~ Early Web Links ~

PLASMA online is a hardware identification and reference guide that lets users look up computer components by chip, picture, manufacturer, serial number, or FCC ID. The site covers CPUs, chipsets, graphics cards, audio, networking hardware, and more, with overclocking tweaks and upgrade advice rounding out the resource.

A no-frills browser-based tool by Jason Farrell that helps users detect stuck or dead pixels on LCD monitors by cycling through solid black, white, red, green, and blue fullscreen backgrounds. Simple keyboard shortcuts make it easy to navigate between test colors without leaving fullscreen mode.

A preserved 1997 Cyrix Corporation product brief covering the 486DX2/DX4 processor line, detailing technical specifications for both desktop and portable variants. This archival datasheet covers clock speeds, power management features, on-chip cache, and floating point unit performance for these legacy x86 CPUs.

CD Media World is a comprehensive reference site covering CD-R and DVD media, with detailed listings of dozens of disc manufacturers, dye types, quality ratings, and overburn specifications. Visitors can also find guides on CD-writer technology, repairs, standalone copiers, copy protections like SafeDisc and SecuROM, and related software tools.

Vendell's personal tech-enthusiast page features a homelab section, a photography gallery, and an active project archiving old electronics magazines. The site also hosts its own IRC server and status page, reflecting a hands-on approach to self-hosted internet infrastructure.

Digital-Daily is the English-language edition of the popular Russian tech site 3DNews, offering in-depth hardware reviews covering motherboards, CPUs, memory, video cards, and cooling solutions. Enthusiast-focused content includes benchmarks and overclocking analysis for components from NVIDIA, Intel, AMD, ASUS, ECS, and other major vendors.

Created by Mark Allen, this detailed technical reference explains AGP slot compatibility, covering signaling voltages, speed ratings, and the differences between AGP 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 standards. Part of a larger video card information guide on playtool.com, it is an invaluable resource for anyone upgrading older PC hardware or troubleshooting graphics card installation issues.

Overclockers Australia (OCAU) is a long-running Australian community hub dedicated to PC hardware, overclocking, and tech reviews, featuring news aggregation, forums with thousands of active threads, and a user-submitted PC database. The site blends professional hardware reviews of components like SSDs, GPUs, and peripherals with a lively community forum covering everything from CPU cooling to Formula 1 and NRL discussions.

CPU Scorecard is a comprehensive reference database ranking personal computer processors by benchmark performance, covering AMD, Intel, Transmeta, and VIA chips with comparative scores, pricing, and reviews. Visitors can compare CPU speeds and features side-by-side, browse historical processor data, and shop for new or used computers, making it a one-stop resource for anyone evaluating PC processor performance.

Pete Prodoehl's long-running blog RasterWeb! has been documenting maker projects, DIY repairs, hardware tinkering, and creative tech explorations since 1997. Posts cover everything from 3D printing and Arduino builds to keyboard mods, laser cutting, and Raspberry Pi projects, making it a rich archive of hands-on geek culture.