What retro things have you done today?

!bluetonic! · 2025-02-09T16:56:08+0000

Another 386 update:

I saw on eBay you can get an ATX to AT convertor and this got me thinking, this could be a quick win.

So I did a further inspection and now understand the PSU to be an XT one, similar to AT, but the power rocker switch is built into the PSU. Gah. There's only one I can see on eBay and that case looks worse than mine, which, is in good nick for the age.

The PSU works, but it has a 'buzz' for a minute on cold start and then it goes away. I'm wondering if a capacitor or something could be replaced to fix this issue.

I've reached out to my electronic specialist friend and will update if he wants to help here.

My head says get rid. My heart says fix it.

Akagi · 2025-02-09T18:11:34+0000

!bluetonic! said:
Another 386 update:

I saw on eBay you can get an ATX to AT convertor and this got me thinking, this could be a quick win.

So I did a further inspection and now understand the PSU to be an XT one, similar to AT, but the power rocker switch is built into the PSU. Gah. There's only one I can see on eBay and that case looks worse than mine, which, is in good nick for the age.

The PSU works, but it has a 'buzz' for a minute on cold start and then it goes away. I'm wondering if a capacitor or something could be replaced to fix this issue.

I've reached out to my electronic specialist friend and will update if he wants to help here.

My head says get rid. My heart says fix it.

IIRC an ATX PSU may not have one of the voltages that an AT has, might be -5v, +5v, -12v, one of or a few of those. Not sure what its used for mind you.

Akagi · 2025-02-09T18:13:25+0000

The cards that came with the industrial PCs, im sure I have no use for them but...

Three of these:

Two of these:

Six of these:

Also lots of flooper doopers

!bluetonic! · 2025-02-09T19:46:00+0000

Interesting boards above.

Television Tim has agreed to look at the 386.

I'm happy to do a 60 mile round trip to drop of a retro computer to a man in Bath, but I won't spend money socially or choose to visit relatives. I'm a terrible human being..

!bluetonic! · 2025-02-09T19:47:10+0000

Meanwhile..

The Checkmate is back out to tide me over.

Akagi · 2025-02-09T21:48:59+0000

Opened up the Industrial PCs to see what lurks within... I believe all are 486 DX2 66MHz. I didn't bother to make a note of the RAM and HDD sizes, I'll refer to my pictures later

#1

Uh oh...

Weird button cell looking thing, but I think its attached to the PCB?

#2

Ooh Seasonic

Ah a Dallas RTC... I know how to get those going again, but annoyingly it isn't socketed.

But a Cyrix DX2 66! This one may be my favourite.

#3

Another Dallas RTC.

And the presumed faulty ones:

#4

Not sure I've heard of that one...

Phew, a CR2032!

Hrm...

#5

Oh, a theme is emerging! Portwell, more like... Port... Not well..

Weird button cell thing again.