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Need Assistance with setup

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Smack2k

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Jan 8, 2013
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Location
Pittsburgh, PA
OK,

I finally have my garage cleared out and a new shed up to put it all in...

My area for my vintage computer setups is free and ready to start going...need some help from you all who have setup areas with lots of old machines...

I have a 115" W x 72" deep box shaped area to do this in...the 115" is the back wall and the 72" are the sides of the walls coming out..leaving me with the area all in between.

What would you suggest for setup to allow me to get the most machines setup, but also have ability to use them and look nice...I can always swap machines in and out when needed, but curious what everyone's thoughts are..

I really appreciate the help as I am at a loss on what to do to gete the best setup.

Here are the machines I am thinking of putting up to start with (since software for these should be compatible with older machines as well, like the earlier Apple IIs for example. and their length.

Apple Iigs (22" (counting floppy drive) / Amiga 500 (19") / Atari ST (19") / Atari 800 (16") / Commodore 64 (16.5") / Amiga 2000 (18.5") / Tandy 1000SL (15.5") / 5160 (20") / 286 (20") / 386 (10" Tower) / 486 (10" Tower) / P2 (10" Tower)

The PC's can be swapped out obviously (the 386 / 486 and P machines) as I am also hoping for a "build" area to work on things, so only having one at a time up would clear up space I'd think.
 
I simply stack desktops to maximize space and I have 2 21" CRTs next to each other. I use a bed as a construction zone when needed (not very often: I prefer OEM desktops that have minimal customization and only have 5 desktop PCs left: 286, 386, 486SX, 486DX and P233MMX). That is also why I never use (mini/midi) towers: they are not stackable.
 
PeterLI said:
That is also why I never use (mini/midi) towers: they are not stackable.
Click to expand...
No, but if you place three of them side by side with two desktops on top of them you effectively have a nice stack of five. Add ONE multisync for all of them and you're all set. :)
 
Any good ideas for physical table / desk space to put in that area? I do love the stacking ideas...but with the other models (Apples / Commodores / Amiga / Atari) / etc... wouldnt work.. But that stacking does free some space...but weight could be an issue as well no?

If I put some on the floor, its a cold concrete floor...what to put under them that is best? Carpet is a no no I'd guess...
 
Get some bases that stand large desktops vertically then the 5160 and 286 would have a similar footprint to the towers. Mount a shelf slightly over the towers and put the keyboard computers on that. Arrange another shelf above the keyboard computers to hold external storage.
 
If anyone has any links to examples of things, I'd LOVE to see it...

You mentioned the bases? What bases exactly? I am just trying to get this to look good but not drop a lot of cash on it as I dont have it, but am dying to get it together so i can start enjoying this again!!! All I have in there now is space and a chair

There are a couple shelves above part of the area already that are taken up with other items as well.
 
I'd take the weight of folding tables with a grain of salt. Office depot had that listed a long time ago (can't specifically remember what they were for each length of table) but I definitely don't think they can hold as much as they claimed. Of course now that I think about it I probably have a few hundred pounds on one of mine which is fine as long as I don't touch it ;-) Here's one example of a plastic table at walmart says 350lbs. I don't quite remember what I ended up buying years back. I bought one 5' and a 7'x24 (or 36" deep) for an L shape in the room a while back.

Things I quickly found (1. I think they have a higher weight capacity because of those angular bars attaching to the legs? vs a plain legged table) but the bars added an unexpected amount of unusable space as my full tower couldn't conveniently fit under the table, as well as hitting my leg occasionally if working towards the ends.

The other option I eventually did but cost an arm and a leg was a 4 tier industrial shelf that I ordered out of a government magazine. This offered a lot more real estate and for me to stack things beyond the recommended weight (the top two shelves tend to bow a bit). Can't find the exact one but very similar to

But that bottom (middle, not like I'd buy all of those) I'm still pretty sure cost me somewhere around $1000 or something stupid 16 years ago.
 
Looks for now like I am gonna get some high strength folding tables and start getting things setup..

I will post pics as I go (if anyone cares) and thinking about a blog as I get each system up and running as I havent used most of these systems I have acquired in a LONG time or in some cases EVER
 
Here's my space to use....still need to clean out a few last things (the things on the floor are mostly computer parts) and put in some tables...

Only part I am using is from teh back up to the break in the wall on the right...115" x 80"

photo (1).jpg
 
A budget/college shelf also can be two tower computers with a board on top of them or cinder blocks on top of the table with a wood board on top. You can paint the wood (not latex) and it will look tasteful. Sort of easy way to add a little shelving to the layer of tables, just mind the weight limits or at least watch your table/shelves for bending or leaning.

I think you already were on board with this but a KVM stretches out the PC Keyboard/Mouse/Monitor quite nicely and usually can be found pretty affordably on the used market (although cables are a bit more of a cost to find these days).
 
I don't like KVMs one bit! I've got a box full of them that I stopped using years ago because they are either too unreliable or only work properly for a few months.
 
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