Works great with Windows 98 and dos, but i’m wondering how different it would be to turn it into a sleeper pc given the components inside.
Works great with Windows 98 and dos, but i’m wondering how different it would be to turn it into a sleeper pc given the components inside.
14 Comments
m-ATX or mini ITX build would be the way to go. Might have to modify mountings for the motherboard etc and fans etc
Very. It would require a lot of modification; that doesn’t even look like it’s AT, let alone ATX-standardized. The expansion slots are going the wrong way, even.
Considering how good condition that thing is in, I’d say any attempt to modify it for modern parts would also constitute a crime. You’d be far better off looking for a junk beige-box to chop up. There’s plenty of them that will actually take modern parts with zero modification. I’m sure someone would happily trade one for that machine, too.
Don’t fuck with it. Big collectable market for Packard Bell exists.
What you have there, is a nice bit of cash you’re sleeping on. Building a sleeper with the ATX standard would be easier.
The sleeping is not the problem , it’s the waking up.
All joking aside though.
If you actually want to use it instead of storing it:
Make sure you take out batteries, in those days batteries were still soldered on motherboards (remove even if it’s for permanent storage, it will eventually leak and kill). Desolder them and replace with 2 wires and one of those battery cases. Remove it again once done. Write your bios config on a piece of paper.
Make sure it’s clean. Dust and nicotine create a corrosive that eats away at contacts.
Keep an eye on your fans over the years, replace them when needed.
Holy cow that thing is CLEAN. Take good care of that. It’s a gem.
Don’t mod this, it’s a collector’s item. It’s not even AT. It’s proprietary.
My first system was a Packard bell with windows 3.1 as a child. It had some weird ass boot video of a mime coming out of a box and using a Packard Bell or something before it would boot to windows. Playing Maxis Sim games and Epic pinball was my childhood.
Just buy an old case that’s pure ATX format at least, this proprietary shit would require so much drilling it hurts
Is it just me, or do the first two images have a r/confusingpersective vibe to them. Like the computer has no depth to it.
Edit – mainly the first picture.
That computer is older than you and your father. Do not alter it
I hope you decide against it. You’d have to completely destroy it, and I doubt you could make it work anyway being an at. Its honestly not super valuable, but this stuff is getting there pretty quickly.
These photos are doing my head in for some reason. Is the first pic a flat card?
Sleeper PC cases that have good airflow and modernized inside would be a good business decision for PC case companies.