VOGONS


Noobie question about building Pentium 1/2?

Topic actions

First post, by Studiostriver

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

Hi guys. It seems my Pentium 3 built is near to be completed, and while i need few cosmetic things to get my imagination got sparkled to maybe try to buy or build Pentium 1 machine that will be good for old 256 color pallete and era of first strategies, point and click etc. I have some mini consoles of Comodore 64 and Amiga mini 500 so Pentium 1 would be perfect gap between 80s and 90s to experience if i can make it possible.
I heard they need really slow CPU around 200mhz, and 16mb RAM etc. The problem i most often stumble on Pentium 2 builds that are bit better specs wise and my question is it possible maybe making Pentium 2 to work as Pentium 1, for example to find lowest possible SDRAM, and CPU to install in "newer" motherboards.

This is is one of configurations i can find for very cheap right know.

CPU Type Intel Pentium II, 266 MHz
Motherboard Name FIC VL-601
Motherboard Chipset Intel 82440LX/EX
System Memory 128 MB (SDRAM) 64x32x32
3D Accelerator nVIDIA RIVA TNT2 M64

I like it cause its very small and cute looking visually, so its will make no problem to be in my small apartment. 😀

-----------------------------------------

Other one is older but very big casing so its bit bulky machine.

Peacock Computer from 1997
Big Tower Server house
Pentium 1 MMX 233Mhz
64 MB of RAM
5 GB Hard disk
16 x CD-ROM
3.5 Inch Diskette Drive
USB-1.0
ATI Rage Pro 4 MB
Power supply 350W
Windows 95 OSR 2.5 with USB support

----------------------------------------------------

Kind regard to all,
Dado.

Reply 1 of 22, by dionb

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

What do you mean by "point and click"? Are you talking about Sierra (Kings Quest, Space Quest) or Lucasarts (Monkey Island, DOTT) games? If so a Pentium 1 is already much too fast. Games like that want something between an XT and an early 486.

Now, it's possible to slow down a Pentium build to that sort of speed, even some later ones (Via C3-based systems), but it requires some pretty specific hardware. Moreover, DOS sound is a whole rabbit hole of its own, but TLDR, you need ISA slots for it.

Before answering your question about what might or might not be a good idea, please be more specific about some examples of the games you might want to play on a system like this, in particular the oldest and newest. If you already have a P2 build, I'd personally suggest looking for something a 33MHz 486 instead.

Reply 2 of 22, by auron

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

the second setup is basically 100% period correct for early 1998 until the 98FE release. though the p2 would be quite a bit more desirable for the newest 3d games at the time.

you can run win95 beyond 200mhz and 16mb, but two things to remember are that it had some bugs with virtual memory and p6 processors, which were addressed in an update for OSR2/2.1 or the second USB update on OSR2.5. the other thing is that with 64mb or beyond you may need to limit VCACHE manually in system.ini, because it might allocate too much RAM otherwise.

Reply 3 of 22, by mac57mac57

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

BTW, I am running Windows 95 very nicely on a 90 MHz Pentium (which is the second version of the original Pentium; the first version ran at 60 MHz and 66 MHz, the second version was 75 MHz, 90 MHz and 100 MHz). So, no need to go any faster than 90 MHz to get good Windows 95 performance. I am not a big game person, but I do have several older games on that 90 MHz machine and they all execute well. For the most part they are DOS games, not Windows games.

Reply 4 of 22, by dionb

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++
mac57mac57 wrote on 2025-01-20, 22:18:

[...]

So, no need to go any faster than 90 MHz to get good Windows 95 performance.

Windows 95 itself? Sure. But later Windows 95 games... not likely. Consider that the Windows 95 era ran to mid 1998, so Quake 2 from 1997 is a Windows 95 game - and would get about 5fps on a P90. I know people weren't so picky about frame rates back then, but this would be a slide show. If you want a system that can run all Windows 95 games, you need something decent from 1998 (preferably with an early 3D accelerator).

A Pentium 90 would do the same for Windows 3.11 - anything for that platform would run smoothly on it.

But OP is talking about point & click and that sounds a lot older than that yet. Let's wait for him to clarify exactly what games he wants to be able to run.

Reply 5 of 22, by Studiostriver

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member
dionb wrote on 2025-01-20, 21:40:

What do you mean by "point and click"? Are you talking about Sierra (Kings Quest, Space Quest) or Lucasarts (Monkey Island, DOTT) games? If so a Pentium 1 is already much too fast. Games like that want something between an XT and an early 486.

Now, it's possible to slow down a Pentium build to that sort of speed, even some later ones (Via C3-based systems), but it requires some pretty specific hardware. Moreover, DOS sound is a whole rabbit hole of its own, but TLDR, you need ISA slots for it.

Before answering your question about what might or might not be a good idea, please be more specific about some examples of the games you might want to play on a system like this, in particular the oldest and newest. If you already have a P2 build, I'd personally suggest looking for something a 33MHz 486 instead.

Forgive me for my ignorace, yes i meant about Monkey Island etc. I had no clue Pentium 1 is too fast. I have no P2 at this point, i recenlty in last started this whole retro journey and i built myself Pentium 3 hybrid which i currently play.
It just came to me that building older machine dedicated for adventure and point and click , strategy and overall some old classic games would be very cool thing.

Here is the list without any specific order:
Outrun
Space Quest 3/4/5/6
Indiana Jones and Last Crusade/Fate of Atlantis
Railroad Tycoon
Kings Quest V/VI
Wing Commander I/II
Golden Axe
Secret of Monkey Island
Le Chucks Revenge
Heart of China
Civilization
Ultima Underworld
Eye of Beholder I/II
Wolfenstein 3D
Grand Prix
Dune 1/2
Syndicate
Doom I/II
Beneath the steel sky
Heretic
Raptor
Warcraft
Colonization
Wizardry 5/6/7
Albion
Blood
Ceasar I/II
Call of Cthuhlu
Discworld I/II
Fallout
Heroes of Might and Magic 1/2
Broken Sword
Kure of Temptress
Master of Magic
Warcraft 1/2
Simon the Sorcerer
Police Quest
Raptor
Ultima 7

This would be enough. 😀

Reply 6 of 22, by auron

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

if you go with the pentium mmx, you can slow it down to 486 levels for problematic games by disabling caches and setmul has some switches for more control. on the other end, it's fast enough for everything from that list. as a reference point, homm3 (1999) is too slow on pentium mmx and requires a pentium ii to play well.

Reply 7 of 22, by Studiostriver

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member
auron wrote on 2025-01-20, 23:10:

if you go with the pentium mmx, you can slow it down to 486 levels for problematic games by disabling caches and setmul has some switches for more control. on the other end, it's fast enough for everything from that list. as a reference point, homm3 (1999) is too slow on pentium mmx and requires a pentium ii to play well.

That makes sense, so the best would be for me to get MMX, later fine tweak it.

Reply 8 of 22, by dionb

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++
Studiostriver wrote on 2025-01-20, 23:02:
dionb wrote on 2025-01-20, 21:40:

What do you mean by "point and click"? Are you talking about Sierra (Kings Quest, Space Quest) or Lucasarts (Monkey Island, DOTT) games? If so a Pentium 1 is already much too fast. Games like that want something between an XT and an early 486.

Now, it's possible to slow down a Pentium build to that sort of speed, even some later ones (Via C3-based systems), but it requires some pretty specific hardware. Moreover, DOS sound is a whole rabbit hole of its own, but TLDR, you need ISA slots for it.

Before answering your question about what might or might not be a good idea, please be more specific about some examples of the games you might want to play on a system like this, in particular the oldest and newest. If you already have a P2 build, I'd personally suggest looking for something a 33MHz 486 instead.

Forgive me for my ignorace, yes i meant about Monkey Island etc. I had no clue Pentium 1 is too fast. I have no P2 at this point, i recenlty in last started this whole retro journey and i built myself Pentium 3 hybrid which i currently play.
It just came to me that building older machine dedicated for adventure and point and click , strategy and overall some old classic games would be very cool thing.

OK, lets have a look...

A good resource for this sort of thing:
https://www.vogonswiki.com/index.php/List_of_ … sensitive_games

I'll add year and CPU speed needed if known

Outrun - 1989
Space Quest 3/4/5/6 - 1989-1995, 4 and 5 need 16-25MHz 386/486
Indiana Jones and Last Crusade/Fate of Atlantis - 1993 - 486 16MHz
Railroad Tycoon - 1990
Kings Quest V/VI 1990-1992
Wing Commander I/II 1990-1991 - needs 386DX33
Golden Axe - 1990
Secret of Monkey Island - 1990 - 386DX40/486-25
Le Chucks Revenge - 1991
Heart of China - 1991
Civilization - 1991
Ultima Underworld - 1992 - max 486DX2 66
Eye of Beholder I/II - 1991
Wolfenstein 3D - 1992
Grand Prix - 1992
Dune 1/2 - 1992 - max P2 233
Syndicate - 1993 - max P166
Doom I/II - 1993-1994
Beneath the steel sky - 1994
Heretic - 1994
Raptor - 1994
Warcraft - 1994 - 386DX33
Colonization - 1994 - max P166
Wizardry 5/6/7 - 1988-1992 - VI: 386DX33, VII: no Pentium without a patch.
Albion - 1995
Blood - 1997
Ceasar I/II - 1992-1995
Call of Cthuhlu - 1993
Discworld I/II - 1995-1996
Fallout - 1997
Heroes of Might and Magic 1/2 - 1995-1996
Broken Sword - 1996
Kure of Temptress - 1992
Master of Magic - 1994
Warcraft 1/2 you already listed 1 😉 2: 1995 P133 max for original DOS version (Battle.net Windows version no problems)
Simon the Sorcerer - 1993
Police Quest - 1987
Raptor - you already listed this 😉
Ultima 7 - 1992 - probably the most difficult game in the list. 486-33, and NO memory managers

This would be enough. 😀

😜

So, looking at this list:
- you want games from 1987 (basically XT era, even if AT and first 386 were around) to 1997
- most are from 1993 or older.
- almost all speed sensitive titles are older ones

You say you have a 'Pentium 3 hybrid'. Not sure what that means, but all the 1994 or later games could probably be run on that (in a few cases with cache disabled to slow it down).
For the older stuff, I'd re-iterate my earlier suggestion: a 486-33 (DX or SX doesn't matter as none of these titles use FPU) with turbo mode (i.e. possibility to slow down to XT speed at the press of a button) would be your best bet.

More specifically, I'd tailor it specifically to Ultima 7. It is one of the most difficult games to run on newer hardware as it does things like re-enable L1 cache if it's disabled in BIOS. Also it has its own memory manager incompatible with EMM386, for (MT-32) MIDI it requires intelligent mode, but due to the memory management thing it doesn't work with SoftMPU - and for full sound+effects it needs both a Sound Blaster (which needs to be *completely* compatible with a Creative SB1.0) and MT-32 via intelligent mode MIDI interface.
Bottom line: if you can run Ultima 7, you can probably run almost all problematic old stuff on the system. Which is why I've built a system specifically for it. I've gone full rabbit-hole, equipping it with a (self-assembled) Snark Barker SB1.0 replica, an original Roland MPU-401AT for MIDI and an MT-32. CPU is an UMC U5S-33, 4MB RAM and a UMC VLB 85C418F VGA (er, and UMC 10Mb NIC, and motherboard with UMC chipset - it's the Unicorn build 😜 ).

But you don't need to go that crazy. Get any 486 25-40, stick 4MB or so RAM in and add a decent VGA card and you're good to go, even with Ultima 7.

Reply 9 of 22, by Studiostriver

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member
dionb wrote on 2025-01-21, 00:13:
OK, lets have a look... […]
Show full quote
Studiostriver wrote on 2025-01-20, 23:02:
dionb wrote on 2025-01-20, 21:40:

What do you mean by "point and click"? Are you talking about Sierra (Kings Quest, Space Quest) or Lucasarts (Monkey Island, DOTT) games? If so a Pentium 1 is already much too fast. Games like that want something between an XT and an early 486.

Now, it's possible to slow down a Pentium build to that sort of speed, even some later ones (Via C3-based systems), but it requires some pretty specific hardware. Moreover, DOS sound is a whole rabbit hole of its own, but TLDR, you need ISA slots for it.

Before answering your question about what might or might not be a good idea, please be more specific about some examples of the games you might want to play on a system like this, in particular the oldest and newest. If you already have a P2 build, I'd personally suggest looking for something a 33MHz 486 instead.

Forgive me for my ignorace, yes i meant about Monkey Island etc. I had no clue Pentium 1 is too fast. I have no P2 at this point, i recenlty in last started this whole retro journey and i built myself Pentium 3 hybrid which i currently play.
It just came to me that building older machine dedicated for adventure and point and click , strategy and overall some old classic games would be very cool thing.

OK, lets have a look...

A good resource for this sort of thing:
https://www.vogonswiki.com/index.php/List_of_ … sensitive_games

I'll add year and CPU speed needed if known

Outrun - 1989
Space Quest 3/4/5/6 - 1989-1995, 4 and 5 need 16-25MHz 386/486
Indiana Jones and Last Crusade/Fate of Atlantis - 1993 - 486 16MHz
Railroad Tycoon - 1990
Kings Quest V/VI 1990-1992
Wing Commander I/II 1990-1991 - needs 386DX33
Golden Axe - 1990
Secret of Monkey Island - 1990 - 386DX40/486-25
Le Chucks Revenge - 1991
Heart of China - 1991
Civilization - 1991
Ultima Underworld - 1992 - max 486DX2 66
Eye of Beholder I/II - 1991
Wolfenstein 3D - 1992
Grand Prix - 1992
Dune 1/2 - 1992 - max P2 233
Syndicate - 1993 - max P166
Doom I/II - 1993-1994
Beneath the steel sky - 1994
Heretic - 1994
Raptor - 1994
Warcraft - 1994 - 386DX33
Colonization - 1994 - max P166
Wizardry 5/6/7 - 1988-1992 - VI: 386DX33, VII: no Pentium without a patch.
Albion - 1995
Blood - 1997
Ceasar I/II - 1992-1995
Call of Cthuhlu - 1993
Discworld I/II - 1995-1996
Fallout - 1997
Heroes of Might and Magic 1/2 - 1995-1996
Broken Sword - 1996
Kure of Temptress - 1992
Master of Magic - 1994
Warcraft 1/2 you already listed 1 😉 2: 1995 P133 max for original DOS version (Battle.net Windows version no problems)
Simon the Sorcerer - 1993
Police Quest - 1987
Raptor - you already listed this 😉
Ultima 7 - 1992 - probably the most difficult game in the list. 486-33, and NO memory managers

This would be enough. 😀

😜

So, looking at this list:
- you want games from 1987 (basically XT era, even if AT and first 386 were around) to 1997
- most are from 1993 or older.
- almost all speed sensitive titles are older ones

You say you have a 'Pentium 3 hybrid'. Not sure what that means, but all the 1994 or later games could probably be run on that (in a few cases with cache disabled to slow it down).
For the older stuff, I'd re-iterate my earlier suggestion: a 486-33 (DX or SX doesn't matter as none of these titles use FPU) with turbo mode (i.e. possibility to slow down to XT speed at the press of a button) would be your best bet.

More specifically, I'd tailor it specifically to Ultima 7. It is one of the most difficult games to run on newer hardware as it does things like re-enable L1 cache if it's disabled in BIOS. Also it has its own memory manager incompatible with EMM386, for (MT-32) MIDI it requires intelligent mode, but due to the memory management thing it doesn't work with SoftMPU - and for full sound+effects it needs both a Sound Blaster (which needs to be *completely* compatible with a Creative SB1.0) and MT-32 via intelligent mode MIDI interface.
Bottom line: if you can run Ultima 7, you can probably run almost all problematic old stuff on the system. Which is why I've built a system specifically for it. I've gone full rabbit-hole, equipping it with a (self-assembled) Snark Barker SB1.0 replica, an original Roland MPU-401AT for MIDI and an MT-32. CPU is an UMC U5S-33, 4MB RAM and a UMC VLB 85C418F VGA (er, and UMC 10Mb NIC, and motherboard with UMC chipset - it's the Unicorn build 😜 ).

But you don't need to go that crazy. Get any 486 25-40, stick 4MB or so RAM in and add a decent VGA card and you're good to go, even with Ultima 7.

Pentium 3 "hybrid" is bit overkill with Nvidia 6600 gt GPU cause i use 98SE/XP SP3 dual boot system with 769mb RAM, Tualatin 1.5ghz (slightly overclocked) , and you are right, some of games i can run on the system, thats not the problem, but those older i certainly cant.

Thank you kindly for all your suggestion. I will look what i can find in my country at this moment. Kind regards, Dado.

Reply 10 of 22, by Shponglefan

User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t

I'll second the suggestion for a 486 system for games from the late 80s to early 90s.

I have a 486 DX-33 which is my absolute favorite system for running games of that era. I can throttle it between 286, 386 and 486 speeds.

Pentium 4 Multi-OS Build
486 DX4-100 with 6 sound cards
486 DX-33 with 5 sound cards

Reply 11 of 22, by andre_6

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

See Dado, I told you it was a matter of time before you got another build... It's just the way it is.

That full tower sure is beautiful

Reply 12 of 22, by Studiostriver

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member
andre_6 wrote on 2025-01-21, 02:55:

See Dado, I told you it was a matter of time before you got another build... It's just the way it is.

That full tower sure is beautiful

Im still not sure will i do that, i just reconsidering. Maybe just to go REMOVED and save myself space and time. 😀

Last edited by DosFreak on 2025-01-26, 19:39. Edited 1 time in total.

Reply 13 of 22, by auron

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

that solution won't go away in the future, but real hardware from that time won't be getting any cheaper and more accessible to buy in the future.

Reply 14 of 22, by dionb

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

In terms of pure value for money let alone space and practicality, you can't beat DosBOX in its various forms, modern engine re-implementations (despite having built an entire PC for Ultima 7, I have to admit spending more time playing it on Exult on my Windows 11 PC...) and re-imaginations. But it's just not the same if you can't hear it, feel it, smell it on old metal 😉

Reply 15 of 22, by andre_6

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie
Studiostriver wrote on 2025-01-21, 13:12:
andre_6 wrote on 2025-01-21, 02:55:

See Dado, I told you it was a matter of time before you got another build... It's just the way it is.

That full tower sure is beautiful

Im still not sure will i do that, i just reconsidering. Maybe just to go REMOVED and save myself space and time. 😀

Consider what others said above, this type of hardware is getting more and more scarce, even the cases, let alone a full "period correct" build (whatever that means) which is honestly pretty much complete already, and you can always tweak and keep some spares or sell them if you wish. You wouldn't find full builds from this era for sale in many countries right now, including mine, and if you did it would cost a fortune.

Pentium III is by far my favorite platform, I was always curious about Pentium IIs but personally I don't find them that useful once you have a P-III. If you had a 486 around those parts I would check it out, if you don't think that's a possibility I would go for the Pentium MMX build, and speed tweak it later for older games like others said.

486/Pentium MMX----Pentium III-S----maybe a late XP/Win7 build if it happens (they still just appear from nowhere for free or almost free... if they do just take it)

That's pretty much more than enough for what you would want I think. Emulation will always be there if you need or wish, but if you can still get hardware for cheap my advice is just do it, experience it, and if after you still feel the same you can always sell it. One day you'll find you have the space and money but by then the hardware is either near impossible to find or too expensive

Last edited by DosFreak on 2025-01-26, 19:40. Edited 2 times in total.

Reply 16 of 22, by Studiostriver

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member
dionb wrote on 2025-01-21, 15:14:

In terms of pure value for money let alone space and practicality, you can't beat DosBOX in its various forms, modern engine re-implementations (despite having built an entire PC for Ultima 7, I have to admit spending more time playing it on Exult on my Windows 11 PC...) and re-imaginations. But it's just not the same if you can't hear it, feel it, smell it on old metal 😉

I love pc noises, if they are semi mild. I`m quite into modernizing old gear and make it silent as best i can, so i dont miss smell of old meta since i`m musician and i`m full old rack synths. 😀
I plan to add noctua silent fan and be quiet psu to make thi Pentium 3 i have as silent as possible, and after that i may put it all in new computer case, but its really hard find fitting one, old new would be awesome but those simply are near to impossible to be found in my country.
Nevertheless i agree there is certain charm in experiencing old computers, i do that with old synths which some are older then me, and thats quiet achievement since i`m far from being young.

Reply 17 of 22, by Studiostriver

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member
andre_6 wrote on 2025-01-21, 18:04:
Consider what others said above, this type of hardware is getting more and more scarce, even the cases, let alone a full "period […]
Show full quote
Studiostriver wrote on 2025-01-21, 13:12:
andre_6 wrote on 2025-01-21, 02:55:

See Dado, I told you it was a matter of time before you got another build... It's just the way it is.

That full tower sure is beautiful

Im still not sure will i do that, i just reconsidering. Maybe just to go REMOVED and save myself space and time. 😀

Consider what others said above, this type of hardware is getting more and more scarce, even the cases, let alone a full "period correct" build (whatever that means) which is honestly pretty much complete already, and you can always tweak and keep some spares or sell them if you wish. You wouldn't find full builds from this era for sale in many countries right now, including mine, and if you did it would cost a fortune.

Pentium III is by far my favorite platform, I was always curious about Pentium IIs but personally I don't find them that useful once you have a P-III. If you had a 486 around those parts I would check it out, if you don't think that's a possibility I would go for the Pentium MMX build, and speed tweak it later for older games like others said.

486/Pentium MMX----Pentium III-S----maybe a late XP/Win7 build if it happens (they still just appear from nowhere for free or almost free... if they do just take it)

That's pretty much more than enough for what you would want I think. Emulation will always be there if you need or wish, but if you can still get hardware for cheap my advice is just do it, experience it, and if after you still feel the same you can always sell it. One day you'll find you have the space and money but by then the hardware is either near impossible to find or too expensive

I can find that big MMX 233mhz 64 MB RAM on th epicture or 486 DX4 100mhz , 16 mb ram, second one is really good but its bit pricey, but i think it would be perfect DOS machine for most games from 1987 to 1993/4

You actualy have pretty valid point there and i agree to certain degree its awesome thing to have, even thou i lost money and never sell this its no problem for me, i enjoyed enough for what i payed.

The only problem i currently have is have no space where to hold crt monitors and i`ll never have it, so i can so to speak get all these computer and put them literally side by side and connect it on modern TV screen, thats my only solutions.
My apartment will not get any bigger and i certainly gonna live here for at least next 10 years. For DVI/HDMI system its all perfectly fine, but for VGA old computer i cant connect them, i have only HDMI , and DVI converter to HDMI which is all cool since both signals are digital to start with, but with VGA i would need to buy good upscaler which would not be cheap. But i guess thats it when you go trhough rabbit whole with those old stuff, consoles and s...t. 😉

Ayway all valid points, i need to rethink it well. Thank you kindly for all the talk, i enjoyed your comment very much. Where i live people dont care for retro things, to 98% if them i look like totally lost dude, like why you doing this, there is no reason etc.
Kind regards, Dado.

Last edited by DosFreak on 2025-02-01, 13:29. Edited 1 time in total.

Reply 18 of 22, by andre_6

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie
Studiostriver wrote on 2025-01-21, 21:58:
I can find that big MMX 233mhz 64 MB RAM on th epicture or 486 DX4 100mhz , 16 mb ram, second one is really good but its bit pr […]
Show full quote
andre_6 wrote on 2025-01-21, 18:04:
Consider what others said above, this type of hardware is getting more and more scarce, even the cases, let alone a full "period […]
Show full quote
Studiostriver wrote on 2025-01-21, 13:12:

Im still not sure will i do that, i just reconsidering. Maybe just to go REMOVED and save myself space and time. 😀

Consider what others said above, this type of hardware is getting more and more scarce, even the cases, let alone a full "period correct" build (whatever that means) which is honestly pretty much complete already, and you can always tweak and keep some spares or sell them if you wish. You wouldn't find full builds from this era for sale in many countries right now, including mine, and if you did it would cost a fortune.

Pentium III is by far my favorite platform, I was always curious about Pentium IIs but personally I don't find them that useful once you have a P-III. If you had a 486 around those parts I would check it out, if you don't think that's a possibility I would go for the Pentium MMX build, and speed tweak it later for older games like others said.

486/Pentium MMX----Pentium III-S----maybe a late XP/Win7 build if it happens (they still just appear from nowhere for free or almost free... if they do just take it)

That's pretty much more than enough for what you would want I think. Emulation will always be there if you need or wish, but if you can still get hardware for cheap my advice is just do it, experience it, and if after you still feel the same you can always sell it. One day you'll find you have the space and money but by then the hardware is either near impossible to find or too expensive

I can find that big MMX 233mhz 64 MB RAM on th epicture or 486 DX4 100mhz , 16 mb ram, second one is really good but its bit pricey, but i think it would be perfect DOS machine for most games from 1987 to 1993/4

You actualy have pretty valid point there and i agree to certain degree its awesome thing to have, even thou i lost money and never sell this its no problem for me, i enjoyed enough for what i payed.

The only problem i currently have is have no space where to hold crt monitors and i`ll never have it, so i can so to speak get all these computer and put them literally side by side and connect it on modern TV screen, thats my only solutions.
My apartment will not get any bigger and i certainly gonna live here for at least next 10 years. For DVI/HDMI system its all perfectly fine, but for VGA old computer i cant connect them, i have only HDMI , and DVI converter to HDMI which is all cool since both signals are digital to start with, but with VGA i would need to buy good upscaler which would not be cheap. But i guess thats it when you go trhough rabbit whole with those old stuff, consoles and s...t. 😉

Ayway all valid points, i need to rethink it well. Thank you kindly for all the talk, i enjoyed your comment very much. Where i live people dont care for retro things, to 98% if them i look like totally lost dude, like why you doing this, there is no reason etc.
Kind regards, Dado.

Oh sure no problem, just throwing some stuff around that might help you.

Don't worry about CRTs. I mean I love them for many reasons, but there are alternatives that are more than fine in my opinion. For VGA have a look around for a 4:3 Samsung Syncmaster LCD just to see what shows up around you, they're usually not hard to find, these beige ones are from around 2002/3 if I recall. I have the 151s model, I have a CRT set up also but when I got my full tower 486 I needed to squeeze it in a little extra corner, truly small, and had no space for a CRT's depth. This simple LCD is very compact, has very vivid colors and handles any resolution my 486's DOS games threw at it, no fuss, it just works and looks good. In an ideal setting, that 486 PC looks great and would be perfect with an LCD like that on top on a little corner, I think, nice and compact. Or just squeeze the LCD screen somewhere and throw both PCs around it as you can.

If people in your country don't care about retro stuff that's a very big plus. Let people know you're looking for stuff. When buying, especially in person or collecting something at someone's place just ask if they have something else catching dust in a corner, you just never know. What's important is that you have options around you, even complete builds from the era, and that's way more than most people here can find nowadays. As for price etc. you be the judge, if the difference between the 486 and the MMX one is not that great I would probably go for the 486, it's easier to speed adjust for all the games you want to play and a little more "authentic", although you can do that with the MMX as others said, it's just a little too close to the P-III era than ideally I would personally prefer. I have a 486, a Pentium Pro PC (from my family), a Pentium III, a Pentium III-S and an Athlon 64 PC that I always had since then... The Pentium Pro PC is by far the least used computer, meaning not at all, and gets powered up maybe once or twice a year just to spread its legs a little

Last edited by DosFreak on 2025-02-01, 13:28. Edited 1 time in total.

Reply 19 of 22, by Studiostriver

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

Call me crazy but i really love to play games on big 40 inch tv screen, it somehow refresh my experience with Pentium 3 and i cant say how much enjoy playing those classic titles. Recently i`m into finishing Wizardry 8, very long and grindy rpg adventure. When i get tired i play Heroes 3 and Medal of Honor on XP side of dual booth , on 98SE i playd recently Morrowind and good old Diablo 1/2.
Thats the reason why i got bit "too" moden card for Pentium system, since its Tulatin + 768MB(plan to upgrade to 1GB) plus better card even being bottlenecked on big tv screen looks amazing! I got old and big screen helps me back my interest into re playing and checking some classic titles.
That is why i would probably want in future to find way to connect if i decide to by another computer and see if it gonna work, just for test sake on cheap vga to hdmi upscaler, but i`m aware that computers is too old for that and may cause me problems, and it would be smart to use old led monitors instead. I can find syncmaster but bit newer models in my country currently 710N models and similar.

As with 486 DX 100MHZ i never used pure DOS system and i must confess it would take some time to learn how to properly use it (but i guessing i can install 95 OS there i well). With MMX having 95 would be much easier transition i must confess. Also i think with it can even buy first model of Voodoo card of 4MB just for fun sake sometime in future, and with apps provided i can slow it down for certain games.
Still i perfectly understand 486 would just once i learn how to navigate the DOS just work without too much hustle and adjusting speed etc. I have to rethink twice what should i do.

Anyway thanks for the chatting, and here is ashot from phone of screen on my TV screen of Pentium 3, i downloaded wallpaper from GOG. 😀