That is an interesting motherboard. I'm jealous that you have games to run and test. I'm still waiting for steam to regain support for non-sse2 processors.

I see different information everywhere about the maximum memory and apparently some versions did allow the 4/4.5x multiplier, but I'm sure you've already seen the manual. If not it's here http://www.elhvb.com/supportbios.info/Archive … cer/v58xasg.pdf

I think that voodoo 3 is probably ideal for that machine, and I'm well aware that the one I put in mine is bottlenecked by the processor.

what is that metal thing you have holding the fan? is it meant to be used like that or something you just kinda rigged? I have a few machines where I could use something like that. its nice cause it doesn't take up a slot like a PCI fan.

Double post.

matt102498 wrote:

That is an interesting motherboard. I'm jealous that you have games to run and test. I'm still waiting for steam to regain support for non-sse2 processors.

I see different information everywhere about the maximum memory and apparently some versions did allow the 4/4.5x multiplier, but I'm sure you've already seen the manual. If not it's here http://www.elhvb.com/supportbios.info/Archive … cer/v58xasg.pdf

I think that voodoo 3 is probably ideal for that machine, and I'm well aware that the one I put in mine is bottlenecked by the processor.

Thanks for that, I'll have a read of the manual. I just quickly tried upping the FSB to 75mhz but resulted in BSOD, I'm guessing ill need to up the processor voltage. I've just ordered a K6-2 450 from ebay. So will have a play with that. I also read that AMD also mapped the x2 multiplier on some of the K6-2s to get around the low multipliers found on some motherboards.

foey wrote:

soviet conscript wrote:

what is that metal thing you have holding the fan? is it meant to be used like that or something you just kinda rigged? I have a few machines where I could use something like that. its nice cause it doesn't take up a slot like a PCI fan.

Its from the AMD Thunderbird Era for use on Zalman flower coolers. I just mounted the fan differently. See here... http://www.bitbenderforums.com/imaginasian/Za … _Mod/zalman.htm

Theres one on ebay...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Zalman-fan-bracket- … =item3a90c93d6a

It works really well and the fan is silent @ 7v.

-

surely your system is cpu bound, i can only say its expected to be that slow.

Today my CPU arrived...

AMD K6-2 450.

I knew I was in for some work as the motherboard does not officially support higher than a K6-300.

I had to set the jumpers on the board for the lower CPU type (CyrixMii) which allowed me to select a Multiplier of 2.
When the K6-2 was released many Socket 7 motherboards had low multipliers. For AMD to overcome this, they mapped 2 to equal 6 which allowed the CPU to run at the desired speed.
I also upped the voltage whilst I was playing around to 2.7 (CPU is 2.4) I'll try to lower this shortly - temps are within spec currently.

The 2 multiplier (=6) x66 gave me 400mhz which seemed stable. I tried upping the FSB to 75mhz this gave me 450mhz. whilst I was able to benchmark, the system was not stable. Therefore I dropped it down to 400mhz (66x6)

Overall its a nice jump in performance. Unreal Tournament is now playable at 640x480 @ 25fps. Quake 3 now gives me just under 20fps. 3Dmark looked to take advantage of 3Dnow! It ran so much smoother.

Can anyone suggest a decent ISA sound card for me to look out for?

foey wrote:

Can anyone suggest a decent ISA sound card for me to look out for?

It all depends what you want really. A good all-round card would be the SB AWE64 Gold, but it's got no OPL3. Depends if you see that as a good or a bad thing 😉
CT2230 has decent sound, no hanging note and it's an SB16, so compatibility is great. The SB Pro 2 is a classic, but becoming more and more pricey.
I know a lot of people swear by ESS Audio Drive cards, but I've not really had much personal experience with those.

Thanks, mainly want it to be compatible with DOS Games. The O/B sound is dire and having issues with some games.

I can't find any CT2230s on ebayuk. How is the CT4500 Sound Blaster AWE64?

2.7 volts seems very high, IMHO wouldn't run it at even 2.6 for long periods of time.

It is a sweet machine though 😀

I had a very similar one a long time ago, it was the Celeron model (black case).

foey wrote:

Thanks, mainly want it to be compatible with DOS Games. The O/B sound is dire and having issues with some games.

I can't find any CT2230s on ebayuk. How is the CT4500 Sound Blaster AWE64?

I had a CT4500 back in the days and was very happy with it, but I don't really know if it has any specific issues with older games.

An Aptiva-Revival-thread! 😁

mwdmeyer wrote:

2.7 volts seems very high, IMHO wouldn't run it at even 2.6 for long periods of time.

It is a sweet machine though 😀

I had a very similar one a long time ago, it was the Celeron model (black case).

Thanks 😀

I've lowered it to 2.2v now. Under volted by 0.2 (Runs at 2.4) but only running at 400mhz. Anything over 66 is unstable 😠 Still waiting on my new Socket 7 CPU cooler for it. The bearings are shot in the current fan.

My Pentium II Aptiva has the same case. It's positively monolithic.

A couple of upgrades this evening.

First of all the Heatsink fan, the bearings had gone in the previous one. New one arrived so I cleaned the CPU and applied some Artic Silver 5.

Found a DVD-ROM drive, Date stamped 2002. Upgrade from the black Compaq CD-ROM drive I had in there. It's hopeless at playing DVDs. My old K6-2 400 on a Super Socket MB @ 100mhz bus was quite a bit quicker, used to play DVDs without any issues. Although I did upgrade to a AGP TNT2 M64.

Next upgrade will be a Creative AWE64 (CT4500) which I'm hoping to get before the end of the week.

I think this is starting to seem like a nice little system. It might not be the quickest for running those demanding 3D games, but it's perfect for so many thing.
Would be excellent for a long evening with popcorn and Command & Conquer: Red Alert 😀
Also, if you can find a Creative Dxr2 or Dxr3 board, it'll be perfectly capable of playing DVDs 😀

LunarG wrote:

I think this is starting to seem like a nice little system. It might not be the quickest for running those demanding 3D games, but it's perfect for so many thing.
Would be excellent for a long evening with popcorn and Command & Conquer: Red Alert 😀
Also, if you can find a Creative Dxr2 or Dxr3 board, it'll be perfectly capable of playing DVDs 😀

Thanks 😀

Its pretty close to what I used to own back in 1998, minus a Super Socket 7 board with AGP. It's been fun. Looking forward to the sound card, then I can start playing some DOS Games.

I've seen a couple of DXR2/3 boards on ebay which are cheap, however none of them come with cables - Just the card itself. I'm assuming they are next to useless without the correct cables?

Yes, I don't think they'll be very useful without the cables. I saw a full Creative DVD kit on ebay a while ago, with DVD-ROM, Dxr3 board and all the cables, software and such, brand new in box. Wasn't that cheap though. Not sure about what the passthrough cable is like. Might be possible to find the specs online and make one.