Re: Dell Dimension 466i Restoration/Build
Posted on 2021-01-23, 15:57
Can't say much with a low rez photo, but to me it looks kind of factory-made. In other words, thumbs up!
Re: 486 Multimedia dream build ( 1993/94 ).
Posted on 2021-01-22, 10:08
Makes one think :) I think those must have been some pretty shitty quality MP3s to play in realtime on a 486, let alone while the system was under load. Or you're just wildly exaggerating. Oh, those were so shitty one wouldn't want to listen to them in a car these days. Believe me, I tried. But at …
Re: The Saddest Steam Build 2021
Posted on 2021-01-21, 20:59
Well, there are plenty of industrial P4 boards now, even if most of them are effectively new, so don't know whether that qualifies. But most have at least one ISA. Whether they would boot with VGA in the slot - no idea, haven't tested. If not, there are some "fancy" PCI cards out there... like …
Re: 486 Multimedia dream build ( 1993/94 ).
Posted on 2021-01-21, 19:27
Oh, and regarding the subject and my original rant. Back in the day, I'd run Visual Studio, Photoshop and, perhaps, Word all the while listening to mp3 in Winamp, on a 486 with 16 megs of RAM. Makes one think 😀
Re: 486 Multimedia dream build ( 1993/94 ).
Posted on 2021-01-21, 19:09
I was about to write a lengthy reply on what I consider when talking about Linux... but then this would turn into a slashdot debate from early 2k. Suffice to say, at work we had to drop Linux support for our application precisely because some people view Linux as just the kernel with a completely …
Re: 486 Multimedia dream build ( 1993/94 ).
Posted on 2021-01-20, 10:58
Worse still, Linux used to be the "peanut OS" for some time, now if something runs Windows 10, it in no way means being able to run a gui-rich flavour of your penguin of choice. And the difference between the meanest i9/Threadripper to the lowest end of the low is such that you take a 10 years old …
Re: 486 Multimedia dream build ( 1993/94 ).
Posted on 2021-01-19, 21:32
Well, my old 486 was never loud... about the only fan it had was a 8 cm one inside the PSU. It was a Cyrix DX2-66 OC'd to 80, with a Trident 9440TGUI or something, 1 meg of VRAM. I remember "upgrading" from 8 Mb 72 pin RAM to 16 Mb, even if 4 x 32 pin modules, but, at least, those were cheap, and …
Re: Dell Dimension 466i Restoration/Build
Posted on 2021-01-16, 14:36
I wouldn't be so sure about the BIOSes. There is a chance the board would be similar to something else out there, but almost all the Dells I've worked with had their own custom mobos, and almost all (if not all) had Phoenix BIOS. Which pretty much means no luck modding it. Granted, I don't have as …
Re: Bought these (retro) hardware today
Posted on 2021-01-16, 14:11
Got this tank: Now that's a sexy case if there ever was one Nice board with a clean lay-out, thanks to the integrated south bridge. No need for a heatsink I presume? Congrats. :) No idea yet, I'm still waiting for the board to arrive. Guess, we'll see when it does. But the SPAX didn't have a …
Re: Bought these (retro) hardware today
Posted on 2021-01-16, 07:42
Hi! Normally I do not post in this thread (that's something I should probably change), but over the last couple years I've acquired quite a few interesting examples. This one isn't particularly special in itself, just a motherboard I need for a project. https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ …
Re: Dell Dimension 466i Restoration/Build
Posted on 2021-01-16, 07:28
Dells were always "the most generic of generic", except of the forced incompatibility with some hardware... but somehow, having worked as an admin and head of IT, I just LOVED them. Probably because each and every Dell I've ever had the pleasure working with was simple, tough, reliable and not …
Re: Asus P2B-DS Build
Posted on 2021-01-14, 20:17
I've actually reused the case also, it now houses a HTPC (I use that term loosely, it is powerful enough to run Steam to stream Cyberpunk from Sorceress across 100km from another town via a VPN :), and the blue lighting is just icing on the cake. Works well that the mobo has blue accents, and the …
Re: A couple (or, perhaps, quite a bit more) rigs for all ages
Posted on 2021-01-14, 20:07
Them MIDI mountains, those just keep growing! https://i.imgur.com/yWNCPS1.jpg Seriously, got that Roland MPU-105 finally. Works fine, looks almost like new. Except the missing rubber feet (something easy to solve), it even had its original wall wart. Knowing myself, and having an opportunity to snag …
Re: Asus P2B-DS Build
Posted on 2021-01-13, 20:15
Is that Antec Three Hundred I spy in this build? Loved that case, it used to house Assassin before I moved it into Define R6... and long before it was called that. Brings back memories... Come to think of it, it was the first case I used that wasn't an El Cheapo, and wouldn't house El Cheapo …
Re: A couple (or, perhaps, quite a bit more) rigs for all ages
Posted on 2021-01-13, 18:42
Yay! Ordered a board for Crusader! Gigabyte ga-586stx, same as that ASUS SPAX chipset (sis5582), except with no onboard audio and other surprises. Should be able to get it up and happily running with GUS Extreme. Also ordered some replacement fans for that 5950 Ultra by ASUS (for the Athlon).
Re: A couple (or, perhaps, quite a bit more) rigs for all ages
Posted on 2021-01-09, 12:10
Of the answer to both is true, I can plug anything at the end of that TOSLINK cable and enjoy nice digital sound from one of the most compatible cards out there, minus the hiss. Very interesting. On paper, the CMI8330 has some amazing capabilities, so I'm looking forward to seeing how your approach …
Re: A couple (or, perhaps, quite a bit more) rigs for all ages
Posted on 2021-01-09, 09:34
Unfortunately I have little time to finish working on Assassin, and even Seer needs a few touches. But I have another project in progress now. I've ordered a TTL TOSLINK/Optical converter (for 16 USD I'm not going to bother building my own), and I will try to see how clean the signal off of that C- …
Re: Slot 1 Pentium II Windows 95 Build - In Progress
Posted on 2021-01-09, 09:06
On a more serious note, I am actually using PATA SSDs on most of my retro rigs. Such a thing exists? Why are we all using pata/sata adapters then? They do, even if the manufacturers aren't the most widely known nor trusted. Ever heard of KingSpec? Sounds like knock off Kingston to me. Yet there …
Re: A couple (or, perhaps, quite a bit more) rigs for all ages
Posted on 2021-01-06, 13:17
Assassin says "Hi!"
Re: A couple (or, perhaps, quite a bit more) rigs for all ages
Posted on 2021-01-05, 16:27
Yep, got the package. Need to test if either card works, naturally, but that will wait. Assassin is next in line, afterwards I check these. And yes, I do expect both to work, but I also expect the fans on the GPU to require replacement. Still, tests first.
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