StriderTR wrote on 2024-01-10, 07:37:

You can check out my full build over at https://theclassicgeek.blogspot.com/, but here is the basics in terms of it's performance without having to read my long-winded blog post.

Wow, what a good read. There aren't many text blogs of this quality left these days, more and more just videos.

I had also considered a second Win95 build, but using a dedicated PCI video card I can get to work with the slot, BUT, they are all simply too expensive to just take a chance I can get it working.

Video cards like the S3 aren't so expensive and I think you definitely shouldn't try them. Another thing is that they are not much different from integrated graphics in terms of performance but maybe better for compatibility(?). I think the main advantage of this board is the ability to slow down the speed in a wide range, which makes it suitable for a huge number of DOS games. Well, as long as the video and sound are compatible.

I've been planning to finish the build on this board for a long time, with the nice case, pico PSU and everything. But I realized one thing, for using integrated video/audio, this setup isn't much different from a P2/3 level laptop with a dismantled screen. Which I already have and it's way more compact. Of course, this is completely different thing, maybe someone has another use cases?

ujav wrote on 2024-01-21, 15:15:

Wow, what a good read. There aren't many text blogs of this quality left these days, more and more just videos. […]
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StriderTR wrote on 2024-01-10, 07:37:

You can check out my full build over at https://theclassicgeek.blogspot.com/, but here is the basics in terms of it's performance without having to read my long-winded blog post.

Wow, what a good read. There aren't many text blogs of this quality left these days, more and more just videos.

I had also considered a second Win95 build, but using a dedicated PCI video card I can get to work with the slot, BUT, they are all simply too expensive to just take a chance I can get it working.

Video cards like the S3 aren't so expensive and I think you definitely shouldn't try them. Another thing is that they are not much different from integrated graphics in terms of performance but maybe better for compatibility(?). I think the main advantage of this board is the ability to slow down the speed in a wide range, which makes it suitable for a huge number of DOS games. Well, as long as the video and sound are compatible.

I've been planning to finish the build on this board for a long time, with the nice case, pico PSU and everything. But I realized one thing, for using integrated video/audio, this setup isn't much different from a P2/3 level laptop with a dismantled screen. Which I already have and it's way more compact. Of course, this is completely different thing, maybe someone has another use cases?

Thanks! I enjoy the writing almost as much as the actual builds. I also figured a classic looking blog fits well with my other "retro" hobbies. 😀

If I use my S3 Virge/DX on the EPIA, it would be for a pure DOS build only, mainly for it's compatibility. I wouldn't use it with Windows 95 since the on-board CyberBlade is much better suited for that environment.

I'm still seriously considering it...The EPIA's SB Pro works great in DOS, but I would be giving up the use of any form of controllers since it has no gameport. At least under 95 I can use the com port Gravis Stinger.

Still, I'm OK with that. 😀

I have all the other hardware here already, except for RAM. I would need to pick up a 32MB stick on eBay. The smallest I have lying around 128MB and wouldn't want to use something that big in DOS 6.22.

StriderTR wrote on 2024-01-20, 08:05:

Thanks! […]
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justin1985 wrote on 2024-01-15, 12:59:

Thanks for posting - great write up of your build!

One thing I've noticed when using the VIA SB Emulation drivers in DOS (well, Win98 reboot to DOS mode) is that SimCity 2000 totally locks the system up whenever I try and launch it with MIDI music enabled

Thanks!

I can confirm, I just tested it, and it locks up my board as well. Never tried it before. Just always ran it SB Compatible or Pro mode. =/

Now I'm curious as to why it locks up.

Kind of glad to hear it isn't anything wrong with my configuration, but also sad that it therefore seems to be a baked in incompatibility 😒

When you say you'd run SimCity in SB Compatible mode, you mean you only had wave sound effects on, not music? Or music/midi set to "Soundblaster" rather than "Adlib" etc ?

Every so often I wonder about using the EPIA with an ESS Solo-1 or similar in a PCI riser, but then the onboard sound does work well in pretty much everything else apart from SimCity, and I don't have any game port controllers ...

justin1985 wrote on 2024-01-21, 22:55:

Kind of glad to hear it isn't anything wrong with my configuration, but also sad that it therefore seems to be a baked in incompatibility 😒

When you say you'd run SimCity in SB Compatible mode, you mean you only had wave sound effects on, not music? Or music/midi set to "Soundblaster" rather than "Adlib" etc ?

Every so often I wonder about using the EPIA with an ESS Solo-1 or similar in a PCI riser, but then the onboard sound does work well in pretty much everything else apart from SimCity, and I don't have any game port controllers ...

I fired it up to make sure, and I have both music and sound just set to "Sound Blaster", and they both work in-game. I've never played it any other way. 😜

StriderTR wrote on 2024-01-22, 02:10:

justin1985 wrote on 2024-01-21, 22:55:

When you say you'd run SimCity in SB Compatible mode, you mean you only had wave sound effects on, not music? Or music/midi set to "Soundblaster" rather than "Adlib" etc ?

I fired it up to make sure, and I have both music and sound just set to "Sound Blaster", and they both work in-game. I've never played it any other way. 😜

Thanks! I tried this and got the same results! It frankly hadn't occurred to me to try SB for Midi - I'm just used to thinking "General MIDI = wavetable", "Adlib = FM synth" in most game SetSound utilities ...

justin1985 wrote on 2024-01-28, 18:42:

StriderTR wrote on 2024-01-22, 02:10:

justin1985 wrote on 2024-01-21, 22:55:

When you say you'd run SimCity in SB Compatible mode, you mean you only had wave sound effects on, not music? Or music/midi set to "Soundblaster" rather than "Adlib" etc ?

I fired it up to make sure, and I have both music and sound just set to "Sound Blaster", and they both work in-game. I've never played it any other way. 😜

Thanks! I tried this and got the same results! It frankly hadn't occurred to me to try SB for Midi - I'm just used to thinking "General MIDI = wavetable", "Adlib = FM synth" in most game SetSound utilities ...

Glad it worked!

Yeah, funny how the same "correct" settings work in some games, but not others. There have been many times I've locked up my computer time and time again trying different settings just to see what I could get working with a game. I'm doing that right now on my pure DOS build becasue a couple games don't seem to play well with my AWE64's settings in terms of "music", even though they are correct, it just locks up the system.

Funny how we feel nostalgic for the days of having to manually configure just about everything, and having to try multiple combinations of settings to get a single game to work, over and over. When today just about everything is "plug and play" and just works. 😜