may-jun 2016
previous targeted year: 2000

previous goals:
* slot1 bx computer
* it should cover the 90s and 2000 (dos/w9x)

the first version of my first retro computer. the chieftec case was nos, and i have bought a new beige mouse and keyboard.

Asus P3B-F rev 1.04 Intel 440BX Slot 1
Intel Pentium III 1000EB SL4BS Slot 1
SECC2 cooler
Samsung PC133 SDRAM 7.5ns 256M
Asus AGP-V7700 TVR 32M AGP NVIDIA GeForce2 GTS
Creative Sound Blaster 16 CT2290 rev 04 ISA DSP4.13, CT1747 OPL3
Gravis Ultrasound Plug & Play 1.0 8M ISA
Creative Sound Blaster Live! CT4620 PCI
Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 40G IDE
Samsung / Compaq SC-148 48x CD-ROM IDE
Chieftec Dragon DG-01W
Chieftec GPS-350EB-101A
Cherry G83 PS/2 US keyboard
Logitech S96 PS/2 mouse

jun-aug 2016

i have tried some sound card alternatives.
Creative Sound Blaster AWE64 Gold PnP CT4390 rev 01 ISA DSP4.16, CQM => very disappointing dos performance, it is not really better than any non opl3 awe32, horrible fm
Diamond Monster Sound MX300 PCI Aureal Vortex2 => the live is more supported, and easier to pair with an isa sound blaster
Gravis Ultrasound 3.74 1M ISA => isa timing problems

oct 2016

finally i found a nos and authentic computer case: In Win IW-A500

nov 2016

nos cdrom - it is not authentic, but not grey 😀
LG GCR-8523B 52x CD-ROM IDE

compatibility improved:
Diamond Monster 3D II 12M PCI 3Dfx Voodoo2 => glide support for 97-98 games
Creative Sound Blaster AWE32 CT3910 rev 01 ISA DSP4.13, CT1747 OPL3 => real opl3 support for older dos games

dec 2016

new goal: build a 1999 computer.

Intel Pentium III 500 SL365 Slot 1
Creative 3D Blaster CT6810 32M AGP NVIDIA RIVA TNT2 Ultra

i really like it, but it can be too slow at 2000 games. i need a better compromise.

apr 2017

Intel Pentium III 700 SL3XM
Toshiba PC100 SDRAM 8ns 64M x2
Asus V6600 Pure 32M AGP NVIDIA GeForce 256

finally i found a gf256 as a "better compromise" - i did a lot benchmarks, and checked many games:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eXksI … MVZU/edit#gid=0

jul 2017

HP E118405 4x4x32x CD-RW IDE

philips inside, they sold it as iomega, hp, etc in 1999.

nov 2017

Enermax EG365AX-VE(G)

it is from 2002, not authentic, but very good quality psu with native -5v.

apr 2018

IBM Deskstar 34GXP DPTA-372730 27G IDE

the second biggest model from the 34gxp series (the 34gb version is over the limit, and it has problem with the authentic bios). early 7200rpm drive, it is noisy 😀

jul 2018

FSP 235-60GT

this psu would have been the last element of the puzzle, but the capacitors are bad. i plan to recap it.

FIC KC19+ Intel 820 Slot 1
Samsung PC800 RDRAM 128M 2x

yeah, it is not bx, and not from 1999, but it has two isa slots! i had to try it - unfortunately the dma handling of the isa slots is very ad hoc. go back to the good old bx.

aug 2018

Abit BX6 v2.02 Intel 440BX Slot 1

an alternative mainboard - it has better layout than the p3b-f:
* the mainboard pins are not (so much) overlapped by the isa cards
* the floppy connector is in a better place

on the downside:
* slightly slower with the default bios
* it does not detect the ide-sd adaptor

actually i keep the p3b, and the bx6 will be the backup board.

Thats alot of computers! I thought you were just upgrading the same PC till I saw the spreadsheet, you have some very nice systems indeed

chinny22 wrote:

Thats alot of computers! I thought you were just upgrading the same PC till I saw the spreadsheet, you have some very nice systems indeed

thx, i have actually 4-5 retro pcs, i build them mostly on a test pad for the benchmarking.

i wanted to make authentic pcs, but i was not sure about the performance and the real usability. eg the p2 450 with the voodoo2 is a very nice age, but practically not so good, it has many issues with the demoscene stuff, and the speed is not enough for 99-2000.

date changed: 2000.03

i try to looking for a gf256ddr. but temporary there is the gf2gts
awe32 removed (there is the mmx for the late dos games)
live replaced with mx300.

Intel Pentium III 1000EB
Mosel Vitelic PC133 SDRAM 7ns 256M
Asus AGP-V7700 TVR 32M AGP
Diamond Monster Sound MX300 PCI Aureal Vortex2

Did somebody realize, the cumine cpus with 100mhz fsb were in 2000:
* clocked upto 900mhz in fcpga
* and upto 1000 in slot1?

If something is faster, it is from 2001 or with 133fsb.

I would like to maxout the bx, without oc with a cpu from 2000, the only way is the 1000/100 in slot1. The problem, it is very rare 😀

i will stay with the gf2gts. maybe it is not too rare, but the usability is better.

arncht wrote:

Did somebody realize, the cumine cpus with 100mhz fsb were in 2000: * clocked upto 900mhz in fcpga * and upto 1000 in slot1? […]
Show full quote

Did somebody realize, the cumine cpus with 100mhz fsb were in 2000:
* clocked upto 900mhz in fcpga
* and upto 1000 in slot1?

If something is faster, it is from 2001 or with 133fsb.

I would like to maxout the bx, without oc with a cpu from 2000, the only way is the 1000/100 in slot1. The problem, it is very rare 😀

There is also the FC-PGA 1100/100/256 chip, but that one was probably released in 2001, wasn't it?

yep... and it is an issue, if i want an authentic year 2000 pc.

updates:

Mitsumi FDD
Yeong Yang case