Who actually uses/tests his chips?

[Sergey]

Hello,

Some poll for you:

Who cares if MCU/CPU in your collection is working?
Who uses his vintage MCU/CPU in real circuit?
Who tests his vintage MCU/CPU for function?

My vintage "80-CPU" (GDR Z80 Clone, export version of "U880") will soon be tested in a PACMAN videogame board.

And my UV-erasable PIC ES and C8751AH also execute assembly programs

(I know I wrote before 2 years here about PIC ES but forgot to post pictures... I will do so, when I have time and new digital camera in the old thread)

I would never buy a C4004, even if it had grey traces, if it's silicon was not working. To be collectible, in my opinion, a CPU must be still working -what do you think?

[Chiefish]

I really dont see why it needs to be working, If you have one that is, thats great if it doesnt work whats the big deal, i wouldnt have any real use for any of them anyway. Plus what would i use them for, my current computer does a trillion times more.
Altho i admit its neat to see old tech work like it was made to. I have pulled many old computers out of the trash and plugged them in to have them work flawlessly, but i always disassemble them because i have no use for them.

[CPUShack]

Ditto, sure I refer a CPU to be working, but just having one, is fine by me, besides, all the hardware to test them, would take WAY too much room.

[Cpuswe]

I prefer them to be working (or possibly unknown status) This is simply because in almost all collecting, a working item is more valuable than a broken one. Of course if its a really rare chip i will go for it anyway. But a missing leg or chipped die is not on my want list.

[Sergey]

Sure, I also have some CPUs who are "unknown status" or non tested.
But I would never like to have a "known bad" CPU.

If I had, I would put it inside transparent epoxy as paperweight

[Windmiller]

The only reason I dont test my cpus is because of the room it takes up. I barely have room for my chip collection.

I do think it would be interesting if someone provided a cheap service to test cpus for others. I know that there is someone that tests pre-x86 chips but I was thinking more along the lines of x86.

[D.8080]

Having started with S-DOS and some Gw-Basic, I'd prefer to play a game with an old 80186 machine than some Dos emulator... I grew up with that.

My current laptop can do everything I need plus playing old games.


Having at least one working cpu of each kind is a must for me, and usually I install old OS to see what those cpus could really do.

So, yes, I mind if a cpu is working or not.

[debs3759]

I used to test my chips, but ran out of space for doing that.

I would set up an x86 testing service,but I think the prices many offered for chips from my collection, combined with complaints about the shipping costs and efforts to get big reductions in costs mean that nobody wants to spend that much on having a good quality collection. The shipping alone, to get chips to and from me, would make things too expensive for most people - convincing me that many collectors do not want the technology, they just want a pile of gold!

[kosmokrator]

hard to test every cpu and chip...i use to test my chips....every i can....(x86 and fpus most) but its not a basic criteria for me the working condition...



btw nice to see a chip 20 years old to still working!!!!!

[JAC]

I like to be able to test them at some point. Space and hardware is a big issue, so I try keep at least one system for each family type.

A while ago I did have a go on the 2708 and 1702A with some success.....

http://www.cpu-world.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4077&highlight=testing+eprom

[wepwawet]

I still test
4004
4002-1
8080
6800
6502
1802
unfortunately still no success (and time) for my 4040 test machine:-(

[faber]

[wepwawet]

Jupp, same as I already have but as learned from my 980 it is good to have one more for test, compare and training.

This one has a white C4004 inside what is not the usual version,

It seems most have NS clones.

[faber]

[wepwawet]