trumpetlicks wrote on 2024-10-27, 20:59:

From one problem to the next 🤣. So it recognizes the 4GB, and I can "install" DOS 6.22, but when rebooted, it somehow isn't recognizing the C: drive to allow it to boot from the HDD (CF card). Anybody seen this?

I saw it before: drives formatted elsewhere not playing along in DOS. Partition your CF card with real Win98/Me FDISK so that your C: doesn’t exceed 500MB and set “active” flag to that primary partition.

On a sidenote you can pick the vanilla BIOS rom version that you like and run rom.by BIOS patcher against it to fix the hdd detection.

Today I was finally able to complete my socket 7 build by replacing the 166 MMX with the 233 MMX. Despite searching for a period correct ISA sound card I could not found one for an affordable price so the Live will stay in the system.
The final configuration:
1. Pentium 233 mmx
2. Abit ax5
3. 64mb sdram
3. Matrox millenium II 8 mb
4. Creative live 0060
5. Realtek 8139 NIC
6. Seagate 20gb harddrive
7. Stock Intel cooler
8. Teac floppy drive
9. Teac 32x cd-rom
10. Windows 95C
The system performs alightly better however playing even 2d games such as Starcraft is a challenge on large maps.
This will be my only socket 7 system. Performance wise the jump form one year to the next in the 90's was incredible.

You built a system with tiny gaming coverage. It has neither ISA sound (or capable emulation thereof) nor 3D acceleration.

My purpose is to build a system around every Abit board I own, not to cover some some particular period regarding gaming. But you are right, the system is only good for 2D games from 1997 and not much else.
Last night I finally found a game that plays flawlessly on the system: Diablo 1 Hellfire version; it is actually feels right, loading a level takes around 5-6 seconds, exactly as I remember, not instantaneous as it is on my ultimate XP machine; it sounds perfect on the Live card despite using only 2.0 speakers.
As much as I would like to have a Voodoo card in the system, the prices are making it ridiculously expensive!

nd22 wrote on 2024-12-29, 09:28:

Last night I finally found a game that plays flawlessly on the system: Diablo 1 Hellfire version; it is actually feels right, loading a level takes around 5-6 seconds, exactly as I remember, not instantaneous as it is on my ultimate XP machine; it sounds perfect on the Live card despite using only 2.0 speakers.

If I remember correctly, some of the earlier SBLive drivers included special presets for non-EAX games, which could be used for applying some reverb effects to enhance the atmosphere.

I think Diablo 1 was officially supported and included on that list of presets.

nd22 wrote on 2024-12-29, 09:28:

My purpose is to build a system around every Abit board I own, not to cover some some particular period regarding gaming.

I didn’t mean that comment as negative. It just shows how fast was playground changing in mid 90s. In fact it’s not a trivial task to build a period correct system with so few use cases.

Bruno128 wrote on 2024-12-29, 11:45:

nd22 wrote on 2024-12-29, 09:28:

My purpose is to build a system around every Abit board I own, not to cover some some particular period regarding gaming.

I didn’t mean that comment as negative. It just shows how fast was playground changing in mid 90s. In fact it’s not a trivial task to build a period correct system with so few use cases.

No negative feelings here! Happy to take any advice.
Last night I enjoyed one more time the good times as I played Hellfire until I reached the caves.
I installed Plus for win95 to make it more how I remembered it. Using the intranet to transfer files onto this socket 7 pc is so much faster than using the USB!

AWE64 Value is usually obtainable on the bay, if you have access to a 3D printer to make a backplate .. (like US$30)

nd22 wrote on 2024-12-30, 07:10:

Using the intranet to transfer files onto this socket 7 pc is so much faster than using the USB!

I recommend FAR Manager for transferring files locally over FTP in a familiar two-panel interface. Simple server like GoldenFTP on a modern PC will do great.
And no USB hassle whatsoever which is great as it frees system resources.

Joseph_Joestar wrote on 2024-12-29, 09:54:

nd22 wrote on 2024-12-29, 09:28:

Last night I finally found a game that plays flawlessly on the system: Diablo 1 Hellfire version; it is actually feels right, loading a level takes around 5-6 seconds, exactly as I remember, not instantaneous as it is on my ultimate XP machine; it sounds perfect on the Live card despite using only 2.0 speakers.

If I remember correctly, some of the earlier SBLive drivers included special presets for non-EAX games, which could be used for applying some reverb effects to enhance the atmosphere.

I think Diablo 1 was officially supported and included on that list of presets.

Yes, Diablo 1 is included and sounds awesome; last night I reached the Lazarus lair where I became stuck due to lack of magic resistance.

Guess I'll have to take my AB-TX5 out of the attic. Bought it and forgot about it until now. Maybe I can work something around a Voodoo 2 for a little bit of 3D action with it.

Bruno128 wrote on 2024-12-30, 14:20:

nd22 wrote on 2024-12-30, 07:10:

Using the intranet to transfer files onto this socket 7 pc is so much faster than using the USB!

I recommend FAR Manager for transferring files locally over FTP in a familiar two-panel interface. Simple server like GoldenFTP on a modern PC will do great.
And no USB hassle whatsoever which is great as it frees system resources.

I used yesterday for the first time FAR manager and is working great! Thanks for the recommendation!