Today I want to show you my retro PC build. It's a kinda retro PC because I don't mind about authenticity or choosing parts only form certain era. I try to choose most of parts from 2001-2003 year, but this is not main idea. Main idea – Windows 98 SE build that can be usable in 2020. And I try to avoid some parts that can be pain in ass. For example – old hard disk drives. Basically, I get this PC as birthday gift (it’s just collect dust for years at my brother’s storage) and later replace some internals and externals for better parts.

Here is my current config:

• Mobo – Albatron KX400-8XV Pro ver 2.0. Very nice mobo, that can handle even 500 Gb HDD via SATA>IDE adapter.
• CPU – AMD Athlon XP+ 2400 + Glacialtech Arctic cooler.
• RAM – 2 x 256 Mb random memory sticks.
• Storage – 64 Gb microSD card with SD>IDE adapter. Windows 98SE works perfectly fine with this storage. Before I used some HDDs (10 Gb IDE Quantum form 2001, then modern 500 Gb Seagate with Windows XP dual-boot and SATA>IDE adapter). But now I moved to SD card with Windows 98 only. HDD is a pain, especially old that can die in any moment. SATA>IDE adapters is also very weak point because it’s poor quality.
• Video – GeForce 4 MX440 64 Mb + for some games I use Glide wrapper dgVooDoo. I can play even in Glide DOS games perfectly.
• Sound – Sound Blaster Live! 5.1. I have that card in 2001-2007 and like it so much. So, I don’t have any doubts what I want to have in my retro PC rig today. And it’s run well with DOS games even in pure DOS mode.
• DVD-ROM from NEC. I’ve mostly use Daemon Tools and disc images, so this is random drive for just for purpose.
• Gotek floppy drive emulator.
• Inwin case from thrift store in pretty good condition + Powerman PSU (350 watts).
• Nice Mitsumi PS/2 keyboard.
• Logitech PS/2 optical mouse.
• 15-inch NEC LCD monitor. I like to have classic CRT monitor but sadly I don’t have so much space at my home. So, this NEC is very handy with classic 1024 x 768 resolution.
• JBL Go as speakers, but someday I replace it with classic stereo speakers.

I really like my retro PC. It’s a very powerful to handle any games from 1997-2001. Also, I avoid some problematic parts, like old crappy HDDs and also can freely use USB flash drive to exchange files with my modern Windows 10 PCs.
Also, I have some old laptops and PPCs. But they stay behind the scene for now.