First post, by Melonking
- Rank
- Newbie
Hi old computer interested people, I figured Id post my build project because I think Facebook is probably sick of me 😜 If you have any pointers or notice anything I did wrong please say so!
So as a preface, this is my first retro build.. hopefully my last too, I can see how this could become a rabbit hole. Started it because of that stupid LRG video where he builds an old system, and as someone who has only done very modern builds it seemed novel.
I basically had to start from scratch, while I had plenty of system building parts around, very little of it was compatible with older pc's (Apart from screws and stuff).. I released that there were actually no computers in the house that even had cd/dvd drives. To add to that, from what I can tell there is basically no retro computer scene in Ireland at all, I could not find any reliable place for parts, so everything had to be imported, Ill list where parts came from as its quite a list!
Tower Parts: (Mostly from the UK)
CPU: Intel Pentium 133mhz (Underclocked to 100mhz)
MOBO: FIC PA-2013 Socket 7
RAM: 64MB PC100 (2x 32MB sticks)
GFX1: S3 Virge DX 4mb - From Hungry
GFX2: Diamond Voodoo 1 4mb - From Russia
SOUND: Sound Blaster 16 CT2230 - From Germany
HD: 4.3GB Quantum Fireball CR
CD-ROM: Creative Blaster IDE CD-RW Drive *New In Box!* (Using GoldStar CD-ROM driver, I cant find any DOS CD-R or CD-RW drivers)
Floppy: Generic 3.5 Floppy Drive *New In Box!*
Floppy2: Virtual floppy emulator
(I also have a new TEAC FD55-BR on the way from Russia!)
Case: A 2011 Antec case I had around from my old desktop.
OS: MS-DOS 6.22 (No windows allowed!)
Extras:
Screen: IBM PS/2 8513 VGA - 1988ish, Got it cheap from Italy
Keyboard: IBM PS/2 Model-M - 1988, From the US.. the import tax on this cost more than the whole monitor.. never buy from the US
Mouse: Dunno what its called, its the mouse that goes with that era of IBM PS/2 stuff, from the US.. yes.. import tax again 😒
(Using CuteMouse driver, does anyone know how to turn up the sensitivity on this?)
Gallery:
Desk setup! Ok so, I know the peripherals are about 10 years older than the tower hardware, but they look so cool! The monitor is a little small Ill admit its 11" so I think a 14" would be nicer if I find one, but for now its good! And sure, I bet some people still used this stuff around this time. The monitor makes allot of crackeling noise when its turned off, this is the first non flatscreen monitor I'v ever had so I find this a bit disturbing, also I'm terrified it will "burn in" if I leave it static for more than 10 seconds, so I keep typing dir..
The inside, I know the 450W power supply is overkill, but I really wanted a modular supply to keep the cable management issues down. Im a little worried that the PSU being so close to the sound card may effect sound quality, but I don't notice any big issues. The CPU is cooled by a StarTek socket 7 cooler with the fan removed. The case fan above it is inverted so it blows cold are down over the processor. Even under heavy load the heat sink remains cool.
As the case had no old style speaker I made my own. Didn't think the piezo one would be authentic sounding. Its an old style cone speaker glued into an old fan body and mounted in a front fan slot. Quite ingenious if I do say so myself.
The voodoo card did not come with a pass through cable. I was able to use a short SVGA cable and a gender changer to get it working. Seems to operate very clear, I tested running the screen directly from the s3, and from the voodoo, and I can see none of the blurring effect people seem to talk about with these cards. I have no actual way to test the voodoo though. Pass through works, but I have no idea if its doing anything in games xD Does anyone know how to test it?
Some front IO. I would like to replace the floppy simulator with a 5.25 drive when it arrives, however there is not realy much use to this since I cant get 5.25 games very easily 😜 The led panel is cool though and a fair trade off with the lack of a turbo speed panel.
Notes:
The IDE drive is very loud, it makes a whining noise, I tried a 1.5GB and the 4.3GB drive, the 4.3 ones is a little better, but its still very load. Do all IDE drives do this? I was hoping for the authentic speed and clickyness, but the whining is a bit unpleasant, it may have to be replaced.
All games run really well, and the sound is perfect. Tomb Raider was oddly slow, considering the voodoo card is there, though I don't have an original install disk so it may be misconfigured. The need for speed SE needed to be run at low settings to be at full speed (which is of course needed) I suspect that's due to the underclocked processor though.
Are monitors really supposed to make the crackling noise when they are turned off, it sounds like a campfire is starting..
I hate those big 4pin power connectors, who ever though they were a good design..
Finally:
I'm generally very pleased with this system, Its not my first PC, I grew up in a Mac only household so I have no nostalgia for it xD It has that fresh new world of PC feeling I imagine people had back in 1995 though so I can pretend its my first.
