trying to salvage parts

[CWelker73]

I am trying to get some parts our of this old compaq 486/66 computer. Im thinking all that I can get out of it is the fdd. The power supply is only 175 watts, p8/p9 connection. Are there any decent mobo's that still use p8/p9 and only use 175 watts? And is the case worth keeping? its a strange one, the expansion slots sit on the bottom of the case, so the cards sit vertically, and the mobo sits like a riser card in the middle of the case. Ive only been taking apart computers for acouple years and I havent seen any mobos that can go in like that, except desktop cases, and this is a mid-tower. Thanks in advance for any input!

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Allright brain, I dont like you and you dont like me, so lets get this over with and get back to killing you with beer. -Homer Simpson

[AwARe]

Hello CW,

I had a couple of those cases in my basement, and after I didnt touch them even once for an entire year, I finally desided to throw them away...

Hopefully that answers the question.... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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What I meant by what I said is hopefully less confusing then the contemplation of the question that led to the confusion in the 1st place.......

[mjc]

Can you say ...p...r...o...p...r...i...e...t...a...r..y, Compaqs are known for consisting of mainly proprietary parts.

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/highrise/11/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[bassvax]

Well...you could start a collection of these older parts to toy with rebuilding old machines (check with Pete...he seems to do things like that). If you want the learning/frustration experience then by all means.

To answer your questions...
Sounds like an AT style mobo and ps...most newer boards are atx/mini atx/micro atx.
If your are good at doing major modifications you may be able to work with that proprietary (as MJC noted) equipment (or try to stick with older Compaqs when re-buildiing).
Another pain will be the BIOS...as I've gathered from postings here...Compaq puts the BIOS on a the HD (now maybe the older Compaqs used a mobo chip http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/confused.gif )

There's my 0.02 cents worth
As far as the FDD, it is possible to still use it...although this is one of the cheaper components to buy.

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Tango down!

[CWelker73]

thanks for the input folks. mjc, that would explain why I had so much trouble w/ a compaq system I used to have, every time I tried to install a new component I had to fight with it to make it work correctly. at least fight w/ it more than i do w/ my home built systems now http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif again, thanks for the responses, I am quite impressed with this site and disscussion board.

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Allright brain, I dont like you and you dont like me, so lets get this over with and get back to killing you with beer. -Homer Simpson

[mjc]

Bassvax,
Compaqs BIOS is on a chip and the hdd...the important part is on the drive--Setup and maybe the changes you've made the actual bios is in the chip.

Cwelker,

One of the "special" parts in most Compaq systems is the power supply...usually close to a standard unit but with one or two "slight" modifications...like a different style connector, therefore, the MOBO must have modifications and so on....

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/highrise/11/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[Bailey]

The "split" bios requires users to use the Compaq branded installation disk that comes with the machine.

Yes, I can say proprietary. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

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"Ooooh, They have the
internet on computers now!" - Homer Simpson

[Paleo Pete]

Well, if you look around and pick up old machines at resale shops etc you might be able to use things like memory, video and sound cards, hard drive...but using the case and motherboard are very unlikely, except in the same case...

The BIOS might not be an issue with a machine that old, I'm not sure when some brain dead designer at Compaq got the bright idea to split it and put part on the hard drive, but the Pentium machines usually do have part of it on a second partition on the drive, locking you into their proprietary OS and restore disk.

The perierals though, are usually the same ones used with other machines, and should work on any computer with the proper slots to mount them in, as well as memory and CPU...

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So many idiots, and only six bullets...
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

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