Sorry for short and incomplete reply. I can't explain my position more complex and full because english not my language 🙁
1. As i know Win98 not working or working very bad with nForce chipset.
i440bx will be best choice for this OS. And with right mobo you can reach in future upgrades up to 1.7ghz perfomance.
2. Win98 can't eat no more than 512mb RAM without issues. With some tricks you can use more (up to 1gb), anyway it is more buggy. With RAM even more, than 1gb normal work not guaranteed.
3. Video Card. Something from GeForce or Voodoo series. Not ATI. In many old DOS games ATI card have issues with horisontal scrolling (Keen, Dave2, Hocus Pocus and etc.)
4. Sound. You can happily use Live! and ISA SB card together. There is no big issues. And get normal directsound compatible and accelerated sound for win32 applications and pure ISA SB16 sound for DOS games. Use both.
5. http://exuberant.ms11.net/98sesp.html
This update pack is a bit outdated. Use MDCU package. More recent and still updating (description in russian, but don't worry. I can help you with this one if need).

You need to make an Unattended 98 Boot CD first: http://www.msfn.org/board/Unattended-Boot-CD- … -46-t88008.html

(Don't install the Revolutions pack)

Then download the latest AutoPatcher and run it: http://www.msfn.org/board/Unattended-Boot-CD- … -46-t88008.html

Read this post concerning VCACHE: http://www.msfn.org/board/VCACHE-fix-attempt- … tml&mode=linear

Also feel free to post in that forum if you have any questions.

I know before, I had sometimes used RAMDRIVE or RAMDISK in config.sys/autoexec.bat. What about having 512M used for that before booting Win98, then direct the EMM386 to the ram drive? I know I can redirect pagefile in XP, but can't remember if it is doable in 98.

Just stick to 512MB or less in 9x. That's grossly huge for like every retro game anyway.

I'd go with 440BX, P3, GeForceFX, and a SB16 or AWE64 for DOS + SBLive (for Win). Ultra66/100/133 cards are nice for their speed benefit. No reason to gimp hard drive speed. I have never had a compatibility issue caused by them. Some of them don't get along with SBLive! and 440BX tho. You may need to swap PCI slots around to make them happy.

Unfortunately, the Dell GX1 I think is the 440BX you are referring to, and it has no AGP ports for a card, just integrated AGP ATI. I have to check the HP and Gateway boards though, and let you know (probably within the next 5 hrs).

You might want to take a look here:

http://www.nforcershq.com/forum/solved-instal … on-vt20949.html
http://www.nforcershq.com/forum/no-ems-suppor … a--vt40715.html
http://www.nforcershq.com/forum/re-no-ems-sup … 2-vp317523.html

How I installed Win95 on an nForce2 rig.

UPDATED my hardware list!
Looks like I was right on most of it!

nForce 2 has more than one PCI bus, doesn't it? That will cause an issue with Vortex cards in 9x. There's a registry workaround out there, but I'm not sure how reliable it is.

To OP: Well, just build something and let us know how it goes. 😀 One can never tell exactly what the best DOS rig will be.

swaaye wrote:

nForce 2 has more than one PCI bus, doesn't it? That will cause an issue with Vortex cards in 9x. There's a registry workaround out there, but I'm not sure how reliable it is.

I didn't mention having a Vortex, so not sure what you mean?

swaaye wrote:

To OP: Well, just build something and let us know how it goes. 😀 One can never tell exactly what the best DOS rig will be.

Yeah, think you're right. It might take me a while, having little time during the week (work, 2 kids, etc.) and depending no time on the weekends (hasn't been that last two and this one coming is spoken for) Mostly why I was asking for the best route. Looks like I'm leaning towards this...

The HP ASUS P2B-VE board
550 P3
256MB (will try 384 with a 256 and 128)
Geforce 5600 FX 256MB (AGP)
?-Voodoo2 Black Magic-? (PCI-1)
REALMagic DVD card (PCI-2 - Maybe - for the hell of it)
Ultra133 card (PCI-3 - No other use for it anyway)
SB Live (PCI-4)
SB AWE64 (ISA - Line out to Line in of SB Live?)

I guess my main two questions with this setup...
1) Would there be a need for the Voodoo2? I have looked, but been able to find good info on if a glide wrapper (zeckensack's) is better or much difference to real voodoo2? Zeckensack even recomends the FX series over 6 series, so the 5600FX should be good. I need to buy a new heatsink for it though, so wanted to be sure.

2) Would going Line out to line in either way on the sound cards be good? or just split the Speaker outs to the speakers?

The A7N8X-E is still an awesome board. The XP 2500 mobile is unlocked so I can pump that at what ever speed I want. Cooled by a Thermalright SP-97 and takes an 80mm fan, so that is easily replaceable. Most of it's life has been at 2.5GHz and has outpaced my P4 HT 3.4GHz work machine. SiSoft Sandra gives it a ~3700MHz rating. The OCZ 2-2-2-5 RAM is TOPS! So, maybe when XP goes the way of 98, it will be my XP gaming RIG. Not letting that one go.

mhenry676 wrote:

I didn't mention having a Vortex, so not sure what you mean?

It just occured to me after the discussion about NF2 and Win95 above. NF2 can cause problems for Win9x drivers. Vortex is one example I've personally come across.

mhenry676 wrote:

1) Would there be a need for the Voodoo2? I have looked, but been able to find good info on if a glide wrapper (zeckensack's) is better or much difference to real voodoo2? Zeckensack even recomends the FX series over 6 series, so the 5600FX should be good. I need to buy a new heatsink for it though, so wanted to be sure.

2) Would going Line out to line in either way on the sound cards be good? or just split the Speaker outs to the speakers?

Zeckensack's Glide wrapper is excellent. I've used it with quite a few games. Of course, a Voodoo2 will be more compatible inevitably, but it also has its usual blurry texturing and will blur your 2D due to the passthru. I don't like that much at all. 😀

For multiple sound cards, I just run the outputs to the inputs and run the speakers off of a single card. Using a splitter works ok too, but I've found that it causes output level to drop. Some sort of electrical quirk/short when you connect both outputs, I'm guessing.