Just to give you all an update.
Whilst I enjoyed maxing out my IBM, Performance was lacking slightly. Mainly due to the fact that most of the games I wanted to run were later games, 2000-2001 some onwards and had issues with DOS games. I've not posted it yet, but I have a Pentium III 733 with a Creative 256 Annihilator Pro and for later XP gaming as you may of seen I have a Pentium 4 rig which I've just finished - both of which ran most games effortlessly.
So I decided to rebuild and go for a late Windows 95 build to run DOS Games.
The CPU. I pulled out the K6-2 and replaced it with a Pentium 200 MMX. I was originally going to go with a 166MMX, however this gives me the ability to down clock as and when required.
I decided to replace the DVD-ROM drive which was failing, It was not reading Audio CDs and unable to read certain discs first time. I managed to find a hardly used Compaq 48x CD-ROM from ~2000 in the correct colour 😀
I replaced the 40Gb 7200rpm for the original 4.3Gb Hard Drive
I originally put 32MB PC66 Ram in, however found Windows was thrashing its nuts off. I put in another 32mb, which I had loads of problems with, I mem tested and found the memory was faulty. So I've put in a 128mb Stick for now, I am to replace it with a 64mb stick since thats what the motherboard can cache - also, more time fitting.
With the graphics card, I'm in two minds whether to keep it in. Its providing decent DOS performance and supporting early glide titles in windows 95. Tomb Raider 1,2 & 3, GL Quake, Quake 2 and Carmageddon 2. I was toying with replacing it with a Matrox MGA or S3 - Your thoughts guys?
Specifications
Intel Pentium MMX 200mhz
64mb RAM (2x32mb) @ 66 FSB
16mb 3DFx Voodoo 3 2000 PCI
4.3GB 4500RPM ST-34342A (Medalist 4342 Ultra ATA-3) - 2x2Gb FAT16 Partitions
Compaq NC3120 Fast Ethernet NIC PCI (Intel Chipset ~1996)
Creative AWE64 Value CT4500
48x Compaq CD-ROM Drive
Windows 95 (OEM First Edition) With Plus Pack and Office 95
Games
Tomb Raider 2 using the Voodoo
GLQuake, using the latest Miniport driver. Runs very smooth
Sam & Max Hit the Road, Running in DOS. Sounds fantastic with the AWE64.
Nascar Racing, Running in SVGA mode in DOS.
Benchmarks
The Pentium seems quite a decent overclocker. I managed to take the board up to 83mhz which resulted in 250mhz which was very stable, didn't have a single issue. As you can see the benchmarks improved well. I also dropped the CPU back to 166mhz to see how well it scaled.
Conclusion
I've enjoyed this more, building Windows 95 from scratch, configuring the Autoexec.bat and Config.sys and tinkering than I did with the Windows 98 build. All my DOS games now work perfectly with CD-ROM and mouse support. Back 1995 when I had our family Pentium 75 we had a Sound Blaster Pro compatible - it was no where near the quality of the AWE64 - therefore I'm enjoying Sam & Max more thanks to the better Midi and effects. I love the noise of the hard drive. It sounds very old school!
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**