devius wrote on 2021-07-19, 18:12:

That's amazing! Is "ribbon cable folding" a new art form I'm not aware of that's gaining a lot of traction?

The first time i saw that was possible to make extremely clean retro builds i became focused on that.

bjwil1991 wrote on 2021-07-19, 18:14:

I need to work on my cable management in my main desktop.

Practice in each build and then will be easy.

rcarkk wrote on 2021-07-20, 17:26:

devius wrote on 2021-07-19, 18:12:

That's amazing! Is "ribbon cable folding" a new art form I'm not aware of that's gaining a lot of traction?

The first time i saw that was possible to make extremely clean retro builds i became focused on that.

Great job, love the ribbon folds

i like shoving my builds into thinkcentre case

Hi

Long time lurker so I thought i'd make an account and share my collection of systems

Compaq Deskpro 4000
CPU - Intel Pentium 233 MMX
RAM - 128 MB 60ns (4 x 32Mb) EDO Memory
VGA - S3 Virge GX 4Mb
3D - TechWorks V21200 Power3D 3DFx Voodoo 2 12mb
Soundcard - Creative AWE64 CT4500 - ISA (SB & GP)
Soundcard 2 - Yamaha YMF724F-V (MPU-401 & FM)
HDD - CF Card Adaptor - 16GB & 32GB
OS - DOS 6.22 & Win 98SE

CPU - Intel Pentium III 1000MHz Coppermine 256K 133fsb
Motherboard - ABIT VH6-II Socket 370
RAM - 512Mb SDRAM PC133
GPU - 64Mb Voodoo 5 5500 AGP - BIOS 1.18
Soundcard - Aureal Vortex 2
HDD's - 120GB Crucial SSD
Case - Lian Li Aluminium Midi Tower ATX PC-6083A
PSU - Antec EA-380W
OS - Windows 98SE (Unofficial Service Pack 3)

Shuttle XPC SS51G
CPU - Intel Pentium 4 Processor 2.40 GHz
RAM - 512MB DDR 333Mhz
GPU - 128Mb Abit Siluro Geforce 4 Ti4400
Soundcard - Sound blaster Live! 5.1 - SB0100
HDD - 120GB IDE Western Digital
OS - Windows 98SE (Unofficial Service Pack 3)

CPU - Intel Core 2 Extreme - QX6850 @ 3.6Ghz (9 x 400 FSB)
Motherboard - Asus P5Q Deluxe Socket 775
RAM - 4GB Corsair DDR2 1066Mhz
GPU - 1024MB Gainward NVidia GTX 285
Soundcard - Creative Sound Blaster XFI Titanium
HDD - 1TB SATA Crucial MX500
Case - Lian-Li PC60
Cooler - Zalman CNPS9500AT
PSU - Corsair TX650M PSU
OS - Windows XP Pro SP3

Gatteric wrote on 2021-08-19, 13:36:

Hi

Long time lurker so I thought i'd make an account and share my collection of systems

all very distinct looking systems with nice setups 😀

Nice, you might even have shamed me into pulling out my scabby looking deskpro and cleaning it up 🤣

Thanks guys,

BitWrangler - If only the BIOS if you can call it that on the Compaq was better it would be an almost perfect little system

Here are another couple of bits which I use with the Compaq.

I built this using the clumsyMIDI mt-32 pi project, the sound isn't too bad and compatibility seems good

This needs no explanation really and covers most of the other games I play which don't use the MT-32 Pi

I finally got the last piece to complete a "nightstand" sort of setup for my 'Weecee' vortex86DX based tiny form factor PC (details in this thread: Tiny Vortex86-based DOS gaming PC - weeCee). I got the monitor off of Aliexpress, an Eyoyo EM08C after it got a positive review from Adrian's Digital Basement (youtube) and it works flawlessly with all DOS resolutions I throw at it.

details:

800 MHz Vortex86DX custom built PC in 12 cm long Hammond case (the 'Weecee') w/SB Pro compatibility
8 inch Eyoyo monitor (HDMI , VGA, etc)
Video vga to HDMI w/ sound output (powered by USB)
MIDI capability through S2 Dreamblaster wavetable
Gravis Gamepad Pro
Network cabled LAN through a WiFi repeater
Perixx PERIBOARD-409W PS/2 keyboard
Perixx PERIMICE-209P 1000 DPI optical PS/2 mouse
PS/2 laptop splitter combo cable
2x cell charger 5V power adapter (1 for monitor, 1 for the computer)
Runs everything I've thrown at it, DOS through win98se that predates 3dfx

Here is my IBM 6901 "Personal Typing System" computer running it's original software. - More Info

jmphill01 wrote on 2021-08-26, 01:32:

Here is my IBM 6901 "Personal Typing System" computer running it's original software. - More Info

looks to be in great condition! So it's a PC, but it's also a 'switch on and go' word processor, nice keyboard too

Browsing through some old vendor binders at work and came across this. I figured people would enjoy the pictures and light reading, haha.

I really love old manuals... Thank you for sharing!

jmphill01 wrote on 2021-08-26, 01:32:

Here is my IBM 6901 "Personal Typing System" computer running it's original software. - More Info […]
Show full quote

Here is my IBM 6901 "Personal Typing System" computer running it's original software. - More Info

1.jpg

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4.jpg

Very nice.

Welcome to vogons.

I always like the functionality of software like that and similar "Works" type software from Spinniker et el......

New guy here.

Tried my hand at a Pentium 166 MMX build and I'm rather pleased with it. I'm still looking for a Voodoo 1, so the 3DFX badge is cheating, I guess 😀

Specs

• ASUS Socket 7 Motherboard TXP4 (rev. 1.02)
• HERCULES TERMINATOR 3D/DX 4MB S3 VIRGE
• Intel Pentium 166 MMX
• CREATIVE CT2230 SOUND BLASTER 16
• Lotharek floppy emulator
• Adaptec SCSI controller
• IBM SCSI 4 speed CD-ROM drive
• Panasonic 3.5" floppy drive
• Teac 5.25" floppy drive

My original idea was to switch between the 3.5" and 5.25" drives as drive A:\ when I needed them, but I ended up removing them entirely as the Lotharek drive really won me over. Luckily I painted a couple of face plates for that eventuality 😀

Einherje wrote on 2021-09-06, 06:59:

New guy here. […]
Show full quote

New guy here.

Tried my hand at a Pentium 166 MMX build and I'm rather pleased with it. I'm still looking for a Voodoo 1, so the 3DFX badge is cheating, I guess 😀

Specs

• ASUS Socket 7 Motherboard TXP4 (rev. 1.02)
• HERCULES TERMINATOR 3D/DX 4MB S3 VIRGE
• Intel Pentium 166 MMX
• CREATIVE CT2230 SOUND BLASTER 16
• Lotharek floppy emulator
• Adaptec SCSI controller
• IBM SCSI 4 speed CD-ROM drive
• Panasonic 3.5" floppy drive
• Teac 5.25" floppy drive

My original idea was to switch between the 3.5" and 5.25" drives as drive A:\ when I needed them, but I ended up removing them entirely as the Lotharek drive really won me over. Luckily I painted a couple of face plates for that eventuality 😀

this looks great, going to go with win 95, 98, something else?

gerry wrote on 2021-09-06, 08:03:

this looks great, going to go with win 95, 98, something else?

I went with DOS 6.22 yesterday and although I got zero experience with DOS, my flailing away at AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS seemed to work out. It's quite a kick to observe the Soundblaster and SCSI controller kick into action and actually do would they're supposed to do 😁

A couple of noob questions from a guy who had barely learned to walk when this system was relevant:

• I'm planning to go WIN 98 SE eventually. Is DOS 7.1 sufficient for 1990+ era DOS gaming?
• On the hardware front I've just changed the capacitors on the main board, as they looked bulgy. All other caps looks absolutely fine, even on the PSU, although they are way past their shelf life. Would it be good practice to change caps on everything, although they seem to work ok?

Einherje wrote on 2021-09-06, 11:07:

[*]I'm planning to go WIN 98 SE eventually. Is DOS 7.1 sufficient for 1990+ era DOS gaming?

"Sufficient" is a strange choice of words. I'd say all your games will run just fine, if that's what you're worried about.

Einherje wrote on 2021-09-06, 11:07:

[*]On the hardware front I've just changed the capacitors on the main board, as they looked bulgy. All other caps looks absolutely fine, even on the PSU, although they are way past their shelf life. Would it be good practice to change caps on everything, although they seem to work ok?

Some people will say yes, but personally I rarely bother and so far no cards exploded. If you notice some instability or some components not working as they should then it will definitely be a good idea to replace caps. If the PSU you're using is really from the early 90's recapping it will surely not hurt if you want some peace of mind.

devius wrote on 2021-09-06, 17:45:

"Sufficient" is a strange choice of words. I'd say all your games will run just fine, if that's what you're worried about.

True. I am thinking of compatibility.

devius wrote on 2021-09-06, 17:45:

Some people will say yes, but personally I rarely bother and so far no cards exploded. If you notice some instability or some components not working as they should then it will definitely be a good idea to replace caps. If the PSU you're using is really from the early 90's recapping it will surely not hurt if you want some peace of mind.

I'll probably follow your example. As my main board has an ATX connector, do you think I will be ok, if I substitute the old AT PSU with an ATX unit? I'm not entirely sure if I need a -5v rail for the ISA Soundblaster 16 card?

Einherje wrote on 2021-09-06, 11:07:

I went with DOS 6.22 yesterday and although I got zero experience with DOS, my flailing away at AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS seem […]
Show full quote

gerry wrote on 2021-09-06, 08:03:

this looks great, going to go with win 95, 98, something else?

I went with DOS 6.22 yesterday and although I got zero experience with DOS, my flailing away at AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS seemed to work out. It's quite a kick to observe the Soundblaster and SCSI controller kick into action and actually do would they're supposed to do 😁

A couple of noob questions from a guy who had barely learned to walk when this system was relevant:

• I'm planning to go WIN 98 SE eventually. Is DOS 7.1 sufficient for 1990+ era DOS gaming?
• On the hardware front I've just changed the capacitors on the main board, as they looked bulgy. All other caps looks absolutely fine, even on the PSU, although they are way past their shelf life. Would it be good practice to change caps on everything, although they seem to work ok?

nice pic 😀

most DOS games work ok under windows 98se, I have 98se running on a P166mmx with 64mb ram and it works just fine, games that a difficult under windows tend to also be difficult under DOS anyway!

on capacitors, some people change them all, I don't - it usually isn't necessary, if the computer has no problem why risk making one by changing stuff like this?

testing capacitors is worthy, especially if something is amiss with the component / pc