Unofficial Ghost wrote on 2023-03-06, 16:20:

Still want to add a couple of things, and there's always room for more stickers, but here's my Windows 98 SE build so far. […]
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Still want to add a couple of things, and there's always room for more stickers, but here's my Windows 98 SE build so far.

Specs are:

AsRock P4i65G
Pentium 4 2.66Ghz,
GeForce FX 5900 XT
SB Audigy 2 ZS
512MB RAM
21" iiyama CRT

Added some modern upgrades such as: Noctua fans, Startech CPU Cooler, 128GB SSD (loaded into a hot swap 3.5" bay) & a Seasonic 550W PSU.

And recently picked up an Artic NV Silencer 3 cooler for the GPU... good bit of kit & a breath of fresh air compared to the noisy stock fan!

Other stuff: Denon PMA-450 amp + Acoustic Research AR18s speakers (games/music etc sound amazing on these 8" beasts!! 😀)

Nice! Are these speakers shielded?

Unofficial Ghost wrote on 2023-03-06, 16:20:

IMG_0141.JPG File size

to apply a meme...

Q: "so, which sticker would you like on the case?"
A: "Yes"

- one of my old photos of my old rigs(I still have Abit ic7 siluro , boxed , some ram , Wildcat gpu agp-pro , a 40-80 gb drive , Pentium 4 Northwood cpu I think it is inside 3.06... or not can't remember)
- the bottom one is the case I used for my i66-486 rebuild

- old pc I use to have 1.5 decades ago , still have the Thermaltake case , I will return with more photos.

hydroksyde - beware of storage units , not to loose anything I seen the discovery and history storage wars .... so sad.

Hello to all users of retro hardware!
When I browse posts here, I'm glad there are still freaks like me 😀

I just finished building my retro station.

I have some 8 bit machines like C64 or Atari, but since that kind of computers are off topic here, I will focus on PC machines.

All PCs are placed under the desk .

On top, there is 286 computer which is my slowest machine.
CPU: 286
RAM: 4MB short SIMM's
Graphics: Trident TVGA9000I-2 512 KB ISA
Sound: Crystal CS4239-KQ
Network: SMC ISA Card (work perfect with packet driver and MTCP)
HDD: 2x Seagate 120MB
There is also ZOLTRIX ISA Modem just for better look 😀
Installed OS: DOS 6.22 + Windows 3.1 for Workgroups

First tower form left is 386 machine
CPU: 386SX
RAM: 4MB short SIMM's
Graphics: Trident ISA 512KB TVGA8900C and Hercules. This machne is connected to VGA monitor, and amber Hercules monitor. There is switch on front of tower wchih allows to disable Hercules card.
Network: Some model of 3COM (work with packet driver and MTCP)
Sound: Some AZTEH model
HDD: Some Seagate Medalist 2,5GB model clipped to 512MB CHS by jumper
Installed OS: DOS 6.22 + Windows 3.11 for Workgroups

Second tower from left is Socket 7 Pentium 133 Machine:
CPU: Intel Pentium 133 on Socket 7
RAM: 64 MB long SIMM's EDO
Graphics: S3 Trio 2MB + 3Dfx Voodoo
Network: 3COM 3C905. For some reason i can't get it to work with packet driver in DOS.
Sound: Some ISA card with OPL-3 chip
HDD: Samsung 20GB plus Seagate Medalist 20 GB. There is only 2x 8GB available, because there is no modded BIOS for this MB. I have tried to modd BIOS manually, without succes.
Installed OS: DOS 6.22 + Windows 3.11 for Workgroups, Windows 95 OSR2, Windows 98 SE, Windows NT 4, Windows XP (yes, after heavy debloating, it works on such machine). GRUB4DOS is used to switch OS'es.

Third tower is Pentium II machine:
CPU: Pentium II 400
RAM: 256MB SDRAM
Graphics: RIVA TNT2 and Trident TVGA8000
Network: 3COM 3C905
Sound: Creative CT2960
HDD: Western Digital 80GB
Installed OS: DOS 6.22 + Windows 3.11 for Workgroups, Windows 98 SE. GRUB4DOS is used to switch OS'es.

There is bios reset switch, and switch for graphic card select. This MB has BIOS which don't allow to select between ISA and AGP graphic card. When BIOS detects ISA graphic, it is arbitrally selected, and there is no way to avoid this. I solved this problem by adding switch, which disables one of two EPROM's of Trident graphics card. This inhibits detection of ISA graphics.

I prefer Trident cards, because they allow to force Hercules and CGA mode on hardware level, wchih i very like.

All machines have 1,44 MB floppy and 286, 486 and Pentium II machines also have 5,5 '' floppy.
All machines have CD drives (mainly LG recorders).

I made sound selector, based on AVR chip and low signal relay switches. Same device works as video switch for 8bit machines. The switch is connected to my stereo.
I haven't built it yet sound selector for PC's, machines are just daisy chained with Line out → Line in method.

All machines have improved PC speakers (Two-way speakers with woofer and tweeter).

VGA display can be selected by tree of mechanical and electronic KVM switches. Panasonic PanaSync SL75 CRT oraz LG Flatron L1717 can be selected. There is also analog TV for 8 bit machines. Atari and C64 can work with PC monitors via AVER external tuner.

Each PC machine have separate keyboard and mouse, except Pentium 133 and Pentium II machine which share same keyboard and mouse together by automatic KVM switch.

netdemon wrote on 2023-04-15, 15:45:

Hello to all users of retro hardware! When I browse posts here, I'm glad there are still freaks like me :) […]
Show full quote

Hello to all users of retro hardware!
When I browse posts here, I'm glad there are still freaks like me 😀

I just finished building my retro station.

I have some 8 bit machines like C64 or Atari, but since that kind of computers are off topic here, I will focus on PC machines.

All PCs are placed under the desk .

On top, there is 286 computer which is my slowest machine.
CPU: 286
RAM: 4MB short SIMM's
Graphics: Trident TVGA9000I-2 512 KB ISA
Sound: Crystal CS4239-KQ
Network: SMC ISA Card (work perfect with packet driver and MTCP)
HDD: 2x Seagate 120MB
There is also ZOLTRIX ISA Modem just for better look 😀
Installed OS: DOS 6.22 + Windows 3.1 for Workgroups

First tower form left is 386 machine
CPU: 386SX
RAM: 4MB short SIMM's
Graphics: Trident ISA 512KB TVGA8900C and Hercules. This machne is connected to VGA monitor, and amber Hercules monitor. There is switch on front of tower wchih allows to disable Hercules card.
Network: Some model of 3COM (work with packet driver and MTCP)
Sound: Some AZTEH model
HDD: Some Seagate Medalist 2,5GB model clipped to 512MB CHS by jumper
Installed OS: DOS 6.22 + Windows 3.11 for Workgroups

Second tower from left is Socket 7 Pentium 133 Machine:
CPU: Intel Pentium 133 on Socket 7
RAM: 64 MB long SIMM's EDO
Graphics: S3 Trio 2MB + 3Dfx Voodoo
Network: 3COM 3C905. For some reason i can't get it to work with packet driver in DOS.
Sound: Some ISA card with OPL-3 chip
HDD: Samsung 20GB plus Seagate Medalist 20 GB. There is only 2x 8GB available, because there is no modded BIOS for this MB. I have tried to modd BIOS manually, without succes.
Installed OS: DOS 6.22 + Windows 3.11 for Workgroups, Windows 95 OSR2, Windows 98 SE, Windows NT 4, Windows XP (yes, after heavy debloating, it works on such machine). GRUB4DOS is used to switch OS'es.

Third tower is Pentium II machine:
CPU: Pentium II 400
RAM: 256MB SDRAM
Graphics: RIVA TNT2 and Trident TVGA8000
Network: 3COM 3C905
Sound: Creative CT2960
HDD: Western Digital 80GB
Installed OS: DOS 6.22 + Windows 3.11 for Workgroups, Windows 98 SE. GRUB4DOS is used to switch OS'es.

There is bios reset switch, and switch for graphic card select. This MB has BIOS which don't allow to select between ISA and AGP graphic card. When BIOS detects ISA graphic, it is arbitrally selected, and there is no way to avoid this. I solved this problem by adding switch, which disables one of two EPROM's of Trident graphics card. This inhibits detection of ISA graphics.

I prefer Trident cards, because they allow to force Hercules and CGA mode on hardware level, wchih i very like.

All machines have 1,44 MB floppy and 286, 486 and Pentium II machines also have 5,5 '' floppy.
All machines have CD drives (mainly LG recorders).

I made sound selector, based on AVR chip and low signal relay switches. Same device works as video switch for 8bit machines. The switch is connected to my stereo.
I haven't built it yet sound selector for PC's, machines are just daisy chained with Line out → Line in method.

All machines have improved PC speakers (Two-way speakers with woofer and tweeter).

VGA display can be selected by tree of mechanical and electronic KVM switches. Panasonic PanaSync SL75 CRT oraz LG Flatron L1717 can be selected. There is also analog TV for 8 bit machines. Atari and C64 can work with PC monitors via AVER external tuner.

Each PC machine have separate keyboard and mouse, except Pentium 133 and Pentium II machine which share same keyboard and mouse together by automatic KVM switch.

Very nice looking collection!! Welcome to VOGONS!!!

netdemon wrote on 2023-04-15, 15:45:

Hello to all users of retro hardware!
When I browse posts here, I'm glad there are still freaks like me 😀

very nice set up!

also liked that little Tiross tv/radio 😀

Recently.... (not quite done yet). 486 S-66i

ediflorianUS wrote on 2023-04-20, 10:20:

Recently.... (not quite done yet). 486 S-66i

Oh a classic ESCOM case. From the great time of the ESCOM / Vobis war .... wich (spoiler alert) nobody won ... 😁

I remember a friend of my parents had one of those ESCOM Big Towers with a Pentium 90 if i remember correctly... He was Pilot for an airline and needed always a strong PC for his Flight Simulator training. Good Times.

Finally found the mini tower case I've been looking for. This is the exact same case that I had in high school for my am386DX-40 system. I just purchased this one on eBay and it looks to have an i486SX-25 CPU on a SIH 486B motherboard. There's a network card, IO card, video card, and modem installed. Also looks to have a Colorado tape drive but I didn't see any controller card for that one. Will know more about it when it arrives in a few days!

Jamieson wrote on 2023-04-24, 17:15:

Finally found the mini tower case I've been looking for. This is the exact same case that I had in high school for my am386DX-40 system. I just purchased this one on eBay and it looks to have an i486SX-25 CPU on a SIH 486B motherboard. There's a network card, IO card, video card, and modem installed. Also looks to have a Colorado tape drive but I didn't see any controller card for that one. Will know more about it when it arrives in a few days!

That power switch reminds me of a mini-tower I had because the print on it wore off not long after I got it.

I had same tower when I was in elementary school! Pure beauty!

Jamieson wrote on 2023-04-24, 17:15:

Finally found the mini tower case I've been looking for. This is the exact same case that I had in high school for my am386DX-40 system. I just purchased this one on eBay and it looks to have an i486SX-25 CPU on a SIH 486B motherboard. There's a network card, IO card, video card, and modem installed. Also looks to have a Colorado tape drive but I didn't see any controller card for that one. Will know more about it when it arrives in a few days!

will be interesting to read your thoughts on it when it arrives, and maybe some more pics - it does look to be good condition

Hi, new to Vogons!

I'm not sure how much period correctness is the rule or just the desired aesthetic round here but... this ain't it. 😂 For this one I wanted to build a nice slick Slot 1 system, but put it in a modern case because... why the heck not.

Anyway:

ABIT BF6
Pentium III 1000MHz (133 FSB)
3 x 256MB PC133 Memory
AOpen GeForce4 MX440 64MB AGP
Sound Blaster Live! CT4760
FastTrak 100 TX2 IDE controller
CF to IDE adapter
SD to IDE adapter (both? sure!)

Ooooh:

And for my retro cred, my old system from ~20 years ago:
(can't remember what exactly is going on here)

Retro hardware looks surprisingly good when placed in modern cases, allowing for a level of cable management that simply wasn't possible back in the day!

That's a very nice clean build! 😀

Great build! What kind of slotket is that and also curious what cpu heatsink you're using? It looks to be pretty lightweight in combination with the Noctua fan.

ubiq wrote on 2023-05-01, 00:21:

Hi, new to Vogons! […]
Show full quote

Hi, new to Vogons!

I'm not sure how much period correctness is the rule or just the desired aesthetic round here but... this ain't it. 😂 For this one I wanted to build a nice slick Slot 1 system, but put it in a modern case because... why the heck not.

Anyway:
IMG_4412.jpeg

ABIT BF6
Pentium III 1000MHz (133 FSB)
3 x 256MB PC133 Memory
AOpen GeForce4 MX440 64MB AGP
Sound Blaster Live! CT4760
FastTrak 100 TX2 IDE controller
CF to IDE adapter
SD to IDE adapter (both? sure!)

IMG_4411.jpeg

Ooooh:
IMG_4413.jpeg

And for my retro cred, my old system from ~20 years ago:
(can't remember what exactly is going on here)
hd.jpg

That is a great looking system. I also love a good retro build in modern cases. What's nice is that you can really showcase your components and with much better airflow keep them cooler and extend lifetimes.

ubiq wrote on 2023-05-01, 00:21:

Hi, new to Vogons!

I'm not sure how much period correctness is the rule or just the desired aesthetic round here but... this ain't it. 😂 For this one I wanted to build a nice slick Slot 1 system, but put it in a modern case because... why the heck not.

looks good, nice to see vintage hardware in modern cases and the other way round can often look good too

mrzmaster wrote on 2023-05-01, 15:40:

Great build! What kind of slotket is that and also curious what cpu heatsink you're using? It looks to be pretty lightweight in combination with the Noctua fan.

Thanks all for the kind words. 🙂

No idea about the slocket - made in China and looks pretty generic. You're not wrong about the heatskink being pretty lightweight. I briefly tried to source a decent old school one, but didn't turn up much. So, I just ordered a new StarTech one from Amazon and slapped a Noctua on it. It works pretty great! I actually got another one for my Socket 7 build I'm working on.

Haven't settled on the hardware for this one (feel like Super Socket 7 is cheating) and I'm playing around with how baby AT boards fit in the case (spoiler: not great!)

ubiq wrote on 2023-05-02, 01:15:

mrzmaster wrote on 2023-05-01, 15:40:

Great build! What kind of slotket is that and also curious what cpu heatsink you're using? It looks to be pretty lightweight in combination with the Noctua fan.

Thanks all for the kind words. 🙂
No idea about the slocket - made in China and looks pretty generic.

There existss provenance for this model. It is a "Super Slocket-III" wich on its turn derived from the "Maxtium CPU370 Daughter card" (Mendocino Celeron only).
The original design was developed by "Kikumaru's Tecnical Laboratory" from Japan and marketed under the brandname "A-Max".

PARKE wrote on 2023-05-02, 10:10:

There existss provenance for this model. It is a "Super Slocket-III" wich on its turn derived from the "Maxtium CPU370 Daughter card" (Mendocino Celeron only).
The original design was developed by "Kikumaru's Tecnical Laboratory" from Japan and marketed under the brandname "A-Max".s-l1601.jpg

Interesting, that's exactly the one I have! Pretty flexible - lucky for me it supports 133MHz FSB, something I never played around with back in the day. (I think my Celly 300A was my last desktop Intel CPU until... hmm, an i5 of some sort probably. Got in to overclocking Durons after this)