Topcat's Acer Dual Slot 1 Server? - The Acer Altos 1100

[Dan81]

Re: Topcat's Acer Dual Slot 1 Server? - The Acer Altos 1100

All this stuff is really making me want to whip out my P2B and make a nice build out of it.

[Uranium-235]

Re: Topcat's Acer Dual Slot 1 Server? - The Acer Altos 1100

ah it's not raid, at least hardware. You could probably just hook it up and see the data. Might be something interesting on there

[Topcat]

Re: Topcat's Acer Dual Slot 1 Server? - The Acer Altos 1100

Kind of wish it worked so you could see what was on it. Actually you could get it from the drives assuming the scsi card was good and kept the raid storage config. Wonder if it's NT4 or linux

Good question... The controller was a very common adaptec 2940UW, and I have several SMP capable BX boards here that would boot either kernel without issue...so hold that thought!

[Uranium-235]

Re: Topcat's Acer Dual Slot 1 Server? - The Acer Altos 1100

Kind of wish it worked so you could see what was on it. Actually you could get it from the drives assuming the scsi card was good and kept the raid storage config. Wonder if it's NT4 or linux

[Topcat]

Re: Topcat's Acer Dual Slot 1 Server? - The Acer Altos 1100

To wake this up..... RD came by last saturday and dropped this off along with some other things....

Long story short, the motherboard has been pronounced dead. Now it's decision time, retro restoration or really awesome sleeper? hmmmm... I did test fit an eATX board, it will fit with some minor modifications.... I'm leaning more toward sleeper beast.....

[RJARRRPCGP]

Re: Topcat's Acer Dual Slot 1 Server? - The Acer Altos 1100

The motherboard PSU connectors, look very transition-esque, more like I would expect during Klamath! (first-gen Pentium II)

I would have thought that by 1999 and later in 1998, it would have been ATX on the motherboard!

Instead, I see what looks more like I would expect on a 1997 motherboard.

[momaka]

Re: Topcat's Acer Dual Slot 1 Server? - The Acer Altos 1100

Nice find, RD!

I have high hopes this system will come back to life without issues.
The "dead" Delta PSU may just have a bad solder joint in there, as I wouldn't be surprised if someone man-handled this heavy PC and something got loose in there from a drop. If not that, I'd suspect the 5VSB likely uses a 2-transistor circuit and has somehow bit the dust. But I guess we will see. I'm keeping an eye here. Looks like a pretty cool retro system. The SCSI HDDs are somewhat similar to a few of the ones I sent to TC, though the ones I sent him were mostly 9 GB (two of them full-height beasts too! )

[Topcat]

Re: Topcat's Acer Dual Slot 1 Server? - The Acer Altos 1100

Compared to the Vintage F150 service?

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Made a typo... the case will fit a full EATX board. A bit tight on the leading edge, but all the standoffs for such are there.

I have some ideas floating around in the 'gray matter' for that case, assuming it won't be restored as a retro....but I see a lot of sleeper potential in it too!

[ratdude747]

Re: Topcat's Acer Dual Slot 1 Server? - The Acer Altos 1100

As for 'trucking fee'...gee, what's a ride in the back of a Ranger worth?!

Compared to the Vintage F150 service?

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Made a typo... the case will fit a full EATX board. A bit tight on the leading edge, but all the standoffs for such are there.

[Topcat]

Re: Topcat's Acer Dual Slot 1 Server? - The Acer Altos 1100

The last couple "bring topcat piles" have been stellar....except all the work you created for me with those racks (the black one in particular)....but I enjoy it!

Good scoutin'!!!

I have a couple things in mind for this....keep in mind that beige rackmount....or a retro gamer.....but think rackmount....

As for 'trucking fee'...gee, what's a ride in the back of a Ranger worth?!

[ratdude747]

...Before y'all ask, no, I'm not Topcat! ...

Anyway, while unsuccessfully hunting down a rig (or parts for such) for my Dad's future gaming rig, I saw something I thought was Topcat's cup of tea... and it was. It also happened to be "local" to me (as a pickup only item), so I was dispatched to fetch this rig until the next time I head out to MO (which is a semi-regular occurance these days, between family and tradebait ).

Anyway, I shot pics, and he said to post them, so here we go!

This is a 1999 AcerAltos 1100 Server/workstation:









This thing was bought in DOA condition... and I confirmed. Nothing's getting power... Looks like it had some water in the bottom for a bit:







The board itself looks clean though...

Rage 128 GPU and SCSI card galore:



500MHZ PIII Katmai's:



ISA Dial-Up Modem:



One of the three SCSI HDDs:



There has been some "modern" hackery. For example, one of the ATA cables was bundled and went nowhere, and the other was one of these:



Also, the fans are newer looking 3 pin deltas... but some bozo spliced on 4 pin pigtails. At least they used heatshrink.

The PSU is weird. Uses ATX/AT mounting, but the mobo connections are AT with aux plugs:



The power button is soft-on... the aux plug (presumably) contains the 5VSB and power-on signals.

Power supply is a nice & beefy (but seemingly dead) Delta 280W:





The case will fit a full ATX board, provided the front edge is low enough to clear the 5.25 bays.

Won't reveal pricing, unless Topcat want's to mention how low he negotiated it (not including RD trucking "fees", which I won't mention either!).

Seem I can't go a few weeks withough accumulating a "bring to Topcat" pile... oh well, as much stuff as he's given/traded me over the years, it evens out.