices have been steadily rising and I just couldn't take it anymore... my bank account hates me right n […]
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ok... I finally did it, prices have been steadily rising and I just couldn't take it anymore... my bank account hates me right now.

hardware40_01b.jpg
hardware40_02.jpg
hardware40_03.jpg

Awesome machine, absolutely ... going to keep longing for one. I think I need to watch Steins;Gate now to calm down 😉

Got two 486 DX2-66 overdrive CPUs. ODPR version and ODP (the one with extra pin everybody seems to be so confused about):

Moogle! wrote on 2020-11-03, 01:44:

SaxxonPike wrote on 2020-11-02, 22:01:

Remembered something unusual I had acquired as a curiosity some time ago: a Trio3D/2X. Why should anyone care about these cards? Well, this one is a little unusual.PXL_20201102_215533447.jpg
Hint: these are typically only found as AGP.

Those came after the Virges, didn't they?

Yeah. They are effectively Virges, but (iirc) with updated 2D capability and lack of S3D support. Nothing really notable about them. Just this atypical card. 😀

devius wrote on 2020-11-05, 23:10:

The 8088 can address up to 1MB. Doesn't mean the motherboard will actually support it though.

Couldn't find any exact info about the motherboard, but it does indeed regcognise 640KB with the 4 chips installed and apparently there may be a jumper to allow the remaining RAM to be used in some capacity, ie. RAM drive etc.

HanJammer wrote on 2020-11-06, 09:20:

Those are SIMMs converted to SIPs (not that it matters - they are pin compatible). I still have a few of those pin kits which allow for such conversion. Nowadays I see people use the goldpins for this purpose which isn't a perfect solution.

You know, I never even thought of conversion as a possibility. I have a drawer full of 30-pin SIMMS, albeit 1MB chips 🤣.

Didnt expect to win this for 60€...not bad 😀

Is that first picture all cache/coast modules?

Looks like it. A rare find, hope there's some 512KB in there 😀

Yes, indeed. Was also surprised to see that amount of Coast modules in a "gold" scrap lot. On top there are many 30 pin SIMMs.

Wow... I paid over $50 for a specific 512KB module to work in an ASUS dual socket 7 board I have.

Great find!

Not vintage hardware as such, yet for use with vintage hardware.....

I have ordered a pair of Logitech Z-240 speakers. Anyone know how they perform when hooked up to vintage computers?

cyclone3d wrote on 2020-11-06, 22:33:

Wow... I paid over $50 for a specific 512KB module to work in an ASUS dual socket 7 board I have.

Great find!

you also promised benchmarks, if I recall correctly.

luckybob wrote on 2020-11-06, 23:31:

cyclone3d wrote on 2020-11-06, 22:33:

Wow... I paid over $50 for a specific 512KB module to work in an ASUS dual socket 7 board I have.

Great find!

you also promised benchmarks, if I recall correctly.

I did. Haven't gotten around to messing with it anymore yet though.

Predator99 wrote on 2020-11-06, 19:17:

Didnt expect to win this for 60€...not bad 😀

so you did get them :3 nice

some random stuff...
YMF card with QDSP1000, needs a good bath ^^
Aztech Sound Galaxy BXII

Yamaha DB50XG :3

and this oddity I absolutely had to have x3

SE440BX-2 manufactured 51/98 I assume?