First post, by mhenry676
Ok. So I would like to build a machine to run Windows 98 SE for my old Win9x games and DOS (Mechwarrior 2 Titanium Trilogy, King's Quest 8, Star Wars Pod Racer, Older games like Doom95, Quake, etc) but I'd like some suggestions cause I have a few routes as far as hardware. Also, I have been using DOS/Windows/Linux for 20years now, but haven't touched Windows 9x for almost 10 years, so I'm a bit rusty, but playing with DOSBOX is bringing it back. (P.S. I'm 31, first computer was a TI-99 4A, followed by a Tandy 1000 8088, then a Tandy 1000 RLX 286 with my first hard drive of 40MB and 1MB RAM! I used Stacker to squeeze more into it!)
Another thing; are there any games/apps that won't run in 98 SE, but will in 95? I have both available to me. I don't remember if there were issues when I made the 98 jump back then.
What about the unofficial Windows98 SP 2.5 (http://exuberant.ms11.net/98sesp.html) ?
Here's the hardware I have available (that still have Win98 drivers available):
Mobos, CPUs, Slots:
ASUS A7N8X-E Deluxe
--Athlon XP 2500+ Mobile (Unlocked) 1.8 GHz stock, overclocks to 2.5GHz
or
--Athlon 900MHz Thunderbird (not sure if it will work, but is Socket A)
-PCI and AGP 1.5v
-nForce 2 chipset and OnBoard nforce audio with APU
-USB 2.0
-Ultra133 and SATA
-DDR Memory 3 slots up to PC3200 (DDR 400)
-Max mem I can install 1GB
Dell Optiplex GX1 (freebie from work)
--Any P2 or P3 400-550 MHz
-Intel 440BX Chipset
-Integrated Audio (Crytal Semiconductor CS4236?)
-Integrated ATI Rage Pro AGP2x (4mb or 8mb, not sure,
--but does have a memory upgrade card for video)
-5 PCI, 2 shared with 2 ISA
-3 PC100/133 Mem Slots
-Max mem I can install 384MB or 512MB
Gateway Mobo (unsure of model, full ATX board)
--Socket Celeron 1GHz
or
--Socket Pentium 3 733MHz
(EDIT=Intel 815 chipset)
-PCI, AGP 3.3v (Edit=No ISA)
-USB 1
-3 PC100/133 Mem Slots
-Max mem I can install 384MB or 512MB
HP Slot Pentium 3 (EDIT=HP 8576C)
--Any P2 or P3 400-550 MHz Currently 550MHz
-MOBO built by ASUS (EDIT=P2B-VE)
-(EDIT=Intel 443ZX Chipset)
-PCI,ISA,AGP 3.3v
-USB 1
-2 PC100/133 Mem Slots
-Max mem I can install 256MB or 384MB
Video Cards:
-AGPs-
TNT2 VANTA ??MB (ASUS) (3.3v?)
GeForce 2 TI 64MB (1.5v or 3.3v, not sure) (EDIT=not a gf4)
GeForce FX 5600 256MB (ASUS A7N8X-E Only)
(EDIT=Have GF FX 5200 and GF6200 both 128M)
GeForce FX 6800 128MB (can unlock/OC to Ultra specs) (ASUS A7N8X-E Only)
Voodoo 3 3000 16MB
(EDIT=Don't have ATI Rage Fury)
-PCIs-
Voodoo 2 BlackMagic 3D 12MB (3D passthrough)
ATI All in Wonder 32MB (TV Tuner, In/Out S-Video,Composite Ports) (EDIT=32MB Rage Pro 128)
Sound Cards
SB Live PCI (CT4760)
SB Live 5.1 PCI
(EDIT=no SB16, but can get one easily)
AWE64 ISA (EDIT=ISA CT4500)
Memory
Mix of 128MB PC100, 1 128 PC133, 1 PC100 256
PC400 1GB (2x512) OCZ Gold 2-2-2-5 (ASUS A7N8X-E Only)
Other
Promise Ultra133 and Ultra66 cards
Silicone Image RAID/Ultra133 card
Many NICs
REALMagic DVD Decoder Card
XBOX Gamepads
MS Sidewinder Gamepads
MS Precision Pro Joystick
MS Sidewinder Strategic Commander
?
May use my 1440x900 monitor, using VGA port (DVI in use). This monitor will only strech a 4:3 resolution, so the 6800 with the latest drivers maybe the only one to force it to 4:3.
My first thought is to put the A7N8X-E together for the old-school gaming (I know, quite over the top), and use DOSBOX, VDM Sound, MoSlow, etc. when needed. I would like to go Roland LAPc-I if I can find one, but it's been hard. Is there a Roland PCI card? I can here the difference in DOSBOX on my old King's Quest games between Roland MT-32 and SB Midi (KQ5 for some reason at times sounds like there is an instument off on both, but SB Midi is less annoying). I think I can get around having 1GB in Win98. The geforce 6800 or 5600 FX may be good for running a glide wrapper, but might put the voodoo 2 in just in case. I'd also need to get a new heatsink for the 5600 or geforce 4 TI. The A7N8X-E is my current Media Center, but have a FOXCON MOBO with Athlon 64 3200 and 1GB RAM ready to go for that. Plus, everything I can put in the A7N8X-E is about the last of the Win98 Compatability.
Sorry if this seems choppy/and incomplete, but putting this post together at work, hoping to work on the machine tonight. I will update if needbe.