VOGONS


First post, by framebuffer

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Few weeks ago I decided to rebuild the first computer I assembled all by myself back in 1999, when I was 13 years old.

Although the main components are the same that I used back in 1999 (the video card is actually the one I bought that day), this is not one of those builds with proper era accurate case, monitor and speakers.
My intent here was to spent some time playing the games I used to play in 1999-2000 and have a base for future projects where I plan to upgrade the build exactly the same way I did in 2001, 2002 etc.

Here are the components

- ASUS P3B-F
- Intel Pentium III 450MHz
- 128MB PC133@PC100 [original build used 64MB PC100]
- 3dfx Voodoo3 2000 AGP
- 8 GB SLC CF + IBM/Hitachi Deskstar 41GB [original build used a Quantum Fireball 6.4GB]
- Creative Sound Blaster Live!
- Pioneer slot-in [original build model unknown]
- Streacom BC1 [original build used a Midi “Pro” Case]

Some pictures of the components and the build

project001_11_1920px.jpg

project001_18_1920px.jpg

project001_15_1920px.jpg

project001_19_1920px.jpg

project001_07_1920px.jpg

project001_01_1920px.jpg

project001_10_1920px.jpg

The games I played the most on this computer were

- Unreal Tournament
- Quake III Arena
- Need for Speed Hot Pursuit
- (Need for Speed Porsche Unleashed)
- Re-Volt
- Driver
- Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2
- Supreme Snowboarding

Here are some screenshot captured directly from the system

project001_44_1024px

project001_48_1024px

project001_27_1024px

project001_25_1024px

project001_30_1024px

project001_32_1024px

project001_43_1024px

project001_37_1024px

project001_40_1024px

I wrote all the details, along with more pictures and the full story behind the build in my website/blog if you want to have a look
I also created a short video tribute with the build overview and some gameplay footage: https://youtu.be/RwmyTmzixsg

😉

Windows 98 and SAMBA | Quake CPU Benchmarks | GeForce2: GTS vs MX400

Reply 1 of 12, by foey

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Great well rounded machine there. Love the dual fan on the PIII looks a beast 😀

Not going to put it in a proper case?

Cyrix Instead Build, 6x86 166+ | 32mb SD | 4mb S3 Virge DX | Creative AWE64 | Win95
ATC-S PIII Tualatin Win9x Build :- ATC-S PIII Coppermine Win9x Build Log [WIP] **Photo Heavy**

Reply 3 of 12, by framebuffer

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foey wrote on 2021-02-18, 19:41:

Great well rounded machine there. Love the dual fan on the PIII looks a beast 😀

Not going to put it in a proper case?

Thanks 😉

I already have 6 "fixed builds" in they're case, that are covering the 1997-2013 era I'd say;
Also, the ones covering times where multiple video card vendors were present have a dedicated disk/installation (so I just need to swap the card and boot from the right HDD), and in fact it's more like having 10-12 builds 😁

This was more a project to play the games with exactly the same hardware (and settings) I had in 1999/2000 😀

Windows 98 and SAMBA | Quake CPU Benchmarks | GeForce2: GTS vs MX400

Reply 5 of 12, by framebuffer

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Hezus wrote on 2021-02-18, 19:53:

I really dig those photo's! Very artsy 😀

Thanks! 😉

Matt087 wrote on 2021-02-18, 20:05:

Very nice retro build ,i know that voodoo card is worth a lot , it would rival some of the inflated modern graphics card prices atm 🤣

heheh yes, I'm lucky to have quite few of them and especially for this build, using exactly the one I bought that day in 1999 was kind of emotional 😀

Windows 98 and SAMBA | Quake CPU Benchmarks | GeForce2: GTS vs MX400

Reply 10 of 12, by Sphere478

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nice!
nostalgia builds are fun
my first PC was a pentium II 450 (before that I had a mac) good memories

Sphere's PCB projects.
-
Sphere’s socket 5/7 cpu collection.
-
SUCCESSFUL K6-2+ to K6-3+ Full Cache Enable Mod
-
Tyan S1564S to S1564D single to dual processor conversion (also s1563 and s1562)

Reply 11 of 12, by framebuffer

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foil_fresh wrote on 2021-02-26, 06:13:

hey what's the snowboarding game? nice build. i want a slot loader pioneer drive so bad. our old P2 266 had one of them and it was the coolest part of the whole thing 😀

The snowboarding game is Supreme Snowboarding (or Boarder Zone)
Yes I love the Pioneer Slot-In too, used it for many years before eventually switching to Plextor

Warlord wrote on 2021-02-26, 06:16:

some pretty good pictures. What camera did you use.

Thanks!
I'm using a Sony A6000 + Sigma 16mm f/1.4

Sphere478 wrote on 2021-02-26, 09:46:

nice!
nostalgia builds are fun
my first PC was a pentium II 450 (before that I had a mac) good memories

Yes absolutely!
While I was writing the article and thinking how things went back in 1999 I managed to remember many details that made me smile and appreciate this project even more 😀

Windows 98 and SAMBA | Quake CPU Benchmarks | GeForce2: GTS vs MX400