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1994-11-17
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Building an IBM Compatible
or How to be a real Clone
DJ Elliott
PC HELP
Box 19401
Baltimore, Md 21206
301-661-1921
GKHF68A-Prodigy
**********DISCLAIMER**********
Although I believe this to be a project that any reasonably intelligent
person can accomplish, the Author assumes no responsibility for failed
attempts, errors, omissions or injuries or losses connected to the use
of the information contained herein. If you need help, get it. If you
are not sure, ask. So there.
Copyright 1990,1991 DJ Elliott. All Rights Reserved.
If received via BBS
I INVITE YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR CRITICISM. PLEASE SEND ME E-MAIL
WITH YOUR RESPONSE. YOU ARE FREE TO UPLOAD IT TO OTHER BBS'S IN
IT'S ENTIRETY WITH NO CHANGES TO THE TEXT. COMMENTS SHOULD BE
OUTSIDE OF THE ARTICLE.
DJE May,1991 Version 1.4
Revision History- Original November, 1989.
This is a living document. It is corrected and expanded
constantly. Below is the date of the latest modification.
May 9, 1991
Yes, You Can!
Build your own IBM Compatible Computer
by DJ Elliott
With very little know how and using only what you already know about IBM
Compatible Computers, it is an easy and enjoyable task to assemble an
80286 Machine for a total of about $800. This machine will look like a
store model and do everything a store bought system will do, and leave
you $500 or more for other pursuits.
The Machine can be built in your spare time in a few days, or over a
number of weeks or months, adding the parts as you can afford them and
find them at the right price.
This author, over three months of occasional work and with no formal
training, built a 12 Mhz 80286 Compatible Machine with 2048K Memory, a
5 1/4 and 3 1/2 Inch drive, a 10 meg hard disk, Parallel and Serial
Ports, and a 1200 bps Modem. Actual work time was in the neighborhood of
10 hours. This unit was a comparative Rocket to an XT, running 700%
faster than an IBM XT (source: PC Tools Diagnostics). A soldering gun
was used ONCE, to add a switch (optional for my uses). The gun was the
most technical piece of equipment used. There was no test equipment,
special tools or mathematics involved. This article is written on the
described Machine. Since that time, I have assisted in the building of
many machines. Over 600 people have downloaded the article. Once you
start, you are hooked. I have since changed to an 80386SX motherboard,
increased memory to 4 megs and bought a used 40 Meg hard drive at a show
for $40 and I constantly improve and upgrade the machine as I learn
more, which is the real lasting fun of the project.
Why build a computer instead of buying it? MONEY and fun. This machine
would easily go for between $1200 and $2000. Most parts are under
warranty, and you are not "stuck" with a computer that does not work.
Just have the offending part replaced or serviced.
Compatibility- What makes this process nearly idiot proof is the
architecture- everything plugs in or screws together. If you can build
a model car with Legos or hook up a stereo, you can accomplish this.
IBM made the decision years ago that the MS-DOS PC would be an Open
Architecture System- a flash of brilliance that led to their domination
of the Market- and made Apple an also ran.
Whatever part it is that you are looking for, it is made by a number of
different manufacturers at a number of different price points, and,
wonder of wonders- they fit into the same slot the same way. An ABC
Motherboard accepts a DEF Controller, which runs a GHI Hard Drive, which
fits into a JKL kit, and takes MNO disks.
Make your decision to build this project, don't look back, and plan on
your Check Writing, Drawing projects, Tax Work, Recipes, Letter Writing,
and work from the office to be as close as your living room and as fast
as your machine at work.
This article has evolved from a five page general outline to almost book
length. As of this revision, the article includes a short preface so
that you can first evaluate the project, followed by lengthier
information that you will most definitely need wither to narrow down
your final buying decision or to support you as you debug your hardware.
The Basic Parts
There are a number of items you will need to get started and they are
easily obtained. All compatibles have the following components:
*A Case
*A Motherboard (w/CPU and BIOS)
*A Power Supply
*A Keyboard (or other input device)
*A Monitor
*A Disk or Hard Drive (I/O device)
*ROM [Read Only Memory] -the basic instructions
*RAM [Random Access Memory]- your work space
*Controllers
The more useful options are:
A second Disk Drive or a Hard Drive;
a Modem;
a Mouse;
a Printer.
PREFACE
This article started at 5 pages. It is
turning into a book. That's good in
that I'm passing along lots and lots
of information that will save you days
or weeks of trouble and lots of
dollars. It's bad in that the
technical jargon may turn you off. It shouldn't. The actual building
process is something you absolutely should be capable of doing. Here is
a one paragraph summary of what you will be doing:
You will buy a case, install the motherboard and set a few jumpers per
the documentation. You will fill some empty sockets with memory chips.
You will put in a little silver box that is your power supply. You now
have a computer. You will next insert a card into a slot and hook a
monitor to it. You will plug the keyboard into the back. You will plug
in a card which controls the disk drives, and hook the drives up. You
will turn on the machine and tell the computer about the stuff you have
added. That's it. Really. The balance of this article is to help you
decide which monitor, drives, etc. to buy, and then gives lots and lots
of advice for avoiding pitfalls along the way. Each of these pitfalls
caused me heartaches and headaches. I pass the solutions on to you so
that you may avoid the problems.
If you want to cut to the skinny, here is a short list of the parts for
a recommended system:
You may, for $500-700, buy the following in one morning at a computer
show-
A baby tower case with power supply, an 80286 motherboard, 2 meg of 1
Meg chips (18 chips), a 256K VGA Card, a Mono VGA monitor, a hard floppy
controller, a 5 1/4 and 3 1/2 disk drive, a used 10 meg hard drive and
an AT compatible keyboard.
To do it your way, and to solve problems as you go, read on... Put on
your 70 Nanosecond secret decoder ring, and let's blast off!
Step One
Buy a Magazine! (!?!) An indispensable tool is Computer Shopper
Magazine, published Monthly and available everywhere. It lists the
CATALOG prices for everything you need, in all the various options. If
you have three weeks to wait, you will get the absolute best prices on
whatever new and current you want (see Computer Shows for the
exception). Otherwise, you will have the basis for comparison for
shopping elsewhere. A general rule of thumb:
Catalog prices are
- 40% Lower than Discount Store Price
- 60-80% Lower than Computer Store Price
- 20% Higher than Computer Show Price
there will be exceptions, of course.
Example: 1 Meg 80 Nanosecond RAM Chips
Computer Store- $30 each
Warehouse Store- $18 each
Catalog- $9 each
Computer Show- $6 each
The above are actual prices updated regularly with this article.
Spend an entire evening reading this magazine cover to cover- it is
equivalent to an entire College Course in 6 hours. Your head will be
stuffed with new information and insights.
A Brief Description of Your Buying Options; advantages and
disadvantages.
Computer Shows
Held around the area by differe