Need help identifying old computer

Yesterday, I picked this little nugget up from a church yard sale:

001_zps1a990643.jpg picture by Eadiot - Photobucket

After doing a little research, I've concluded that this computer was built before 1996, but I've not been able to find out anything else regarding this specific model of computer. It is an NCR model 1210 and its FCC id is C6P3420-16. Can any of you guys point me in the right direction regarding its value and what I should do with it (sell as is/break down for parts/or what not)?

Looks like an IBM compatible. There were all kinds... I would break it down. I'm betting you'll have a pretty nice processor in that.

Ok, after doing a little more research, I believe it was actually built before 1994, as NCR had been acquired by AT&T in 1991, then changed their name a few years later. I've heard that older computers sell better as e-scrap because of a higher gold content, but I'm not well versed on the specifics of that.

Originally Posted by Bear

forget the fcc id. look on the main board and use those numbers

Do you mean the motherboard?

Originally Posted by Bear

forget the fcc id. look on the main board and use those numbers

With that 3.5" floppy it isn't going to reach anywhere near vintage, so unless it's somehow a sought after board of some sort, your next and final hope might be a high PM content for better scrap category. Other visual clues are USB ports(not real old), and larger keyboard plug/socket(older than the smaller PS/2 type)

I always recommend for those pursuing computers to learn something about them, but it oft goes unheeded, only to find them posting more photos and asking, "what WAS this?", many times finding they've just destroyed some major jingles in their pocket, or trophies on their shelf, whatever. It takes less than 2x3ft space, with only a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, which still leaves plenty of room (even using an old CRT monitor) to set a computer laying sideways with the cover off. plug it up, turn it on, pretty simple really. Most times heeding the "setup/startup" key as it begins to run will take you into the bios, which will usually give you the board, the BIOS and date, the CPU, and the RAM, right in one window. A MUCH simpler solution than having to ask what was this, BEFORE i tore it up?

Ok. I guess I'll just go ahead and take this thing apart. It didn't come with a hard drive, and I don't have any of the accessory or power cables, so I can't plug it up to see if it works. I'll post some pics once I have this thing taken apart and laid out.

Originally Posted by Bamcis

Ok. I guess I'll just go ahead and take this thing apart. It didn't come with a hard drive, and I don't have any of the accessory or power cables, so I can't plug it up to see if it works. I'll post some pics once I have this thing taken apart and laid out.

you dont need a hard drive bamcis, a monitor keyboard and mouse, two power cords, one each for the monitor and PC unit

Ok, so I've taken this thing apart, and it turns out it has a hard drive after all. However, I have yet to identify the processor. Below are the photos.

Label under the lid
002_zpsebfb967b.jpg picture by Eadiot - Photobucket

Inside
005_zps6b4c74d1.jpg picture by Eadiot - Photobucket

Motherboard
007_zpse53ffb2e.jpg picture by Eadiot - Photobucket

Daughterboards
006_zpsaf36d531.jpg picture by Eadiot - Photobucket

hard drive
009_zps96c1b2be.jpg picture by Eadiot - Photobucket
010_zps798f23a7.jpg picture by Eadiot - Photobucket

Power Supply
008_zps7805ce80.jpg picture by Eadiot - Photobucket

Yes, Bamcis, I edited that to add a few more thoughts to it. If you'll pop the cover and look on the motherboard you should find numbers, if embedded are usually the largest ones on it, and possibly a brand too. Otherwise may be on a small label along the edge of the board somewhere.

nice! does any of it work ??

Originally Posted by Bear

nice! does any of it work ??

Not sure. Sorry, I kinda jumped the gun and went ahead and took it apart before reading your last post about not needing a hard drive. I've gone ahead and started to remove the heat sinks and transformers from the power supply. Regarding the processor, I still haven't located it. I've found one port on the motherboard labeled "co-processor", but it is empty. All of the other chips on the board that could be the processor are just plain-jane black chips with no discernible markings.

What you have is a rare NCR liscenced IBM Microchannel BUS machine, no idea why you are in such a hurry to scrap it when it is worth more on ebay.

Originally Posted by Bamcis

Well darn... I guess that's what I get for being trigger happy when it comes to taking things apart. I searched ebay and couldn't find anything like it. Do you have any idea what it would have been worth if I had just left it alone and tried to sell it? Also, are the boards worth anything to computer hobbyist/collectors?

First off rare stuff doesn't hit ebay every day and since you can only search back 30 days on closed auctions it isn't a great tool on researching rarities. I collect computers so I know a MCA bus slot just by looking at it, and I know a few companies made MCA machines that are pretty rare (Tandy made a Model 5000 MC machine which people lust after for example). The last NCR MCA machine I recall was from 2010 I think and went for more then I wanted to pay, forget how much it was.

Anyway for what its worth, that depends on if it works, what cames with it, details in the auction header, and whoever happens to see it and feel like bidding (could be anything). Rare doesn't mean $$$$ all the time, but I know the people in the PS/2 newsgroups do snag the rare MCA stuff when they see it, as do other collectors. I can't see the CPU numbers since they are covered in dust, did you find the model number on the back of the case?

MCA machines do not have a BIOS, everything is stored in battery backed up RAM and you need a reference disk to reload that information (can be found on the net in floppy image). Since you have taken the machine apart and I don't see a battery on the board (meaning it is probably a remote battery close to the speaker) anything stored is now gone (if the battery is dead it was gone anyway so no loss). If you turn the machine on and it works you will get a bunch of error codes because the settings have been wiped. The cards you have are basic video and SCSI, the configuration files would be online. Those floppy drives are not standard (if they are the same as what IBM used), and working ones and worth selling alone (power is provided in the interface cable not a seperate plug if you like to check).

If you see an old system with brown slots instead of the normal black/white you probably have an EISA or MCA bus machine or the more common VLB is the slots are extensions to the ISA bus. You might want to look into those before taking them apart.

Originally Posted by unknownk

First off rare stuff doesn't hit ebay every day and since you can only search back 30 days on closed auctions it isn't a great tool on researching rarities. I collect computers so I know a MCA bus slot just by looking at it, and I know a few companies made MCA machines that are pretty rare (Tandy made a Model 5000 MC machine which people lust after for example). The last NCR MCA machine I recall was from 2010 I think and went for more then I wanted to pay, forget how much it was.

Anyway for what its worth, that depends on if it works, what cames with it, details in the auction header, and whoever happens to see it and feel like bidding (could be anything). Rare doesn't mean $$$$ all the time, but I know the people in the PS/2 newsgroups do snag the rare MCA stuff when they see it, as do other collectors. I can't see the CPU numbers since they are covered in dust, did you find the model number on the back of the case?

MCA machines do not have a BIOS, everything is stored in battery backed up RAM and you need a reference disk to reload that information (can be found on the net in floppy image). Since you have taken the machine apart and I don't see a battery on the board (meaning it is probably a remote battery close to the speaker) anything stored is now gone (if the battery is dead it was gone anyway so no loss). If you turn the machine on and it works you will get a bunch of error codes because the settings have been wiped. The cards you have are basic video and SCSI, the configuration files would be online. Those floppy drives are not standard (if they are the same as what IBM used), and working ones and worth selling alone (power is provided in the interface cable not a seperate plug if you like to check).

If you see an old system with brown slots instead of the normal black/white you probably have an EISA or MCA bus machine or the more common VLB is the slots are extensions to the ISA bus. You might want to look into those before taking them apart.

Wow, that's a lot to chew on considering I'm a somewhat of a novice when it comes to computer systems and how they operate, but I get the gist of it. The model number on the case is "1210". And yes, there was a small lithium battery next to the speaker mounted in the frame. Considering I've jumped the gun and already taken this thing apart, destroying the power supply in the process, is there another way to test the floppy drive? And is there a market among collectors for replacement boards/other parts?

wishes to borrow someones little smilie facie (the one where he's banging his head on a block wall)

Now I'm scared to even take apart any of the other stuff I picked up at that yard sale...

You could still google the Mobo numbers too, I think you'll find them on the two little white labels near the right edge of the board in your photo

By the way, could anyone spot the CPU on the motherboard in the picture? There were no fans or heatsinks attached to the board, so I really have nothing to go on for finding it.