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Thread: Retro Rebuild

  1. #1
    The floppy drive is no longer obsolete. AmEv's Avatar
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    Default 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. )



    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!
    Two years. They were great. Let's make the next ones even better!

    Tri.fecta

  2. #2
    Moderator TLHarrell's Avatar
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    Default Re: Retro Rebuild

    This is amusing to me. I'll be watching to see if you can even get the thing to boot and find drivers.
    I have a hammer! I can put things together! I can knock things apart! I can alter my environment at will and make an incredible din all the while! -Calvin

  3. #3
    The floppy drive is no longer obsolete. AmEv's Avatar
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    Default Re: Retro Rebuild

    Quote Originally Posted by TLHarrell View Post
    This is amusing to me. I'll be watching to see if you can even get the thing to boot and find drivers.
    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).
    Two years. They were great. Let's make the next ones even better!

    Tri.fecta

  4. #4
    Yuk it up Monkey Boy! Airbozo's Avatar
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    Default Re: Retro Rebuild

    Nice ! ISA Slots!

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

    Watching for sure...
    "...Dumb all over, A little ugly on the side... "...Frank Zappa...

  5. #5
    Why must hard drives fail together? TheMainMan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Retro Rebuild

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

  6. #6
    The floppy drive is no longer obsolete. AmEv's Avatar
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    Default Re: Retro Rebuild

    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
    Two years. They were great. Let's make the next ones even better!

    Tri.fecta

  7. #7
    Moderator TLHarrell's Avatar
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    Default Re: Retro Rebuild

    At least it's just a floppy drive. Should be able to locate those easily enough still.
    I have a hammer! I can put things together! I can knock things apart! I can alter my environment at will and make an incredible din all the while! -Calvin

  8. #8
    The floppy drive is no longer obsolete. AmEv's Avatar
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    Default Re: Retro Rebuild

    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.
    Two years. They were great. Let's make the next ones even better!

    Tri.fecta

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