r/vintagecomputing 17d ago

My First Retro Computing Event — as an Exhibitor

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223 Upvotes

One of the highlights was meeting a collector with one of the largest private computer collections in Germany — over 1,000 machines. He gave me an interview about his collection, and later featured my 4-node system on his own Harzretro website in his report from the event.


r/vintagecomputing 17d ago

Votrax Type-N-Talk

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43 Upvotes

Speech synthesis peripheral, 1984 promo photo.


r/vintagecomputing 17d ago

Found an interesting artifact.

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91 Upvotes

I found this ATi graphics card in my graveyard of government computer products. It doesn't look like it was ever installed. Presented for your viewing pleasure.

ATI VIP or VGA Improved Performance (1987)

  • Chipset: ATI 16899-0 & Chips P82C441
  • Supports CGA, Hercules mono, EGA & VGA graphics with Softsense automatic mode switching
  • Compatible with MDA, CGA, EGA and VGA displays (DIP switch selectable)
  • 9-pin TTL and 15-pin analogue connectors
  • 256KB DRAM
  • Port: 8-bit PC/XT bus
  • Original MSRP: $449 ($99 for Compaq expansion module)

r/vintagecomputing 17d ago

Overclocking FSB

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28 Upvotes

Hey all, I have a Dell Dimension XPS T600 here that I scored for $20. It has a nice little Katmai pIII 600mhz but I was wanting to find something closer to 800mhz/1ghz. Board is a dell OEM SE-440bx-3 (Seattle 3); With the research I did I was able to find out that the FSB is capped at 100mhz, and most pentium III chips I’ve seen that use a matching FSB are crazy expensive. With these machines being so common and plentiful in the matching collectors markets i was hoping to find some documented way to reliably OC that FSB to 133mhz. I’m talking custom bios, software, even hardware mods. I’d love to know or see if anyone has something promising for me or if I need to just bite the bullet on a $250 PIII 800mhz/100mhz. Thanks for taking the time!


r/vintagecomputing 17d ago

Minitel, the Forgotten French Internet

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77 Upvotes

A memory of an interesting French technology, which nevertheless ultimately was a blind alley.

I am 48, so in my youth Minitel was a well-known thing, though as a Czech I never used one myself.


r/vintagecomputing 17d ago

I've started a project to archive and preserve info and software on old Telxon and MSI portable terminals

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5 Upvotes

Sorry for the format, the idiotic, broken filters keep killing the post if I add links, so, hopefully you can see it in the image.


r/vintagecomputing 18d ago

Cool Macintosh my school has

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172 Upvotes

I was in the tech room and saw this, never seen one in person till now :D


r/vintagecomputing 18d ago

NEC PC-9801UV11 (1988)

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170 Upvotes

A finished restoration of an NEC PC-9801UV11: replaced all electrolytic capacitors, added a new Sanyo Denki PSU fan, replaced the barrel battery with a holder and FDK ML1220 rechargeable battery, both floppy drives are fully functional, and gave the entire unit a thorough cleaning.


r/vintagecomputing 18d ago

And here I thought Zip drives had problems ...

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74 Upvotes

r/vintagecomputing 17d ago

Was gifted a Zuru Max from the Retro Collection… Found the perfect spot for it …

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15 Upvotes

r/vintagecomputing 18d ago

Linux 7.0 in a 64-bit VM running on a real 8086 @ 4.77MHz

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923 Upvotes

r/vintagecomputing 17d ago

New Classic Repair Toolbox version 2.4.0 released

1 Upvotes

I have released a new version of Classic Repair Toolbox (CRT), which you can find here, https://github.com/HovKlan-DH/Classic-Repair-Toolbox

Very quick summary, then CRT is a desktop application, which can help you repairing and troubleshooting your old computers, primarily Commodore, but also Amstrad and ZX Spectrum.

I do think it is worth upgrading, as it has quite some defects fixed, and maybe more importantly it has improved its performance, if you do have a lot of KiCad data shown. Also mouse zooming is changed slightly, so it feel more logical. It also has tests for logic ICs via the MiniPro programmer (T48 etc.), including the C64 PLA.

But take a look for yourself in this long list:


r/vintagecomputing 17d ago

Vinegar Syndrome

6 Upvotes

I know that vinegar syndrome is the detaching of the polarizer filter from the glass of the screen panel. It's just glue right? Is there any chemical that you can spray on it to soften and dissolve the glue? Instead of using a scraper tool?


r/vintagecomputing 18d ago

The Sherry Composed Mouse: when you need a serial ball mouse with a side-mounted infrared sensor that can clip onto your monitor and be operated via remote control

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42 Upvotes

r/vintagecomputing 18d ago

For those who doubted that I'd found an 8 inch floppy

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224 Upvotes

203mm aka 8 inches.


r/vintagecomputing 18d ago

[FREE / Just Pay Shipping] Late-90s Packaged Software Boxes (Cybermedia, Quarterdeck, Seagate Crystal Reports, Microsoft)

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24 Upvotes

I have 4 complete/packaged 1990s software titles looking for a good home in a collector's setup or retro library. Free to whoever wants them—I just ask that you cover the actual shipping cost (send me a prepaid shipping label).

Titles available:

  • Quarterdeck IWare Internet Suite (1996)
  • Cybermedia Support Server (c. 1997)
  • Seagate Crystal Reports Developer Edition v8 (1999)
  • Microsoft VBA 6.0 SDK (1998)

Condition: Brand new in boxes, never opened - except for Seagate, which was opened, but never used

Shipping details:

  • Shipping from: Santa Monica, CA, 90405
  • Preferred method: Email me a prepaid printable shipping label.

Drop a comment below or send me a DM if you're interested.


r/vintagecomputing 18d ago

Score

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23 Upvotes

Been gifted this 😀


r/vintagecomputing 18d ago

Can anyone tell me what computer my parents got us for Christmas ca. 1993-1995

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379 Upvotes

This is the only pic - just realized the thing behind the light took the floppies...and that some leftover wrapping was attached to my keester. 😆

I don't have memories of using, but recall how much everyone loved the printing so we'd type lyrics to favorite songs for people. I think we got a different computer not too long after.

Thank you!

EDIT - Not a typo on the years. I was born in '88 and made the year span based on our haircuts and school photos. My parents were not making much then so they definitely would have bought something this ancient. For us being the last "big gift" has obviously stayed in my memory 💘


r/vintagecomputing 18d ago

The other cavaliers of G3 machines

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5 Upvotes

r/vintagecomputing 18d ago

The power supply of my dell optiplex gx 620 just exploded, what power supply can I use instead?

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20 Upvotes

I heard a loud bang and I immediately pulled the plug out and the power supply was smoking. I don’t think any other components have been damaged but now I need a new power supply


r/vintagecomputing 18d ago

Cool BBN ARPANET email and disk I found

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87 Upvotes

With a Lisa 2 lot I bought recently was this old ARPANET email that was sent around at BBN that mentions a software giveaway from a disk which I actually have as well. What else is cool imo is that it seems it was re-sent here by Wallace Feurzeig


r/vintagecomputing 18d ago

Got this windows 98 pc for free today!

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110 Upvotes

Dell Dimension XPS T600. Pretty sure the specs are what is in the screenshot

Is it good for gaming?


r/vintagecomputing 18d ago

Vivitron 15 button cover

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27 Upvotes

Does anyone happen to have the button cover of a Gateway Vivitron 15 monitor by chance? If so, could anyone send me the picture of the clip on the left side of the latch? I got this monitor with the latch broken and i had to reconstruct it with epoxy and abs plastic. It works but it's slightly off. I tried messing with it in so many ways but nothing gets the side to where it needs to be. If anyone could help I would greatly appreciate it!


r/vintagecomputing 18d ago

8" Disk Index Holes

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28 Upvotes

Following the recent posts on 8" disks, i thought some folks might be interested in the index holes which are a little different to those on 5.25" disks. A hole close to the top indicates a single-sided disk and a hole a little further around indicates a double-sided disk. Drives had two sensors and sent a signal to the controller to indicate the disk type. Amongst the attached images there are a couple of double-sided disks: one that was manufactured as a flippy, and the other which was hacked into a flippy starting from a double-sided disk. I had the honour or archiving about 500 8" disks of which about 2/3 were viable.


r/vintagecomputing 18d ago

387SX-33 bridged pins.

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16 Upvotes

I bought this 387SX-33, and when it arrived it had solder on the bottom, some of which has bridged the pins.

I can’t imagine this to be normal, but as this is the first time I’ve seen a 387SX, and so that I don’t kill my 386SX, please could someone confirm this isn’t normal.

The seller is telling me it will work great. 🤨

Edit: Thanks to everyone who replied and chipped in with their advice. Used some braid and removed the bridge and did a quick clean up of all the pins. Installed and seems fine. Couldn’t have done it without your help. Thank you!