First post, by Jager
Or should I call this none-on-one, since it's several kits intended for a single test bench rig and none of them are 100% complete? 😒
10 years ago or so I've collected some old hardware, and now I'm testing if it actually works. And, indeed, most of it works perfectly, with one pretty sad exception - CT3990 with a dead EMU8000. Now I'm planning to add missing components so I'll have several CPU-MB-RAM-Video kits for different PC gaming eras. Currently I have:
XT:
NEC V30 10MHz on a Juko Nest N3 with a 640K RAM and 8-bit Tseng ET3000. A full 1MB can be soldered, but I'm not really sure if I need EMS here. Currently missing I/O (the easiest part), FDD controller (1.44 is rare, might use 720K instead), fixed storage+controller (XT-IDE or DiskOnChip), sound (Adlib replica) and keyboard (or XT-AT converter). As far as I understood I can use 16-bit I/O with XT IDE BIOS and a CF card, but that's "plan B".
286:
Actually I've got two 12MHz boards, but they fit badly in my lineup, so I'm searching for a 20 or 25 MHz Harris board with a decent chipset. 2-5 MB RAM, OTI037 as a placeholder for a VGA.
386:
AMD 386DX 33@40Mhz on a M321 with 8MB RAM and 64k cache. 4MB SIMM30 modules are rarer and pricey, not sure if I want 16MB. Cirrus Logic 5402 512k as a placeholder for a VGA. 5402 is nice & low-profile, but it has shaky image (probably needs recap?) and it will be probably better choice for a 286 kit.
486 DOS/Win3.1:
AMD 486DX4 120MHz on a Olivetti MODULO M4-4*4 motherboard. 32MB RAM, 256k cache, integrated Cirrus Logic 5428 and EIDE - just needs a sound card. Bit slower than expected due to high memory/cache timings with no way to alter them - no chipset options in BIOS and AMISETUP doesn't work. On the plus side this MB is working with EDO RAM.
From now on things get trickier.
Socket7 P1 Win95:
I've got 2 MBs - FIC PT-2007 and Lucky Star 5vp3, and I'm not sure which one to choose. PT-2007 is a nice 430tx-based board, but it needs recap and RAM is bit of a problem. Since I want full 64MB - 5V DIMM or 2 more 16MB SIMMs needed. 5vp3, on the other hand, can provide 3V to DIMMs, has ATX power and AGP port, but might be bit slower. Placeholder CPU - 166MMX, will be replaced with a 233MMX. For video - S3 card, depending on MB, plus I'm searching for a Voodoo1.
Slot1 Win98:
P3 Katmai 600 MHz on a Chaintech 6BTA3 MB with 512MB RAM. GF2MX as a placeholder video, probably I'll buy Voodoo3 later on.
S370 Late Win98:
Recently I've bought a 1.1GHz SL5QW P3 for 2$ and I was planning to use it with a slot1 adapter, but now I think 133MHz bus P3 + 815ep might be a better choice. Same 512mb RAM as before, since it's Win98 kit. Searching for a Gf4Ti and Radeon 8500 for video.
For ISA sound I've got working SB16 CT2980 and AWE64 CT4500 in unknown condition been shipped. Looking for a decent versions of a YMF71x, ESS and ALS100.
For PCI sound I've got Live! 5.1, looking for a Vortex2.
I'll probably skip Socket 4&5 P1 and P2. Any advices on these builds?