Try changing the video card, I got a good jump when using the S3 ViRGE.

Perhaps use DOOM and QUAKE timedemos. Speedsys doesn't catch a lot of the Cyrix enhancements.

BSA Starfire wrote:

That is intersting, what program and settings would I need for Cyrix Media GX(Compaq presario 2232), it sure could do with a boost if one is available.

Your question inspired me to create a new thread which details all the programs and commands I use for various CPU registers. Register settings for various CPUs

Thanks feiopa, very interesting 😀

You should be able to use the information contained in the MediaGX section to speed up your MediaGX

This takes me back to the days I first joined in here. I had just found a complete socket 7 system with a Cyrix 6x86 PR166 and an S3 Virge and was trying to get the most out of it. It was a good experience, since it taught me how to work around autoexec.bat and config.sys setups. After a few months I found an MMX 200 and later on an MMX 233, so the Cyrix didn't last long, but I still look at those chips with admiration for the same reasons Anonymous Coward posted.

This is a really great build, replace the Rage 2 with a good ViRGE (one that doesn't have crappy IQ) and you're good to go!

It also helps to know their price in the context of time relative to the Pentiums they were competing against to appreciate them better 😀

BSA Starfire wrote:

Thanks feiopa, very interesting 😀

The programs I mentioned for enabling the features of the Cyrix MediaGX can be located in this thread, www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=30607
Have you had any luck with this? I added a Banshee to my MediaGX build and GLQuake really flys.

A couple of more recent updates/upgrades...

First of all, my proposed S3 Virge for this build does not work - I've not tested in anything else but refuses to boot on this setup.

Adaptec AHA-1520B ISA SCSI Card
This was installed to use a Sony SCSI 12x CD-ROM drive I have. It works perfectly in Windows - however when I try to use the EZ DOSINSTALL.EXE it just stops on "SCSI scanning EZ6X60.EZ" I can control + alt + delete and the system reboots so its not a hard lock. Any ideas?

Not the best color match! But works perfectly. I also put in a floppy drive which I got off ebay - It refuses to work, upon closer inspection I can see on of the pins is pushed right back.

Lastly, a controller card which I had laying around since I have no COM or LPT headers.

The latest gubbins!

I've been using a fair bit, setting up and testing out some out Windows Programs which I used to own. I've also managed to find and install Dr Solomon's 7.5 Antivirus which I used to have on my Pentium 75! protecting me against 1996 virus's 🤣

So this evening I've spent a little more time with the machine.

S3 Virge DX
Managed to get this working, gave it a clean and ensured it was seated correctly. It's a Virge DX with 4mb on board. The image quality is great, very sharp.

Seagate 4.3Gb Hard Drive
For that authentic sound/speed! 😵 Not an update but didn't post any photos of it previously.

Optical Drives
I had problems getting the SCSI dos installation program to fully install. In the end I took out the AWE64 and the installer worked without any issues! The trouble is I had around 545k free conventional memory after the SCSI drivers were installed - despite "Load High"

So I've decided to put both drives in, I use the 12x SCSI Sony drive in Windows which is very quiet and use the IDE (48x) in dos - but using QCD @ 4x (600) - something I could not make work/or reduce the speed in Windows. Also the newer drive is compatible with different brands of CD-R/RWs.

Clean up!
Whilst having a reshuffle I did some cable management

Benchmarks

Doom 1.9 - 2134/1096 realtics (68.1fps)
Quake - 21.7
PCPBench - 40.8

@ PR200+ (150mhz) Just to test

Doom 1.9 - 2134/1022 realtics (73.0fps)
Quake - 23.6
PCPBench - 44.3