You guys seemed to like my previous pulls from my parents’ house. So, here’s another vintage rig of mine, a Patriot PC
Posted by xsnowboarderx@reddit | vintagecomputing | View on Reddit | 64 comments
I can confidently assure you the flames, in fact, do not make it faster.
Financial-Brief-1038@reddit
Going to flavortown
emachanz@reddit
the classic
Accurate-Campaign821@reddit
Doesn't LTT still have a "bounty" out for one of these? Neat rigs (there was a barbie version for girls too)
Equivalent_Silver311@reddit
I feel like the boot chime sound should say 'Merica
QuinceTrombone@reddit
Haha! Nice. I picked up the Barbie version of this from Geeks com after the abject failure of these ona clearance for my mom and had it running Windows 98SE and Microsoft Works. Mince came with the same USB keyboard but all branding had been removed.
Last time I tried it, the power supply seemed to be toast.
No-Succotash-9576@reddit
How many PCs do you even have in your parents house?
sputwiler@reddit
I have none, but there was at least a PowerMac 8500, PowerMac G4 and iMac G3 running there at the same time once. Computers got outdated quickly in the 90s and almost all of these were hand-me-downs from family friends who upgraded faster than we did.
acidnine420@reddit
As many as grok can make for him
No-Succotash-9576@reddit
it's ai? I can't tell anymore
LitPixel@reddit
It's real. It was awful and now everyone wants one. So they're crazy expensive.
Crafty_Piece_9318@reddit
The Hotwheels PC was a very real thing, it came out in 1997 for around $1277 USD.
Magazine Article: https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/2sydxp/remember_when_all_the_kids_wanted_a_hot_wheels/
acidnine420@reddit
I didn't say it wasn't real, I'm saying OP has some amazing pieces that were just "found" at their parents...
Crafty_Piece_9318@reddit
They've posted about three computers, two of which are 98 era PC's. Its not unlikely to say their parents upgraded a lot.
frenchretronerd@reddit
The fzmous Hot Wheels one. And running... Wonderful !
InkthriaSerenelle@reddit
Yep, still running strong! That Hot Wheels rig is a classic.
AppropriateCap8891@reddit
Classically bad.
Vitamin_J94@reddit
This is a legend I didn't think was real. Super awesome
Melech333@reddit
I came here to say that looks like a Hot Wheels PC.
idiot206@reddit
Was it the Hot Wheels logo plastered onto every peripheral that tipped you off?
acidnine420@reddit
I thought it was a matchbox PC
cjl99@reddit
I thought it was a Matchbox 20 to be more specific...
acidnine420@reddit
It was 3am
spookyxelectric@reddit
Not a Micro Machines PC?
codykonior@reddit
I've never seen a vintage PC I didn't like before. But thanks, I hate this.
LitPixel@reddit
It's so awful that everyone wants one.
No-Succotash-9576@reddit
You still have it?
xsnowboarderx@reddit (OP)
Yep, I still have it, and it runs!
19chris1996@reddit
Watch LGR's video on this one and the Barbie unit.
Curtis@reddit
Why?
LitPixel@reddit
For more information, obviously.
Laura_Beinbrech@reddit
Shank Mods' video where he got sponsored by Micro Center to convert both of those into modern sleepers was pretty good too.
acidnine420@reddit
There goes my Sunday, never seen Shank Mods
Laura_Beinbrech@reddit
Shank's got some good stuff... I'm currently watching his most recent video about how he saved possibly the last functional example of the largest CRT TV ever made.
19chris1996@reddit
I've seen that! It's incredible the length he went to acquire that TV!
rarcusmeich@reddit
good one
AnrufBeworter@reddit
Do you have the Wheel controller any pedals in matching design as well?
If not, these were mediocre for the gaming experience at best IIRC
canthearu_ack@reddit
"Just another random vintage rig of mine ..."
Bloody hell!
Legal-Swordfish-1893@reddit
Looks as good as the one LGR sold for 1200 last year
raiderofawesome@reddit
I still have mine, I’ve never sold it!
Inspiron606002@reddit
LGR Would like to know your location.
bok4600@reddit
LGR restored a Hot Wheels and a Barbie pc YEARS ago
FlyByPC@reddit
I was a PC tech back in that era. There was a Barbie one, too. You needed PPE because of all the pink.
AudioVid3o@reddit
So... What are the specs of it?
LittlePooky@reddit
There was a model of Hewlett-Packard Color LaserJet, I believe it was 2500, that looked like it was designed by Fisher-Price. I loved it because the toners were not expensive—third-party, that is—and it has Adobe PostScript.
sys370model195@reddit
Don't you dare sell it.
I would consider hiding a modern micro PC and KVM switch somewhere to allow using the monitor, keyboard and mouse with s modern PC, but still preserving the ability to use the entire thing as original.
DeepDayze@reddit
You might be able to shoehorn in a modern microATX motherboard and components inside and use the existing CRT as the monitor.
Martipar@reddit
Unlikely. Having watched LGRs videos on it and the Barbie PC they still need serious modification to accept anything bar the motherboard and power supply they were designed around. There's a slim chance a similarly dimensioned case exists (the hot wheels plastic is over an inner metal case) that might accept a different board but that's speculation.
However this is 2026, forget modding an original, even if it can be done don't bother. 3D print a clone case to slide over something like a shuttle PC or standard midi tower or just 3D print the whole thing, two colour printing is possible on many printers and there are all sorts of filaments to go with. That's the way to go, that way you can use any power supply, motherboard and cooling that you like.
sys370model195@reddit
Nooooo don't modify it.
Attach a micro-PC or a Pi to the underside of the tabletop. And a KVM switch. Or even in a drawer, with a big, silent fan in the drawer blowing out the back.
Front_Disaster5787@reddit
Looks fast! Vrooom!
Killertigger@reddit
Yes! They did a Barbie one too!
dababler@reddit
Electronic design used to have such whimsy. I feel like we’ve lost innovation because of standardization
drew071055@reddit
We can rebuild him.
Internal-Bed6646@reddit
I swear I had this when I was a kid.
CarrDaPorice@reddit
Did you restore it or some such? Appears to be in phenomenal condition!
bobj33@reddit
LGR - Hot Wheels Computer ACQUIRED
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_WpEYAAmi8
LGR - Repairing The Barbie/Hot Wheels Computer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfhmBcBPNyc
LGR - Hot Wheels Computer RESTORED & WORKING!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld6qrjYwi_4
DeepDayze@reddit
What's the specs for this machine? Looks pretty darn snazzy.
balcopcs@reddit
yeah, this one is worth some money
DeepDayze@reddit
Yes especially one that's fully working.
WingedGundark@reddit
If someone says that PCs are uninteresting dull beige boxes, show them this!
MCMickMcMax@reddit
That is the most 90s looling thing, awesome. Did you have it from new?
youre-all-horrible@reddit
Wow that’s awful
JasonMckin@reddit
There was a fun phase of systems like these in the late 90s (around the time of the Apple iMac).
I think this is a core part of the nostalgia of this sub...which is that there was a time when systems were gigantic so these types of design considerations sometimes made a difference.
These days, it's a valid question to ask how many hardware designs for a smartwatch or smartphone are necessary when it's the software doing most of the heavy lifting.
mtest001@reddit
Wow gorgeous 😍
officialsanic@reddit
That's in really good shape.