PC Tech Thread

I remember having a play with one of those in the late 90s. Could have doubled up as ballast!

I remember my dad bringing home an Osborne 1 luggable to play with for a while.

CP/M.

Also had that on the RM 380Z and 480Z, and the Amstrad PCW8256 and PCW8512. Still have a 3" floppy disc with a load of PCW8256/512 stuff on it.

What's your actual problem, e.g. are you after a GPU that isn't currently available as part of a new PC build?

This was the first PC* I ever used - a 'portable' mains-only 6kg slab of the future that came in its own suitcase

As a postgrad in the mid-1980s I shared an office with an eminent visiting professor who used to arrive with the latest in personal computing, the Compaq Portable. At 12.7kg it was no lightweight and the size of a sewing machine:

Image source: http://www.oldcomputers.net

PCW8512

The 9512 that followed the 8512 came with a daisywheel printer. You could play tunes by writing code to run the printer driver motors at different speeds :D

Someone convince me that moving from ATX to m-ITX is the right thing to do...

I have a large workstation in Ireland that I want to shrink and move to London, by taking some of the internal components back on a plane in my carry-on.

Here's a comparison of the current case (Fractal Design Define S) and proposed (Fractal Design Nano S). I think the Nano S looks like a decent compromise between size and airflow compared to some of the more intense cases like the CM NR200.

I expect that I can keep the CPU, GPU, RAM (2 of the sticks only...), M2 + 2.5" SSD but will need a new mobo, PSU, and probably a better HSF which keeps things cool and quiet.

Does this look right? Pcpartpicker doesn't have the exact case but it's enough as a reference.

https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/438Hwz

Basically just that my PC is getting a bit slow for a lot of the work I'm doing (mostly lower end stuff for youtube/social media, but am getting more 4k stuff to work with lately) and it's getting to the point where I'm willing to spend £2000 (or a bit more maybe) on a new PC. Am assuming that I may get better value for money by hanging on until there are less shortages.
Also I don't have time to build one myself, much as I'd like to, so will be buying from Scan or similar.

I don't know about your model @nickvonfiction but my (presumably later?) CPC6128 needed a floppy to boot/do anything so I think yours does too!

Memories of hours playing the Battle of Midway and writing Basic programmes :)

You can replace the non-floppy floppy drive with a USB now, ofc

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/164258660790?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338827331&toolid=10029&customid=164258660790_1&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A1s2UBmpkoQqOjUpGxIYtjYg5

Always the right thing to do IMO...

I've got the Fractal Define Mini C, never had any problems with cooling/airflow. A carefully chosen PSU/HSF will help a lot.

Those bits look fine to me, I went cheap water cooled with a Corsair H60 but a broadly similar PSU.

presumably later?

The CPC6128 was slightly earlier than the Amstrad PCs:

https://oldcomputer.info/8bit/amstradcpc/index.htm#6128
https://oldcomputer.info/pc/ams1512/index.htm

writing Basic programmes

That was easily the best thing. So accessible, and I was sad when computing became predominantly just using, not creating.

You can apparently also do a hack so you can attach IDE hard disks:

https://assemblergames.org/viewtopic.php?t=2252

I think you need to work out if a new GPU in existing machine (and maybe other upgrades) will solve your problem, and if so whether an appropriate model is available on its own at a price you are willing to pay.

Spending £2000 on a new PC, where the first ~ £1000 covers parts other than the GPU isn't value for money...

[Edit: I was wrong]

Thanks for the insights on the Amstrad. It's a bit before my computing experience! If it has to boot from floppy then I guess it is a duff system disk that's the problem. 'll have to have a look inside to see if there is an HD but from looking at the link, seems not as standard...

Depends a bit if I can sell old PC to cover some of those costs I suppose.
But also time spent organising it is time that I could otherwise spend working (or cycling) and in my experience some bits are bound to not be fully compatible with other bits and there's potential for wasting a load of time. If it was just a matter of buying a GPU, plugging it in and getting straight back to work I'd do it right away... but suspect it wouldn't be.
Suppose I'd consider paying for an upgrade service if that took care of it all.

mATX seems to be kind of shunned compared to mITX, can I ask why you went that route? Also I'm not sure if it's possible with any of these cases/mobos but 4x RAM slots would be quite valuable..

These sources imply that it needs to boot from floppy, whether it has a HDD or not, and you need to run a program called NVR to access BIOS settings- i.e. unlike later PCs, you can't hold down a key at power-up to get into BIOS and check which devices are attached:

https://oldcomputer.info/pc/ams1512/index.htm
http://www.retroisle.com/amstrad/pcs/Technical/Firmware/ROM_BIOS.php

I have some old DOS 5 1/4"s somewhere, if you want to try them.

I'm finally getting round to updating my NAS. Looking for a case that can take at least 8 drives (mainly 3.5") and preferably more.

Fractal Design have a few but does anyone have any other suggestions? Googling it mainly brings up loads of US suggestions that are unavailable or really expensive over here.

The answer is going to be expensive no matter which way you go.

Even a self-build will be expensive as there are few cases that can take that many drives, and server cases (racks) are very loud and power hungry.

But for a NAS, look at the Synology DS 1821+ https://www.synology.com/en-uk/products/DS1821+ which supports 8 HDD and can be extended with a couple of expansion units https://www.synology.com/en-uk/products/DX517 to give you 28 HDD.

Cases that take 8+ 3.5" drives, cheapest first:

https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/products/case/#J=8,20&sort=price

You can also buy extra drive cages for a lot of cases, guess that is not reflected in these listings.

I think what you are looking for is increasingly obscure and priced accordingly, though.

Cheers, and @Velocio I should have thought of looking on partpicker given that's where I'm speccing the rest of the components.

Looks like the fractal design ones are probably what to go for.

I also want it to run windows so it can replace a few other things. Built up to a reasonable spec it's around £650 (not including 3.5" drives) which is a fair bit cheaper than getting a Synology one (although I imagine not as power efficient).

I'd like to build a PiHole device using this guide
from Node

Everything looks doable, except the PCB board - I have no idea how to get one customer made. Does anyone have any advice on where to look?

And if I need to order multiple boards to make it worthwhile, does anyone else want one?

Sounds like there are some etching facilities. Also links to several services to order prototype PCBs: https://wiki.london.hackspace.org.uk/view/Guides/PCB_Fabrication