Living wrote on 2026-01-16, 21:46:

you can cover all with just 4 pcs and save the headache...

As someone who has also done a series of period correct builds, the spirit of a project like this is the fun of doing all these different builds. There's something enjoyable about playing around with a range of vintage hardware and seeing what sort of results one gets from period correct h/w for the time.

Living wrote on 2026-01-16, 21:46:

you can cover all with just 4 pcs and save the headache...

Whilst you are, of course, mostly correct I think you missed the point of this project.

But, anyhow, there will be some games that won't work out of the box if you only have 4 to choose from. Admittedly patches and config changes will fix most issues. There are some very fussy games out there.

RetroPCCupboard wrote on 2026-01-17, 09:55:

Living wrote on 2026-01-16, 21:46:

you can cover all with just 4 pcs and save the headache...

Whilst you are, of course, mostly correct I think you missed the point of this project.

But, anyhow, there will be some games that won't work out of the box if you only have 4 to choose from. Admittedly patches and config changes will fix most issues. There are some very fussy games out there.

didnt miss it

its just insane and for someone who does not value its own time for reasons stated earlier in this thread.

Living wrote on 2026-01-19, 18:47:

didnt miss it

its just insane and for someone who does not value its own time for reasons stated earlier in this thread.

It's not about not valuing their time. Quite the opposite. Anyone that would attempt this is clearly passionate about what they are doing and are enjoying the process. Its a hobby, and everyone is entitled to have a hobby if they want one.

Living wrote on 2026-01-19, 18:47:

its just insane and for someone who does not value its own time for reasons stated earlier in this thread.

Different people enjoy different aspects of the hobby. For some, the enjoyment comes from doing builds and tinkering with old hardware.

It's about the journey, not the destination.

Hi PleaseHelpMeAdmin,
I stumbled upon your thread while browsing topics on building dream machines from 2001.

I'm delighted to learn that I'm not the only one doing this kind of thing.

I really appreciate it and I'm well aware of the difficulties you might encounter. I'm doing exactly the same thing as you, except that I've set the bar VERY, VERY high!

I mean that I cover the period from 1986 to 2016, and all the equipment I use must be absolutely available by December 31st of each year.

I'm not even mentioning the money I've already spent on my project, which started 8 years ago now. I should talk about it in more detail on Vogon; I think many people would enjoy that.

All this to say that many people don't realize the amount of work involved in assembling machines like this.

See you soon, and I hope to see updates on your project.

For your information, you can find part of my build on my own phpBB forum. Sorry it's in French; I'm a native French speaker.

https://www.retrohardware-belgique.be/forum/v … wforum.php?f=23

eviledeath wrote on 2026-08-25, 07:50:

Hi PleaseHelpMeAdmin,
I stumbled upon your thread while browsing topics on building dream machines from 2001.

So how many will you be building? I assume starting from a 386? I am a little unsure on the stretch up to 2016. The pace of innovation really slowed after 2010.

RetroPCCupboard wrote on 2026-08-27, 14:09:

eviledeath wrote on 2026-08-25, 07:50:

Hi PleaseHelpMeAdmin,
I stumbled upon your thread while browsing topics on building dream machines from 2001.

So how many will you be building? I assume starting from a 386? I am a little unsure on the stretch up to 2016. The pace of innovation really slowed after 2010.

Well, by simply calculating 3 setups per year, I'm already at 90 setups.

The goal is to track the progress, but indeed, it has slowed down considerably in recent years, we agree on that.

But the period rooms I plan to build are also very important.
I'm starting with the 386, yes, I'm looking for a Compaq Deskpro model 40 from 1986, which was the first 32-bit consumer computer.
This year I'd really like to finish my 1996 and 2006 setups.

eviledeath wrote on 2026-08-28, 07:39:

Well, by simply calculating 3 setups per year, I'm already at 90 setups.

90! Wow. That is very impressive. You could be a museum with so many.

eviledeath wrote on 2026-08-28, 07:39:

But the period rooms I plan to build are also very important.

Rooms? So is this not in your house then? If so you must have a big house, live on your own or have an understanding partner! I have to keep all my machines in my home office room, or my wife has a fit. Haha

eviledeath wrote on 2026-08-28, 07:39:

I'm starting with the 386, yes, I'm looking for a Compaq Deskpro model 40 from 1986, which was the first 32-bit consumer computer.
This year I'd really like to finish my 1996 and 2006 setups.

386s are cool. I wasn't intending to have one though because I need to use a KVM and most 386 machines don't have PS/2 mouse support. So my plan was to make a psuedo 386 out of a slowed down Pentium MMX with ISA Video card and EDO RAM. But, actually, I recently acquired a 386 SX 33Mhz PC with PS/2 ports for keyboard and mouse. Not only that, but it supports being slowed to 8Mhz, which means it could act like a 286 for any games that are too fast.

I also now have a NuXT with AMD 10Mhz 8088. It can be set to 4.77Mhz, 7.16mhz, 9.55Mhz. So I think I will have covered most of the low end with those two PCs. 1981 to 1988 or so.