4 ms·

Haven't we basically already built them? They're just slow and not supported by software vendors so nobody wants to use them. Other than replacing capacitors an

by t-3 2y ago

Haven't we basically already built them? They're just slow and not supported by software vendors so nobody wants to use them. Other than replacing capacitors and realtime clock batteries on every 20 years or so, dusting and replacing fans when bearings go bad (assuming it's not a passively-cooled design), most computers should basically last beyond a human lifetime (I've read that those less than ~20nm will go bad over time as traces lose atoms and eventually fail, but older processes should be fine).

JohnFen 2y ago
> Haven't we basically already built them? Yes, we have. I have a few computers that old or older, and they run just fine. Every so often a dried-up capacitor has to be replaced, but that's about it.
andai 2y ago
Are you talking about C64?
supportengineer 2y ago
One of them is in interstellar space
- basementcat 2y ago
  Two. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/voyager/mission-overview/ https://science.nasa.gov/mission/voyager/mission-overview/
  - rurban 2y ago
    Not just interstellar space. Everything in space needs to be radiation hardened, thus equal to a 50 year old computer. They do use laptops, but not for much longer than a year. The basics must endure longer.
kmoser 2y ago
> older processes should be fine Except for metal whiskering: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whisker_(metallurgy) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whisker_(metallurgy)
- shrubble 2y ago
  However the older solders have a much higher percentage of lead in their composition which makes whiskering less likely. I have two Zenith Z-120s made in about 1980 and thus coming up on 50 years old which don’t have any issues.
  - nonrandomstring 2y ago
    I know of a running TRS80 and a BBC Model-B, but the retro-heads who own them jst pwer them up now and then, not in constant use so as not to heat-stress them. TBH they smell a bit. My theory is the transformer windings are on the way out.
- klyrs 2y ago
  Wire-wrap avoids that altogether: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wire_wrap https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wire_wrap
tambourine_man 2y ago
Hard drives will probably go bad before capacitors, most of the time.

by t-3 2y ago

JohnFen 2y ago

> Haven't we basically already built them? Yes, we have. I have a few computers that old or older, and they run just fine. Every so often a dried-up capacitor has to be replaced, but that's about it.

andai 2y ago

Are you talking about C64?

supportengineer 2y ago

One of them is in interstellar space

basementcat 2y ago
Two. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/voyager/mission-overview/ https://science.nasa.gov/mission/voyager/mission-overview/
- rurban 2y ago
  Not just interstellar space. Everything in space needs to be radiation hardened, thus equal to a 50 year old computer. They do use laptops, but not for much longer than a year. The basics must endure longer.

kmoser 2y ago

> older processes should be fine Except for metal whiskering: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whisker_(metallurgy) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whisker_(metallurgy)

shrubble 2y ago
However the older solders have a much higher percentage of lead in their composition which makes whiskering less likely. I have two Zenith Z-120s made in about 1980 and thus coming up on 50 years old which don’t have any issues.
- nonrandomstring 2y ago
  I know of a running TRS80 and a BBC Model-B, but the retro-heads who own them jst pwer them up now and then, not in constant use so as not to heat-stress them. TBH they smell a bit. My theory is the transformer windings are on the way out.
klyrs 2y ago
Wire-wrap avoids that altogether: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wire_wrap https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wire_wrap

tambourine_man 2y ago

Hard drives will probably go bad before capacitors, most of the time.