Tom's Guide | Tom's Hardware | Tom's Games
 |
 |
 |
Hello everybody! A few days ago, I came across this really old computer. Oddly enough, I pulled it out of my girlfriend's basement. Never know what you'll find down in them old places. Anyways, I was just wondering... Is there anything I can do with it. I pulled the cover off and took a look around inside. It appears to have a Pentium MMX CPU installed running at 166MHz. As for RAM, it has 64MB installed, but that can be bumped to 128MB. The motherboard appears to accept both SIMM and DIMM modules. I have a friend who is very interested in using the system for web surfing and emailing. He's excited because he doesn't have a system of his own. He currently goes to public libraries or worse, uses his parent's system for all his computing needs. I fired her up and to my suprise it worked. The thing must be at least 6 years old. Cleaning the dust out from the insides was only possible with an air compressor. Anyways I was just wondering what I could do with the thing. It appears to have a really old version of Win95 on the hard drive. My girlfriend doesn't know where the system came from or how it ended up in her basement. It's really old. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. My friend would really like to use it, but I'm not sure what to tell him. Old technology isn't always good technology. Myself, I use a Pentium II but that's cutting it close. Oh yeah, the hard drive's capacity is about 4 Gig.
I don't think the computer can handle current versions of web browsers (IE, NetScape, etc.) what it could be used for is basic desktop stuff, like running an older version of Office for word processing. I actually have my first computer still running to type papers and stuff on when my main computer is busy with other things. that thing is an OLD Magnavox 16Mgz (Yes, I said 16, and that is in TURBO) but, it works great for basic word processing and connecting to those old dialup BBS's that are still around some places. But, that is about it. something that your friend could look into is buying a refurb computer that will allow him to connect to the Inet, you can get those for around $300 with monitor (and sometimes printer).
0 
Eh, I think you should give it to your friend.
BTW Internet Explorer 6 only needs 16MB of ram and a 66Mhz CPU to run.
Symbios Y!
0
If you can load up 98 that would be an ok system for basic websurfing. I have a similar unit running win2K as a printserver. Have updated it to IE6 without a problem.
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.
Teach him to fish and you feed him for life.
0
166MMX w/64mb RAM should run Win98SE with no probs. It obviously won't be a speedster or a gaming rig, but you'll be surprised at how well it'll work for web surfing & basic word processing.
You may even be able to overclock it a bit, depending on what settings are available. Many of the late production 166MMX CPUs were actually rebadged 233MMX's, so it may be worthwhile to experiment. Most of the old socket 7 systems were configured with jumpers or DIP switches...the settings may even be printed on the board. If not, see if you can find a model number, then try searching Google for the manual & any other info.
The 166MMX will easily run at 187.5mhz (2.5 x 75) & most SIMMs can handle 75mhz. This would be the safest & best performance setting. Remember that the higher FSB is always preferrable.
Here's a "trick" for you that may be useful...the MMX CPU will recognize the 1.5x multiplier setting as 3.5x
http://www.hwupgrade.com/overclock/cpu/index8.html
I wouldn't recommend increasing the RAM over 64mb...almost all of the old socket 7 boards (not to be confused with Super 7 boards) only cached 64mb of memory...if you exceed the 64mb limit, you'll actually hurt performance. Look for the chipset number...if it's an Intel with FX, HX***, TX, VX in the number, stick with 64mb
http://www.ddrmemoryram.com/system_ram_issues.html
0
These guys all know what they are talking about.
Until about a year ago, I was running a 486, which was a huge upgrade from my 386! All ran the latest IE and I surfed the web all the time. Albeit slowly at times. E-mail and word processing, no problem. W95 is quite dated these days; try to get up to W98SE.
As mentioned, memory may be limited. In those days, they never imagined we'd be using anything over maybe 128 Mb. And hey, 6 years isn't 'really old'. Only in computer years.
The system I'm using now is probably 3-4 years old. It took me a over a year to build it. But, if it works don't complain.
So, tell your frind to go ahead and use it. He can update later. At least he will be up and running.
And good luck. :)
0
"""I came across this really old computer"""
"""The thing must be at least 6 years old.""""""I fired her up and to my suprise it worked"""
You are too funny. You talk like this thing is like, wow, like, out of the dark like,ages, like, you know, like, wow, man.ANY computer that is a Pentium that will run '98 isn't THAT old, fer cripes sake.
There's lots and lots of uses to put "on old thing" like that to use.
Teach yourself Linux. Build a firewall. Go learn a little programming. You don't need the latest, greatest, fastest thing for lots of things.
0
Well, I installed Win98SE on the system and everything worked out well. For an older computer, it runs Win98SE pretty darn good. Outlook Express ran without problem and the results for IE were suprising. With a dial up connection I was surfing the net with speed baby. O.K. it wasn't Nascar speed. It is dial up, but still, it was pretty fast. I have to admit, I was impressed. My girlfriend is suddenly having second thoughts about the fate of that system. I showed my friend the results and he was also impressed. I told him he was free to take it. I don't know about my girlfriend though. As for overclocking. It seems that the motherboard can't handle anything past 166MHz, so it appears that the CPU is running as fast the motherboard will allow. I may be wrong though. If I can overclock that CPU, I'll take the suggestions. The faster the better. As for what name said. The system does seem old to me because todays processors run in the gigahertz range. Comparing that to a mere 166MHz... Well, there's not much of a comparison. Heck the system runs great though. The Motherboard has jumpers for speeds of 50, 60, and 66MHz. The greatest multiplier setting is 3.5x.
0
"The Motherboard has jumpers for speeds of 50, 60, and 66MHz. The greatest multiplier setting is 3.5x"
Then it will run a 200 (3 x 66) or a 233 (3.5 x 66). Your 166MMX will probably run at 200 with any problem. It may not be worth it, but it's an option if you wanna experiment. It may even handle 233mhz
0
People are so obsessed with GHz/GB, that they don't realize how much an "old" MHz/MB system is actually capable of....
0
it really takes almost nothing to web surf and email but try typing fast on that old thing and watch the letters appear 5 seconds after you've actually typed them!
jeez even my parents celeron 400, my celeron 500, and my friends PII 400 still have that problemstill what else is the guy gonna do with it besides get on the internet
^(-.-)~~~]>:}>
0
Teach him to do a disk cleanup after browsing the internet and Keep it scandisked once a month and defraged every couple weeks or so depending on usage and it should last 6 or more years. I would at least update IE to 5.5 or better yet don't use IE and go for Mozilla FireFox. Download him a Free antivirus like AVG and a free firewall like Zone Alarm and once he figures them out he shouldn't bother you for months. If he goes for IE might be sure to pick up spybot search/destroy and some other adaware tools to keep it runnin at it's top speed.
0
"People are so obsessed with GHz/GB, that they don't realize how much an "old" MHz/MB system is actually capable of...."
I agree Jam, I found an old 8Mhz Tandy 287 in the trash 2 years ago. I brought it home, plugged it in and it booted right up. Now that WAS surprising as the thing is over 22 years old! I installed Windows 2.1 (LOL) and was surfing the web-using Arachne (A web browser/file manager with a Windows like interface for DOS) and was even playing Mp3's on it!
It would still be working to this day if I… (Cough) didn't take it apart and use it for parts. LOL
Symbios Y!
0
"People are so obsessed with GHz/GB, that they don't realize how much an "old" MHz/MB system is actually capable of...."
also people are so obsessed with their firewalls and their antivirus
i wouldnt be surprised if that computer couldnt connect at anything over 30K in which case you dont have to worry about viruses, spyware, anythingif anything tries to get through you will notice it, i know becuase im currently using 26.4-30k
also if you really want to avoid getting a computer plastered with crap from the internet then dont go to sites where you know you are at risk ie porn, popups, and ads on the top of pages like this one
or programs like kazaa which are hotbeds for nasty stuff that you dont want^(-.-)~~~]>:}>
0
I have a few old systems.. actually I have 5. And my cryix 6x86 133Mhz 48mb Handles Ie6 and 98se exellently I actually cant see a huge performance difference from it and a P2 266Mhz with 64Mb.
Symbios! how did you get that 286 to play MP3's! I tried for ages to get a 386 33MHz and even a 486 25MHz to play MP3's and they both refused to play anything!
Mattwizz3 : )
0  |
 Computer will not shut do...
|
connect to external cd dr...
|
This post is quite old and has been locked from receiving new replies. Please create a new posting instead.
| Ads by Google |
