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Turning a 1995 IBM Aptiva, 66mhz 486DX2, into an i7 6700k

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Re: Turning a 1995 IBM Aptiva, 66mhz 486DX2, into an i7 6700k

#11
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This build really resonated with me because the Aptiva was my first IBM ~~compatible~~ PC. I later broke it learning how to work on PCs as a child. If I can find where it ended up, I may very well do the same build.

Yeah, obviously there is nostalgia value for a lot of people but objectively it's a pretty average looking case even for the era... which leads me to ask this: what _was_ the best looking computer case of the retro era?

See the GP's comment about SGI- SGI cases were still some kind of box or tower, but usually with curvy accents and bright colors at least. Otherwise, I wish I had managed to pick up a NeXT when they were not as rare as they are now. Apple of course didn't make any regular-looking towers or desktops while Steve Jobs was in control. Sun tried a bunch of different form factors in the Sparcstation line, but they were generally all beige boxes of some sort or another. In IBM-compatibles, there were... not many I can recall that stood out. IBM themselves had some slightly unusual designs in the PS/2 series, like the model 25, but nothing that was particularly nice-looking.

Curious what other people have to say about other IBM compatibles in this regard. I have a lot of computers but haven't seen everything yet.

Re: Turning a 1995 IBM Aptiva, 66mhz 486DX2, into an i7 6700k

#12
post #10
post #3

Nice although this would not have been my choice of a case to mod. I'd love to and some day may attempt to do this to a well preserved SGI Octane or O2.

For something kept x86 I'd have a tough time resisting something like the classic IBM PS/2 with its giant red flappy power switch out front. Like https://dfarq.homeip.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/IBM-PS-2... or if there were tower variants with the same style power switch

It would be incredible if someone came up with a 3D-printable IBM 5100 RPi build.

Re: Turning a 1995 IBM Aptiva, 66mhz 486DX2, into an i7 6700k

#13
post #2

It is somewhat wild to me that PC towers are still a thing. So many other tech products have had significant form factor reductions in the past ~40 years yet gaming PCs have largely remained unchanged. (I understand we've had massive increases in computing capabilities, especially around 3D graphics and the power and cooling required for them.)

It's only remained unchanged if you haven't decided to downsize: I've been building all mini-ITX machines for a while now. My main PC is in a DanCase A4-SFX, which is a 7.2L case. Even my NAS is mini-ITX. That's all standard parts. You can go even smaller if you are willing to sacrifice standard parts and go for a NUC or whatever.

Re: Turning a 1995 IBM Aptiva, 66mhz 486DX2, into an i7 6700k

#14
post #2

It is somewhat wild to me that PC towers are still a thing. So many other tech products have had significant form factor reductions in the past ~40 years yet gaming PCs have largely remained unchanged. (I understand we've had massive increases in computing capabilities, especially around 3D graphics and the power and cooling required for them.)

We don't have much choice, high performance video card just big and they need a good cooling solution. It will probably take another ten years to reduce power consumption and we would get a small reduction is size and cooling requirements.

Re: Turning a 1995 IBM Aptiva, 66mhz 486DX2, into an i7 6700k

#15
I don't have anything to add to this aside from nice job.

I just wanted to marvel at the banner ad that I saw on the imgur page.

https://aeroparts.aero/repair/nitropure-asm/

Replacement parts for Boeing 737s?! I'm intrigued that they take out display ads for those kinds of things.

Re: Turning a 1995 IBM Aptiva, 66mhz 486DX2, into an i7 6700k

#16
post #3

Nice although this would not have been my choice of a case to mod. I'd love to and some day may attempt to do this to a well preserved SGI Octane or O2.

Those are such great looking cases.

For an easier conversion job, look for an SGI 540 Xeon tower.

They had a matching really sexy 17" LCD monitor.

Re: Turning a 1995 IBM Aptiva, 66mhz 486DX2, into an i7 6700k

#17
post #16
post #3

Nice although this would not have been my choice of a case to mod. I'd love to and some day may attempt to do this to a well preserved SGI Octane or O2.

Those are such great looking cases. For an easier conversion job, look for an SGI 540 Xeon tower. They had a matching really sexy 17" LCD monitor.

The earlier models were more interesting looking, the Professional IRIS is so eighties I'm surprised it didn't make an appearance somewhere in Sneakers:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SGI_Professional_IRIS_(1)...

Re: Turning a 1995 IBM Aptiva, 66mhz 486DX2, into an i7 6700k

#20
post #10
post #3

Nice although this would not have been my choice of a case to mod. I'd love to and some day may attempt to do this to a well preserved SGI Octane or O2.

For something kept x86 I'd have a tough time resisting something like the classic IBM PS/2 with its giant red flappy power switch out front. Like https://dfarq.homeip.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/IBM-PS-2... or if there were tower variants with the same style power switch

That switch was attached to a ridiculous long metal arm, that pressed the real power switch way at the back inside of the case. Loved it!
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