Need some O.T. help

From: jpero_at_cgocable.net <(jpero_at_cgocable.net)>
Date: Thu Feb 4 17:41:11 1999

Date sent: Thu, 4 Feb 1999 21:14:05 +0000 (GMT)
Send reply to: classiccmp_at_u.washington.edu
From: ard_at_p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell)
To: "Discussion re-collecting of classic computers" <classiccmp_at_u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: Need some O.T. help

> >
> > On Wed, 3 Feb 1999, Jim Strickland wrote:
> > >like burning diesel fuel. I HATE ATX.
> >
> > Actually, I find it to be one of the most hilarious pieces of poor
> > engineering in modern computers. ATX machines can switch off without any
> > good reason, refuse to turn on, refuse to boot, refuse to turn off, and
> > other things. If M$ designed a PSU, this would be it.
>
> Automatic power switches are nothing new. The odd-numbered PERQs (1, 1a,
> 3a) all had software-controlled turn-off. So does the Whitechapel MG1 and
> the Torch XXX.
>
> It can make a lot of sense on a unix box to have a software-controlled
> power-down _provided the OS is stable_. The user command to turn off can
> then sync the filesystem and then power off the machine.
>
> Of course with the typical reliability of PC hardware and certain PC
> software, I am not sure ATX is a good thing...

Tony is right on everything.

What makes a reliable machine is 90% preparations and
selections of quality stuff, don't have to rob the bank, sheesh!

And 10% is correct choices on what software to load onto that HD.

I think someone is selling yours too many junk stuff. Oh, Biostar
is junk, Sorry. I have already dealt with Biostar and PcMate,
Yecch! If someone claims DIMM is PC100, it may not be and just
saying the speed of the chip like.
10ns is not it. Must be just PC100 with all the strings attached
(reqirements as documented by intel/micron).

1st choices on boards:

Asus 1st choice, Microstar (MSI) middling, Aceropoen distrant
last.

I have no problems shutting down or aborting, (holding the power
button til it turns off), the power if I forgot to do something inside or
adjust something.

BTW mine is P2B, PII 350 PC100 64mb, G200. I now don't
remember netscape 3.01 gold crashing or blue screens or any
software that cause problems. Oh, aceropen ATX PSU in HX95
case. That PSU in it have very decent big heatsinks. :-)

ATX PSU's blowing up is also are junk. I have shorted out many
good PSUs and they survived it. (LM339/TI494 design with dual
choppers via base trigger isotransformer) I have blown just once a
cheapie PSU by hitting that power swtich one too many in close
off/on times. on / off / on / off / on pop! While fixing LED's status in
a machine. Those I just said about good PSUs they survive that
abuse perfectly which this is required when I'm repairing boards on
bench. I haven't cracked open both junk and decent ATX PSU's
yet. Have anyone got one cheapie atx PSU that are broken to
send to me for analysis?

Jason D.
Received on Thu Feb 04 1999 - 17:41:11 GMT