I think a Nx686, Paradise Tasmania 3D, Ensoniq Soundscape Elite, IBM MFC and some Thomas Conrad network adapter...

And then there are those Dual 386 or even 8x 386 boards...

clueless1 wrote:

Maybe we could "build" a 486-based system with the Creative 3D Blaster VLB. What other 486-era components could we use to complete the fantasy build? What about one of those early Pentium boards with VLB slots. 🤣

Well this is sure rarer than a Pentium VLB!

I have seen Nx587 chips on the interwebs but never seen a board that can take this chip. Please enlighten me if someone can find a picture of Nx586 and Nx587 chips on the same board!

clueless1 wrote:

So maybe this as a fantasy retro PC: K5-PR200 Hercules Stingray 64 Quantum Obsidian V1 Adlib Gold Roland LAPC-I […]
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So maybe this as a fantasy retro PC:
K5-PR200
Hercules Stingray 64
Quantum Obsidian V1
Adlib Gold
Roland LAPC-I

Would that be relatively period correct to have all those in one PC?

Adlib might be too old for the other companions.

clueless1 wrote:

Maybe we could "build" a 486-based system with the Creative 3D Blaster VLB. What other 486-era components could we use to complete the fantasy build? What about one of those early Pentium boards with VLB slots. 🤣

How about adding a capture card like the ISA IBM/Intel ActionMedia II? 😁

Or a rig with one of the lesser known superfloppy drives, like the ones from Sony or that Caleb one? 😜

How about IBM PS/2 Model 80/MCA with Roland MPU-IMC and Soundpiper 16 rev 2?

Some rare components imho

Cirrus CL-GD5434 ISA
ATi Mach64 ISA 2MB
K6-3+ 550Mhz
Athlon 1000 Slot-A
S3 Savage2000
ATi Rage Fury Maxx 64MB
Geforce2 Ultra 64MB
Hercules 3D Prophet4800 STG4800
Radeon 9800 256MB DDR-2
Volari V8 Duo

Well after a bit of digging it looks like no one has yet to build a rig around a BitBoys Glaze3D 4800 or a Axe3D (infamous vaporware from around 2001).

I would probably pick non prototype parts as the basis, things to actually have a chance at obtaining rather than things someones best friends sisters uncle saw mentioned once in a trade magazine photo.

386SX wrote:

Some rare components imho […]
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Some rare components imho

Cirrus CL-GD5434 ISA
ATi Mach64 ISA 2MB
K6-3+ 550Mhz
Athlon 1000 Slot-A
S3 Savage2000
ATi Rage Fury Maxx 64MB
Geforce2 Ultra 64MB
Hercules 3D Prophet4800 STG4800
Radeon 9800 256MB DDR-2
Volari V8 Duo

From the list I had (recently sold) the Athlon 1000 slot A and GeForce 2 Ultra (Asus).
At one point in time I had 3 Fury MAXX, only one left now.

I've got an Athlon Slot A that I've never looked at (still in the full tower case it came in). Is it just the 1Ghz that's rare?

clueless1 wrote:

I've got an Athlon Slot A that I've never looked at (still in the full tower case it came in). Is it just the 1Ghz that's rare?

I think a slot A cpu above 800mhz is pretty rare (i have never seen one or seen one for sale locally). Socket A came pretty quick.

How about the 1.5Ghz celeron paired with a powerleap, power leaps are getting pretty hard to find as well.

.... or the Pentium 4 Extreme Edition 3.73 SL7Z4

clueless1 wrote:

in some period-correct combination of the most rare components in one PC would be pretty awesome.

...Not really? The more exotic the configuration, the more likely you are to end up tearing your hair out because of someone's inadequately-tested driver, or some other obscure compatibility bug due to reliance on some standard that wasn't specified carefully enough.

I mean, if you like having another metal box collecting dust that you can brag about, I guess that's awesome.

Jorpho wrote:

...Not really? The more exotic the configuration, the more likely you are to end up tearing your hair out because of someone's inadequately-tested driver, or some other obscure compatibility bug due to reliance on some standard that wasn't specified carefully enough.

I mean, if you like having another metal box collecting dust that you can brag about, I guess that's awesome.

Well I'd be pumped if some one has such a build and brags in front of me! 🤣

*shrug*

This is just a fantasy thread. Don't ruin it with reality checks. 🤣

Has anyone ever build a rig using VC-SDRAM? I'm not even sure I even have any such DIMMs laying around 🤣

As far as rare motherboards go, how about the IBM Blue Lightning?
http://www.os2museum.com/wp/ibm-blue-lightnin … ds-fastest-386/

I actually own one of these, and it's a really interesting beast, especially since you can pop in a Pentium Overdrive to bypass the IBM DLC3 processor.

Mine has a busted serial controller, but works fine with an expansion card.

Not really a "build" or even a PC, but I've got a Silicon Graphics Crimson RE (Reality Engine) that's probably one of only handful left in existence...

I have a 900MHz slot A Athlon with a kadoka motherboard, I don't see those anywhere.

meljor wrote:

clueless1 wrote:

I've got an Athlon Slot A that I've never looked at (still in the full tower case it came in). Is it just the 1Ghz that's rare?

I think a slot A cpu above 800mhz is pretty rare (i have never seen one or seen one for sale locally). Socket A came pretty quick.

Oh well, I pulled the one I have out and checked it. It's 700Mhz.