Re: Win98SE + P4 Build

Posted on 2021-09-15, 13:21

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by pixel_workbench

in Marvin \ System Specs

in Marvin \ System Specs

Nice to see my recommendation in action. The SB Live has decent FM music emulation in DOS, not 100% authentic, but better than some other attempts. If it doesn't sound right using the "sound blaster" option in a game, it typically sounds more authentic using the "adlib" option. Just be sure to …

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Re: Radeon 9550 and Intel 440bx motherboard?

Posted on 2021-09-12, 16:56

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by pixel_workbench

in Marvin \ Video

in Marvin \ Video

I saw a few Universal AGP Radeon "9550" selling on ebay, and suspected they were actually mislabeled 9200, which are supposed to be universally keyed. Even that label on the back of your card looks sketchy, like some seller might have printed it himself and slapped it on. I would recommend testing …

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Re: Thoughts on the Number Nine Ticket to Ride Revolution 3d?

Posted on 2021-09-06, 05:38

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by pixel_workbench

in Marvin \ Video

in Marvin \ Video

I have this card, its 3D capabilities are not the worst for a 1997 card, but not good. It's missing some blending modes that make transparency look buggy in some games, and I also remember it was one of several early 3D cards that caused crashes on my Via Socket 370 test rig. But I agree that it's a …

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Re: ELSA GLoria Synergy-8 ViVo (3Dlabs Permedia 2) VESA VBE support?

Posted on 2021-09-02, 17:47

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by pixel_workbench

in Marvin \ Video

in Marvin \ Video

I have a Diamond FireGL 1000pro 8MB AGP version of the Permedia 2, and it only has the same two reported VESA modes as you listed, with only 512K available. Haven't tried any tweaks to improve it though.

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Re: What motherboard for a 1.4GHz p3 Tualitin CPU?

Posted on 2021-09-02, 14:53

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by pixel_workbench

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Good advice in this thread, but if you're going for a Via chipset motherboard (which still support ISA slots and >512MB RAM, unlike Intel 815) then might as well go with the AMD Athlon instead of Tualatin. Use a mobile CPU, and you have unlocked multipliers, low power consumption, along with faster …

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Re: An interesting Rage 128 Pro which needs very late drivers

Posted on 2021-08-22, 02:43

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by pixel_workbench

in Marvin \ Video

in Marvin \ Video

I have such a card, and the latest official driver installer did not recognize it either. I just did an INF mod and added the correct strings, now the installer detects the card.

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Re: Anyone Using a SB Audigy under 98SE with DX7 Just Fine?

Posted on 2021-08-22, 02:28

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by pixel_workbench

in Marvin \ Sound

in Marvin \ Sound

Before installing DX8, make a backup copy of your Windows folder. Then you can go back if it causes problems.

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Re: About removing and replacing barrel batteries..

Posted on 2021-07-02, 15:44

by

by pixel_workbench

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

It's a pity these links no longer work as I'm sure they were an interesting read. I use a LIR2032 in a button cell holder soldered directly to the motherboard in place of the OEM unit. Saves all the mucking about. Never had an issue. Strange. You can go to the main site and navigate to the articles …

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Re: Bare Minimum Late DOS/Late Win95 Build

Posted on 2021-07-02, 15:40

by

by pixel_workbench

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

In my experience, both the GF4mx PCI and the fx5200 PCI turn into a slideshow when running Unreal in 32bit color. The gpu should be powerful enough, but obviously there's something buggy in the PCI implementation and/or drivers. On the other hand, the GF 6200 PCI and the Radeon 9200 PCI did not have …

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Re: The best Motherboard for a Pentium II MMX.

Posted on 2021-06-15, 21:13

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by pixel_workbench

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Early Pentium II 400 with the dA1 stepping have downward unlocked multiplier, you can easily run them at 133mhz if needed. Same for the P2-333 with dA0 and dA1 steppings. With L1 cache disabled at 400mhz, it's about the speed of a slow 386, which is also appropriate for some early 90s games. Unless …

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Re: About removing and replacing barrel batteries..

Posted on 2021-06-10, 13:58

by

by pixel_workbench

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Can you please comment on my solution on using a 18650 lithium ion rechargeable battery. Can these batteries be safely recharged by a 386 motherboard while in use? Here is a 18650 https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/1005002420574151.html charger if a comparison can be made. Or maybe I should put a diode …

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Re: Advice on socket 7 choice?

Posted on 2021-06-09, 17:27

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by pixel_workbench

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

If you're looking at the ATX form factor for Socket 7, then I can recommend the LT430TX boards from Gateway computers. They include many newer conveniences like onboard UDMA33 IDE and floppy ports, PS/2 ports, USB, onboard PLB cache, SDRAM slots, and best of all are relatively inexpensive. Throw in …

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Re: PIII + ATI Radeon 9800 proven ATI driver for Windows 2000 OpenGL? and debugging why its not working for my install..

Posted on 2021-05-31, 15:06

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by pixel_workbench

in Marvin \ Video

in Marvin \ Video

Did you make sure that your desktop color mode matches the game color mode? If the game runs in 16 bit color, then set your desktop to 16 bit color.

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Re: Fastest CPU for a voodoo 1 while maintaining DOS glide compatibility

Posted on 2021-05-27, 18:55

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by pixel_workbench

in Marvin \ Video

in Marvin \ Video

I ran a Voodoo on a s478 system with a 3.06ghz Pentium4. Probably something unique to the Sis chipset, because I wasn't able to get the same success on an Intel 845 board with a slower P4. https://pixelworkbench.com/2019/12/15/ ... 1-review/

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Re: Building a good Windows 98 gaming pc

Posted on 2021-05-25, 19:49

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by pixel_workbench

in Marvin \ System Specs

in Marvin \ System Specs

If you want to keep it inexpensive, then suggestions like Voodoo2, super socket 7, and Athlon XP with ISA slot are going to be hard to find cheap. Unless you have a long list of early 90s DOS games you want to play on the real hardware, I wouldn't worry about all the speed sensitivity issues. You …

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Re: How can I tell between Geforce2 MX and MX400?

Posted on 2021-05-05, 15:10

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by pixel_workbench

in Marvin \ Video

in Marvin \ Video

The most important thing to look for in GF2 MX cards is the speed rating of the memory chips, usually printed on the chips as the last digit, and specified in nanoseconds. 6ns is slower than 5.5ns, and 5ns is even faster. The MX is memory bandwidth bottlenecked, especially when using 32-bit color. I …

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Re: Socket A: Nvidia vs Via - battle of the platforms!

Posted on 2021-04-16, 19:31

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by pixel_workbench

in Marvin \ System Specs

in Marvin \ System Specs

Eh, supporting v5 more important than all that stuff. Gimme socket 462 with 3.3v agp and 12v aux atx power and I'll give you my right leg. KT333 is best chipset as it supports the former and ddr400, not sure if ever put on mobo with aux power though. MSI KT3-Ultra says Hi. I thought such boards …

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Re: Socket 7 to SLOT 1 adapter?

Posted on 2021-04-15, 13:28

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by pixel_workbench

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

With good case airflow I run the P2-400 with its original gold-colored passive heatsink all day. I don't remember the temps ever going above 60C even under Prime95 stress test.

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Re: Do I Need to Dumb Down My System for Games?

Posted on 2021-04-13, 04:40

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by pixel_workbench

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

If your Radeon 9550 is passively cooled, then it's possibly overheating, which would explain the problem. Try pointing an extra fan directly at the GPU to see if that fixes the crashes.

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Re: S3 ViRGE deep dive

Posted on 2021-04-12, 17:52

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by pixel_workbench

in Marvin \ Video

in Marvin \ Video

Interesting writeup. I suspected that the DX with EDO mem is preferrable to the GX with SDRAM, and now I know why. As someone who tested the faster Virge DX in many 1990s 3D games, my impression is that it was OK for 1996 - 1997 simple 3D games, especially if you use a lower resolution like 400 x …

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