AJ Windy
@ajwindy42.bsky.social
Depressed, lonely engineer who loves old shit.
One of Gateway 2000's earliest laptops, the Gateway Handbook 486. I had one of these briefly in highschool, with a DX4-100 in it. It ran Windows 3.11 on top of DOS 5.0. Sadly, it suffered from a bad power supply and died early before i knew how to fix it.
June 27, 2025 at 12:50 PM
One of Gateway 2000's earliest laptops, the Gateway Handbook 486. I had one of these briefly in highschool, with a DX4-100 in it. It ran Windows 3.11 on top of DOS 5.0. Sadly, it suffered from a bad power supply and died early before i knew how to fix it.
In 1980, Sony released their 3.5 Inch Micro Floppy Disk, known as the OM-D3310. It featured manual shuttering and was proprietary in it's reading capabilities, but became the standard norm in 1981 in it's design. Unformatted, the OM-D3310 was 400KB, but 360K could be used. The HP 150 utilized these.
March 20, 2025 at 8:01 PM
In 1980, Sony released their 3.5 Inch Micro Floppy Disk, known as the OM-D3310. It featured manual shuttering and was proprietary in it's reading capabilities, but became the standard norm in 1981 in it's design. Unformatted, the OM-D3310 was 400KB, but 360K could be used. The HP 150 utilized these.
The Dell "XPS" or eXtreme Performance System was released in September of 1993 as Dell's flagship model, and is still made today. These were stout, very reliable units, ofter running 20+ years without any issues.
March 7, 2025 at 2:20 PM
The Dell "XPS" or eXtreme Performance System was released in September of 1993 as Dell's flagship model, and is still made today. These were stout, very reliable units, ofter running 20+ years without any issues.
The Amdek Color I was a color CRT monitor from the early 1980s, designed primarily for use with personal computers like the Apple II and IBM PC. It supported composite video input and was known for its sharp display and durable build, making it a popular choice for early home and business users.
February 26, 2025 at 4:53 PM
The Amdek Color I was a color CRT monitor from the early 1980s, designed primarily for use with personal computers like the Apple II and IBM PC. It supported composite video input and was known for its sharp display and durable build, making it a popular choice for early home and business users.
The Shugart SA-400 was a 5.25-inch floppy disk drive introduced in 1976. It was the first widely adopted drive of its size, featuring a single-sided design with 35 tracks and a storage capacity of 110KB. It set the standard for 5.25-inch floppy drives, influencing the personal computing industry.
February 26, 2025 at 4:51 PM
The Shugart SA-400 was a 5.25-inch floppy disk drive introduced in 1976. It was the first widely adopted drive of its size, featuring a single-sided design with 35 tracks and a storage capacity of 110KB. It set the standard for 5.25-inch floppy drives, influencing the personal computing industry.
The Shugart SA-200 was introduced in 1982 as a new "double density" floppy drive. Based on the earlier SA-400, it featured a direct drive stepping motor actuator and was used in many computers of it's era, as the industry standard floppy drive system. It allowed a max storage capacity of 1.2 MB.
February 26, 2025 at 4:49 PM
The Shugart SA-200 was introduced in 1982 as a new "double density" floppy drive. Based on the earlier SA-400, it featured a direct drive stepping motor actuator and was used in many computers of it's era, as the industry standard floppy drive system. It allowed a max storage capacity of 1.2 MB.
The 6502 is an 8-bit microprocessor introduced by MOS Technology in 1975. It was a low-cost, efficient CPU with a 1 MHz clock speed. Fun fact, in the Futurama series, this is the chip that somehow is Bender's brain.
February 25, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The 6502 is an 8-bit microprocessor introduced by MOS Technology in 1975. It was a low-cost, efficient CPU with a 1 MHz clock speed. Fun fact, in the Futurama series, this is the chip that somehow is Bender's brain.
Basically a Cyrix 486 but blue, the IBM "Blue Lightning" seies of processors were a IBM OEM varient produced by IBM due to Cyrix not having their own production facility. They usually were not found outside of IBM's own equipment, and they were faded into obscurity when Intel's Pentium was released.
February 18, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Basically a Cyrix 486 but blue, the IBM "Blue Lightning" seies of processors were a IBM OEM varient produced by IBM due to Cyrix not having their own production facility. They usually were not found outside of IBM's own equipment, and they were faded into obscurity when Intel's Pentium was released.
WinChip was a line of x86 CPUs developed by IDT in the late 1990s. Designed for low-cost, WinChip processors used simple architecture and efficiency over performance. They were used as budget alternatives to Intel and AMD chips but struggled to compete due to their weaker floating-point performance.
February 18, 2025 at 4:51 PM
WinChip was a line of x86 CPUs developed by IDT in the late 1990s. Designed for low-cost, WinChip processors used simple architecture and efficiency over performance. They were used as budget alternatives to Intel and AMD chips but struggled to compete due to their weaker floating-point performance.
The Seagate ST351A/X was a 40 MB 3.5-inch hard drive from the early 1990s, suppored both 16-bit ATA (IDE) mode and 8-bit XT mode, making it compatible with both newer and older PC systems, including IBM PC XTs. It was the last to use a stepper motor, and was quite slow by even then standards.
February 18, 2025 at 4:48 PM
The Seagate ST351A/X was a 40 MB 3.5-inch hard drive from the early 1990s, suppored both 16-bit ATA (IDE) mode and 8-bit XT mode, making it compatible with both newer and older PC systems, including IBM PC XTs. It was the last to use a stepper motor, and was quite slow by even then standards.
Conner Technologies was a short-lived spin-off founded by Finis Conner after he left Conner Peripherals in 1992. While Conner Peripherals was acquired by Seagate in 1996, Conner Technologies also lasted until 1996, when it too was absorbed by Seagate. The CT210 10.2 GB drive was their last model.
February 18, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Conner Technologies was a short-lived spin-off founded by Finis Conner after he left Conner Peripherals in 1992. While Conner Peripherals was acquired by Seagate in 1996, Conner Technologies also lasted until 1996, when it too was absorbed by Seagate. The CT210 10.2 GB drive was their last model.
The Pentium III by Intel, released in 1999, improved on the Pentium II with adding SSE support, better overall performance, and the Katmai/Coppermine cores. It used Slot 1 and later Socket 370, ranging from 450 MHz to 1.4 GHz. Tualatin was its final and most efficient version before the Pentium 4.
February 17, 2025 at 3:25 PM
The Pentium III by Intel, released in 1999, improved on the Pentium II with adding SSE support, better overall performance, and the Katmai/Coppermine cores. It used Slot 1 and later Socket 370, ranging from 450 MHz to 1.4 GHz. Tualatin was its final and most efficient version before the Pentium 4.
The early Pentium Pro 133 MHz prototype, despite being underwhelming and sucking in the 16 bit world, was a big leap in Intel's older designs. It was the first Intel CPU to feature out-of-order execution, and the only processor to use Socket 8. Released in 1995, it paved the path for the Pentium II.
February 13, 2025 at 1:51 PM
The early Pentium Pro 133 MHz prototype, despite being underwhelming and sucking in the 16 bit world, was a big leap in Intel's older designs. It was the first Intel CPU to feature out-of-order execution, and the only processor to use Socket 8. Released in 1995, it paved the path for the Pentium II.
Guardian, your website sucks.
I literally just created my account.
I SAVED MY USER NAME AND PASSWORD IN LASTPASS WHEN I DID THIS.
I KNOW WHAT MY USER NAME AND PASSWORD IS, YOU LITERALLY JUST GAVE IT TO ME IN AN EMAIL.
THEN YOU LOCKED ME OUT OF MY ACCOUNT.
I literally just created my account.
I SAVED MY USER NAME AND PASSWORD IN LASTPASS WHEN I DID THIS.
I KNOW WHAT MY USER NAME AND PASSWORD IS, YOU LITERALLY JUST GAVE IT TO ME IN AN EMAIL.
THEN YOU LOCKED ME OUT OF MY ACCOUNT.
February 11, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Guardian, your website sucks.
I literally just created my account.
I SAVED MY USER NAME AND PASSWORD IN LASTPASS WHEN I DID THIS.
I KNOW WHAT MY USER NAME AND PASSWORD IS, YOU LITERALLY JUST GAVE IT TO ME IN AN EMAIL.
THEN YOU LOCKED ME OUT OF MY ACCOUNT.
I literally just created my account.
I SAVED MY USER NAME AND PASSWORD IN LASTPASS WHEN I DID THIS.
I KNOW WHAT MY USER NAME AND PASSWORD IS, YOU LITERALLY JUST GAVE IT TO ME IN AN EMAIL.
THEN YOU LOCKED ME OUT OF MY ACCOUNT.
The Intel Pentium II, launched in May 1997, was a Slot 1 processor running at 233-450 MHz. It improved upon the Pentium Pro by adding MMX and fixing 16-bit issues. It featured 512KB L2 cache running at half CPU speed, enhancing performance. It was later surpassed by the Pentium III in 1999.
February 11, 2025 at 4:51 PM
The Intel Pentium II, launched in May 1997, was a Slot 1 processor running at 233-450 MHz. It improved upon the Pentium Pro by adding MMX and fixing 16-bit issues. It featured 512KB L2 cache running at half CPU speed, enhancing performance. It was later surpassed by the Pentium III in 1999.
The AMD K6-2+, released in 2000, was an improved version of the K6-2, mainly designed for low-power mobile applications but later used in desktops. Ranging from 450 to 570 MHz, the chips also had L2 cache, unlike their older counterparts. They were closer in speed to the K6-IIIs than Pentium IIs.
February 11, 2025 at 4:49 PM
The AMD K6-2+, released in 2000, was an improved version of the K6-2, mainly designed for low-power mobile applications but later used in desktops. Ranging from 450 to 570 MHz, the chips also had L2 cache, unlike their older counterparts. They were closer in speed to the K6-IIIs than Pentium IIs.
The AMD K6-2, released in May 1998, was an upgrade over the original K6, bringing in 3DNow! to improve floating-point and gaming performance. It ran at speeds from 266 MHz to 550 MHz and used Super Socket 7.
Compared to Intel’s Pentium II, the K6-2 had strong integer performance and was cheaper.
Compared to Intel’s Pentium II, the K6-2 had strong integer performance and was cheaper.
February 11, 2025 at 4:46 PM
The AMD K6-2, released in May 1998, was an upgrade over the original K6, bringing in 3DNow! to improve floating-point and gaming performance. It ran at speeds from 266 MHz to 550 MHz and used Super Socket 7.
Compared to Intel’s Pentium II, the K6-2 had strong integer performance and was cheaper.
Compared to Intel’s Pentium II, the K6-2 had strong integer performance and was cheaper.
The AMD K6, released in April 1997, was AMD’s competitor to Intel’s Pentium II. Based on NexGen technology, it used Socket 7, making it an easy upgrade for Pentium-class systems.
It launched with speeds of 166, 200, and 233 MHz, featuring superscalar architecture, MMX support, and a 32KB L1 cache.
It launched with speeds of 166, 200, and 233 MHz, featuring superscalar architecture, MMX support, and a 32KB L1 cache.
February 11, 2025 at 3:49 PM
The AMD K6, released in April 1997, was AMD’s competitor to Intel’s Pentium II. Based on NexGen technology, it used Socket 7, making it an easy upgrade for Pentium-class systems.
It launched with speeds of 166, 200, and 233 MHz, featuring superscalar architecture, MMX support, and a 32KB L1 cache.
It launched with speeds of 166, 200, and 233 MHz, featuring superscalar architecture, MMX support, and a 32KB L1 cache.
The Cyrix 6x86MX, released in 1997, was an improved version of the 6x86 with "MMX" support and better power efficiency. Running at 166-233 MHz, it had strong integer performance, often outperforming Pentium MMX chips at similar clock speeds. However, it suffered from weak floating-point performance.
February 11, 2025 at 3:46 PM
The Cyrix 6x86MX, released in 1997, was an improved version of the 6x86 with "MMX" support and better power efficiency. Running at 166-233 MHz, it had strong integer performance, often outperforming Pentium MMX chips at similar clock speeds. However, it suffered from weak floating-point performance.
The Cyrix 486DLC, released in 1992, was a 486-class CPU designed as an upgrade for 386 motherboards. It featured 1KB L1 cache and ran at 25-50 MHz, offering better performance than a 386DX, but it lacked full 486 instructions, limiting compatibility. It competed with Intel’s 486SX.
February 11, 2025 at 3:03 PM
The Cyrix 486DLC, released in 1992, was a 486-class CPU designed as an upgrade for 386 motherboards. It featured 1KB L1 cache and ran at 25-50 MHz, offering better performance than a 386DX, but it lacked full 486 instructions, limiting compatibility. It competed with Intel’s 486SX.
The Intel Pentium 66, released in 1993, was one of the first Pentium processors, featured a P5 microarchitecture and ran at 66 MHz. It ran on the short lived socket 4 platform, used 5V and ran very hot. A difficult processor to produce, the 66MHz Pentium was quickly phased out for the Pentium 75.
February 11, 2025 at 2:53 PM
The Intel Pentium 66, released in 1993, was one of the first Pentium processors, featured a P5 microarchitecture and ran at 66 MHz. It ran on the short lived socket 4 platform, used 5V and ran very hot. A difficult processor to produce, the 66MHz Pentium was quickly phased out for the Pentium 75.
The AMD Am5x86-133 (P75) is widely considered the best 486 processor made.
Released in 1995, it ran at 133 MHz, making it roughly equivalent to a Pentium 75 MHz in performance for integer-based tasks. It featured Write-Back cache, making it more efficient than Cyrix's 5x86 or Intel's 486DX4-100.
Released in 1995, it ran at 133 MHz, making it roughly equivalent to a Pentium 75 MHz in performance for integer-based tasks. It featured Write-Back cache, making it more efficient than Cyrix's 5x86 or Intel's 486DX4-100.
February 11, 2025 at 2:51 PM
The AMD Am5x86-133 (P75) is widely considered the best 486 processor made.
Released in 1995, it ran at 133 MHz, making it roughly equivalent to a Pentium 75 MHz in performance for integer-based tasks. It featured Write-Back cache, making it more efficient than Cyrix's 5x86 or Intel's 486DX4-100.
Released in 1995, it ran at 133 MHz, making it roughly equivalent to a Pentium 75 MHz in performance for integer-based tasks. It featured Write-Back cache, making it more efficient than Cyrix's 5x86 or Intel's 486DX4-100.
The Cyrix 5x86, released in 1995, was a high-performance 486-class processor designed to compete with early Pentium CPUs. Running at 100-133 MHz, it offered good integer performance but weak floating-point capabilities. It was a cheap upgrade for 486 systems, rivaling the early Pentiums.
February 11, 2025 at 2:40 PM
The Cyrix 5x86, released in 1995, was a high-performance 486-class processor designed to compete with early Pentium CPUs. Running at 100-133 MHz, it offered good integer performance but weak floating-point capabilities. It was a cheap upgrade for 486 systems, rivaling the early Pentiums.
The Cyrix MII-433GP, released in June 1999, was the final processor designed by Cyrix before the buyout by VIA Technologies on June 29, 1999. Comparable to an Intel Pentium II 300MHz, the 433GP struggled. It was known for running hot, lacking good MMX instruction, and performing poorly in gaming.
February 11, 2025 at 2:37 PM
The Cyrix MII-433GP, released in June 1999, was the final processor designed by Cyrix before the buyout by VIA Technologies on June 29, 1999. Comparable to an Intel Pentium II 300MHz, the 433GP struggled. It was known for running hot, lacking good MMX instruction, and performing poorly in gaming.
