What's the oldest component in your computer, and how much did it originally cost (if you remember)?

[glenn1]

And floppy drive, IDE cables, and similar items that only cost a very small amount (say under $10) don't count.

I'd say with the exception of my case/power supply (got the Antec SX830 almost as soon as it became available, had to pick it up from a distributor in the next state) and Pioneer slot-load DVD drive, every single component in my system has been replaced at least once within the last year. Damn this upgrade habit

 

[malu]

probably my creative pci 128 sound card... i cant even remember how much it was, it was so long ago

 

[loup garou]

1x DVDROM from a Gateway PII 450 system. I have no idea how much it originally cost.

 

[IcemanJer]

gosh.... um.... I think the oldest piece of hardware is the ATI TV Wonder. Oh, and a 40 GB harddrive too. The TV tuner I think was about $50 CAD, and the drive was like $220 CAD when I got both of them 2 years ago.

 

[MSantiago]

I really want to say my 5.25" floppy, but since that doesn't count...

A 7 1/2 year old USR Sportster 28.8 ISA modem (flashed with the ultra-fast 56K upgrade!!).

 

[IcemanJer]

Originally posted by: MSantiago
I really want to say my 5.25" floppy, but since that doesn't count...

whoa damn, you still keep that thing around? have any use for it?

 

[MSantiago]

Not really. It's a Teac FD-505 5.25"/3.5" combo drive that takes up a single 5.25" bay, but it does its job and is in great condition. Old hardware is way more durable than any of this new stuff! And it just feels... different... having a 2.4GHz P4 with a 5.25" floppy.

 

[Legendary]

Voodoo3 2000 - $149 originally (when I do not know)

 

[Deeko]

I'd say either my old IBM 20GB hard drive or my Sound Blaster Live! value.

 

[AsukaStrikes]

zip100 drive, its like having a big dumb floppy

 

[Freejack2]

Hmm the oldest non-small amount item I suppose would be my external us-robotics modem. I think it was a 33.6 originally and I got the upgrade to 56k for it.
I only use it for faxing and when the cable modem is down so it doesn't get used too much.

Though considering my Forminco Mouse Arena goes for $39.95 these days I could say that it's the oldest component at 12 years. The leather/vinyl/whatever cover on the wrist rest is going but other than that it still is going strong.

 

[gentobu]

SCSI Zip drive. I got it in '96~'97 for about $150 I think.

 

[skyking]

It is either my zip 100, JAZ drive and card, or my 40x scsi CD drive. Everything else is nu-er. The Zip and the JAZ were around 25$, the 40x was in a 120$ package with a 2940U2W and a 9 gig IBM.

 

[slpaulson]

My trusty Imation 8x20x cd-r and the scsi card it came with.
I want to say it was around $175. I think that was about 2-3 years ago maybe??

 

[DanFungus]

40 gig drive...Maxtor, um, about 3 years old..cost $250, and that was with an employee discount

 

[mk52]

8 year old 3.5 floppy drive form my first pc .... went for about $25 back in the day

 

[lowtech1]

My 17in NEC monitor since 1993, and you don't want to know the price

 

[ultimatebob]

I still have the modem and 17 inch Triniton monitor from my old Sony VAIO, which I bought back in 1997. When that monitor was new, it cost me $820 with shipping.

 

[IcemanJer]

Originally posted by: lowtech
My 17in NEC monitor since 1993, and you don't want to know the price

whoooa..... I used to have a NEC MultiSync 3F..something bought in '92. Started to go back 2 or 3 years ago. Ah, very long period of service..

 

[FreshPrince]

STB TV PCI ~ '96

Best computer related investment I've ever made. Still works like a charm under W98SE...wish I knew how to get it to work under W2K

 

[Colt45]

2x CDROM = pull from a P75 rig
floppy = pull from a 286
monitor = 1993 POS (640x480@60 MAX), original equipment from a 50mhz 486.

 

[DDad]

My IBM PS2 keyboard (built like a tank- weighs like one too) Production date of 3 Sept 91

No idea on cost- think I bought a bunch of them on clearance for $5 apiece several years ago- used them in rough service area where the extra keys weren't important. Funny thing is, have yet to replace a single one

 

[ElFenix]

the ide card

 

[zzzz]

Antec case, about 1 year old.

 

[TwicK]

Well I still have a soundblaster awe32 ISA card in one box, and I have 5 1/4 inch drive, and 345 meg hard drive sitting next to another box. My good box still has a 2x SCSI Ricoh CDRW.