Looking for obsolete computer

E

EINREB

Member
I am an vintage computer hobbyist and to run certain programs, I am looking for an older computer that accepts the older style plug-in boards. (2000 era). I need sockets on the motherboard that accept boards that have wide contacts which are identified by the letters A1 - A31, and have a total insertion length of about 3.187 inches. The insertion area does not have a slot, indicating a divided, longer socket. The computer I used was an 1998 HP as I remember.
The problem is that I do not know how the expansion sockets I need are called. (Like PCI, or PCIE, etc.). This knowledge would help in specifying the computer needed as to the year or model.
Any suggestions, comments anyone?
 
Common Expansion Slots

PCI-E - The current standard for expansion cards
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_Express

AGP - The previous slot used for video cards. Was a large upgrade from the limitations of the PCI bus.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accelerated_Graphics_Port

PCI or PCI-X (server) - PCI was the de-facto interface for decades.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conventional_PCI
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI-X

ISA (super old)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industry_Standard_Architecture

I'm not old enough to know what predates ISA.

There are some others on boards like IPMI or proprietary interface cards (like this board, which used an AGP style slot to facilitate a socket upgrade), but they aren't as common.
 
beers said:
Common Expansion Slots

ISA (super old)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industry_Standard_Architecture
Click to expand...
This is the one. Looking at the above website, I remembered suddenly what kind of computer I used at the time: It was an IBM and it had ISA type Expansion slots. I do not think I will find such an old computer anymore, but there was a time that they provided a combination of PCI and ISA slots, and that extended the time of availability for the computers with ISA slots.
Thanks beers.
 
The problem will be drivers. You will have to use an old (vulnerable and unsupported) operating system in all likelihood to be able to run drivers for your ISA card.

If you can't find drivers for your card at the mfg website try Driver Identifier and PCI database. You will need your hardware MFG ID and part number. Right click my computer, then manage, then device manager. Select the device, properties, and find it in there.
 
beers said:
What kind of expansion card are you looking to use? Chances are there's a more modern variant on an updated bus.
Click to expand...
They are for a Z80 assembler which burn 2732/64 type EPROMS using a special attachment. Also, others are an older Pinnacle TV Editor Board, which accepts S-Video for inputs, and an Pagemaker printer card that formats printers through the LPT port. While it is true that there may be newer equivalent software and cards available, my argument is that the cost of the replacements will exceed the cost of obtaining an obsolete computer/motherboard and using the cards that I have and I am familiar with.

Since I want to use the computer for these specific tasks and do not need the Internet to accomplish that, security and speed is not a factor. As such I can use any obsolete OS, in this case it can be XP or even 98, which were used at the time that the cards were used.
 
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