What was the first computer you owned?

merry · Nov 11, 2002, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dEykeé
Mine was a Specturm (the 48K one)

I didn't actually own one, but I knew those, there were clones produced in Eastern Europe. Based on Z-80, Zilog's 8 bit microprocessor that was backward compatible with i8080... some of those clones had a floppy adapter (i8272) and could run CP/M. Borland still supported CP/M until TurboPascal 3.0.

The 48K actually had 64K - four banks of 16K each, in 4116 16K*1 RAM chips (don't know about the genuine Spectrum, I'm talking about EE ones). From the remaining 16K only 6K or so were used as video memory - I know of at least one game - a space wars game - that was bigger than 48K and probably made use of the free 'upper' RAM.

I also remember an XT compatible, the HDD (10 MB, MFM, Seagate) was run through an interface board built around Western Digital's WD1010 and WD1011 chips, a long ISA board.

But the oldest computer I can remember of... it was probably a mini... my father worked in computers and he took me to the office. Something like 1972. I remember the tape unit (not even punch cards) and instead of the monitor there was a printer. A CAD program called PSpice still had support for text printer output in the early 90's.

Matth · Nov 11, 2002, 12:18 PM

BBC Micro - the first I OWNED - but I'd tinkered with 6502 assembly code on an Acorn Atom before that.

First PC - an MJN 486 DX33, to which i then added a Soundblaster 16 ASP MCD and a 2x Creative CR563 CD-ROM
I shudder at the price that was, compared to what you get now for less.
8Mb RAM, 340Mb HD....
I later replaced the disk controller, as it could not support faster modes with the drive.
Also a Cyrix DX2-80, and a Wavetable piggyback for the sound card.

Second PC - Built!
Tyan Tomcat 3 motherboard, Cyrix P150+ CPU (later upgraded to P200MMX)
- the LEGENDARY 7-bay Desktop!, and I had 'em ALL filled...
Floppy and tape in the 3 1/2" verticals,
CD-ROM, CD-RW (added later) and 5 1/4" floppy in the 5 1/4" bays
Two hard disks in the rear PSU-hanger bays.
I was sad to see the end of that case - AT only.

Third PC - Built!
Gigabyte 7IXE4 motherboard (at the time, I wanted two ISA slots), Athlon 1200B (after first being supplied with a 1000C which ran at 750 in this 200FSB board)
A Midi tower, and more drive-bay fouling than that tighly packed desktop ever had!

You know what?
As I really don't need ISA slots anymore (well, only for a Ditto3200 tape contraller, and that thing is PATHETICALLY slow compared to using CD-R) - I'd really like to go for number 4 - can't really justify it though!

reno · Nov 11, 2002, 10:33 PM

TRS-80, bizsnatches!

Zardon · Nov 12, 2002, 12:05 AM

this thread has made really interesting reading sofar, ive enjoyed it.

RIV@NVX · Nov 12, 2002, 12:06 AM

My first 3D card was Riva TNT (I bought it when I even hadn't AGP slot, because I was about to buy some celly 400 at that time). I bought it when most people I knew were still for Voodoo 2, but my choice was NV at that time.

reno · Nov 12, 2002, 04:48 AM

My first "real" graphics card was a number 9 svga "accelerator." that thing had 2 fricken megs of ram man, came in a 3000 dollar 486 sx 25mhz system with EIGHT megs of ram.

I ran doom and doom 2 better than some 66mhz DX2s!

One of the Twelve · Nov 13, 2002, 08:28 AM

My first "computer" was VIC-20. I still remember "3583 bytes free"

. There was a time, when 512kb was a huge amount of memory..

Now things are a bit different, with 1800 mHz Pentium IV and 512mb, etc.

war59312 · Nov 13, 2002, 05:14 PM

Well I have two very old computers.

The one I'm looking at right now is a 18mhz (33mhz with turbo button) and 4mb of memory. And now my very very old computer is a 1mhz computer. No hard drive or anything like that. Just a tape it looks like.

I don't even know what it is since its my dad and the thing is over 25 years old and I'm only 18 so.

I just turned it on and it took about 5 min. for it start. Well if you conisder "Please Enter The StartUp Disk" started. lol

Both are pos. Oh and the computer I'm typing on right now. POS 600mhz p3.

I have a new AlthlonXP 2200+ 1.8ghz in my room but something is wrong with it. Maybe u can help me with that. Off to hardware.

cya, Will

-={420}=- · Nov 14, 2002, 04:30 PM

My first computer was an IBM Aptiva
Intel DX 386 66MHz
4MB RAM
500MB HDD
2X CD-ROM Drive
3½ Floppy
Windows 3.1
14" Monitor
Canon BJ-100 Black & White Printer
Bought it for around $2200 on May 20, 1995

Krychek57 · Nov 14, 2002, 07:05 PM

My first computer (if you could call it that) was a microchannel IBM PS/2 W/Windows 3.11

JavaFox · Nov 20, 2002, 07:46 AM

C64 for this fox. What a grand PC it was!

Nov 11, 2002, 12:18 PM	#32
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,426 Rep Power: 93 System Specs	BBC Micro - the first I OWNED - but I'd tinkered with 6502 assembly code on an Acorn Atom before that. First PC - an MJN 486 DX33, to which i then added a Soundblaster 16 ASP MCD and a 2x Creative CR563 CD-ROM I shudder at the price that was, compared to what you get now for less. 8Mb RAM, 340Mb HD.... I later replaced the disk controller, as it could not support faster modes with the drive. Also a Cyrix DX2-80, and a Wavetable piggyback for the sound card. Second PC - Built! Tyan Tomcat 3 motherboard, Cyrix P150+ CPU (later upgraded to P200MMX) - the LEGENDARY 7-bay Desktop!, and I had 'em ALL filled... Floppy and tape in the 3 1/2" verticals, CD-ROM, CD-RW (added later) and 5 1/4" floppy in the 5 1/4" bays Two hard disks in the rear PSU-hanger bays. I was sad to see the end of that case - AT only. Third PC - Built! Gigabyte 7IXE4 motherboard (at the time, I wanted two ISA slots), Athlon 1200B (after first being supplied with a 1000C which ran at 750 in this 200FSB board) A Midi tower, and more drive-bay fouling than that tighly packed desktop ever had! You know what? As I really don't need ISA slots anymore (well, only for a Ditto3200 tape contraller, and that thing is PATHETICALLY slow compared to using CD-R) - I'd really like to go for number 4 - can't really justify it though! __________________ Mary had a little lamb, Her father shot it dead Now Mary takes her lamb to school, Between two crusts of bread

Nov 11, 2002, 10:33 PM	#33
reno Painlord of Ichor Join Date: May 2002 Location: bloinkin! Posts: 1,610 Rep Power: 0	dgfh TRS-80, bizsnatches!

Nov 12, 2002, 12:06 AM	#35
RIV@NVX Freedom is a feature. Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Croatia, Rijeka Posts: 4,476 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	My first 3D card was Riva TNT (I bought it when I even hadn't AGP slot, because I was about to buy some celly 400 at that time). I bought it when most people I knew were still for Voodoo 2, but my choice was NV at that time. __________________ -- Vedran

Nov 12, 2002, 04:48 AM	#36
reno Painlord of Ichor Join Date: May 2002 Location: bloinkin! Posts: 1,610 Rep Power: 0	sfdgdg My first "real" graphics card was a number 9 svga "accelerator." that thing had 2 fricken megs of ram man, came in a 3000 dollar 486 sx 25mhz system with EIGHT megs of ram. I ran doom and doom 2 better than some 66mhz DX2s!

Nov 13, 2002, 08:28 AM	#37
One of the Twelve DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The Kold North Posts: 131 Rep Power: 0	My first "computer" was VIC-20. I still remember "3583 bytes free" . There was a time, when 512kb was a huge amount of memory.. Now things are a bit different, with 1800 mHz Pentium IV and 512mb, etc. __________________

Nov 12, 2002, 12:05 AM	Thread Starter #34
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	this thread has made really interesting reading sofar, ive enjoyed it.

Nov 13, 2002, 05:14 PM	#38
war59312 God Bless The U.S.A Join Date: May 2002 Location: USA Posts: 101 Rep Power: 0	Well I have two very old computers. The one I'm looking at right now is a 18mhz (33mhz with turbo button) and 4mb of memory. And now my very very old computer is a 1mhz computer. No hard drive or anything like that. Just a tape it looks like. I don't even know what it is since its my dad and the thing is over 25 years old and I'm only 18 so. I just turned it on and it took about 5 min. for it start. Well if you conisder "Please Enter The StartUp Disk" started. lol Both are pos. Oh and the computer I'm typing on right now. POS 600mhz p3. I have a new AlthlonXP 2200+ 1.8ghz in my room but something is wrong with it. Maybe u can help me with that. Off to hardware. cya, Will __________________ God Bless The U.S.A Thank You For Your Support. Last edited by war59312; Nov 15, 2002 at 01:57 AM.

Nov 14, 2002, 04:30 PM	#39
-={420}=- DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 1,095 Rep Power: 0	My first computer was an IBM Aptiva Intel DX 386 66MHz 4MB RAM 500MB HDD 2X CD-ROM Drive 3½ Floppy Windows 3.1 14" Monitor Canon BJ-100 Black & White Printer Bought it for around $2200 on May 20, 1995 __________________ [COLOR=red]My eBay Auctions[/COLOR] Last edited by -={420}=-; Nov 19, 2002 at 05:20 AM.

Nov 14, 2002, 07:05 PM	#40
Krychek57 Long time lurker Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Parkland, WA Posts: 50 Rep Power: 0	My first computer (if you could call it that) was a microchannel IBM PS/2 W/Windows 3.11

Nov 20, 2002, 07:46 AM	#41
JavaFox E Pluribus Unum Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 3,203 Rep Power: 0	C64 for this fox. What a grand PC it was!