First post, by ifkz
I hope this post doubles as a new member introduction since I could not find an appropriate section. Here is my current vintage PC project list with some specs. Sorry it's not short, I hope some members enjoy the read!
1. Mini Cyrix Cx486SLC PC - a mini PC before they really invented the type, sold under the Carry-1 name. I used this for many years with my EPROM burner fixing arcade boards (another hobby of mine). I recently clipped out a leaky NiCad, cleaned it with vinegar, and replaced it with a super capacitor. It's a rock solid PC, but I still worry that the custom power brick that audibly chirps might give out and whether the Nicad's 3.5V and the super cap's 5V is going to do any harm long term. TOPBENCH marks it as equivalent to a 386-SX 33. After upgrades it has 16MB of parity RAM, a 1MB Diamond Speedstar ISA video card, and an 8-bit Soundblaster 2.0. It earns its place running Wolfenstien 3-D, Wing Commander 1, Druglord, Silpheed, Spectrum Holobyte's Tetris, Arknoid and slow Jazz Jackrabbit.
2. Compaq Prolinea 450 - my first newly purchased vintage PC. After upgrades it has a 486 DX-50, a 2MB Diamond PCI video card, 16MB EDO, and the original 540MB hard drive (a real rarity for that to still be spinning), and a PNP AWE64 CT4520 sound card. This has another custom power supply, compaq branded, that I worry about failing due to age alone. A great PC otherwise and very, very clean inside. Atariage members helped me get an F10 floppy together to access the Compaq BIOS and I can now get Topbench to benchmark it at the correct speed. Strangely, after a game I need to re-run the sound configuration from the AUTOEXEC.BAT or I get garbage static out of my speakers. Any ideas?
3. Gateway 2000 4DX-33V - After upgrades it is a 486 DX-66, 16MB EDO, and runs a VLB Western Digital video card. Super speedy, and manages to run Duke Nukem 3-D at a very playable frame rate in higher resolution VESA mode. A lot of visible corrosion on the interior and exterior of the case. The original 600MB hard drive is on the way out also, so this one needs to be stripped out and re-done. Thankfully the corrosion seems to have left the motherboard and drives alone. This my main DOS PC that I use to play Doom, Heretic, SimCity 2000, Descent, and all of the other goodies from the era.
4. Custom 486 - Thanks to the local thrift store for an Antec case, my co-workers for a few internal drives, etc I've pieced it together into a very similiarly spec'd rig I had back in 1994! 486DX-33, 12MB EDO & parity RAM, 10GB hard drive, 1MB Cirrus Logic ISA video card, Vibra16 Soundblaster ISA card. It works and looks okay for a custom; jet black case, white internal drives.
5. Custom 3dfx Voodoo3 - Another thrift store Antec, Pentium III-450 on a slot 2 (a rarity according to one of my PC collecting co-workers), recently purchased a 3rd party 3dfx Voodoo3 AGP video card for it called the Evil King 3. No driver disc came with it, can anyone help out?
6. Custom 3dfx Voodoo2 SLI - A configuration I have always wanted to have from back then, it's in the works! I have another Antec case, this time with a plexiglass side. I would like to go all out with some internal lighting, and I am open to any ideas. Paired with the fastest PIII I could find (thanks to Phil's Computer Lab for the tip and benchmarks).
7. A future 3dfx project - Back in the early 2000s I came into owning a Voodoo5 PCI card, now a collectable card since it was their last retail card before bankruptcy. Assuming I can get it together, what would be an ideal system to pair it with? At 64MB it seems a bit high-end to pair it with a Pentium III.
That's it for now (whew!). I am going to need some software help with the 3dfx cards. Phil's Computer Lab always pairs them with Windows98SE and that is no problem. In his videos he mentions fast Voodoo2 drivers at times, and updated Voodoo drivers. Is there a good refresher or some driver links that can help me out?
