Restoring a retro Acorn Electron computer #VintageComputinng @LinuxJedi
Andrew Hutchings recently obtained not one but two Acorn Electron computers. The Electron is a smaller, lower cost version of the BBC Micro, aimed at home users of the time. One worked out of the box. The other had known issues and was a black screen. Andrew looks to diagnose the issue:
A majority of the logic (compared to the BBC Micro) got moved into a single ULA logic chip, which was an incredible feat of engineering at the time.
I popped off the retention clip and removed the chip. … several of the spring contacts have snapped and are wedged down.
Whilst these sockets do not appear to be manufactured any more, they are still obtainable. Intel also produced CPUs in this CLCC-68 format.
With a quick run with the Hakko FT-410 desoldering gun, the socket was easily removed, and I replaced it with a new one. Success! It was as simple as that.
See pictures and additional details in the post here.
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