Need some advices for a new retropc build \ VOGONS

Need some advices for a new retropc build

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First post, by N3T

Posted on 2013-09-30, 17:27

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Hi, everyone. Nice work with the manuals and guides (and the wiki)!!
I've read a lot of posts from this board and I'm currently thinking about making a retro computer, I've a couple of old components and computers and I've got a lot of experience about hardware (I started with a Spectrum ZX Spectrum, passed throught an Atari STFM and later STE and ended with a PC career from my first second hand 80286 to today). I'm currently a networking and hardware teacher, so no problems with "high" tech explanations 😊

My idea is playing with two m ain group of games (to play with MT-32 and Soud Blaster), here is the first list:

Game Sistem Year MiniumSpecs
Alien Brred DOS 1991 80286
Armour-Geddon DOS 1994 80286
Beneath a Steel Sky DOS/WIN 1994 80386
Bloodnet DOS 1993 80386
Day of the Tentacle DOS 1993 80286/8MB
Dune DOS 1992 80386/CD
Dune2 DOS 1993 80286/2MB/CD
Elite DOS 1984 8086
F29 Retaliator DOS 1991 80286
Future Wars DOS 1989 8086
Hired Guns DOS 1993
Heart of China DOS/WIN 1991 80286
Heimdall DOS 1991 80286
Indiana Jones Fate (enhaced) DOS 1993 80286/3MB
I came from the Desert DOS 1989 8086/
Jurassic Park DOS 1993 80386
King's Quest VIII DOS/Win 1994 486DX2/8MB
Knights of Sky DOS 1990 80286/1MB
Larry 6 DOS/WIN 1993 80386/CD
Future Wars DOS 1989 8086
LOOM DOS 1992 80286/CD
LOTUS III DOS 1992 80286
Midwinter DOS 1989 8086
Monkey Island DOS 1990 8086
Flames of Freedom DOS 1991 8086
Noctropolis DOS/WIN 1994 80386/CD/4MB
Operation Stealth DOS 1990 8086
Pacific Strike DOS 1994 80486/4MB
Police Quest I DOS 1987 8086
Police Quest III DOS 1991 80286
Hard Drivin' DOS 1989 8086
Red Baron DOS/WIN 1992 386/CD
Sorcerian DOS 1990 8086
Space Quest DOS 1986 8086
Space Quest VI DOS/WIN 1996 80486/8MB
Special Forces DOS 1992 80286
Stunts DOS 1990 80286
Stellar 7 DOS 1990 8086-NOCD version
The Dark Half DOS 1992 80286
Dark Forces DOS/WIN 1996 80486/8MB
Shadowlands DOS 1992 80286
ShadowWorlds DOS 1992 80386
Star Control DOS 1990 8086
Star Wars: Tie Fighter DOS/WIN 1994 80386/2MB/CD
Star Wars: Xwing DOS/WIN 1993 80386/2MB/CD
Stunt Island DOS 1992 80386
Test Drive III DOS 1990 8086
UFO: XCOM DOS 1994 80386/2MB
TransportTycoonD DOS/WIN 1994 80386
Ultima VIII DOS 1994 80386
Viz The game DOS 1991 80286
Wing Commander DOS 1990 80286
Wing Commander II DOS/WIN 1991
Wing Commander III DOS/WIN 1994 80486/8MB/CD
Wing Commander IV DOS/WIN 1996 80486/8MB/CD
Also all Apogee collection

The second one I want are to play it with Glide (if avaible) are more advanced:

Game Sistem Year Minium Specs
Blood DOS 1997 Pentium/16MB
Carmageddon DOS 1997 Pentium/8MB/CD
Carmageddon2 Win95 1998 Pentium/16MB
Clive Barker's Undying Win95 2001 Pentium II/64MB
Daytona USA Deluxe Win95 1997 Pentium/16MB
Elder Scrolls Red Guard Win95/DOS 1998 Pentium/32MB/CD
GTA DOS 1997 DX4/16MB/
Gunmetal Win95 1998 ??
Interstate 76 Gold Win95 1997 Pentium/16MB
Lands of Lore 2 DOS 1997 Pentium/16MB/CD
Lands of Lore 3 Win95 1999 Pentium/32MB/CD
Populous: The Beginning Win95 1997 Pentium/16MB
Quake DOS 1996 186/8MB
Quake II WIN95 1997 Pentium/16MB
Shadow Warrior DOS 1997 Pentium/16MB
Shogo Win95 1998 Pentium/32MB/CD
SimCopter Win95 1996 Pentium/16MB
SIN Win95 1998 Pentium/32MB/CD
Star Wars Rogue Squadron 3D Win95 1998 Pentium/32MB/CD
Streets of Sim City Win95 1997 Pentium/32MB/CD
Terminal Velociy Win95 1995 486/4MB
Top Gun: Hornet's Nest Win95 1998 Pentium/32MB/CD
Twisted Metal 2 Win95 1997 Pentium/16MB
Unreal WIN95 1998 Pentium/16MB
US Navy Fighters Win95 1994 486/4MB

So... After viewing it those are my thoughts:

Can I've only one build to all of them or it's impposible (even with underclocking the CPU)?
If not i've thought Pentium 133 for the first one, the second one maybe an AMD K6-III? recommend me CPU's please.

I currently have an AWE32 PnP CT3620, maybe i must use it for the second build and use a PRO for the first one? Can i use it with a MT-32 attached?

I want the maxium quality to play MT-32 compatible games (Sierra one's) I must buy a MT-32 or there are any other options (I looked at other parts of the forum and only i've got a headache with so many Roland options...) 😢

Any other suggestions or advices are welcome 😊

Reply 1 of 11, by Mau1wurf1977

Posted on 2013-09-30, 17:32

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Hello!

A Pentium would cover pretty much all of the games.

Just disable the L1 and L2 cache in the BIOS and you got a 386 computer.

There is TON of info, but I have a YT channel that explains this all in detail, so here is just the "do this" short version 😀

For Sierra / Lucasarts / Origin games I would get:

- AWE64 GOLD
- Roland MT-32
- SoftMPU (free utility to enable intelligent mode)

And that's about it 😀

My website with reviews, demos, drivers, tutorials and more...
My YouTube channel

Reply 2 of 11, by N3T

Posted on 2013-09-30, 17:58

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Nice YT channel! I'm watching a couple of videos at this mmt... And yes, there's a ton of info at all the vogons forum... But too much and I've got a general idea but I wanted a more straight answer from one of the veterans members like you ^^
So, for the moment, your Build with a Super 7 socket AMD K6-III is suggested? (using underclocking and other techinques), or stick to my Pentium 133?

*Currently downloading your Roland 3h tutorial...

Last edited by N3T on 2013-09-30, 19:37. Edited 1 time in total.

Reply 3 of 11, by collector

Posted on 2013-09-30, 19:33

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Shouldn't this be in Marvin?

The Sierra Help Pages -- New Sierra Game Installers -- Sierra Game Patches -- New Non-Sierra Game Installers

Reply 4 of 11, by N3T

Posted on 2013-09-30, 19:40

N3T Offline

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collector wrote:
Shouldn't this be in Marvin?

I mistake of board ? Sorry for my fault then... Some mod move it if needed. 😢

Reply 5 of 11, by Mau1wurf1977

Posted on 2013-10-01, 02:04

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Pentium is perfectly fine. The main advantage of the K6 is that it goes faster.

But I'm back to a Pentium on my Time-Machine. It just has to be an Intel 😀

My website with reviews, demos, drivers, tutorials and more...
My YouTube channel

Reply 6 of 11, by bristlehog

Posted on 2013-10-01, 06:52

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SB32 CT3620 and CT3600 have severe MPU401 bugs. To use MT-32 you better get yourself some other sound card.

Hardware comparisons and game system requirements: https://technical.city

Reply 7 of 11, by RacoonRider

Posted on 2013-10-01, 07:04

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Redguard with 3dfx Voodoo graphics is kind of a pain on P233MMX @ 262Mhz with 64MB RAM, Unreal is better, average 30 fps with drops on open areas. I'd go with k6.

Reply 8 of 11, by rgart

Posted on 2013-10-01, 10:30

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Many of the games in your first list are around 1990-1994. I think they would all run on a 486DX2-66 or 486DX4-100

Dark Force and Wing Commander 4 may be a problem. The latter definitely requiring a Pentium.

Your second list 1995-2001 ... I think your going to require a Pentium II at least because of Clive Bakers Undying.

I dont think you can do both lists on one PC.

Last edited by rgart on 2013-10-02, 06:00. Edited 1 time in total.

=My Cyrix 5x86 systems : 120MHz vs 133MHz=. =My 486DX2-66MHz=

Reply 9 of 11, by N3T

Posted on 2013-10-01, 16:18

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RacoonRider wrote:
Redguard with 3dfx Voodoo graphics is kind of a pain on P233MMX @ 262Mhz with 64MB RAM, Unreal is better, average 30 fps with drops on open areas. I'd go with k6.

Ok then, I'll aim for a K6-III ( thanks to the Mau1wurf1977 tutorials I can underclock it to get a 386 power if needed, also it has support to 3D now extensions for certain games).

Any suggestions on graphics boards? A Voodoo 3, 2 Voodoo2 SLI + Main AGP(Nvidia TNT/S3 Virge or PCI card)... Dismiss Undying and Wing Commander IV. I want Glide support to play special games like Unreal (and the first tournament if I can).

Reply 10 of 11, by collector

Posted on 2013-10-01, 19:55

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Remember that the PC forum is about the emulation of PCs and hardware, not actual hardware.

The Sierra Help Pages -- New Sierra Game Installers -- Sierra Game Patches -- New Non-Sierra Game Installers

Reply 11 of 11, by N3T

Posted on 2013-10-01, 22:26

N3T Offline

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collector wrote:
Remember that the PC forum is about the emulation of PCs and hardware, not actual hardware.

Ok then, sorry for my mistake, i'll move and re-post on Marvin (I don't know how I didnt' see it before) 😵

New post:

Need some advices for a new retropc build (II)

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