Computers, computers, everything around and much of what is not connected with them at all.

 Do not take this seriously. I have a fun job that kills 50 hours/week. Therefore,without humor,here you can just ...

 The working day starts in the morning. Unlike Lenard of Big Bang Theory, in the morning, I first turn on the computer, and not the machine that makes coffee. The coffee maker comes on right after that. Loading the computer and restarting the coffee machine takes on the same time (~ 8 minutes), so what to include first - it does not matter. By experience I will say that responding to e-mails with a cup of coffee is much more pleasant.

  From the standard working day it is necessary to subtract that I do not visit "social networks" at all, as I understand how it works. In short, we sending "spam" to each other, and Zuckenberg hangs on it his advertising. Agree that the occupation is rather stupid, and besides, it takes a lot of time.

  The rest of the time I develop computers (and all that is related to electronics). It can be written in a resume and everything will look very respectable. But only for those people who do not understand anything about this. Recruiters who hire people for other companies are treated.

  In fact, the development of a computer takes years and 200 persons, who work together as one team. I, only, one of them. Technology is more than simple. As soon as Intel releases a new chip (processor, chip-set, platform, etc.), the development of the next motherboard begins.

  But it's not interesting. I, here, found a motherboard in the warehouse, which is dated by the last century.


 
 It was a project for Intel, on the "Salt River" chip-set, where Flash chip was used as the BIOS storage. The motherboard has everything you need except video, so you can work with it (go to BIOS, for example) only through Console Redirection Port (RS-232 on the front right) .

  The link under the photo tells a bit more about this motherboard (MB-6024 / MB-6014). But the most interesting is that after 15 years on the shelf, she joined and earned, as if nothing had happened. CMOS battery had to be changed, of course.

  By the way, all motherboards from Win Enterprises are PC compatible. Which basically means that you can use the same OS that was on the PC of that time. Windows, UNIX, Linux and so on.

  When you managed to "bake" such a computer, the rest is very simple. In most cases this is "Copy & Paste" from already proven solutions and datasheets. Plus a little creative work, which, basically, takes into account the wishes of the customer.

  In a similar way, another computer was "baked", sharpened for low power consumption and lack of fans. The " Geode " processor was an excellent solution of that time.
 


 
 Here, only half of the video on board. To connect a VGA monitor, as in the picture, you need an adapter (CRT adapter, Rev: A) on the IDT74FST3384Q. Of the 4 NET interfaces, one is extended to 4 additional interfaces (left). In the rest - a normal PC compatible computer, with PS-2, additional RS-232, USB, IDE for 2.5 "HDD, mini-PCI for additional network card ...

  Since only 7 Ethernet 10/100 and Console Redirection are available to the end user, it is almost impossible to "kill" such a computer. Therefore, all the units that were hold as replacement, we have survived and used to test other computers.

  *** In addition to noiselessness, the cool feature of this computer is that it can be powered via a USB port. Since this port is not available to the end user, this is not a problem. ***

  I was not going to bother with computers that had been released for a very long time. It is much more fun to look at what "normal" computer is compressed, if this is approached correctly.



 On the left is the computer (MB-8058C), which is delivered to the customer, at the moment. 4-core processor and ports, which you can see in the photo. In addition 2xUSB, 4xRS-232/422/485, another Mini-PCIe
(w/ USB, PCle and SATA) from below, LVDS for the monitor and in general everything. Power for old mods 8 - 30VDC. In recent versions, the requirements for stand-alone embedded systems have changed, the range has widened: 4.5 to 32 volts (solar panels, sorry). In general, such a simple miracle, in a small black case with a 12 volt PSU , now monitors the state of the environment around the world.

  On the right, the computer (MB-080410), which was in front of him. Mini-PCIe, memory and slot for SATA card - from below. I do not think that you may need GPIO, LPT port, 6xRS-232 and 7xUSB2.0 ports. But if so, they are all on the motherboard and ready for battle. Power 12 volts, and the full specification, and remains available, on the site or here .

  By the way, if you think that these motherboards are tested in some special way and unthinkable software, then this is not so. A memory test is like "Our Father." It takes at least 8 hours. All the boards that passed it go to the test with 100% CPU utilization. Under Windows 10, 4 windows of Youtube on each computer, with Kvartal-95 - this is it. Well, of course, testing takes place in a special room (photo on the banner), where the temperature is maintained at +40 C. On this weekend, 36 MB-8058 remained on the shelves, on the test. On Monday we'll see how many of them "survived" and what is the maximum temperature of the processor and around.

  I-m not a fan of large and powerful computers. I have to work at home, mostly on DOS and Linux. For this, nothing is needed, at all. No memory, no CPU power. So I chose the CB-6979B (AMD CPU + 2 / 4Gb RAM). Here is a pdf link to the basic motherboard , where all unnecessary was removed from a board.
 


 
 This is my set of computers where you can debug any scripts and exchange dates through the internal network. You can, of course, make fun somewhere, but there is no time and no desire for it. You can watch YouTube videos (as you see in the photo), if you put an additional video card. But these computers are not "sharpened" for this. For that drive date and download a 100% gigabit network - a pleasure.

  In general, I like this model. 5-watt processor allows you to feed 4-re SCB-6979 from one power supply. There is a fan for the processor, but everything works without it. In general, it can not be killed, well, in any way. If an internal password is used on the BIOS (which is not "treated" by taking out the battery), then it becomes impossible to break the protection not only for Russian hackers, but also for technical support. And, regardless of what the others wrote, this situation is "treated" only by flashing the exact same BIOS version, with the famous password. Complicating matters is that the final BIOS versions for this motherboard were 8-m (at least), with different combinations of buttons for entering the BIOS and different passwords.

  I, of course, have all the passwords removed (the first one is tested, the test version of the BIOS). And by the way. Since the reassembly and flashing BIOS is mainly related to criminal activity in "underdeveloped" countries, I do not share BIOS versions or flashing / build programs. If you even found my e-mail at the bottom of the page, the answer is "no."

  Good. In the modern version (with small variations), the same computer looks like.
 


 Link under the photo, additional link here , "Logo" on the front panel will be add.

  The processor has 2,4,8 or 16 cores, if desired. " Intel® Denverton" or whatever - it does not matter.  Memory - as much as the processor supports (32Gb for the unit in the photo). The common thing is that it continues to be an ordinary PC compatible computer, with an additional set of network interfaces & MiniUSB->COM port.

  In addition, these computers must be done, modifiable and "driven" into the customer's spec. Most of them require adding / removing components on the board. It's done here.
 


  It's extra fun when you need to remake 20 computers, every day.

  Well, the tables on which the final assembly is made. Blue plastic is anti-static mats that are an integral part of the assembly process. From scratches, on a finite product, they protect, as same.



 There are a lot of places that are not included in the photo. For example - entrance control with a huge microscope, where everything is checked, everything, everything that goes into production. Output control - where you selectively check everything that is ready to go to the customer. The laboratory, whose photographs do not make sense, since there, the density of computers per square meter exceeds all reasonable limits. Well, and so on.

  And still need to write bats and scripts for programming and testing. This is a separate story that takes time and nerves. But when everything is written and working, life becomes beautiful and wonderful :)  
 

  In conclusion, if you have a similar computer and you do not know what to do with it, then write to me. If you do not have a similar computer, but you know what to do with it (IOT, Remote control, Mash Network, replacement of Cisco, HP, SUN, etc.), then write to me, the same. Even if you want to take one unit and play with it :)
 

Sergi.