Nice job! 😀 I usually prefer desktop style cases for older PC's but i really like that tower! truly retro 😎

Can't get much better than that. 😀

So, how do you rate the GameBlaster card? Was it worth the wait?

Also, is there a specific reason why you've gone for the GUS Ace, as opposed to either the Classic or the Max?

Amigaz wrote:

JCurrently I'm using MS-DOS 6.22 + Win 3.11 for workgroups..but plan to change to PC-DOS because I think it's better...more memory efficient.

Nice PC, and SCSI too! Looks like you have the best of the best for that time period.

You might want to try MSDOS 5.0 if you have access to it. I had flaky problems with PC-DOS back then, but YMMV. At least with DOS 5.0 you can still load stuff high, just not automagically with memmaker (who cares). You can also still use QEMM386 or 386Max for a truly retro experience.

MSDOS 5.0 takes less conventional memory than 6.22 for a variety of reasons, one of which is a smaller command.com

The Plextor caddy loading drives are probably the nicest CD-ROM drives you can get. I was surprised at how quiet they are. Even my 32X CLV model is whisper silent.

Amigaz, you gotta admit that your 386 is way more exciting than a Mac Plus. 😀

What you have right there is a symbol of the industrial awesomeness that the modern "people" oriented PCs have lost!!! Sheet metal. Beige. Rectangular 90-degree-inspired everythings!!

BTW, I'm sick of black PCs. We need beige back hehe. I recently purchased a brand-new-in-box 1999 Enlight 7237 case off ebay for $35. Ecstatic I was. Side panels + Beige baby!!

I actually prefer the black casings. The beige ones always go yellow. It's also easier to match black components.

Yeah it's easier to match black. It's tough to make different shades of black you know. 😀 But it seems like everything is black now. It's kinda boring.

I have a white EeePC 900. What's nice about that is it's hard to see smudges, scratches and dirt. On the other hand, those HP notebooks with the ultra-shiney smooth black finishes...uhg.

retro games 100 wrote:

Can't get much better than that. 😀

So, how do you rate the GameBlaster card? Was it worth the wait?

Also, is there a specific reason why you've gone for the GUS Ace, as opposed to either the Classic or the Max?

It can't be rated so high since imho it's only a slight upgrade sound wise than using the beeper for music, hehe
The music sounds like early 8-bit console music simplified...but it can sound real terrible...in games like Elvira 1 for example.
But the card is a nice addition...and it's a real rarity, can't be many of these in existence today.

The Gus Ace stayed in this machine since I wanted to test if it worked without disabling other game ports than the one on a sound blaster...and it didn't do it on the game port on my multi I/O card so I suspect only Creative Sound Blaster cards are affected.

valnar wrote:

Nice PC, and SCSI too! Looks like you have the best of the best for that time period. […]
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Amigaz wrote:

JCurrently I'm using MS-DOS 6.22 + Win 3.11 for workgroups..but plan to change to PC-DOS because I think it's better...more memory efficient.

Nice PC, and SCSI too! Looks like you have the best of the best for that time period.

You might want to try MSDOS 5.0 if you have access to it. I had flaky problems with PC-DOS back then, but YMMV. At least with DOS 5.0 you can still load stuff high, just not automagically with memmaker (who cares). You can also still use QEMM386 or 386Max for a truly retro experience.

MSDOS 5.0 takes less conventional memory than 6.22 for a variety of reasons, one of which is a smaller command.com

I'ts not that I'm so deep in trouble whe it comes to low memory situations 😀
Most of these older games games do need as much free conv. memory as the newer one's which can have insance demands like having over 600k free conv. memory

Anonymous Coward wrote:

The Plextor caddy loading drives are probably the nicest CD-ROM drives you can get. I was surprised at how quiet they are. Even my 32X CLV model is whisper silent.

Yeah, got a 32x caddy model too....wish modern dvd rom's were like this and not sounding like you turned on your vacuum cleaner 😜

swaaye wrote:

Amigaz, you gotta admit that your 386 is way more exciting than a Mac Plus. 😀

What you have right there is a symbol of the industrial awesomeness that the modern "people" oriented PCs have lost!!! Sheet metal. Beige. Rectangular 90-degree-inspired everythings!!

BTW, I'm sick of black PCs. We need beige back hehe. I recently purchased a brand-new-in-box 1999 Enlight 7237 case off ebay for $35. Ecstatic I was. Side panels + Beige baby!!

Hell yes!! Mac' didn't become interesting until the G4's came along 😀
The only thing you can do with a Mac Plus imho is to "collect" them...they're quite unusable.....there are some crappy games of course.

🤣, sheet metal.....yeah...and it weighs a ton 😁

Amigaz, your new beast certainly wins the bad ass 386 award, but this ebay 386 box looks kinda interesting -

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem& … _fvi%3D1&_rdc=1

retro games 100 wrote:

Amigaz, your new beast certainly wins the bad ass 386 award, but this ebay 386 box looks kinda interesting -

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem& … _fvi%3D1&_rdc=1

Yep, looks loaded too....but that 386DX 40 might be too fast for our good old Wing Commander one in full speed mode...25-33mhz is the sweet spot for those speed sensitive, pesky games 😁

Updated with youtube video.

Sorry for it's poor quality, I just got a digital video camera and my skills are at the rookie level right now 😳

nice video amigo!!!!

Excellent video! it's nice to hear the difference in sound cards one after the other 😀

How many fans are you using? It's a bit of a noisy beast! - or it could be a loud HDD or CD drive and not fans?

keropi wrote:

nice video amigo!!!!

Thanks 😀

PowerPie5000 wrote:

Excellent video! it's nice to hear the difference in sound cards one after the other 😀

How many fans are you using? It's a bit of a noisy beast! - or it could be a loud HDD or CD drive and not fans?

The PSU fan is quite noisy...they didn't care to use silent fans back then.
I've bought a 92mm Noctua fan to replace it with.
the SCSI hdd isn't the most silent model either 😉

LAPC-1 sounds great.