I don't think any major Star Wars game is speed-sensitive. Definitely not Dark Forces or X-Wing. So Pentium II should be fine. Besides, Slot 1 motherboards are mostly ATX, which is nice since you want to use modern cases and power supplies.

X-Wing also had two rereleases (Collector's CD-ROM and Collector Series) and Collector Series actually got support for 3D acceleration (and I think Glide in particular). So unless you also want to run something newer (like the fantastic Jedi Outcast, for example, but that would need a late Pentium 3/Pentium 4 machine), a Voodoo 3/4/5 card would be optimal.

Music: I think I remember X-Wing games sounding better on MT-32, but they certainly do support General MIDI.

I asked about the speed issue in part because of DOSBox having issues in the X-wing series if your cycles are set to high, though I can’t say I’m all that great at remembering the cycles math for equivalent processors. I am also aware of the updated versions of the games that came out around 1997, but I’m a bit too partial to the iMuse music shifting.

As for the graphics cards, is there a specific model of the listed Voodoo cards that I should go with? I ask because I don’t want to accidentally spend more than I need to, and I really only mention that because of the nostalgia tax being added on to the price. And, luckily, my 7900GTX is more than enough for the later JK games, and, luckily, still supports the old gameworks version that Republic Commando needs for bumpmapping.

Also, if I am not mistaken, the floppy releases of X-Wing and TIE Fighter actually have MT-32 specific things going on in iMuse, and that the graphically better collectors CD versions lack that. Would the MT-32 mode on my SC-55 properly play that, or is it just instrument loading? Thanks for the response.

I used to play Star Wars: X-Wing on a 486 with 16MB of memory and an analog flight stick with only two buttons. A 350MHz Pentium II will have ZERO issues running the game flawlessly. If anything, it should give you a silky-smooth 60 fps without stuttering.

For video cards, I don't think you'd need much unless you go for the version with 3D acceleration. Now, if you plan to do much else than Star Wars, that could inform your choice. A Voodoo3 AGP card should be more than enough for anything up to 1999 timeframe. After that, however, you'd look for more powerful cards. A Voodoo3 would get you D3D and the all-important Glide compatibility. That'll let you play Rogue Squadron, but also Turok 1 & 2, Half-Life has a mini-GL driver, Quake 1 & 2, Unreal, Tomb Raider 2, etc. Note that I had serious issues getting Glide to work on any of my Voodoo2 cards, but works perfectly with a Voodoo1 card. Not sure how it'll handle a Voodoo3. Others on this forum would tell you.

I have that exact CPU, though I don't use it anymore. It sits in a box on my shelf. I upgraded that computer to the fastest CPU it could use: a 600MHz Katmai Pentium 3.

FFXIhealer wrote:

I have that exact CPU, though I don't use it anymore. It sits in a box on my shelf. I upgraded that computer to the fastest CPU it could use: a 600MHz Katmai Pentium 3.

As a quick question, did you have a fan on your 350? Mine doesn’t seem to have one attached, though it does seem to have a bigger heat sink.

BetaC wrote:

FFXIhealer wrote:

I have that exact CPU, though I don't use it anymore. It sits in a box on my shelf. I upgraded that computer to the fastest CPU it could use: a 600MHz Katmai Pentium 3.

As a quick question, did you have a fan on your 350? Mine doesn’t seem to have one attached, though it does seem to have a bigger heat sink.

Multiplier will be locked on a 350mhz p2. But you should be able to lower the fsb on the motherboard giving you a 3,5x 66fsb + 233mhz p2 cpu if needed.
For cooling: if it has a large heatsink just use a loose fan pointing at it or tywrap it on the heatsink. It needs active cooling.

Thanks for the response, I’ll look in to finding a cooling solution for it, then.

Funny you're going down this road, I just built a like system with a P2 350 and a voodoo3 3000. For the record, rogue squadron, star wars
racer, dark forces, incoming all worked without a hitch with the 1.05 official drivers.

On the down side these games did not work: moto racer2, EA sports SBK and NFS III Hot Pursuit. Still working towards that though.

buckeye wrote:

Funny you're going down this road, I just built a like system with a P2 350 and a voodoo3 3000. For the record, rogue squadron, star wars
racer, dark forces, incoming all worked without a hitch with the 1.05 official drivers.

On the down side these games did not work: moto racer2, EA sports SBK and NFS III Hot Pursuit. Still working towards that though.

What motherboard did you use, if I might ask? And luckily for me, so have Racer in both the N64 and Dreamcast, so it is less of a priority. That’s awesome, though.

meljor wrote:

Multiplier will be locked on a 350mhz p2. But you should be able to lower the fsb on the motherboard giving you a 3,5x 66fsb + 233mhz p2 cpu if needed.
For cooling: if it has a large heatsink just use a loose fan pointing at it or tywrap it on the heatsink. It needs active cooling.

There are actually PII 350 & 400 specimens that do have an unlocked multiplier, you need to have one from before week 30 1998 if I remember correctly (does anyone has some more information about specific week number and stepping?)

Besides the Pentium II Deschutes does not need active cooling if it has a decent heatsink (many OEM's didn't attach a fan either). A case fan for some airflow won't hurt though.

SpectriaForce wrote:

meljor wrote:

There are actually PII 350 & 400 specimens that do have an unlocked multiplier, you need to have one from before week 30 1998 if I remember correctly (does anyone has some more information about specific week number and stepping?)

Besides the Pentium II Deschutes does not need active cooling if it has a decent heatsink (many OEM's didn't attach a fan either). A case fan for some airflow won't hurt though.

Is there a guide for how to read the date codes on the processors?

BetaC wrote:

buckeye wrote:

Funny you're going down this road, I just built a like system with a P2 350 and a voodoo3 3000. For the record, rogue squadron, star wars
racer, dark forces, incoming all worked without a hitch with the 1.05 official drivers.

On the down side these games did not work: moto racer2, EA sports SBK and NFS III Hot Pursuit. Still working towards that though.

What motherboard did you use, if I might ask? And luckily for me, so have Racer in both the N64 and Dreamcast, so it is less of a priority. That’s awesome, though.

Motherboard is an intel se-440bx. Can't tweak it much but it's rock solid and stable.

buckeye wrote:

BetaC wrote:

buckeye wrote:

Funny you're going down this road, I just built a like system with a P2 350 and a voodoo3 3000. For the record, rogue squadron, star wars
racer, dark forces, incoming all worked without a hitch with the 1.05 official drivers.

On the down side these games did not work: moto racer2, EA sports SBK and NFS III Hot Pursuit. Still working towards that though.

What motherboard did you use, if I might ask? And luckily for me, so have Racer in both the N64 and Dreamcast, so it is less of a priority. That’s awesome, though.

Motherboard is an intel se-440bx. Can't tweak it much but it's rock solid and stable.

Awesome, I’ll give it a look.

I really like my MSI MS-6112 board.It's an LX chipset though, so you won't be able to run the FSB @ 100mhz. 4 ISA slots is the main reason I'm using it, with a 333MHz PII (no fan on the heatsink either).

I also like that there is no onboard sound or Ethernet, just the basics. I have USB 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, Firewire, and ATA133 added too. Can use USB sticks with 98 if you have the right drivers.

Always thought it was peculiar these boards and many 440*X boards had 3 RAM slots.

BetaC wrote:

SpectriaForce wrote:

meljor wrote:

There are actually PII 350 & 400 specimens that do have an unlocked multiplier, you need to have one from before week 30 1998 if I remember correctly (does anyone has some more information about specific week number and stepping?)

Besides the Pentium II Deschutes does not need active cooling if it has a decent heatsink (many OEM's didn't attach a fan either). A case fan for some airflow won't hurt though.

Is there a guide for how to read the date codes on the processors?

Yes, here's an example:

The first code is the CPU model (Intel S-spec = SL2TV)

The second code tells you something about the production country and date manufactured. The first number = 0 = Costa Rica, the second number = 8 = 1998 and the third and fourth numbers = 37 = week 37. Because the PII 350 & 400 were initially very expensive, you'll have a hard time finding a pre week 30 specimen, but they do exist.

That's all I know, but I know that some experts over here can you tell you more about the second code and unlocked multiplier stepping codes. The Pentium II Klamath series are always unlocked (can be under- or overclocked by adjusting FSB and multiplier), as well as the Celeron 300A (possibly more Celerons in SEPP cartridge, but I'm not sure).

oeuvre wrote:

Always thought it was peculiar these boards and many 440*X boards had 3 RAM slots.

Indeed. It's even more peculiar that many folks over here want to max out the RAM of their 440*X motherboards, while all you're ever going to need for any W98 game is 128MB 😀 (I know that some later >2000 year games do require more RAM, but then you also want a faster CPU, GPU etc.).

SpectriaForce wrote:

Yes, here's an example: […]
Show full quote

Yes, here's an example:

Intel Pentium II SL2TV a.jpg

The first code is the CPU model (Intel S-spec = SL2TV)

The second code tells you something about the production country and date manufactured. The first number = 0 = Costa Rica, the second number = 8 = 1998 and the third and fourth numbers = 37 = week 37. Because the PII 350 & 400 were initially very expensive, you'll have a hard time finding a pre week 30 specimen, but they do exist.

That's all I know, but I know that some experts over here can you tell you more about the second code and unlocked multiplier stepping codes. The Pentium II Klamath series are always unlocked (can be under- or overclocked by adjusting FSB and multiplier), as well as the Celeron 300A (possibly more Celerons in SEPP cartridge, but I'm not sure).

Then it looks like I have one of those rare ones, since my third and fourth numbers are 19.

SpectriaForce wrote:

oeuvre wrote:

Always thought it was peculiar these boards and many 440*X boards had 3 RAM slots.

Indeed. It's even more peculiar that many folks over here want to max out the RAM of their 440*X motherboards, while all you're ever going to need for any W98 game is 128MB 😀 (I know that some later >2000 year games do require more RAM, but then you also want a faster CPU, GPU etc.).

That's part of why I am looking at grabbing a p2-99 that already has 256MB. If I ever need more, I can just use my later systems.

SpectriaForce wrote:

oeuvre wrote:

Always thought it was peculiar these boards and many 440*X boards had 3 RAM slots.

Indeed. It's even more peculiar that many folks over here want to max out the RAM of their 440*X motherboards, while all you're ever going to need for any W98 game is 128MB 😀 (I know that some later >2000 year games do require more RAM, but then you also want a faster CPU, GPU etc.).

Now it's not completely fair to say 440*X, my 440GX board makes use of all 2GB of RAM. Then again, it's not running Windows 98, it's running Debian 9 currently. The MSI board has 384MB of RAM and I'd have to check again to be sure but I'm pretty sure with Cakewalk and Logic running simultaneously, it will make use of it all. You're right about the games though.

Because of me managing to grab a Voodoo 3 3000 last night, I decided to pull the trigger on grabbing a motherboard. I've decided to go with an Asus P2-99. I managed to find a tested one that already had 256MB put in, and an extra P3 for relatively cheap. Below are the parts I already have.

As always, my theoretically unlocked Pentium II-350, Voodoo 3, Yamaha (Audician?) OPL3 card, the AWE64 that was just sitting on a shelf at work, a working Creative CD5230E, and copies of both versions of Windows 98.Which version would be best for this build, FE or SE?