some retro hardware stuff

[6666d6e34d24bRocketMan]

You're 100% right but despite that I still demand that all my computers are internet "capable" at some level, even my shitty 386.  If I have to run a text only browser like lynx so be it, but I've found some very clever browsers meant to show the bare bones of the internet even on such systems.

[6666d6e34d489voodoo47]

more tests on the old machines - Athlon64 dualcore is actually not cutting it for 720p youtube videos, to my surprise. so yeah, if you get a request for a 50 buck internet machine, you shouldn't go below intel core2duo, clocked at 2GHz or more, if possible.

also got reminded just how bleh are the pre-5th gen intel gpus - even Quake3 at 1024*768 is a problem.

[6666d6e34d7e6Olfred]

Yeah, even though older CPUs should have "the power" to run youtube compared to nowadays low budget CPUs. It really boils down to them not having the instruction set modern CPUs got. Which makes the whole decoding of videos fast enough for a good playback. It's at times like this that you realise that there is more to a CPU then just pure hertz.

[6666d6e34d8f0RocketMan]

Whatever it is, the i386 gots it.  They will never build anything better in a million years!  It can run the space shuttle so what's a youtube video by comparison!

[6666d6e34da10voodoo47]

woah these old no-brand motherboards are picky as far as memory modules are concerned - maybe every third or so actually boots, and good luck with dual channel unless they are identical.

also whoever designed the lga775 cpu clips needs to burn in hell.

[6666d6e34db4avoodoo47]

so yeah, if you feel like investing a couple of dollars into some vintage hardware, here's your chance - I can guarantee that things are just going to get more expensive later.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/333109469647

[6666d6e34dcc9SystemMaster]

That card looks beautiful! It really takes me back.

I had a similar card lying around until a year ago, it got pretty much crushed while I was moving to a new house. It was painful.

[6666d6e34de09voodoo47]

yeah, the 6k, despite being completely flawed as a concept (and being one of the big five nails in 3Dfx's coffin), I really like it, wouldn't sell mine for two times the cash. and yes, people have tried.

[6666d6e34df1bRocketMan]

You should make a Voodoo board and put 47 processors on it. 

[6666d6e34e007voodoo47]

wouldn't help, the texture memory available would still be just 32MB.

[6666d6e34e177RocketMan]

Image: http://gif-finder.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Ryan-Gosling-Facepalm.gif

[6666d6e34e281voodoo47]

ignoring the jab on purpose makes it more funny.

also, the linked image needs to be https to display properly.

[6666d6e34e3a4RocketMan]

yeah that backfired.  I don't know how to make this internet shit work ok..

[6666d6e34e541voodoo47]

I've got a semi-dead hp dc7700 ultra-slim over here, and it needs full motherboard replacement, most likely - but don't see any sanely priced examples on ebay, unfortunately. however, the small form factor version is available, and as far as I can tell, it's identical, just slightly more populated - one more memory slot, one more pci slot, bunch of other bits, not a problem having a few extras around.

however, it also has a full LPT port, which will make it physically not fit into the chassis - so the question is, any idea how difficult would it be to get rid of it? desolder? snip it off? no idea how sturdy these things are, not really a desolder/rip stuff off guy.
[s-l1600.jpg expired]

[6666d6e34e775fox]

Snipping it off might be too difficult and you risk damaging the PCB. Desoldering with a common solder station and solder wick (or pump) and standard sized tips might work although these can be quite tough to desolder, very much depending on the PCB material and the circuit layout. If there are large ground planes under that connector, this can become very tricky.

Your best bet is using a heat gun carefully. Done properly, you'll be able to apply enough heat on all the pins (looks like a THT part, right?) at once and you'll be able to remove it in one piece once the solder liquifies.

You'll need to shield neighbouring plastic parts and watch out for SMD components not being blown off their pads. So not let it blow too hard and also if you get too agressive with the heating process you might also burn the PCB. If you're not used to doing this, you should practice with some junk parts first.

Last resort would be carefully dremeling (as opposed to using a wire cutter) the upper part of the casing enoug so that you can pull each leg individually.

[6666d6e34e894voodoo47]

ah, was too slow in deleting my post - the optical drive connector is different, that makes this not worth pursuing. not that it really was in the first place.

thanks anyway. also, dug out a similar board, and the LPT connector is actually L shaped and very flimsy, snipping it off would be pretty easy I reckon, in case someone would want to do something similar.

[6666d6e34e96ffox]

But that would be too easy. Where's the fun in that?

[6666d6e34ea64voodoo47]

heh. right.

anyway, no way I'm messing around that optical drive connector, so I'll just wait until a proper and reasonably priced board pops up on ebay, it's bound to happen sooner or later.

[6666d6e34eb5cOlfred]

What's dead on the motherboard?
And if you need any technical stuff done I could lend a hand. Shipping should be moderate as we are both from europe ( I believe).

[6666d6e34ec79voodoo47]

the integrated gpu driver keeps resetting/recovering itself. this usually indicates a faulty ram module - currently swapping modules around to see whether it will make the issue better/worse, but I don't think it's going to be that easy. caps look ok as far as I can tell (will double check if I have no success with the ram swapping).

[6666d6e34ed70Olfred]

If the chip isn't broken it really sounds like a power problems.
Caps can still look good but be broken. So check them individually or just replace them all.

[6666d6e34ee53voodoo47]

hmm, psu is not a bad idea, and those can be bough relatively cheap - I'll probably try that first once I'm done with the ram shenanigans.

[6666d6e34ef4fOlfred]

I was more talking about the caps on the board. Checking PSU power should be relatively easy if you got a voltmeter.

[6666d6e34f054voodoo47]

I don't, unfortunately - so unless they will be puffed up or leaking, I'll have no way of telling.

we'll see how this goes.