Computer Stuff

[graafen]

I'm thinking of using some of my old computer hardware to retro-fit a broken Compaq Portable III(More pictures here) that I've got in storage.

This beast originally only had a 286 processor and weighed a whopping 11kg! I want to give it a decent upgrade(at least to 1GHz) however this will mean getting a Mini-ITX board, which I'll have to put off for a while. In the meantime though I'm going to strip everything unnecessary out of it and modify the case for the new hardware. I've decided to call the project "Portable IIITX"(read "three-TX").

Here's a brief list of what I want to do with it:

1) Replace the 5¼" floppy drive with a slot-loading DVD-ROM drive.
2) Replace the 10" gas plasma screen with a 10" TFT screen.
3) Remove the modem and mount firewire and USB ports in it's place.
4) Mount speakers(shielded) in the top of the display mount.
5) Convert the contrast knob to control volume.
6) Mount the Mini-ITX motherboard in the second 5¼" bay(may require hacking).
7) Mount PCI wireless card, using PCI cable riser to allow the antenna to poke through the top of the case(although I may forgo this in favour of an external wireless antenna).
8) Connect the original keyboard to the new motherboard(hopefully AT to PS/2)

Right now this is just a plan. I've got lots of other things to do first. As usual I'll endevour to keep you updated.

Comments

[cloneboy.livejournal.com]

some where at home i think i've still got one of these http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=356&st=1 though it has suffered quite badly from the batterys leaking

[graafen]

Oh wow! That's the model used in Terminator 2! :D

[cloneboy.livejournal.com]

is it! wow

though absolute bullshit. i wrote a very simple program that would randomise 3 numbers and if they matched put your score up (like a very simple gambaling machine) and it used to run dog slow taking about 20-30 seconds to generate the number

[arakinuk.livejournal.com]

I've got a mini-ITX machine - though only a 600MHz fanless CPU one. Plus mini-itx case and slot loading DVD/CD-RW drive. Gutted it recently, as I really didn't need that many items.

Works fine, and was my preferred machine for watching DVDs and such for a while. Runs the original Unreal tournament a dream too :D

Bit worried that the DVD drive began playing up tho >.< but if you wanted a source for some cheaper hardware, I might be interested in selling it on.

[lobowolf.livejournal.com]

The scary thought is that this machine was produced before some of my friends were born :D

Wow.

$5000. That's what I paid for my slightly used 2-year old car in 1988.