Xmas is closing in - ... and today it's #7

#7: year 2005 build …
My rating: 3,5 from 5 stars
Description: Nothing special about this PC except it is the only one in my collection with HDD raid.
Board: ASUS P5P800 REV. 1.0.1, Socket 775, ATX
CPU: Pentium 4 HT, P4-530 (Prescott), 3,0 GHz, Hyper Threading (with AC Freezer Pro 7 CPU cooler)
RAM: 3GB (2x1GB+2x512MB) DDR 1, PC3200, 200MHz FSB
2D/3D: Palit XpertVision ATI/AMD Radeon X850 XT, 256 MB GDDR3, AGP 8x
Sound: ADI AD1985 SoundMax (Onboard)
HDD: 2x 250 GB Sata HDD, Seagate Barracuda 7200.9, Raid 0
Raidcontroller: Adaptec Serial ATA RAID 1210SA, PCI
ODD: DVD Multidrive, LG GSA-4120B, IDE
ZIP-Drive: Iomega ZIP 250, IDE
Case: InWin IW-C588
PSU: Seasonic SS-380GB, 380 Watt ATX
OS: Windows XP Pro
Games: Doom 3, Far Cry, SH: The Case of the Silver Earring, Return to Mysterious Island

REM: I never had the money nor need to build a PC with HDD raid but for this one I gave it a try.
The effect on the performance is major but it also confronted me with some challenge ...
... I always make a full HDD Image when I am done with the SW installation but my usual tools can't deal with the neccessary raid driver.
But finally, I found a solution that worked with Windows XP+Raid+Boot-CD, but this is another story ...

Interesting choice: You have installed the stronger VGA card to the weaker CPU.

X850 XT --> P4-530
9800 PRO --> XP 3200+

melbar wrote on 2020-12-20, 18:38:

Interesting choice: You have installed the stronger VGA card to the weaker CPU.

I always try to stay in period with the main components of my builds, except when I am (temporarily) lacking the right parts or I build a rig for a special purpose.
=> That also means no CF-disks, no Floppy emulators, no modern cases etc., only the real and authentic stuff whenever possible/reasonable/affordable.

The P4 Prescott is from 2004 (Link)
and the X850 XT was also introduced in 2004 (Link)
((The Prescott also features HT which the Athlon XP is lacking. ))

... so the #7 could well be a typical Xmas build of 2004 (or an early 2005).

And, in time, I will put a stronger P4 into it, when I can get one cheap 😉

... an here comes #8

#8: year 2008/2009 PC (Acer OEM not built) …
My rating: 3.5 from 5 stars
Description: Nothing special about this PC but I love the SFF case.
I's alway astonishing what Hardware can be sqeezed in such a small case without utilizing notebook technology.
Board: Acer WMCP78M (MB DA061/087L), nForce 720a Mainboard, Socket AM2
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 5050e 2.6GHz Dual-Core
RAM: 3GB (2GB+1GB) DDR 2, PC2-6400
2D/3D-Grafik: Radeon HD 4350, 512MB DDR2, PCIe (+ GeForce 8200 IGP)
Sound: Realtek OEM, onboard
HDD: WD Blue 640GB (2008) WD6400AAKS
ODD: HL Data Storage GH40F Super Multi DVD Rewriter
Cardreader: built in OEM
Case: Acer Aspire X1300
PSU: Acer OEM 220W, TFX
OS: Windows Vista (32-bit) - IMO Vista isn’t as bad as always claimed.
Games: Plants vs. Zombies, Angry Birds, Machinarium, Mass Effect 1*, Runaway: A Twist of Fate

* Just yesterday I've bought a Radeon HD 4650 1GB low profile, the 4350 is simply too weak for Mass Effect 1 …

I am sorry to present this boring one today. Perhaps I should have arranged the presentation to put the most exciting ones last,
but maybe the last one (#9) will be a bit more interesting even when it is the latest by chronological order.

... so, there is one more to come.

... unfortunately this has to be the last one, but I wish a merry Xmas to all of you - here is finally #9 of 9 ....

*** work in progress ***
#9: year 2011 build (REM: this one is not fully period correct) …
My (preliminary) rating: 5 from 5 stars
Description: This is my Freespace Battlestation PC that runs Freespace SCP with my Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback Pro Joystick (Windows XP).
((Back in 2011, I had the choice between the Phenom II X6 and the i7-2700 and chose the i7, but for this build I took the best 95W Phenom II X6 available.))

The Xmas-Highlight for me is the display of the “Aero Cool, Modern V” fan control. I had one around 2009 and loved the Star Trek(ish) look of it 😀
Together with the “Centurion 5” case (deliberately bought a blue one) it is IMO a great combo.

Board: Gigabyte GA-880GA-UD3H rev. 2.1, AMD 880G, Socket AM3
CPU: AMD Phenom II X6 1065T, HDT65TWFK6DGR, 95W (with AC Freezer Pro 7 cooler)
RAM: 8GB (2x 4GB) DDR3 1333MHz, CL9, Team Group
2D/3D-Grafik: Asus GTX 670 DirectCU II, 2GB GDDR5 (GTX670-DC2-2GD5)
Sound: Creative Labs SB0220 Sound Blaster Live! 5.1, PCI
SSD: 128GB Intenso SSD, Sata
HDD: 250GB, Western Digital Caviar RE WD2500YS, Sata
ODD: LG Super Multi DVD Rewriter, GH22NS50
FDD: TEAC FD-CR7, Floppy & USB card reader
Case: Cooler Master Centurion 5, blue
Fan controller: Aero Cool, Modern V *
PSU: 500W, Cooler Master RS-500-ACAB-B1, ATX
OS: Windows XP & Windows 7 (dual boot)
Games: mostly Freespace SCP 1+2 with my Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback Pro Joystick.
With a large wide screen display and the Force Feedback the game gives you great immersion.

I would have liked to get this project finished by Xmas, but we had some family emergencies to cope with.

But anyway, I stitched it up so far to give you at least a first impression what it will look like 😀

I wish you all a merry Xmas, a happy new year & please, please stay all well!!!

* I want the Display to show the temp & fan speed but the fans should be controlled by the built in fan controller of the mainboard. For that I need to build some custom splitter cables first …

That is an excellent system you really did save the best for last. Also great choice on the case that's got to be one of my absolutely favorite cases. This was a really fun thread. Have a safe and merry Christmas and a great holiday season.

#9 - it's alive!!!

I finally found the time to finish my #9, the "Freespace 1+2 Battle Station".
It is up and running!

Many thanks to adalbert for the XP activation link, saved me a lot of time after changing the Mainboard 😀 !!!

I stubled over a strange Phenomena => I've bought two obviously similar Soundcards (Modell "SB 0220 ") one DELL OEM, the other one original SB (with additional I/O Port on top).
Trying both in comparison, the OEM worked better (with more FFB) with the MS Force Feedback Joystick than the original .

I don't understand why, but that my subjective feeling ...

BTW, a happy new year to you all 😀

Happy New year to you as well! That system looks fantastic I love how the fan controller looks in the Centurion 5.

Hello chrismeyer6,
it's the typical Star Trek "Michael Okuda"-Look that I like on this display.
(did anyone get the 7 of 9 joke at all, when it came on ? - OK, never mind ...)

Yes it definitely has a Star trek or battle star Galactica feel to it.

Some really cool systems you've got there!

I'm also a big fan of Freespace and I'm glad the open source project exists so it's enjoyable on modern systems with loads of addons 😀

Thanks mate, good read!

#6 is quite an impressive looking beast. The Lian Li PC-60 was a real style statement of the times. Back then, most of us either had one, or (as in my 'case') couldn't afford one and were envious! 😀

Thank you all for the feedback 😀

To bring it down to one word, my personal favourites are:
#1 (486): my "Commander Keen" machine ("ta-dada-da-da-dii-dada ..." =>Keen 4)
#5 (P III): Voodoo 5 550 (no further comment required)
#6 (Athlon XP): full FSB 400 Support & Radeon 9800 (& Lian Li case)
#9 (Phenom II X6 ): Freespace & MS Sidewinder Force Feedback Joystick

... OK, that's more than one word 😉

And finally, that are my very favoured vintage Games for all the rigs that I've built (in alphabetic order):
- Blade Runner
- Byzantine
- Cloudpunk
- Commander Keen 4-6
- Freespace 1 + 2
- Grim Fandango
- Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
- Mass Effect 2+3
- Outcast: Second Contact
- Riddle of Master Lu
- Sherlock Holmes: The Rose Tattoo
- Syberia 1+2
- Tomb Raider 1

*** case/thread closed ***
Thank you all & stay well ....

Beautiful machines, particularly impressed with the Lian Li as I'm really fond of their old cases.

ildonaldo wrote on 2021-01-10, 17:52:

And finally, that are my very favoured vintage Games for all the rigs that I've built (in alphabetic order):
- Cloudpunk

Cloudpunk is so good! I've been playing it over the last week, such a great atmosphere and story.

CapnCrunch53 wrote on 2021-01-11, 07:45:

Cloudpunk is so good! I've been playing it over the last week, such a great atmosphere and story.

Oh Dear, Cloudpunk is IMHO the best Game 2020 and maybe even the best Game of the decade.
Deep and emotional Story, no shooting, no adrenalin rush, get's to you from the first moment.
I really, really hope for a sequel (cloudpunk "second night run").

But anyway, Cloudpunk is no vintage game and should not matter here - sorry that I've mentioned it at all in this sacred halls ...

Happy Easter Everyone!

#10: year 1999 build …

My rating: 4 from 5 stars

Description: This is my new Voodoo 3 gaming machine, that replaces the #3 Voodoo 2 machine that I’ve sold recently.
I was even able to connect one of the front USB-Ports to the additional USB 2.0 card.
(luckily there are working Win 9.x drivers available for the VIA VT6212L chip)
The soundcard is probably not the best one, but at least it comes with drivers for DOS.

Board: Gigabyte, GA-6VXE7+ Rev. 3.0, VIA Apollo Pro Chipset
CPU: Pentium III, Coppermine, 1Ghz
RAM: 512 MB (2x256MB) SDRAM, PC-100, Noname
3D-Grafics: Voodoo 3 3000, 16MB, AGP
Sound: Sound-Blaster 64V, Model: ES1371, PCI
USB card: Trust HU-3150, 5 (4+1) Port, USB 2.0, PCI
HDD: Quantum Fireball EX, 4.3GB, IDE
ODD: CD-ROM 40x, LG CRD-8400D
FDD 1: 1.44 MB 3.5", Mitsumi
RDD: Iomega Zip 100, IDE
Case: NoName Mini-ATX
Case fan: 1x 80mm Lüfter (NoiseBlocker)
PSU: ATX 350W, Be quiet! Pure Power, BQT L7-350W
Windows 98SE (incl. Updates)
Favoured Games: Amerzone, Freespace 2, Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine, The Longest Journey, Klingon Honor Guard

That's a really nice system. That's quite the bios splash screen it reminds me of some of the more modern UEFI bios screens.

Project #11: a 1994, 486/66 Multimedia machine - work in progress

Description: this will be my second 486 machine.
The case is a real beauty and I was tempted to use it for my "Max Pentium machine" (P 233 MMX/Matrox Mil II + m3d PowerVR II/...) but decided to rebuild it with all salvagable original HW parts.
Unfortunately the VLB-Mobo was gone due to a very bad battery leakage but I was able to get a good replacement for a reasonable price.
I also replaced the (dubious) china-PSU with a tested SPI-300G.

Work in progress: did the most of the assembling today but I think it will take some more work to have it up an running.
I am especially worried about the HDD, because it showed some problems when I've initially tried to make a image file from the original content.
Unfortunately I have no period correct replacement, only a 1.2 GB Seagate Medalist from 1997 🙁

Board: TMC PAT48PG 0.30 (OPTi 895) 486 VLB, Opti chipset (drum battery replaced with button cell)
CPU: Intel 486 DX2/66
RAM: 16MB SIMM
2D-card: Cirrus Logic CL-GD5428, 1MB, noname, VLB
Sound: ESS688FC, noname, ISA
Controller: noname contoller (2x IDE, 1x FDD, 2x serial, 1x parallel, 1x Gameport), VLB
HDD: 540 MB, Conner CFS541A, IDE
ODD: CD-ROM 4x, Aztech CDA 468-021
FDD 1: 1.44 MB 3.5", Mitsumi
Case: Unknown Multimedia case with built in speakers and amplifier (PC brand: Palladium)
PSU: AT SPI-300G
OS: TBD (probably DOS 6.22 + WfW 3.11)

ildonaldo wrote on 2022-08-21, 15:32:

Work in progress: did the most of the assembling today but I think it will take some more work to have it up an running.
I am especially worried about the HDD, because it showed some problems when I've initially tried to make a image file from the original content.
Unfortunately I have no period correct replacement, only a 1.2 GB Seagate Medalist from 1997 🙁

that's a (3 years later) period correct upgrade though! 😀

nice case too