Results 1 to 10 of 10

My oldest computer so far

| Vintage Electronics
  1. #1
    Mike1286 started this thread.
    Mike1286's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jul 2015
    Location
    Chicago burbs
    Posts
    169
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 346 Times in 106 Posts

    My oldest computer so far

    A few days ago I picked up the oldest computer I've come across so far. It's an old IBM 5150. I got it from a close friend's grandpas house. He unfortunately passed away and they called me in to help clear out some stuff and recycle the metal and electronics. I have the keyboard and monitor that came with it. And a printer that looks about from that era. Haven't been able to test anything yet on account of being too busy and having it at my recently acquired storage unit rather than at home. But I will test it before anything. At least see if it boots up or not since I don't have any floppies that came with it. From my searching they don't go for huge money (based on sold ebay listings) so I'm not in any immediate rush to test it for sale. And I have way too much stuff to break down right now so my time is better spent working on that. But I wanted to share my find with you guys since you're the only ones I know that will get excited over a 30+ year old computer. Lol.
    Owner and operator of M K Recycling LLC
    Specializing in metals and electronics

    www.mkrecycling.com

  2. The Following 4 Users say Thank You for This Post by Mike1286:



  3. #2
    msmoorad's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Durban, South Africa
    Posts
    689
    Thanks
    713
    Thanked 746 Times in 356 Posts
    pics please
    and let us know what u get for it, if u sell it

  4. #3
    jimicrk's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Tennessee
    Posts
    2,825
    Thanks
    2,917
    Thanked 4,838 Times in 1,877 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by msmoorad View Post
    pics please
    and let us know what u get for it, if u sell it
    I agree,
    Post some pics and you might get some PM's.

  5. #4
    t00nces2's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Sarasota, FL
    Posts
    1,693
    Thanks
    1,187
    Thanked 2,341 Times in 958 Posts
    See if MS 10 will run on it... Just kidding. Get it running and post the pics.

  6. #5
    Mike1286 started this thread.
    Mike1286's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jul 2015
    Location
    Chicago burbs
    Posts
    169
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 346 Times in 106 Posts
    I'll try to get some pics next time I'm at my unit. And again when i test it if it works. It is a bit dusty and dirty as it sat on a shelf in an unfinished basement for who knows how many years. But when I get it tested and ready to sell, I'll definitely come here first. I'd rather deal with you guys than chance a hassle on ebay.

    And t00nces2, I'm more of an xp guy. Not huge on win10. So if anybody has a copy of xp on 5.25 I can borrow I'd much appreciate it. Lol.

  7. The Following User Says Thank You to Mike1286 for This Post:


  8. #6
    Mike1286 started this thread.
    Mike1286's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jul 2015
    Location
    Chicago burbs
    Posts
    169
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 346 Times in 106 Posts
    Got the computer plugged in and powered up. It shows 1000 201 301 at the top left and flashes controller #0 error. Then stays on with parity check 1. A quick peek on Google looks like it's a ram problem or bad set dip switches. But at least it's a step above scrap.


  9. The Following 3 Users say Thank You for This Post by Mike1286:


  10. #7
    t00nces2's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Sarasota, FL
    Posts
    1,693
    Thanks
    1,187
    Thanked 2,341 Times in 958 Posts
    It is unlikely it would even run Win 95... That is most likely a pure DOS unit. It is early vintage, so it may have some value on ebay, just make sure to account for shipping.

    IBM 5150 Personal Computer

    Thanks for the pic. Good luck.

  11. #8
    travistemple202020's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jul 2012
    Location
    ames iowa
    Posts
    1,326
    Thanks
    267
    Thanked 883 Times in 495 Posts
    I would say at least $75 as is

  12. #9
    webuyselltradestuff's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    May 2013
    Location
    Watkinsville, GA
    Posts
    950
    Thanks
    131
    Thanked 1,284 Times in 583 Posts
    yes that is a BASIC computer, although it might be able to run DOS (DOS requires 512 kb of ram, so it it had the max ram in it it would run). The ABSOLUTE MAX ram it can have is 640K...that is a little over 1/2 of a MEGABYTE of ram...Win 95 requires a min of 4 MB of ram...8 TIMES the max amount this computer can run. In any event, the parity issue looks like a chip issue (I also check google and came across the following link that detailed the error codes). Just means one of the soldered ram chips is bad or a bad connection. Someone can resolder the chip or change it out if they know what they are doing and have access to a vintage ram chip.

    I would sell it as is (hell it gets to the boot process, well part way through it) to a collector. Check Ebay of course and then google a few vintage computer forums and possibly advertise there (you might get more). I would include a video with my listing to show the error and that it actually tries to boot). It should help with price. Pack well and send to it's new home unless you collect that sort of thing.


    Tezza's Classic Computers Articles and Projects - Fixing a Parity RAM problem on an IBM-PC
    PROFIT is made when you BUY/ACQUIRE NOT when you sell

  13. #10
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Youngstown, OH
    Posts
    606
    Thanks
    6
    Thanked 282 Times in 193 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by travistemple202020 View Post
    I would say at least $75 as is
    Depends on quite a few factors. You need GOOD pictures of the front, back insides that people can see chips with.

    A word of advice, if you want more then scrap for these old collectable relics you need to invest in a used $10 10MP+ camera off of ebay with a camera tripod (also cheap) and a clean well lit spot to take pictures. Buyers want to see the guts, serial numbers, board numbers, cards installed, etc. in clear detail. There are multiple models of the 5150 from the low serial number original 64K motherboard to many newer revisions that are worth MUCH less. A camera tripod makes a huge difference between shacky pictures and clear ones, also good lighting helps a bunch. There are multiple revisions of the ROMs and power supplies for these units, some worth much more then others.


  14. The Following User Says Thank You to unknownk for This Post:



  15. Similar threads on the Scrap Metal Forum

    1. Oldest Computer Yet
      By junksable in forum A Day in the Life of a Scrapper
      Replies: 7
      Last Post: 01-10-2016, 06:46 AM
    2. Oldest thing you have came across.
      By scrapbabe97 in forum A Day in the Life of a Scrapper
      Replies: 15
      Last Post: 10-14-2015, 12:18 PM
    3. Break down of my oldest computer so far
      By miked in forum General Electronics Recycling
      Replies: 4
      Last Post: 11-28-2011, 01:17 PM

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

 
Browse the Most Recent Threads
On SMF In THIS CATEGORY.





OR

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

The Scrap Metal Forum

    The Scrap Metal Forum is the #1 scrap metal recycling community in the world. Here we talk about the scrap metal business, making money, where we connect with other scrappers, scrap yards and more.

SMF on Facebook and Twitter

Twitter Facebook