dionb wrote on 2024-11-14, 12:19:
Agreed on the modern PC. Only change would be to install Windows 11 (no it officially doesn't support it, but with a few simple hacks you can do it) to ensure continuing security updates after Windows 10 support stops in a few months' time.
As for Win98, the Core2Duo is a PCIe system which might limit GPU options. I'd suggest rather using the P4 for Win98 (or find an AGP-based motherboard with Win98 chipset for your Core2Duo). It could also do most WinXP stuff fine, and I'd argue that whatever XP stuff won't run on it will work fine on the modern system.
The Core2duo is not intended for dualboot W98/XP, only for XP. I understand that most games that came out in the W9x era run under WXP without too many problems.
For late DOS I'd go for the P2-350, in fact I'd look into something a bit faster. The last DOS games came out around 1997 and could seriously stress contemporary hardware. I use a P3-500 for it and feel that's about right.
That leaves a single system and there I'd go for the 486, but suggest underclocking it to 33MHz so it's better suited to 1991-1993 speed sensitive stuff.
The “turbo” button of the DX50 disables the chache and slows it down a lot, from my sensations even at the level of a 286. For example I have tested it with Indiana Jones and the last Crusade, at its normal speed it doesn't start, with the turbo button it works without problem.
As for the "management tasks (copying files between partitions and over LAN)" - just use FTP for file transfer, run mTCP with its FTP server on the DOS boxes, an old FTP server on Win98 and run the FTP client (Filezilla FTW) on the modern box to transfer stuff. Dead easy and no need for additional operating systems on the old machines.
Pcs with W98/WXP have TotalCommander installed just for that. I have the problem with the DX50 (and the P133) which has only MSDOS and no network card.
"t also has serial mouse so I can't connect it to the KVM and it forces me to have an extra mouse exclusively for it" - get a serial-PS/2 adapter (like ps2toserial) and you can hook it up to KVM.
I think they don't work too well with KVM switches as mentioned below. I have ordered a Chinese ISA serial/mouse card, let's see how it works.
And if you are getting new old stuff, focus on some better sound options than all those Creative things. The DOS boxes deserve bug-free MIDI for starters.
I'm not too picky with the sound, and less with the music that many times I disable. Besides the idea is to recreate the sound we had in our old pcs, isn't it? 😀
