Skip to content
  • Categories
  • Recent
  • Tags
  • Popular
  • World
  • Users
  • Groups
Skins
  • Light
  • Cerulean
  • Cosmo
  • Flatly
  • Journal
  • Litera
  • Lumen
  • Lux
  • Materia
  • Minty
  • Morph
  • Pulse
  • Sandstone
  • Simplex
  • Sketchy
  • Spacelab
  • United
  • Yeti
  • Zephyr
  • Dark
  • Cyborg
  • Darkly
  • Quartz
  • Slate
  • Solar
  • Superhero
  • Vapor

  • Default (No Skin)
  • No Skin
Collapse
Code Project
  1. Home
  2. The Lounge
  3. Old junk or rare and valuable hardware?

Old junk or rare and valuable hardware?

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved The Lounge
questiongraphicshardwareperformance
85 Posts 20 Posters 0 Views 1 Watching
  • Oldest to Newest
  • Newest to Oldest
  • Most Votes
Reply
  • Reply as topic
Log in to reply
This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
  • 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]

    J 1 Reply Last reply
    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

      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
      0
      • 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
        0
        • 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

          L 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • 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
            0
            • 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
              0
              • 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

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  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]

                    J 1 Reply Last reply
                    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
                            0
                            • 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!

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • 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]

                                D Offline
                                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?

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • J JimmyRopes

                                  Mike Hankey wrote:

                                  Back then I could, I knew the instruction set inside and out.

                                  Very impressive! :thumbsup:

                                  Mike Hankey wrote:

                                  One of the work shops was on self modifying code. The group said it couldn't be done until I showed them how.

                                  Some people can never get how to do that even after being shown how. Things like that are what I miss about coding in assembler the most.

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

                                  R Offline
                                  R Offline
                                  Rob Grainger
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #67

                                  I remember knowing the Z80 instruction set on a similar basis when coding with a ZX81, then Spectrum. That and the Complete Spectrum ROM Disassembly book helped write fairly efficient machine code (I had no assembler!)

                                  J 1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • 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

                                    I Offline
                                    I Offline
                                    Isfeasachme
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #68

                                    You don't need enough people to pay a certain price, you just need one. ;)

                                    L 1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • Mike HankeyM Mike Hankey

                                      It is what kept you up at night drove you crazy when you had to modify something you coded six months before. FTFY

                                      JimmyRopes wrote:

                                      code like the person that is going to maintain your code is a psycopath who knows where you live.

                                      He is and he does. :)

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

                                      R Offline
                                      R Offline
                                      Rob Grainger
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #69

                                      Yes, I often find I have to maintain my own code too ;-)

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • I Isfeasachme

                                        You don't need enough people to pay a certain price, you just need one. ;)

                                        L Offline
                                        L Offline
                                        Lost User
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #70

                                        Yes, sure, but I doubt there are many people around who want to pay 6000$ for an old computer. But I wish the seller luck and try to keep an eye on it should he really take this to Ebay.

                                        "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

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • 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

                                          S Offline
                                          S Offline
                                          Sanvolador
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #71

                                          I still have my 1985 Macintosh 128k M0001P in working conditions including mouse keyboard and printer. No idea on its current value, but its not on sale anyway.

                                          B 1 Reply Last reply
                                          0
                                          Reply
                                          • Reply as topic
                                          Log in to reply
                                          • Oldest to Newest
                                          • Newest to Oldest
                                          • Most Votes


                                          • Login

                                          • Don't have an account? Register

                                          • Login or register to search.
                                          • First post
                                            Last post
                                          0
                                          • Categories
                                          • Recent
                                          • Tags
                                          • Popular
                                          • World
                                          • Users
                                          • Groups