486 TOYS

[Dennis]

I run facilities here at work so was responsible for disposing of our junk... "computators". After an in-house sale, most of the stuff was still there - over 200 computers, all the way from a 286 "laptop" (should have come with it's own forklift!) to a low-end Pentium. I couldn't resist... I took the last pentium and 8 of the 486's, a bunch of boards, drives, monitors, etc., etc, etc. Got them lined up the length of my garage, then we donated the rest to some charitable organization. Have no idea what they will do with all that junk.

At home my wife has an AMD K5 I have an AMD K6 III and both are pretty well decked out and running W98, so we really don't need another computer - and certainly not a 486... but the temptation to play was irristable.

But my question is... just how far can I go with an Intel 486 - 66Mhz? I have gobs of 1meg memory (32 pin), hard and floppy drives up the ying-yang, and so far everything seems to work. Many of the boards I've checked so far (modems, graphics, I/O add-ons, etc., etc.) seem fine, but I'll probably need to get some drivers if I plan to use some of them. BUT... Can you load W95 on a 486? Would I need to modify the bios or is it a function of memory, or speed, or hard drive space? If so, can I modify the bios with programming or do I need to swap out the chips themselves? Seems like I could make some pretty high-class house-automation controllers with one of these things, maybe make an ultra-answering machine out of another, and play with Linux on another, and with all those computers running in every room think of the gas I'll save not having to heat the house?!

Any thoughts or input? What would YOU do with a pile of 486's? (Be nice now...)

D.A.M.

[Ron_C]

You can put W95 on a 486. Hmmm, for a beginner a good first computer to learn on.

If you have an ex-wife or brother-in-law or just someone you don't like or care for cheer them up and tell them you are going to give them a computer.

Good door stops if you add some weight.

I am sure there are several other things you can do with them,good luck.

[Serge]

Two words!

Linux server

[smokin1]

I have bought pallets full of what you have in the garage, and there are a lot of uses for them. With at least 12 meg ram I have put win95 on a 25Hz 486, they run OK with word, but don't attempt star office...it will bring it to its' knees gagging. With a good net connection they are great for that...they make great print servers, small networks for offices that don't use heavy graphics, great for linux boxes, use them for a firewall...and perfect if you have kids...put them on your home network so they can do homework...whew...that is just a start.
http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[alondra]

Im on a 486 now that I upgraded for a neighbor
it it has a 66mhz cpo, 20meg mem, old 30 pin SIMMs, (those 1meg chips wont cut it, only 4 slots?.) 500meg HD, win 95, IE5 outlook 5, the hardest part was finding a isa modem. this thing is slow, but works OK for a beguinner,
http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif



[This message has been edited by alondra (edited 01-19-2000).]

[jad1097]

Put one in the freezer and see how far it will go before it melts. There is a site where someone did that.I can't remember where the site is but some posted a link to it her some time ago.

[Wiz]

you could become completely psychotic and melt down the mobo's of the 486's to get the gold out of them. A friend of mine does this, needless to say, he is a tightwad.

[skywalker[TSG]]

make a beowulf cluster
then the 8comps will act as one

[alondra]

dennis
be patient, comedy central closes, shortly http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[Dennis]

Gee folks, LOTS of good ideas here! I especially like the one my B-in-law gave me that he pulled from a Dilbert cartoon. The PHB walked in shuffeling his feet and said (something like) to a female engineer who was obviously working on an open computer, "Wann'a see a new discovery I made? If I shuffle my feet on the carpet, then point my finger like this (pointing to a board) it goes... Z-A-A-A-P!"

Final shot shows the PHB on his hands and knees by an open door saying... "She's right. This board DOES make a good doorstop."

But hey, at least I'm learning a bit more about the hardware. Too bad most of what I'm learning is already useless! Oh well...

D.A.M.

[gjwilson]

Dennis...as Ron_C had mentioned 486s are great for the comp. illiterate who are too afraid to put in the big bucks. I set up 486s for friends all the time.(maybe I just have alot of comp. ill. friends)With an old monitor and win 95 I have had friends online even with a 25sx.My local community resource center takes anything and everything I can give them. Have Fun, Gary

[tkray]

Take one and use it as a print server in your home network, keeps IRQs on your decked out machines free for other stuff.
Also, you can get win 98 to work on a 486, just need enough memory. Heck, you can run NT on one and make a mini network, server and all! Not useful for anything, but certainly a nice challenge.