Theos-Talk Archives (January 1997 Message tl00087)

Hi

Here is something some of you may be interested in.

For the last several weeks I have been running a self-assembled Cyrix P166+
powered system with no problems.

Just yesterday I found out that the mother board not have the usual user
replaceable 3 volt lithium battery; instead it had an encapsulated real time
clock and battery made by Odin. When the battery runs out, which may be
anywhere between 2 years and up, the whole assembly has to be unsoldered --
I think there were about 16 connectors and new one unsoldered -- without
ruining the motherboard. So I dismantled the system and replaced it with a
motherboard which has a user replaceable 3 volt lithium battery that one can
pick up at a corner drug store or large grocery store. If and when the
battery runs out, it can be changed in a matter of minutes.

I do not know why the manufacturers do not make things simple and have a
built-in time bomb which will go off at the most unexpected time at which
you are working on a time-critical job.

I hope the above may open up your eyes.

MKR