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Old junk or rare and valuable hardware?

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved The Lounge
questiongraphicshardwareperformance
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  • Mike HankeyM Mike Hankey

    That's what I like about the stuff I'm working with now, it's a lot more versatile and easy to wire up peripherals. The only problem I have is like you stated on an earlier post the circuit boards. I just got the stuff to make my own and I'm going to try it some time this week...wish me luck.

    If you keep doing what you been doing you'll keep getting what you been getting http://www.hq4thmarinescomm.com[^] [My Site]

    L Offline
    L Offline
    Lost User
    wrote on last edited by
    #47

    Really? If it's about soldering and building, and not about performance, then I would suggest you build an Elf :) The CPU is a bit hard to get, but still in production. Other antiquities, like the RAMs, can easily be replaced by more modern parts. Most of the rest will be simple TTL or (better) CMOS logic. If you like, I can show a user group over at Yahoo for new and ancient Elves. This here is the original Elf: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:COSMAC_ELF_CHM.jpg[^] As you can see, not a too huge project. And this is a 'naked' Elf II, essentially the same with hex keyboard and bus slots: http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/accession/X1535.98[^] And finally an Elf II in its case with more IO and RAM: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wcrpaul/335035144/[^]

    "I have what could be described as the most wide-open sense of humor on the site, and if I don't think something is funny, then it really isn't." - JSOC, 2011 -----
    "Friar Modest never was a prior" - Italian proverb

    Mike HankeyM 1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • L Lost User

      Really? If it's about soldering and building, and not about performance, then I would suggest you build an Elf :) The CPU is a bit hard to get, but still in production. Other antiquities, like the RAMs, can easily be replaced by more modern parts. Most of the rest will be simple TTL or (better) CMOS logic. If you like, I can show a user group over at Yahoo for new and ancient Elves. This here is the original Elf: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:COSMAC_ELF_CHM.jpg[^] As you can see, not a too huge project. And this is a 'naked' Elf II, essentially the same with hex keyboard and bus slots: http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/accession/X1535.98[^] And finally an Elf II in its case with more IO and RAM: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wcrpaul/335035144/[^]

      "I have what could be described as the most wide-open sense of humor on the site, and if I don't think something is funny, then it really isn't." - JSOC, 2011 -----
      "Friar Modest never was a prior" - Italian proverb

      Mike HankeyM Offline
      Mike HankeyM Offline
      Mike Hankey
      wrote on last edited by
      #48

      You know looking back I think that is the unit I wanted to buy but couldn't afford. My ex-wife kept me poor...the more I made the poorer I got.

      CDP1802 wrote:

      Really? If it's about soldering and building, and not about performance, then I would suggest you build an Elf

      I really enjoy the uController I'm working with now and have had a lot of fun wiring all different kinds of peripherals to it. I'm still learning as they are a lot more powerful now but it keeps me busy since I'm semi-retired.

      If you keep doing what you been doing you'll keep getting what you been getting http://www.hq4thmarinescomm.com[^] [My Site]

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      • Mike HankeyM Mike Hankey

        It's been 30 yrs and I've been learning AVR assembler lately so that came out instead. :-O

        If you keep doing what you been doing you'll keep getting what you been getting http://www.hq4thmarinescomm.com[^] [My Site]

        L Offline
        L Offline
        Lost User
        wrote on last edited by
        #49

        And I was talking about the instructions on my old computer's CPU. But my Atari later also had a 6502 :)

        "I have what could be described as the most wide-open sense of humor on the site, and if I don't think something is funny, then it really isn't." - JSOC, 2011 -----
        "Friar Modest never was a prior" - Italian proverb

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        • R Rajesh R Subramanian

          CDP1802 wrote:

          And now everything is worth what some fool may think it is. Minus the time and costs to find that fool, I might add

          Hey, be nice. They're customers! Not fools. :)

          "Real men drive manual transmission" - Rajesh.

          L Offline
          L Offline
          Lost User
          wrote on last edited by
          #50

          Oh no! Not that again. That's exactly what our boss also preached a week ago :) And since then we are paying utmost attention to our customers. By making fun of them.

          "I have what could be described as the most wide-open sense of humor on the site, and if I don't think something is funny, then it really isn't." - JSOC, 2011 -----
          "Friar Modest never was a prior" - Italian proverb

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          • Mike HankeyM Mike Hankey

            Yeah I know all 56 even as bad as my memory is I can still remember one. NOP = 0x00 :)

            If you keep doing what you been doing you'll keep getting what you been getting http://www.hq4thmarinescomm.com[^] [My Site]

            J Offline
            J Offline
            JimmyRopes
            wrote on last edited by
            #51

            Mike Hankey wrote:

            NOP = 0x00

            That seems to be a constant in all assemblers I have worked with, I think (DEC-10, DEC-11) but these were in college (40+ years ogo) or early in my professional life (30+ years ago). I am not sure if IBM assembler (BAL) even had a NOP or NOOP. I don't remember it. In some sense what else would it be?

            Simply Elegant Designs JimmyRopes Designs
            Think inside the box! ProActive Secure Systems
            I'm on-line therefore I am. JimmyRopes

            M L Mike HankeyM 3 Replies Last reply
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            • J JimmyRopes

              Mike Hankey wrote:

              NOP = 0x00

              That seems to be a constant in all assemblers I have worked with, I think (DEC-10, DEC-11) but these were in college (40+ years ogo) or early in my professional life (30+ years ago). I am not sure if IBM assembler (BAL) even had a NOP or NOOP. I don't remember it. In some sense what else would it be?

              Simply Elegant Designs JimmyRopes Designs
              Think inside the box! ProActive Secure Systems
              I'm on-line therefore I am. JimmyRopes

              M Offline
              M Offline
              Mladen Jankovic
              wrote on last edited by
              #52

              0xEA... 0x90... to name a few :)

              [Genetic Algorithm Library]

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              • J JimmyRopes

                Mike Hankey wrote:

                NOP = 0x00

                That seems to be a constant in all assemblers I have worked with, I think (DEC-10, DEC-11) but these were in college (40+ years ogo) or early in my professional life (30+ years ago). I am not sure if IBM assembler (BAL) even had a NOP or NOOP. I don't remember it. In some sense what else would it be?

                Simply Elegant Designs JimmyRopes Designs
                Think inside the box! ProActive Secure Systems
                I'm on-line therefore I am. JimmyRopes

                L Offline
                L Offline
                Lost User
                wrote on last edited by
                #53

                As I wrote somewhere higher up: 0xC4 in case of my old machine. 0x00 would have been IDL (idle), which would for most purposes stop all execution until the next reset. The CPU would just keep executing IDL over and over again without incrementing the program counter.

                "I have what could be described as the most wide-open sense of humor on the site, and if I don't think something is funny, then it really isn't." - JSOC, 2011 -----
                "Friar Modest never was a prior" - Italian proverb

                J 1 Reply Last reply
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                • M Mladen Jankovic

                  0xEA... 0x90... to name a few :)

                  [Genetic Algorithm Library]

                  J Offline
                  J Offline
                  JimmyRopes
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #54

                  You're right. Now that I think of it Intel x86 uses one of those. I was trying to remember things from 20-30 years ago and as I have stated before I have a hard time remembering what I had for lunch.

                  Simply Elegant Designs JimmyRopes Designs
                  Think inside the box! ProActive Secure Systems
                  I'm on-line therefore I am. JimmyRopes

                  1 Reply Last reply
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                  • L Lost User

                    As I wrote somewhere higher up: 0xC4 in case of my old machine. 0x00 would have been IDL (idle), which would for most purposes stop all execution until the next reset. The CPU would just keep executing IDL over and over again without incrementing the program counter.

                    "I have what could be described as the most wide-open sense of humor on the site, and if I don't think something is funny, then it really isn't." - JSOC, 2011 -----
                    "Friar Modest never was a prior" - Italian proverb

                    J Offline
                    J Offline
                    JimmyRopes
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #55

                    You're right I just didn't remember things too well from 20-30 years ago.

                    Simply Elegant Designs JimmyRopes Designs
                    Think inside the box! ProActive Secure Systems
                    I'm on-line therefore I am. JimmyRopes

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                    • L Lost User

                      Mine of course is priceless - to me. I had to let some sweat and blood to get it and kept it working for 32 years. And occasionally I take the old horse for a ride. Programming just one hex keyboard away from the CPU has something of Zen. And I like the old CPU. The CDP1802 was always considered to be 'different' or 'strange'. The truth is that it is one of the earliest processors going in the direction of RISC.

                      "I have what could be described as the most wide-open sense of humor on the site, and if I don't think something is funny, then it really isn't." - JSOC, 2011 -----
                      "Friar Modest never was a prior" - Italian proverb

                      J Offline
                      J Offline
                      Jorgen Andersson
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #56

                      CDP1802 wrote:

                      CDP1802 was always considered to be 'different' or 'strange'

                      This might be saying more about yourself than you intended. :)

                      List of common misconceptions

                      1 Reply Last reply
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                      • J JimmyRopes

                        You're right I just didn't remember things too well from 20-30 years ago.

                        Simply Elegant Designs JimmyRopes Designs
                        Think inside the box! ProActive Secure Systems
                        I'm on-line therefore I am. JimmyRopes

                        L Offline
                        L Offline
                        Lost User
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #57

                        Let's say that in a more impressive manner. How about this: You have forgotten more about programming than most young hotshots ever knew. And what's left is more as well :)

                        "I have what could be described as the most wide-open sense of humor on the site, and if I don't think something is funny, then it really isn't." - JSOC, 2011 -----
                        "Friar Modest never was a prior" - Italian proverb

                        J B 2 Replies Last reply
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                        • L Lost User

                          Let's say that in a more impressive manner. How about this: You have forgotten more about programming than most young hotshots ever knew. And what's left is more as well :)

                          "I have what could be described as the most wide-open sense of humor on the site, and if I don't think something is funny, then it really isn't." - JSOC, 2011 -----
                          "Friar Modest never was a prior" - Italian proverb

                          J Offline
                          J Offline
                          JimmyRopes
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #58

                          You are very gracious. :cool:

                          Simply Elegant Designs JimmyRopes Designs
                          Think inside the box! ProActive Secure Systems
                          I'm on-line therefore I am. JimmyRopes

                          L 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • J JimmyRopes

                            You are very gracious. :cool:

                            Simply Elegant Designs JimmyRopes Designs
                            Think inside the box! ProActive Secure Systems
                            I'm on-line therefore I am. JimmyRopes

                            L Offline
                            L Offline
                            Lost User
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #59

                            A certain young hotshot called me an arrogant a*** for saying this to him. :) In the last years he picked up a few things and from me went to college. Now he likes to say this himself and the other students think he's an arrogant a**. It must be contagious :)

                            "I have what could be described as the most wide-open sense of humor on the site, and if I don't think something is funny, then it really isn't." - JSOC, 2011 -----
                            "Friar Modest never was a prior" - Italian proverb

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                            0
                            • J JimmyRopes

                              Mike Hankey wrote:

                              NOP = 0x00

                              That seems to be a constant in all assemblers I have worked with, I think (DEC-10, DEC-11) but these were in college (40+ years ogo) or early in my professional life (30+ years ago). I am not sure if IBM assembler (BAL) even had a NOP or NOOP. I don't remember it. In some sense what else would it be?

                              Simply Elegant Designs JimmyRopes Designs
                              Think inside the box! ProActive Secure Systems
                              I'm on-line therefore I am. JimmyRopes

                              Mike HankeyM Offline
                              Mike HankeyM Offline
                              Mike Hankey
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #60

                              JimmyRopes wrote:

                              That seems to be a constant in all assemblers I have worked with,

                              That's the only reason I remembered it. :)

                              If you keep doing what you been doing you'll keep getting what you been getting http://www.hq4thmarinescomm.com[^] [My Site]

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                              0
                              • Mike HankeyM Mike Hankey

                                JimmyRopes wrote:

                                That seems to be a constant in all assemblers I have worked with,

                                That's the only reason I remembered it. :)

                                If you keep doing what you been doing you'll keep getting what you been getting http://www.hq4thmarinescomm.com[^] [My Site]

                                J Offline
                                J Offline
                                JimmyRopes
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #61

                                Mike Hankey wrote:

                                That's the only reason I remembered it.

                                I thought I remembered it also, but a couple folks proved me wrong. See the other responses to my statement. Sometimes my memory fails me especially after over 30 years. Perhaps it is so for the assembler you were working with, but it is not true, as I thought, for all assemblers. :-O

                                Simply Elegant Designs JimmyRopes Designs
                                Think inside the box! ProActive Secure Systems
                                I'm on-line therefore I am. JimmyRopes

                                Mike HankeyM 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • J JimmyRopes

                                  Mike Hankey wrote:

                                  That's the only reason I remembered it.

                                  I thought I remembered it also, but a couple folks proved me wrong. See the other responses to my statement. Sometimes my memory fails me especially after over 30 years. Perhaps it is so for the assembler you were working with, but it is not true, as I thought, for all assemblers. :-O

                                  Simply Elegant Designs JimmyRopes Designs
                                  Think inside the box! ProActive Secure Systems
                                  I'm on-line therefore I am. JimmyRopes

                                  Mike HankeyM Offline
                                  Mike HankeyM Offline
                                  Mike Hankey
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #62

                                  I also was proven wrong...hey it's been close to 30 yrs. and with all the brain cells I've managed to exterminate over the years it's a wonder I can remember my name. :)

                                  If you keep doing what you been doing you'll keep getting what you been getting http://www.hq4thmarinescomm.com[^] [My Site]

                                  J 1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • Mike HankeyM Mike Hankey

                                    I also was proven wrong...hey it's been close to 30 yrs. and with all the brain cells I've managed to exterminate over the years it's a wonder I can remember my name. :)

                                    If you keep doing what you been doing you'll keep getting what you been getting http://www.hq4thmarinescomm.com[^] [My Site]

                                    J Offline
                                    J Offline
                                    JimmyRopes
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #63

                                    Oh well so much for memory. I think I remember when I could rely on mine, but not anymore. :-D I do a lot of googleing these days when I code. It is better than trying to remember how to do things.

                                    Simply Elegant Designs JimmyRopes Designs
                                    Think inside the box! ProActive Secure Systems
                                    I'm on-line therefore I am. JimmyRopes

                                    Mike HankeyM 1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • J JimmyRopes

                                      Oh well so much for memory. I think I remember when I could rely on mine, but not anymore. :-D I do a lot of googleing these days when I code. It is better than trying to remember how to do things.

                                      Simply Elegant Designs JimmyRopes Designs
                                      Think inside the box! ProActive Secure Systems
                                      I'm on-line therefore I am. JimmyRopes

                                      Mike HankeyM Offline
                                      Mike HankeyM Offline
                                      Mike Hankey
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #64

                                      JimmyRopes wrote:

                                      Oh well so much for memory. I think I remember when I could rely on mine, but not anymore.

                                      I can't remember when I had memory. :)

                                      JimmyRopes wrote:

                                      I do a lot of googleing these days when I code. It is better than trying to remember how to do things.

                                      I do the same thing. Have a library of books but it's easier and faster to google...most of the time.

                                      If you keep doing what you been doing you'll keep getting what you been getting http://www.hq4thmarinescomm.com[^] [My Site]

                                      1 Reply Last reply
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                                      • L Lost User

                                        I still have my first computer, a Netronics Elf II from 1978. It was a kit and I had to scrape together my allowance to get parts and components. I did what I could, but I never got all the neat expansions and had to content with 4k RAM and great black and white graphics at a resolution of 64 x 32 pixels or 64 x 64 pixels. Now I came across someone who wants to sell his old computer. Unlike mine it has practically everything the manufacturer had to offer, including several 4k and 16k memory expansion boards. The four 4k cards cost about 110$ each back then. I know. At least I have one of them. And the two 16k cards were extremely expensive. I would be crazy enough to buy it, but it's only sold completely and the seller wants at least 6000$ for it. That price probably would be equivalent to what the entire computer cost back in 1978. I suppose, I will pass on that offer, but what is the right price? The technology is more than obsolete. I could easily get a 64k RAM chip for a few dollars. It would need little additional logic and making the circuit board would be the hardest part. From that perspective, the price is laughable. On the other side it's a rare old machine. I would not hope to find 1000 of them in working condition on the entire planet. But are there really enough people around who are interested enough to pay such a price?

                                        "I have what could be described as the most wide-open sense of humor on the site, and if I don't think something is funny, then it really isn't." - JSOC, 2011 -----
                                        "Friar Modest never was a prior" - Italian proverb

                                        M Offline
                                        M Offline
                                        Mark_Wallace
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #65

                                        If you pay $6,000 for it, then that becomes its market value. If you offer $50 and he accepts, then that becomes its market value. If you pay $6,000 for it, and later can't find a buyer who is willing to pay more than $50, you've been screwed. Never buy anything according to the "market value" or "book price". How much something is worth to a hypothetical person is irrelevant, it's what real people will pay that counts, and even if one idiot was stoopid enough to pay $6,000 for a similar pile of obsolete hardware (although I dare say that no-one ever did; it's probably an "estimated value") that doesn't mean that all such piles are worth that much. Consider how much the item is worth to you, and don't pay more than that.

                                        I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!

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                                        • M Mladen Jankovic

                                          CDP1802 wrote:

                                          Netronics Elf II from 1978

                                          Don't know about that, but if I ever bump into one of these[^], I'll be seiously tempted.

                                          [Genetic Algorithm Library]

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                                          D Offline
                                          Dave Parker
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #66

                                          Interesting, hadn't heard of that before. Seems weird that they'd produce a C64 successor years after the Amiga already replaced it though?

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