How to store spare PCI and AGP cards?

[DWalker07]

Speaking of hardware, does anyone know of a good way to store spare PCI,
AGP, PCI Express, etc. controller cards? Putting them back into an anti-
static bag and shoving them into a drawer has been my default method of
keeping them.

But when you want to look for something, it's not convenient. I tried a
few searches on the 'net but it's hard to come up with good search terms...
Any suggestions would be great. Thanks.

David Walker

 

[Jeff Barnett]

Speaking of hardware, does anyone know of a good way to store spare PCI,
AGP, PCI Express, etc. controller cards? Putting them back into an anti-
static bag and shoving them into a drawer has been my default method of
keeping them.

But when you want to look for something, it's not convenient. I tried a
few searches on the 'net but it's hard to come up with good search terms...
Any suggestions would be great. Thanks.

David Walker

The only improvements I know are the following: 1) If you have the
original box, put the anti-static bag in it with the docs, CD, etc., and
2) If you don't have a box put a label with BIG printing on the bag,
it's really hard to peek through the plastic to see if you have the
right bag.

 

[Leythos]

Speaking of hardware, does anyone know of a good way to store spare PCI,
AGP, PCI Express, etc. controller cards? Putting them back into an anti-
static bag and shoving them into a drawer has been my default method of
keeping them.

But when you want to look for something, it's not convenient. I tried a
few searches on the 'net but it's hard to come up with good search terms...
Any suggestions would be great. Thanks.

David Walker

I have dozens of computer components and keep them in ESD bags and then
in plastic containers so that they are grouped by the same type.

So, Serial Cards are in a box in their own esd bag with a label on the
outside of the box.... same for the others.

 

[DWalker07]

I have dozens of computer components and keep them in ESD bags and
then in plastic containers so that they are grouped by the same type.

So, Serial Cards are in a box in their own esd bag with a label on the
outside of the box.... same for the others.

Hmm... I wanted something that would not take a lot of space, so the
other suggestion of keeping each card's original box won't work for me,
but yours sounds better. I would like to have them grouped by type.

For things like video cards, I have been looking up the year that the
card's processor was first released (Wikipedia has good references for
ATI and NVidia) and marking that on the card. The year is a very rough
proxy for the card's performance, since I'm not doing any gaming where I
*really* need to know the frame rate or anything like that.

I'll consider that approach. Thanks.

David

 

[SC Tom]

Hmm... I wanted something that would not take a lot of space, so the
other suggestion of keeping each card's original box won't work for me,
but yours sounds better. I would like to have them grouped by type.

For things like video cards, I have been looking up the year that the
card's processor was first released (Wikipedia has good references for
ATI and NVidia) and marking that on the card. The year is a very rough
proxy for the card's performance, since I'm not doing any gaming where I
*really* need to know the frame rate or anything like that.

I'll consider that approach. Thanks.

David

I know it's not for everyone, but I have a few video cards, 2 or 3 sound
cards, and a couple of NIC's. I put them in the ESD bags and label the
outside with the model number of each, then store them behind the books in
my den's (where my PC's located) bookcase . The bookcase shelves are deep
enough that there is 3 or 4" behind the books. Since it's a double bookcase
with 6 shelves in one and 5 in the other, I have lots of room. Maybe not the
best way, but they're out of sight, don't take up any room, and are easily
accessible.

 

[wilby]

Speaking of hardware, does anyone know of a good way to store spare PCI,
AGP, PCI Express, etc. controller cards? Putting them back into an anti-
static bag and shoving them into a drawer has been my default method of
keeping them.

But when you want to look for something, it's not convenient. I tried a
few searches on the 'net but it's hard to come up with good search terms...
Any suggestions would be great. Thanks.

David Walker

I realize this doesn't sound "professional" but until I retired a few
years ago we stored hundreds of computer cards in US Mail plastic totes.
If we had many of one type, such as video cards, they had a tote of
their own. There was always at least one tote where most anything was
tossed if it didn't have an obvious home. Anti-static bags were used
only if they were easily available, most cards were naked.

I recall once we decided to sell all the Arcnet NIC cards that we had
abandoned the use of. That box weighed almost 30 pounds, we sold it on
EBAY for something like $50.

Anyway, the answer to your question is to store them in the manner that
you are most comfortable with. Keep them clean and dry and you will be fine.

wilby

 

[VanguardLH]

I realize this doesn't sound "professional" but until I retired a few
years ago we stored hundreds of computer cards in US Mail plastic totes.
If we had many of one type, such as video cards, they had a tote of
their own. There was always at least one tote where most anything was
tossed if it didn't have an obvious home. Anti-static bags were used
only if they were easily available, most cards were naked.

I recall once we decided to sell all the Arcnet NIC cards that we had
abandoned the use of. That box weighed almost 30 pounds, we sold it on
EBAY for something like $50.

Anyway, the answer to your question is to store them in the manner that
you are most comfortable with. Keep them clean and dry and you will be fine.

wilby

You thought anyone involved in the 3-MONTH OLD thread was still
monitoring it? Notice the datestamps next time.