What's a 486 good for? [Archive]

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ablang

02-21-2001, 10:02 AM

Here's a little tougher question for ya'll:

If you got a 486 DX-2 66Mhz computer from someone, what would you use it for?

"A 486 computer is like a starship without warp drive capability."

GroundZero3

02-21-2001, 10:06 AM

im having the same problem also. people say thorw linux on it and play it. i did and its slow as ****! win95 ran better.

Jason

gyoung

02-21-2001, 10:13 AM

This is a good article on turning your 486 into a router!
http://www.geekextreme.com/reviews/routers1.shtml

jamis

02-21-2001, 10:44 AM

Yeah... linux router/firewall...

Though if you try to run X-Windows/Linux.. it WILL suck.

jad1097

02-21-2001, 11:17 AM

Thanks for the link gyoung.

ablang

02-21-2001, 11:31 AM

How about just installing MS DOS 5.0 on it and reserving it for just old DOS arcade games and such?

Szech

02-21-2001, 01:28 PM

I say target practice. But don't throw out that hard drive! Even a 250 Megger can hold a minimal install of Windows 9x, and you can use burned CDs to run various programs.

Long Haired Hippie Phreek

02-21-2001, 01:58 PM

trade it to someone for an old IBM ps/2, then go on ebay and sell it..."Working PS/2, ,mouse and keyboard (not usb!), 4mb ram, upgradable to 16!" go on and on like that, never mentioning that is a ps/2 and not a playstation 2!

sys-eng

02-21-2001, 02:33 PM

Bad Hippie Bad !!!

sharder8

02-21-2001, 02:44 PM

Let's see, take your pick --

1. Boat anchor http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif
2. Stationary target http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif
3. Door stop http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif
4. Give it to my sister-in-law http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Harder

capybara

02-21-2001, 05:27 PM

stripout everything: 72 pin simms sell
that. hard drive. pci and isa cards.
all screws and plastic standoffs. speaker.
jumpers. floppy drive. case incl psu.
throw out he motherboard and cpu or save them till their antiques in 50 years. =)

Dash

02-21-2001, 05:49 PM

Real nice firewall/router tutorial at LNO. http://linuxnewbie.org/nhf/intel/network/eznetshare.html

Barney

02-21-2001, 06:27 PM

I have one that was given to me. It's a Compaq Deskpro 466. 66mhz, Elsa 4mb PCI videocard (costed 800 dollar when it came out), onboard sound, scsi and NIC. Scsi 540mb hd. The CPU socket and memory slots are on a card that goes into the mainboard. It can be upgraded with a card you can put a P233 or even Pentium Pro with SDRAM memory.

I mean this computer is NICE. It's even made to be used as desktop or minitower. When I've sold my P166 (need the money), I'm going to use the 486, to experiment with Linux or a LAN, using NT server 4.0.

Ronald