Retro Rebuild

And now, for something completely different.

What I have here is a machine that I'm rebuilding, partially to have a period-correct computer, and partially just because I can.

Ain't it a beauty!

I'm... still working on the cable management, but it isn't finished yet!

However, that doesn't mean there isn't room to improve and to grow! Just look at that I/O!

Beauty shot of the components!

The motherboard is an Alaris Cougar II, with an onboard IBM Blue Lightning "4"86 processor, clocked at 75 MHz.

(I had a 387 math co-processor installed, but... I kinda fried it when I misaligned it. :dead:)

A whopping 16 megabytes of DRAM! Woot!

Now, onto storage!

A Quantum Atlas III 9GB SCSI HDD

And a CF-IDE adapter (with no CF card... yet.)

Now, nothing says "90s computers" like a sound card with an OPL chip.

This is a Sound Blaster 16, with IDE port.

And a Trident video card with 4MB of RAM.

On the one hand... 4MB. On the other hand... I have VLB slots...

Interesting D-Link 10Mb Ethernet card. Got both an RJ-45 and coaxial connector.

Nothing definitely says "the 90s" like...

...the floppy drive!

The Teac lidless for a beauty shot.

And, possibly the only "period correct mod" of the project:

Sleeved power supply cables!

...maybe period correct? Dunno.

230 watts out to be enough for everybody, right???

As you might have been able to see, I am missing a few parts. As I get them, I'll definitely post these here, so look forward to more updates! :D:up:

This is amusing to me. I'll be watching to see if you can even get the thing to boot and find drivers.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TLHarrell

This is amusing to me. I'll be watching to see if you can even get the thing to boot and find drivers.

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Considering I had a 486 a few years back... that I kinda tore apart... It's amusing to me as well.

Edit: I do have photo documentation that I am able to get it to POST and get into the BIOS settings page:

Unfortunately, the HDD pictured has had its controller board die (the platters are still "good", though).

Nice ! ISA Slots!

I have a friend looking for a mobo with ISA slots for an old VR setup.

Watching for sure...

Components directly placed on shag carpeting, ack! Love the retro build though!

The good news is, I got it to boot!

The great news is, I got an installation to happen!

The bad news is, the floppy drive died right around this picture.

AARRGGHH

At least it's just a floppy drive. Should be able to locate those easily enough still.

Yeah. It's not a total loss. At least I have one more spare for my musical contraption!

One thing I'm seriously considering is somehow modding in a floppy drive emulator. I'll have one more floppy interface when I get the SCSI card, which will allow me to have the two bay floppy drives, and the emulator.