Restoring The Worst Performa 580CD I've Ever Seen - Smoke Machine 580 Part 1

[@langmastery9382]

Thank you for your video and the memories it brings back. Also, it is great that you have brought a piece of history back to life. Liked and subscribed! It was one of the best videos I've ever watched. Keep making videos.

[@iiidiy]

Thanks for the support and encouragement! That's overly generous praise, but I'll keep at it and hopefully get there one day :)

[@MaGioZal]

If the CPUs were in this condition, I fear to imagine how the lungs of the the owner were…

[@iiidiy]

Unfortunately it wasn't a good situation :(

[@SockyNoob]

Probably why they passed away

[@cooperschwartz318]

@@SockyNoob oop

[@frstwhsprs]

@@SockyNoob I mean, the video did say he was a heavy smoker, and I thought he meant like, the Mac was at it's worst that it spits smoke everytime it's turned on

[@qcumberleekboy3355]

You've earned yourself a new subscriber. Your video was really well done. And boy was it satisfying to see you cleaning up that poor Performa. I am already eager to watch your next videos.

[@iiidiy]

Thank you! That's very kind of you to say, and I really appreciate the support.

[@carloisdoingstupidtechstuff]

​​@@iiidiy another sub as well by someone else :)

[@SockyNoob]

I've dealt with plenty of smoker computers at my old job, but none were ever as bad these two Macs. Holy crap.

[@iiidiy]

Any tips? I have more still to do...

[@SockyNoob]

@@iiidiy lots and lots of strong isopropyl alcohol. Like it takes numerous passes. Any plastic you can separate from metal or electronics should be scrubbed with soap and water in a tub.

[@j.m.7580]

Awesome - happy to see the first one boot.

[@iiidiy]

Thanks! I was SO excited when there actually a picture on the screen... then really couldn't believe that old drive just booted right up!

[@PatricksBlendedMixOfVideos]

Nice work 👍 this reminds me I need to remove the battery out of my performa 575

[@iiidiy]

Thanks! And YES PLEASE remove that :) I'd hate to see something happen to such a lovely machine

[@hycron1234]

I spent literally HOURS on this computer when I was a kid. Sim City 2000, Doom 2, Dark Forces, Full Throttle, F/A-18 Hornet 2.0, Escape Velocity...

[@iiidiy]

Yes! Doom and Marathon for me :)

[@jayvillneff]

I find for smoker covered electronics cases - had a crt silver tv with that issue - best to use CLR as it works very well

[@AmigaofRochester]

I recap and restore vintage macs, the logic board generally should be recapped as they will eventually leak. If you have a LC/Quadra/Performa you should get it recapped asap if not already done.

[@iiidiy]

Absolutely!

[@drewzero1]

My favorite compact Mac is the Macintosh Classic, but I find myself pulling out my Performa 575 more often because of the color display and the CD drive. This is the perfect machine for playing classic CD-ROM games as long as they don't require PowerPC or an FPU. My Amazing Human Body and Zap! were some of my favorites for it, but there are a lot of goodies on Macintosh Repository. I have found the case plastic on mine to be especially brittle, so be careful! Mine needs either a new case or some major body work.

[@iiidiy]

Yes, unfortunately this generation seems very brittle. Every single standoff was already broken on this unit! I had similar issues with the tabs on my LC630 (made around that time). Lots of patience and super glue in my future :)

[@babyjiren9676]

ironically that smoke probably acted like a barrier preventing UV yellowing of the plastic lmao

[@iiidiy]

It seems weird, but probably true!

[@incubus3827]

Excellent video. I don't know about tobacco tar, but coal tar coatings are definitely a good protection against corrosion. However in particulate form you better get rid of it.

[@iiidiy]

Thanks! That's interesting - it is counter-intuitive at first, but makes sense that a coating would slow oxidization!

[@SockyNoob]

Tobacco tar definitely destroys stuff

[@hetside]

Actually, after the first cleaning, the color was pretty cool. I would clean it up inside and leave it in this color. Kinda reminds me the Noctua color.

[@FrankConforti]

When my father died of lung cancer from smoking, the computer I built for him two years earlier came home with me. Unfortunately, it was just as smoke and tar as this Mac. I couldn’t bring it into the house it smelt so bad. Because I knew the computer was still functional, I took it apart in the garage and put the case, motherboard (sans battery) into the dishwasher. I ran it for three cycles before it was nice and clean. We ran the empty dishwasher a couple more times empty to get rid of any residue. The power supply, hard drive and floppy were cleaned manually. I threw out the power supply. The computer worked fine when I reassembled it. The keyboard and mouse where also thrown away. Smoking is a terrible killer.

[@iiidiy]

It certainly is. I'm sorry for your loss, Frank. In the end, computers are just objects, but they can hold memories and emotions. I hope you found some comfort in the process of making that computer whole again.

[@spazzypengin]

I didn't get my first Mac until 2005 when I was 18 (iBook G4), but I love seeing the old stuff. Also, I can't help but wonder if the state of those Performas might give a clue as to COD...

[@iiidiy]

That was a good time to start with the Mac too - Apple was much healthier by that time and had some great software available! I never had the iBook, but remember it packing a good punch for its price. Yes, my family helped to sort out his possessions and find good homes for things. Unfortunately this was the state of *everything*.

[@alastairmackay4589]

Brings back memories

[@iiidiy]

There's something about mid-90's tech :)

[@NeedsMoreBirds]

It looks a lot like this model and the LC 575 use the same moulding for the plastic shell.

[@iiidiy]

Yes, all of the 500-series look VERY similar, with just some minor tweaks along the way. The 520 started with a caddy CD, for example. I don't have a 575 to know for sure how similar the backs are, but the inside of the front face is definitely different... Apple switched from the nicer Trinitron in the 575 to a cheaper bubble tube in the 580, so the mounts are different

[@MrAlan1828]

Curious, were the plastics inside brittle like candy? Mine just snaps off without effort when I tried to referbish it, the front bezel snapped off, the motherboard rails broke off and the chassic crack just by hold it alone

[@iiidiy]

Yes! Mine wasn't quite as bad as you've described... but very brittle. Every single screw post for the main case was snapped

[@x35gaming]

i have the same model of mac in my collection

[@iiidiy]

What are your favourite games or software titles for it?

[@brianehni5918]

I bought one with the intention of installing a Mac Mini inside, with an LCD display. Trying to find the right display for it.

[@retrodude6215]

Hey, if you keep the second Performa 580, if you get a color classic you can retrofit the performa board in there, and make a rare modified Mac Color Classic

[@iiidiy]

You, sir, are clearly on the same wavelength :) I actually have a stack of related 580/630 boards and parts machines... along with 2 dead Color Classics. Unfortunately, the 580+ boards aren't directly compatible and I don't want to destroy the CC case... but I'm cooking something up for later this year!

[@retrodude6215]

Well, first up I found a mistake in my original comment, where I said the 580 boards are compatible, I mistook it for the LC/Performa 575 board, but the 575 board is slide in compatible on the Color Classic, no case of required@@iiidiy

[@iiidiy]

That's right, the "Mystic" mod is the 575, but unfortunately 575 boards or full computers go for too much money. If I came across one for a reasonable price, I might go that route, but I'm not holding my breath :) The "Takky" mod is the one which uses the 580/63x/5x00/6x00 boards and harness but requires chassis damage. I'm working on something *related* to those this year, but doing my own thing@@retrodude6215

[@retrodude6215]

What do you plan on doing with the performas? @@iiidiy

[@iiidiy]

One is on loan to a friend, so he can try some retro design, music creation, and gaming. The other one got a TV tuner card and is playing a video loop in my office lobby when clients visit (part of a larger installation piece)@@retrodude6215

[@InitialiseDisk]

You’ve got yourself a new subscriber. Do you think you’ll retrobright both the machines?

[@iiidiy]

Thank you for your support! I assumed that I would have to, but honestly, they might be OK after a really thorough soak & scrub. I'm surprised at how well the first case came out with just Windex cleaner. One step at a time :)

[@InitialiseDisk]

@@iiidiy Yes it was way better than I thought it would be. Maybe the dust/tar actually prevented any serious yellowing.

[@notmasterdelectronics]

Maybe you should try retrobrighting it. Good work you earned yourself a sub

[@iiidiy]

Thanks! I might retro-bright it, but I'm not sure if it will be needed. I'll do a deep clean first, and we'll see! :)

[@dukeseb]

I think I would of just taken the whole shell apart and submerged it to clean it

[@iiidiy]

Yes, absolutely! That's going to be the next step. This was an initial cleaning to get the worst tar gunk off and do basic evaluation. Thankfully it's worth doing a full clean!

[@hetside]

no way a rice field mac

[@cooperschwartz318]

I think denatured alcohol would have helped with the tar Also don’t smoke that’s what builds up inside your lungs

[@robertgaines-tulsa]

It looks like it came out of my late brother's bedroom.

[@iiidiy]

Sorry for your loss Robert

[@nyccollin]

Lol this one is more like D I why.

[@iiidiy]

😂 My channel name is a play on "aye yi yi" after all

[@nyccollin]

@@iiidiy haha I’ll have to watch some of your videos! I would probably restore an apple computer as well just because they are cool machines 😉

[@gtnydrx1453]

This is more like cleaning not restoring

[@iiidiy]

Yes, this is part 1: clean up and evaluation. It will take a lot of work to restore two machines, and I hope you follow along for the ride :)

[@jjohnson71958]

how do you separate the lcd monitor from the logic board... use a seperate monitor

[@iiidiy]

You can run an external monitor from the monitor port on the back of the machine, but you can't separate the built-in 14" screen. It's all one piece. If you wanted a separate computer and screen, you would purchase a different form factor, like the Performa 630. That was sold around the same time, has the same internals, and shares the same design language.. but is a desktop computer without built-in screen.

[@jjohnson71958]

@@iiidiy er has to be a way