CoffeeOne wrote on 2024-02-07, 20:08:

Intel486dx33 wrote on 2024-02-07, 19:26:

.... and US Robotics modem.
....

I am curious: For what purpose you would add the US Robotics modem?

Can't speak for their reasons, but it's possible to recreate the modem experience via phone line simulators or similar phone networking equipment.

One could do things like modem-to-modem gaming or setting up an in-house BBS server, for example.

I plan to try the latter one of these days years.

I definitely won’t be adding a US Robotics modem, as I have absolutely no use for one, but a 3com NIC on the other hand would be a good addition.

Actually, IBM used Coaxant dial up modems but I would use a U.S. robotics external modem for best performance and easy setup.
And Yes, You need to switch the motherboard jumper if you want to use a ISA/VLB slot video card

Either “3com 3c509b” ISA NIC or “Intel Pro 10” was a good NIC card with good driver support.
You can hook it up to a TP-Link WIFI extender for network access.
Also get a Fast CDROM 32x or Faster.

IBM used Panasonic CDROM drives which were very good and many still work today.
I like Sony CDROM drives ( 32x or faster )

Irinikus wrote on 2024-02-05, 17:18:

In your opinion which setup would offer better all round performance as far as drive and video performance go?

CL-GD5430 is a perfectly fine video for such system. It is connected with 32bit bus so there is no gain in upgrading to S3.

You won’t be able to play Quake at any enjoyable level anyway. Probably the only way to pull this off on a 486-ish computer is fast PCI chipset with overclocked Pentium Overdrive and a Voodoo. At this point so little is left of 486 feeling that one might as well just build socket 7 system.

Rest of the demanding games should be ok with DX4-100. Perhaps it is the older games that would be difficult qua slowdown options.

Agreed. I don’t intend on trying to run Quake on this machine, but Duke Nukem absolutely!

For now I plan on installing a Pentium Overdrive, motherboard cache and the Diamond Stealth 64 VLB, only because the CL-GD5430 cannot run a resolution of 1024x768 in true colour, and I’d like to be able to do so. I’d also like to install something a bit more exotic than the SoundBlaster 16-bit and a NIC.

In other words, making it the best system it can be, with period specific hardware.

I guess in 1995 the 1024x768x24bit was beyond unthinkable on general application desktop.
Recently I tried Lucas Arts "The Dig" (specifically DIG95 CD version) on my 486 and they even state in readme that one should switch desktop to 640x480x256.
Sidenote, unlike DX, with Pentium Overdrive the turbo speed may be a bit too fast.

Irinikus wrote on 2024-02-09, 14:19:

Agreed. I don’t intend on trying to run Quake on this machine, but Duke Nukem absolutely!

For now I plan on installing a Pentium Overdrive, motherboard cache and the Diamond Stealth 64 VLB, only because the CL-GD5430 cannot run a resolution of 1024x768 in true colour, and I’d like to be able to do so. I’d also like to install something a bit more exotic than the SoundBlaster 16-bit and a NIC.

In other words, making it the best system it can be, with period specific hardware.

1024x768 true colour? Really?
Then you need the 4MB variant of the Stealth 64, I think.
So the other 2 cards will be a NIC (or how do you want to transfer data?) and a sound card.
So what about harddisk. IDE is has to be then. You said period correct, so I guess no compact flash card solution(?)

Irinikus wrote on 2024-02-09, 14:19:

Agreed. I don’t intend on trying to run Quake on this machine, but Duke Nukem absolutely!

For now I plan on installing a Pentium Overdrive, motherboard cache and the Diamond Stealth 64 VLB, only because the CL-GD5430 cannot run a resolution of 1024x768 in true colour, and I’d like to be able to do so. I’d also like to install something a bit more exotic than the SoundBlaster 16-bit and a NIC.

In other words, making it the best system it can be, with period specific hardware.

Need a special interposer for POD on that machine, IBM designed the board before Intel made the last minute change to specs, so it doesn't work right. Though we've seen someone try it without, basically went "It works perfectly apart from all the things it can't run and the times it crashes and locks up."

edit: horses mouth version ... http://ps-2.kev009.com/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/fbee.htm

CoffeeOne wrote on 2024-02-09, 18:14:

1024x768 true colour? Really? Then you need the 4MB variant of the Stealth 64, I think. So the other 2 cards will be a NIC (or h […]
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Irinikus wrote on 2024-02-09, 14:19:

Agreed. I don’t intend on trying to run Quake on this machine, but Duke Nukem absolutely!

For now I plan on installing a Pentium Overdrive, motherboard cache and the Diamond Stealth 64 VLB, only because the CL-GD5430 cannot run a resolution of 1024x768 in true colour, and I’d like to be able to do so. I’d also like to install something a bit more exotic than the SoundBlaster 16-bit and a NIC.

In other words, making it the best system it can be, with period specific hardware.

1024x768 true colour? Really?
Then you need the 4MB variant of the Stealth 64, I think.
So the other 2 cards will be a NIC (or how do you want to transfer data?) and a sound card.
So what about harddisk. IDE is has to be then. You said period correct, so I guess no compact flash card solution(?)

It's currently fitted with its original 540MB IBM IDE hard drive,

BitWrangler wrote on 2024-02-09, 18:16:

Need a special interposer for POD on that machine, IBM designed the board before Intel made the last minute change to specs, so it doesn't work right. Though we've seen someone try it without, basically went "It works perfectly apart from all the things it can't run and the times it crashes and locks up."

edit: horses mouth version ... http://ps-2.kev009.com/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/fbee.htm

That interposer would be pretty much impossible to obtain today, but there is this risky workaround: (Removing a pin from the Pentium Overdrive chip)

However, you could mount the chip using tulip connectors, and omit the one that would be slotted onto the pin that must be removed. (A much less risky approach!)

Ive also managed to download a copy of the LEJT67A BIOS update that's required

I'd also have to remove the VRM and insert a jumper block:

And set the following jumpers:

CoffeeOne wrote on 2024-02-09, 18:14:

1024x768 true colour? Really?
Then you need the 4MB variant of the Stealth 64, I think.

Absolutely! I also think that I'll need the 4MB variant. (I'll have to purchase one of these and fill the empty RAM sockets)

CoffeeOne wrote on 2024-02-09, 18:14:

So the other 2 cards will be a NIC (or how do you want to transfer data?) and a sound card.

I've had a think about things and I'd like to have this machine running Windows 98 and DOS. (Its already running Windows 98)

Therefor rather than installing a NIC I'd rather make use of an AWE32 (CT3900) for windows

and a Gravis Ultrasound Max for DOS

Just remember that I'm still busy with my Dual Pentium Pro build, so the 486 isn't a priority at the moment, but it does help to plan ahead! (And this little upgrade isn't going to be cheap!)

The Upgrade of this machine will be the last move I make in the computer space for a while, as I also have non computer related hobbies which also require attention, as Ive neglected those hobbies for years!!!

Irinikus wrote on 2024-02-10, 16:30:

Absolutely! I also think that I'll need the 4MB variant. (I'll have to purchase one of these and fill the empty RAM sockets) […]
Show full quote

CoffeeOne wrote on 2024-02-09, 18:14:

1024x768 true colour? Really?
Then you need the 4MB variant of the Stealth 64, I think.

Absolutely! I also think that I'll need the 4MB variant. (I'll have to purchase one of these and fill the empty RAM sockets)

s-l1600-279.jpg

CoffeeOne wrote on 2024-02-09, 18:14:

So the other 2 cards will be a NIC (or how do you want to transfer data?) and a sound card.

I've had a think about things and I'd like to have this machine running Windows 98 and DOS. (Its already running Windows 98)

Therefor rather than installing a NIC I'd rather make use of an AWE32 (CT3900) for windows

s-l1600-281.jpg

and a Gravis Ultrasound Max for DOS

s-l1600-17.png

Just remember that I'm still busy with my Dual Pentium Pro build, so the 486 isn't a priority at the moment, but it does help to plan ahead! (And this little upgrade isn't going to be cheap!)

The Upgrade of this machine will be the last move I make in the computer space for a while, as I also have non computer related hobbies which also require attention, as Ive neglected those hobbies for years!!!

I am sure, that the GUS alone will be fine for both Win98 and DOS.

But I understand, this does not have priority for you, so take your time ....

Irinikus wrote on 2024-02-10, 16:30:

Therefor rather than installing a NIC I'd rather make use of an AWE32 (CT3900) for windows […]
Show full quote

Therefor rather than installing a NIC I'd rather make use of an AWE32 (CT3900) for windows

s-l1600-281.jpg

and a Gravis Ultrasound Max for DOS

s-l1600-17.png

You'll likely want to use both those sound cards with DOS, since other than the GUS Extreme, Gravis Ultrasound cards don't have great SB compatibility.

Shponglefan wrote on 2024-02-10, 21:32:

Irinikus wrote on 2024-02-10, 16:30:

Therefor rather than installing a NIC I'd rather make use of an AWE32 (CT3900) for windows […]
Show full quote

Therefor rather than installing a NIC I'd rather make use of an AWE32 (CT3900) for windows

s-l1600-281.jpg

and a Gravis Ultrasound Max for DOS

s-l1600-17.png

You'll likely want to use both those sound cards with DOS, since other than the GUS Extreme, Gravis Ultrasound cards don't have great SB compatibility.

Thanks for the input! 😀

In this case, this would be the GUS to go for: (The Viper Max, "Extreme")

This covers all of the classic versions. I already have a GUS PnP, version 3.0 which is going into my Dual Pentium Pro build, but it's a different card all together.

Irinikus wrote on 2024-02-11, 06:38:

Thanks for the input! :) […]
Show full quote

Shponglefan wrote on 2024-02-10, 21:32:

Irinikus wrote on 2024-02-10, 16:30:

Therefor rather than installing a NIC I'd rather make use of an AWE32 (CT3900) for windows […]
Show full quote

Therefor rather than installing a NIC I'd rather make use of an AWE32 (CT3900) for windows

s-l1600-281.jpg

and a Gravis Ultrasound Max for DOS

s-l1600-17.png

You'll likely want to use both those sound cards with DOS, since other than the GUS Extreme, Gravis Ultrasound cards don't have great SB compatibility.

Thanks for the input! 😀

In this case, this would be the GUS to go for: (The Viper Max, "Extreme")

s-l1600-282.jpg

This covers all of the classic versions. I already have a GUS PnP, version 3.0 which is going into my Dual Pentium Pro build, but it's a different card all together.

You can't go wrong with a GUS Extreme. It does pair nicely with an AWE32 (or AWE64) in DOS, since then you get SB Pro, SB16, AWE32 and GUS support. And with a CT3900, you'll have two FM synth options: Yamaha OPL3 via the CT3900 and ESFM via the ESS chip on the GUS Extreme.

I did something similar with my 1996 Pentium and Pentium Pro builds as detailed in this thread. Installing drivers was a bit of challenge; I found starting with the AWE drivers first (at default settings) worked best.

Shponglefan wrote on 2024-02-11, 15:12:

Irinikus wrote on 2024-02-11, 06:38:

Thanks for the input! :) […]
Show full quote

Shponglefan wrote on 2024-02-10, 21:32:

You'll likely want to use both those sound cards with DOS, since other than the GUS Extreme, Gravis Ultrasound cards don't have great SB compatibility.

Thanks for the input! 😀

In this case, this would be the GUS to go for: (The Viper Max, "Extreme")

s-l1600-282.jpg

This covers all of the classic versions. I already have a GUS PnP, version 3.0 which is going into my Dual Pentium Pro build, but it's a different card all together.

You can't go wrong with a GUS Extreme. It does pair nicely with an AWE32 (or AWE64) in DOS, since then you get SB Pro, SB16, AWE32 and GUS support. And with a CT3900, you'll have two FM synth options: Yamaha OPL3 via the CT3900 and ESFM via the ESS chip on the GUS Extreme.

I did something similar with my 1996 Pentium and Pentium Pro builds as detailed in this thread. Installing drivers was a bit of challenge; I found starting with the AWE drivers first (at default settings) worked best.

Thanks for the link! 😀