TPU's Nostalgic Hardware Club

[Trekkie4]

Speaking of old consoles, here's my CPC464

Unfortunately, I don't have the monitor and/or the power supply, so I have no idea if it's in the working condition or not

 

[qubit]

The mighty 1979 "Radofin Colour TV Game" (note the British spelling on the box) with 10 glorious bat'n'ball games presets!

I don't think the term "games console" had yet been invented and a colour one back then was downright upmarket.

This isn't my one, but I've got one just like it and it still works. Its best feature is that the motion of the square "ball" and bats is perfectly smooth due to it being locked to vsync at 50Hz UK PAL. Oh they knew something about computer animation back then, lol.

It's actually a battery only device, so at the time, I drilled a hole in the side and put a power socket there, then ran it off an adapter.

Alas, my one doesn't have the box any more, so this is a better example.

 

[stinger608]

The mighty 1979 "Radofin Colour TV Game" (note the British spelling on the box) with 10 glorious bat'n'ball games presets!

I don't think the term "games console" had been invented and a colour one back then was downright upmarket.

This isn't my one, but I've got one just like it and it still works. Its best feature is that the motion of the square "ball" and bats is perfectly smooth due to it being locked to vsync at 50Hz UK PAL. Oh they knew something about computer animation back then, lol.

It's actually a battery only device, so at the time, I drilled a hole in the side and put a power socket there, then ran it off an adapter.

Alas, my one doesn't have the box any more, so this is a better example.

Wow @qubit that is in very pristine condition man!!!! Very very awesome bro!

 

[qubit]

Wow @qubit that is in very pristine condition man!!!! Very very awesome bro!

It is, but I can't take credit for that, since it's not my one. Mine doesn't have the box, but the unit and joysticks are in mostly pretty good condition.

One of the joysticks has the screw thread sticking up from the controller which the orangy handle bit screws onto snapped off, so we had to hack it with tape to make it stay in place. To this day we don't know how it broke off.

 

[Ruru]

Damn I sold my old C64.. Still have NES, the best console ever!

Far Cry 3 is pretty playable with this ancient GPU Still I think that this needs a modified bios with higher voltage for higher overclocks..

 

[Trekkie4]

Slightly off-topic, so I hope you guys won't mind, but still old hardware related subject

I have a weird problem with Athlon XP 2400+ system, running 768mb of DDR400 RAM (3x 256mb configuration) System kept randomly crashing, so I ran a memory test (Memtest86, v4.20) which indicated endless errors some time in the middle of testing cycle. Now, here's the most bizarre part - all 3 memory modules seem to be working perfectly fine, in all 3 of the slots. System even works perfectly fine with 2 modules, but when I put the 3rd one in, everything goes downhill! Got any ideas?

 

[Devon68]

Well you can sell the 3 memory sticks and buy a 1GB stick and the problem should be gone. Are all memories the same (same speed )

 

[Trekkie4]

Well you can sell the 3 memory sticks and buy a 1GB stick and the problem should be gone. Are all memories the same (same speed )

Yes, all 3 are the same brand, model, revision, even PCB color and layout... 256mb DDR400 *sigh*

 

[stinger608]

I actually had many many issues back in the Socket A days running three memory sticks in motherboards @Trekkie4 !

This seemed to be a very common problem with them boards. I think the only Socket A board that I didn't have that problem with was an MSI Platinum board.
I would just grab a pair of 1 gig or 512 sticks and populate two memory slots.

 

[TRWOV]

I also get that on my 880GMA-USB3 (FX6300) I can test both kits individually at 1866Mhz but as soon as I install both I get a bunch of errors that are corrected only by setting RAM speed to 1066

Have you tried to set the RAM speed at 333 or 266 in the BIOS?

 

[stinger608]

I also get that on my 880GMA-USB3 (FX6300) I can test both kits individually at 1866Mhz but as soon as I install both I get a bunch of errors that are corrected only by setting RAM speed to 1066

Have you tried to set the RAM speed at 333 or 266 in the BIOS?

Na, I think it is just the old issue with his socket A board. There was something wrong back then with the memory BUS. Most all the socket A boards had that issue. There were a few, like the MSI Platinum that I mentioned, that actually had 4 memory slots and didn't have that common issue.

 

[Trekkie4]

I also get that on my 880GMA-USB3 (FX6300) I can test both kits individually at 1866Mhz but as soon as I install both I get a bunch of errors that are corrected only by setting RAM speed to 1066

Have you tried to set the RAM speed at 333 or 266 in the BIOS?

Lowered the speed down to 266 and running Memtest86 as we speak...

Na, I think it is just the old issue with his socket A board. There was something wrong back then with the memory BUS. Most all the socket A boards had that issue. There were a few, like the MSI Platinum that I mentioned, that actually had 4 memory slots and didn't have that common issue.

Wow, this is the 1st time I've heard about this... You know, under the normal circumstances, I'd simply buy 2 sticks of 512mb, but things are not always that simple. Most of the components here were either donated to me through the forum(s), or I bought them for couple of $$. So therefore, getting 2 identical modules nowdays, for a reasonable price would be almost impossible & not worth the effort I guess When I was putting it together for the 1st time, I've been meaning to use 2x 256mb until I found the 3rd module somewhere among the RAM stack, so I figured why not... Since the board already had 3 memory banks, I wanted to put all of them to a good use.

EDIT
Memtest still running, way past the "crashing zone" of 26%, with all 3 modules installed... So I guess TRWOV you were right Now, the question remains... is it worth running 3x 256mb of DDR266 (rather than DDR400), or having 2x 256mb of DDR440?

EDIT2
Pass complete, no errors! Now I've set the speed to 333 and running Memtest86 all over again.

 

[stinger608]

Keep in mind that running 3 sticks shuts down the "dual channel." Not sure if that makes all that much difference anyhow.

@Trekkie4 if all else fails, I think I have a matched pair of "dual channel" 512's that I would send ya for the cost of shipping. Providing your in the US. LOL. I think they are some of the Kingston KVR ram.

 

[Trekkie4]

Keep in mind that running 3 sticks shuts down the "dual channel." Not sure if that makes all that much difference anyhow.

@Trekkie4 if all else fails, I think I have a matched pair of "dual channel" 512's that I would send ya for the cost of shipping. Providing your in the US. LOL. I think they are some of the Kingston KVR ram.

Thank you very much Stinger608, but unfortunately I'm in EU, it would be too expensive

Yet another pass complete, no errors. This time with 333, so what do you think? Should I just keep the current configuration with 768mb (3x DDR333) or go back to 512mb (2xDDR400)?

 

[Mr.Scott]

Keep in mind that running 3 sticks shuts down the "dual channel." Not sure if that makes all that much difference anyhow.

Makes a big difference on socket A.
FWIW, your assessments on socket A in the last few posts have all been correct.
Yes, there are workarounds but none will give the same performance level as a good pair of matched sticks.

 

[Steevo]

Installed a game I found in the garage a friend gave me. Back in the day......


For those youngsters who don't know, modems were the way you dialed up to connect to the internet, and depending on where you lived it may have been a long distance call to connect to the internet, or a specific server, thus many companies offered a "free 800" number to prevent you from getting your ass reamed when the phone bill came and you called a long distance number for 12 hours to surf the web.

 

[Devon68]

For those youngsters who don't know, modems were the way you dialed up to connect to the internet,

Ha ha and even to download a simple picture took forever. And you can download a 50GB game today. With those speeds with modem's to download 50 gigs you would need to start the download and go to hibernation for 100 years and the download might be done. (Probably not because of power outages the pc would be turned of by the time you wake up ) xD

 

[GreiverBlade]

I actually had many many issues back in the Socket A days running three memory sticks in motherboards @Trekkie4 !

This seemed to be a very common problem with them boards. I think the only Socket A board that I didn't have that problem with was an MSI Platinum board.
I would just grab a pair of 1 gig or 512 sticks and populate two memory slots.

that's why i have a MSI KT6V only 2 ram slot ... and 2x512 actually ... no crash but my win XP pro CD seems to come to an end ... i need a alternative

 

[Devon68]

Yeah I slapped a 1gb ram in one slot and 512 in other in my 462 socket A machine. Installed windows 7 32 bit and the boot speed is the same or even better then with XP. Also bought a 19'' samasung monitor for it so I can use it from time to time.

 

[Trekkie4]

Ha ha and even to download a simple picture took forever. And you can download a 50GB game today. With those speeds with modem's to download 50 gigs you would need to start the download and go to hibernation for 100 years and the download might be done. (Probably not because of power outages the pc would be turned of by the time you wake up ) xD

I remember going online back in '98, '99, downloading custom cars (and other vehicles) for my favorite NFS game, Hot Pursuit (NFS3) It took ages just to get one car, which was around 15, 20mb maybe? Good old times, I really do miss these things! Not to mention the sound coming from inside the computer case, while "handshaking" with the server, priceless!

that's why i have a MSI KT6V only 2 ram slot ... and 2x512 actually ... no crash but my win XP pro CD seems to come to an end ... i need a alternative

Yeah I slapped a 1gb ram in one slot and 512 in other in my 462 socket A machine. Installed windows 7 32 bit and the boot speed is the same or even better then with XP. Also bought a 19'' samasung monitor for it so I can use it from time to time.

I kept the DDR333 configuration, 768mb of RAM. I figured the speed wouldn't be much of an issue, since I'm not going to OC this thing, or run anything modern or HD (YouTube for example). Remember, this is old-school thing, primarily designed to run the apps (and games) ranging from 2000 to 2005. And I really DO have to say that I'm impressed with overall performance! Heck, I can even play Half-Life 2 with more than decent frames, a game which I personally consider "modern" Or even heavily modified Grand Theft Auto (Vice City and San Andreas)

By the way, just in case someone's interested... System specs for the AMD build are:

CPU: AthlonXP 2400+
MBO: MSI MS-6712 (Ver:10A) aka KT4V
RAM: 3x 256Mb DDR400 (currently operating at 333)
VGA: nVidia GeForce6 6200 AGP Low-Profile
HDD: Hitachi DeskStar SATA 80GB (wired through the ATA-SATA adapter)
ODD: Samsung DVD-ROM drive, ATA
PSU: Generic, 300W

CPU cooler is Spire FalconRock II, case is Cooler Master midi tower (unknown, generic model?) with front USB & audio. I've picked up couple of these for $7.50 each

 

[xvi]

Ha ha and even to download a simple picture took forever. And you can download a 50GB game today. With those speeds with modem's to download 50 gigs you would need to start the download and go to hibernation for 100 years and the download might be done. (Probably not because of power outages the pc would be turned of by the time you wake up ) xD

A hundred years? Nonsense! It'd only take 2 months, 26 days, 16 hours, 30 minutes, and 29 seconds. Well, y'know, as long as you didn't need to make a phone call.

 

[Norton]

A hundred years? Nonsense! It'd only take 2 months, 26 days, 16 hours, 30 minutes, and 29 seconds. Well, y'know, as long as you didn't need to make a phone call.

I remember that!

Asking.... "Are you done talking on the phone yet? I gotta check my email!"

 

[dorsetknob]

Only thing worse than dial up internet (modem days ) was having a Party line

If you ever had a shared/party line your know what i mean

 

[stinger608]

Only thing worse than dial up internet (modem days ) was having a Party line

If you ever had a shared/party line your know what i mean

Oh god yea. Party lines were awful! Pick up the phone and hear your neighbor talking on the other line.

 

[Trekkie4]

Testing another system for a friend, who had a P3B-F Slot-1 mobo which I had to replace, so I gave him one of my Socket A boards, MSI K7T-Turbo... Unlike previously mentioned MSI MS-6712 this one is running on SD-RAM and ALSO has 3 memory banks so I did the same thing and populated all 3 of them with identical modules.

Of course, I ended up having the same memory problem all over again, except this time I knew what I had to do, so I removed one of the sticks. IMHO, this is a pretty serious problem with Socket A boards (VIA KT chipset?), I'm surprised no one bothered to fix it back in a day, especially considering their popularity!