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When did you first get into computer hardware?
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DaveSimmons
Elite Member
metalmania
Platinum Member
1995 when I bought my first 486.
In 1996 when I was 15 my granny bought me my first computer. It was a p200mmx built by some guy who was renting a house from her. When I got it, I promptly took it a part and spent the better part of a day putting it back together. I was interested then, but I had no money of my own to really make much of a hobby out of it. I did a lot of reading on forums and hardOCP. On my 18th birthday I bought another computer, a slot A athlon 650. I didn't put it together myself, but I did goto a local computer shop and spend an hour or so picking out every part for myself so I felt like I had some input. I remember being disappointed at the selection. They had the one motherboard I DIDN'T want as pretty much the only available choice. Took that one apart too. I had broke open the CPU's casing so I could attach some little gadget I got online to the PCB so I could overclock it, but I forget what it was called..
metalmania
Platinum Member
You were back to the future or something? Pentium MMX was NOT out in 1996.
when I built my first computer... I was 17-18 at the time (1999)
there weren't really a ton of customizable computer places like there are now and I couldn't find a PC that met the exact specs I wanted, so I said f' it and just built my own (eventually... it was a learning experience that ended up frying my first PSU. lol)
there weren't really a ton of customizable computer places like there are now and I couldn't find a PC that met the exact specs I wanted, so I said f' it and just built my own (eventually... it was a learning experience that ended up frying my first PSU. lol)
D1gger
Diamond Member
When I started working with IBM 8100 systems in 1982.
Fritzo
Lifer
I got into it when you had to install your own sound card, 3D accelerator, and joystick card to play a stupid game.
From there, you wanted your framerate to improve, so you had to build your own computer (which at the time you could build a hotrod for $400 or less vs. $2000 for an off the shelf model).
I think the first computer I built was based on a DX4/100. The IBM PS/1 I had wouldn't accept a 100mhz overdrive chip, so I bought a case, a motherboard, and a processor, then used the drives from my IBM. The instructions were in Chinese for the motherboard, so you had to guess where to plug everything in. Took a week to build, but Mechwarrior FLEW after that.
My family was amazed that I could build a computer...then I found out that nobody else around me could do it. The skills kind of built from there.
From there, you wanted your framerate to improve, so you had to build your own computer (which at the time you could build a hotrod for $400 or less vs. $2000 for an off the shelf model).
I think the first computer I built was based on a DX4/100. The IBM PS/1 I had wouldn't accept a 100mhz overdrive chip, so I bought a case, a motherboard, and a processor, then used the drives from my IBM. The instructions were in Chinese for the motherboard, so you had to guess where to plug everything in. Took a week to build, but Mechwarrior FLEW after that.
My family was amazed that I could build a computer...then I found out that nobody else around me could do it. The skills kind of built from there.
Fritzo
Lifer
The Hayes 1200 Baud Modem was actually pretty popular
In those days, your modem was Hayes or Hayes compatible.
hanoverphist
Diamond Member
we had a dragon prog that found valid sprint long distance pins. never used it at home, but it was fun when we could find land lines that werent traceable to us. there was this elevator we used on weekends, the dummies put a real phone line with long distance service for the emergency phone. took em about 8 months to figure it out. imagine our panic when we saw cops coming for us. that was back in high school, in 1986
DerekWilson
Platinum Member
i first got into it when i was about 10 (1990 or so). My dad had been building computers at home for a long time by then, though I still remember the first 286 he built. Anyway, I had always enjoyed watching him put things together and I wanted to help. It was a great feeling building my first PC except that I touched a 486 while it was running ... this is back when things didn't need heatsinks, but I got burnt anyway.
From that point on I wanted to know what CPUs were doing under the hood.
From that point on I wanted to know what CPUs were doing under the hood.
jamesbond007
Diamond Member
1994 and 1995...my grandpa had purchased my brother and I a computer for school. He was told they were the wave of the future, so he figured two of his favorite grandchildren should benefit from it. 🙂
In 1994, our first system was a 386, SX I believe, with 2MB of RAM, 105MB hard card (think of it as a hard disk drive...it was a Maxtor and slid into an ISA slot) with a 3.5" floppy drive as well. I believe the graphics adapter had 512KB of RAM and we had a 13" CRT. Windows 3.1 and I played with MS Paint all day until I got Sim City for DOS. I remember coming out of my room every few hours with bloodshot eyes to get another drink. :laugh: It didn't have sound, but I had some monstrosities growing in my own room! Oh, and the Turbo button on the case actually worked!
In 1995, we got the computer upgraded to a 120MHz AMD 486, I believe a DX2 model with 8MB of RAM, 1GB hard disk, 5x CDROM, sound card, and wow did Windows 3.1 fly! We eventually put Windows 95 on there and that was when I really started to tinker with computers and the internals. I put in a 14.4 modem and dialed into a free local BBS.
Ugh, those were the days I miss so much! I remember breaking certain things of the computer and then having to fix them before my mom or brother found out. I was more or less forced to learn computers because of this, but I have no regrets and love every minute of it, even today. 😀
EDIT: I turn 26 soon.
In 1994, our first system was a 386, SX I believe, with 2MB of RAM, 105MB hard card (think of it as a hard disk drive...it was a Maxtor and slid into an ISA slot) with a 3.5" floppy drive as well. I believe the graphics adapter had 512KB of RAM and we had a 13" CRT. Windows 3.1 and I played with MS Paint all day until I got Sim City for DOS. I remember coming out of my room every few hours with bloodshot eyes to get another drink. :laugh: It didn't have sound, but I had some monstrosities growing in my own room! Oh, and the Turbo button on the case actually worked!
In 1995, we got the computer upgraded to a 120MHz AMD 486, I believe a DX2 model with 8MB of RAM, 1GB hard disk, 5x CDROM, sound card, and wow did Windows 3.1 fly! We eventually put Windows 95 on there and that was when I really started to tinker with computers and the internals. I put in a 14.4 modem and dialed into a free local BBS.
Ugh, those were the days I miss so much! I remember breaking certain things of the computer and then having to fix them before my mom or brother found out. I was more or less forced to learn computers because of this, but I have no regrets and love every minute of it, even today. 😀
EDIT: I turn 26 soon.
ConstipatedVigilante
Diamond Member
I'm 19. I think I first tried overclocking when I was 13 or 14.
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