Building a computer in the 90s (2019)

Summary

Last Updated on March 19, 2024 by Dave FarquharBuilding a computer in the 90s was different than it is today. It wasn’t just harder or more expensive. It seemed like every new build was an adventure. I probably built a few hundred systems before the decade ended, but the first few were definitely the most memorable. One in particular stands out above the rest.It was 1996. My friend Tom wanted a modern computer that was capable of handling photography work. He was in his early 20s at the time, so he had some money to work with, but computers were expensive, so it wasn’t something he could just do on a whim. So as he saved up for the project, we picked up some items along the way as opportunities presented themselves.The caseOur first purchase was a case. The case came from Laclede Computer Trading Company, a long-running used computer store in St. Louis. It moved around a lot over the years, but at the time it was on Macklind in the city itself. At the time, it was one of my favorite places to buy and sell gear. I certainly kept more parts than I sold, but when I got my hands on things I knew I’d never use, like a working Packard Bell power supply or a 387 math coprocessor, I’d sell it.One weekend I spied a pair of lonesome IBM 5170 cases at Laclede, priced at $10 each. These cases weren’t hard to find in the 90s, because IBM sold tons of PC/ATs, and by 1996, most of those systems had outlived their usefulness. Being IBM, and high-priced IBM at that, they were rugged and professional looking. But they only had two external drive bays in spite of their huge size. Still, a rugged, well-built case with a functioning 200-watt power supply was a bargain at $10, so I bought them. A new case would have cost $40, and those $40 cases of the mid 90s weren’t much to look at. They also tended to have a lot of sharp edges.One of the cases still had the original motherboard in it. A screwdriver and a Bic pen made quick work of that. No, I didn’t think to save the board, unfortunat...