【台灣本地】最後！「穀倉發現 Pentium Pro」竟然修復好了！
Table of Contents:
- Barn Find Pentium Pro
- Introduction to the Barn Find Pentium Pro
- The Journey to Restoration
- The Current State of the Machine
- Issues and Disabilities
- The Search for a Replacement Motherboard
- Discovering the New Motherboard
- Comparing the Original and New Motherboards
- RAM Upgrade and CPU Compatibility
- Installation and Set-Up
- Expansion Cards and Decisions
- Finalizing the Build
- testing and Verifying Functionality
- Enjoying the Fully Functional Machine
- Future Plans and Next Steps
- Conclusion
Barn Find Pentium Pro
🏚️ Introduction to the Barn Find Pentium Pro
Have you ever stumbled upon a Hidden gem? Well, that's exactly what happened to me when I discovered the Barn Find Pentium Pro. This remarkable machine received its name due to the fact that it was found in a barn. After owning it for about 18 months, I decided to embark on a restoration journey. In this article, I will take you through the process of transforming this broken, dirty, and non-functional computer into a fully operational device that can run MS-DOS and Windows 98, and even play games from the early to mid-90s. Let's dive in!
💡 The Journey to Restoration
Restoring the Barn Find Pentium Pro has been quite an adventure. When I first acquired it, the machine was in a dismal state. It was nothing more than a hunk of junk with a non-functioning ISA slots and built-in IDE channels. Its processor speed was slower than it should have been, despite checking the bus speed and multiplier settings.
🔍 The Current State of the Machine
Currently, the Barn Find Pentium Pro is far from ideal. While I've made some improvements, it still has a few disabilities. The ISA slots and built-in IDE channels remain non-functional. After careful examination, I've come to the conclusion that the motherboard needs a Recap. However, considering the mix of surface mount and polymer electrolytic capacitors on the Intel VS440 FX motherboard, it might be more cost-effective to find a new motherboard altogether.
🔎 The Search for a Replacement Motherboard
In my Quest to find a suitable replacement motherboard, I stumbled upon a promising option. I purchased a board on eBay around nine months ago. It finally arrived at my home in Delhi, just a week before our planned move back to the UK. With the chaos of packing and moving, I didn't have the chance to look into it until now.
🔬 Discovering the New Motherboard
Upon closely examining the replacement motherboard, I noticed that it is virtually identical to the original one, or at least it uses the same reference design. After conducting some research, I discovered that Intel may have either manufactured this board for other companies or sold the design to them. Companies such as Dell and Gateway had their own versions of this board, with only minor differences depending on the branding.
🔁 Comparing the Original and New Motherboards
Although I'm unsure who specifically made this board, it closely resembles the original. This gives me hope that it will finally allow me to achieve my goal of making the Barn Find Pentium Pro fully functional. The seller not only included the motherboard in the deal but also a 200 MHz CPU and 16 megabytes of RAM. While I plan to keep the CPU in place, I will replace the RAM with four sticks from my spare parts bin, resulting in a total of 160 megabytes of RAM - a significant upgrade for a 1995 machine.
⚙️ Installation and Set-Up
Before diving into the installation process, I needed to address a broken clip on the included heatsink. Fortunately, the cooler from my old motherboard fits and functions properly. With some fresh thermal compound and a bit of maneuvering, the new cooler is successfully installed. Now, it's time to put the motherboard back inside the case.
🔌 Expansion Cards and Decisions
As I reassemble the Barn Find Pentium Pro, I face a crucial decision regarding expansion cards. One card I'm determined to retain is the Adaptec SCSI controller, as the current hard disk and optical drives are all SCSI-based. The built-in IDE controller on the new motherboard is a possible alternative, but since the manual specifies limited support for older PIO transfer standards, sticking with SCSI seems like a better option.
🖥️ Finalizing the Build
In addition to the SCSI controller, I plan on reinstalling the Trident VGA card. While I briefly swapped it out in a previous video for an S3 Trio 64, the system experienced recurring crashes within Windows 95. Reverting to the Trident card proved to be stable and reliable. I also have an Allied Telesyn network card that a kind friend sent over. It is new in the box and designed for Windows 95, making it a perfect fit for file transfers within my retro LAN.
💾 Testing and Verifying Functionality
With all the components installed and connections reestablished, it's time for the moment of truth. The system boots into the BIOS successfully, reporting the correct CPU speed of 200 MHz. This is a significant improvement from the previous erroneous display of 133 MHz. A boot into Windows also proves successful, with the operating system recognizing the newly installed hardware, including the ISA slots.
🎮 Enjoying the Fully Functional Machine
Now that the Barn Find Pentium Pro is fully operational and equipped with a Voodoo card, it has truly become a beast of a machine. I couldn't be happier with the end result. The powerful hardware, coupled with the Glide API support, opens up a world of possibilities for gaming. I look forward to exploring a wide range of games that make use of Voodoo's capabilities and enjoying the machine to its fullest potential.
🔮 Future Plans and Next Steps
As I sit back and admire the fully functional Barn Find Pentium Pro, I can't help but contemplate its future. With the restoration complete, I can finally stop tinkering with it and start enjoying it. However, I'm open to suggestions and ideas from fellow enthusiasts. If you have any thoughts on what I should do with this machine next, please share them in the comments below. I appreciate your support and look forward to the next phase of this journey!
🔚 Conclusion
The journey of restoring the Barn Find Pentium Pro has been a challenging yet rewarding experience. From its humble beginnings as a neglected machine in a barn to its current state as a fully functional retro gaming powerhouse, every step of the process has been a labor of love. The transformation would not have been possible without the search for a replacement motherboard, upgrading the RAM, and carefully selecting the expansion cards. Now, as I enjoy the fruits of my labor, I eagerly anticipate the future adventures this machine has in store. Thank you for joining me on this adventure, and remember to stay tuned for more exciting projects in the world of retro computing!
⭐ Highlights:
- Rediscovering the Barn Find Pentium Pro
- Overcoming challenges and disabilities
- The search for a replacement motherboard
- Comparing old and new motherboards
- Upgrading RAM and CPU compatibility
- Installing and setting up the new components
- Making decisions about expansion cards
- Verifying the functionality of the restored machine
- Enjoying the fully functional Barn Find Pentium Pro
- Future plans and possibilities for the machine
FAQ:
Q: What were the main issues with the Barn Find Pentium Pro?
A: The machine suffered from non-functional ISA slots, built-in IDE channels, and a slower than expected processor speed.
Q: How did you address the disabilities of the machine?
A: After checking the bus speed and multiplier settings, it was determined that the motherboard needed a recap. However, due to the complexity and cost, it was decided to find a replacement motherboard instead.
Q: What components were included with the replacement motherboard?
A: The replacement motherboard included a 200 MHz CPU and 16 megabytes of RAM.
Q: What expansion cards were chosen for the final build?
A: The final build included the Adaptec SCSI controller, Trident VGA card, and Allied Teleson network card.
Q: How does the fully functional Barn Find Pentium Pro perform?
A: With the upgrades and installation of a Voodoo card, the machine is now a powerful gaming system capable of running games with Glide API support.
Q: What are the future plans for the Barn Find Pentium Pro?
A: The future plans for the machine remain open-ended, with suggestions and ideas from the community being welcomed and considered.
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