VOGONS

DOS, Windows 3.x and Windows 95 build! - Pentium MMX 233MHz

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First post, by The One Demon

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Hello! I'm new to the forum and also new to PCs this old, I grew up with consoles (Sega Master System, SNES, N64, PS1, PS2 etc) and didn't even have a PC until maybe 2006 or so haha. I want to experience all these old DOS games and weird and wonderful early Windows games from DOS to Windows 3.x and Windows 95 for this build!

I'm looking at building a Pentium MMX 233MHz system due to Phils 136 in 1 video, allowing me to play speed sensitive DOS games all the way back to games requiring a 386 processor!

Currently, I'm looking at getting the following -
CPU -
Pentium 233MHz

RAM -
64MB SDR UDIMM RAM PC66 (I think?)
(although I heard some DOS games won't run with more than 16 or 8MB? So could just temporarily remove some for those games)

Motherboard -
Unsure on the specific model yet, but preferably one that has BIOS control of the FSB speed etc, so I don't have to change the jumpers every time?
Chipset I'm thinking either i430TX or VIA?

Graphics Card -
Unsure, probably S3 Trio or Virge?
+ Voodoo 2/Banshee? (If Banshee I may be able to only use this card instead of 2 I think?)
I was also thinking of getting an AGP mobo, but I believe it would probably be better to play the later DOS games requiring a 3dfx card or similar card on a 98SE system with DOS with a stronger CPU? (I also plan to build a Pentium III / Athlon system for a Windows 98 / late DOS system)

Sound Cards -
AWE64 and a Sound Blaster Pro 2.0?
Unsure if other options would be better?

I plan on using a MT32-Pi for Roland MIDI emulation too. (Can connect it with adaptors) I'm also getting a MiSTer, so it'll work for that as well.

PicoGUS also looks like it could also be an excellent option?
DreamBlaster Synth S2 General MIDI Daughterboard?

Again, thanks for any help, as you may have inferred, I'm confused in some areas, but trying my best! Any help is much appreciated! Thanks!!

Reply 1 of 2, by chinny22

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Just answered your later build, now this one 😉

CPU
Should be pointed out alot of games break above 200Mhz due to a bug in Turbo Pascal, but a patch does exist. and isn't a reason not to go faster
Fix "Error 200" (Divide by zero) - by Snover and Stiletto (updated!)

RAM
Dos wont use more then 16MB, Win95 is happy with 32MB. You can create RAM disks or programs like eatxms to reduce ram for troublesome games.

Motherboard
TX or VIA is fine, what's available is more important!

Video Card
Trio or Virge are basicly the same accept Virge gives you access to S3D games.
See here for other good options, note your not after 100% compatibility, just games your interested in. This highlights troublesome games. Most will work fine no matter what you choose.
https://gona.mactar.hu/DOS_TESTS/

Voodoo 2 is wasted here, that would be better suited to your next build up.
Voodoo 1 is what dos games are expecting, some even requiring work arounds or just not compatible with anything else .
Banshee is indeed a standalone card but does have good dos support, however will have the same compatibly issues as a voodoo 2 in dos games.
AGP offers no benefits this era.

Sound Card
AWE is just a SoundBlaster 16 with add-on EMU chip. So no point having both a SBPro AND awe.
And if you are going to use a MIDI device then anything Creative needs double checking due to their buggy implementation.
ESS or Yamaha are popular alternatives.
PicoGUS is also aimed at this era.

Reply 2 of 2, by dionb

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The One Demon wrote on 2025-11-04, 05:04:

[...]

Again, thanks for any help, as you may have inferred, I'm confused in some areas, but trying my best! Any help is much appreciated! Thanks!!

You're not just confused, you're opening lots of threads with very similar but not identical questions and that's confusing us too (well, confusing me in any case).

This seems to overlap a lot with your question here: Should I get these Celeron 400 slot 1 and Pentium MMX 200MHz computers? - and you're still actively posting there.

It would help if you made the links between the questions (or lack thereof) explicit

As for your system itself: Phil has a 'does everything' build, but if you're just beginning, I'd really suggest starting with something simple and focused on the specific software you want to run, games you want to play. That will make your life a lot easier - and if you're considering different systems, consider their specs together and not independently of each other. If you go for one system only a P233MMX might be a great choice, but if you're also getting a Celeron-P3, it makes a lot less sense to get such a similar machine.

So: what do you want to play first of all?

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