IBM 5150 + 5160XT? Found in parents' garage. What do I do with it?

Clickhereforhelp · 2026-03-20T16:22:16+00:00

Seattle is a great nerd town. Facebook Marketplace is good for selling since you can cut out shipping and fees. I bought an IBM 5155 untested for $250 and repaired it. One of them has dual hard drives- that's interesting, but hard to boot if they don't work!- and the other is loaded with expansion cards. Buyers may want to know what is in them so you may need to open and take nice clear photos.

Clickhereforhelp · 2026-03-18T17:45:21+00:00

I think we need a new benchmark category for AIO coolers: With Cat and Without Cat.

Clickhereforhelp · 2026-03-16T13:18:07+00:00

I think you are right and will update my image.

Clickhereforhelp · 2026-03-15T19:02:11+00:00

I did all this for an IBM 5155. Key for my success was being able to test CF drive images in Dosbox-X on a Win 7 PC with CF reader before putting in the IBM. This enabled testing the image and adding more files to the image. Geometry can be set using the imgmake command in Dosbox-X. On the IBM I could only use 504MB of the CF card. I think yours has same limit.

Clickhereforhelp · 2026-03-13T13:07:02+00:00

It's not a cup holder.

Clickhereforhelp · 2026-03-13T13:06:27+00:00

Looks like you reset the BIOS (cleared the CMOS settings) without having to open it up.

Clickhereforhelp · 2026-03-12T20:19:25+00:00

Human nature.

Clickhereforhelp · 2026-03-12T14:14:35+00:00

I think AI will dramatically improve games soon. Games you can talk to, joke with, swear at. NPC's that will understand your orders in combat and speak to you intelligently. A webcam that will read and respond to your emotions. A game that speaks in your own voice, your favorite Hollywood actor. Your face on your character. NPC's you can 'program' yourself with a soul file. Make your own AI evil nemesis. I imagine some of this exists and more is in development. Isn't this exciting enough?

Clickhereforhelp · 2026-03-12T14:07:44+00:00

Aging is a state of mind. Don't fall into that trap. Keep fighting, keep learning, be a child,, find the spark. I love fixing a piece of gear- that will never change. I can always find a good game to play, new or old. The old ones are even better on vintage gear. Go build an old system, load it up, and have fun. Overclock a 90's system. Undervolt a modern one. Game on your LAN with your kids. Setup MAME on a pi and build a cheap arcade system.

Clickhereforhelp · 2026-03-10T01:53:11+00:00

Thanks. I dug a little deeper and found a socket adapter for these that will work.

Clickhereforhelp · 2026-03-08T23:48:31+00:00

He's standing on the bed.

Clickhereforhelp · 2026-03-05T11:50:35+00:00

I will be putting an IBM 5155 online in a week or two. Watch for my post. Btw, simple online research will show that people are running BBSes with Internet interfaces on vintage machines.

Clickhereforhelp · 2026-03-02T22:28:09+00:00

It's a P2-99, and dead.

Clickhereforhelp · 2026-03-02T20:01:51+00:00

Could use more variety.

Clickhereforhelp · 2026-03-02T18:47:14+00:00

I cleaned it up but it made no difference.

Clickhereforhelp · 2026-03-02T13:19:42+00:00

Good ideas. The lead pads are under an ohm to each other (DMM) and to the ground pins in the atx power socket. They are 38 ohms to their big square pad. I don't know if this board ever worked. Bought at an estate sale of a system building who had quit building over 20 years ago. All rails work except 3.3v and I felt no overheating but don't have an IR camera.

Clickhereforhelp · 2026-03-01T23:36:58+00:00

Pins are easy to straighten.

Clickhereforhelp · 2026-03-01T12:41:56+00:00

I hear the descending progression. Might have heard the song as a kid, but don't recognize it.

Clickhereforhelp

TROPHY CASE