There were a lot of things I picked up recently

RandomStranger wrote on 2021-10-03, 09:52:

On the monthly flea market I picked up a Diamond Viper V330 PCI for 3$.
It's dirty, but I see no missing parts or damaged traces. The seller claimed it works, so there is a 10-20% chance that it actually does so I took the gamble.

And so far it seems I won. It posts. It looks brand new after an isopropyl bath.

Same with the MX200 I picked up a couple of weeks ago. I used to have the exact same card I misplaced when I moved to my current place. I'm happy I got it back in a way.

RandomStranger wrote on 2021-09-08, 15:41:

So, while building my recent PII PC, I was thinking that maybe the Ensoniq AudioPCI should be replaced with something more decen […]
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So, while building my recent PII PC, I was thinking that maybe the Ensoniq AudioPCI should be replaced with something more decent. Since it already had a Sound Blaster Vibra 16S I thought maybe something different, so I started looking for Yamaha XG cards. Last weekend I found a YMF724F-V for 3 times the price I was willing to pay, BUT as part of a bundle of sound cards. Today they arrived.

These are also seem to work.

Now I can start the real work with all the early 3D accelerators. I'm still looking to get some. I just missed an Intel I740, I have to get a SiS 6326, I still couldn't get to post the Permedia 2 and a Kyro would be nice too. But this was enough positive energy. I'll sleep well tonight.

I have an Intel i740 graphics card and it's pretty good. It's nothing special and it's not very fast but it worked well in my tests and would be a great choice for 2D and basic 3D.

I think these would have been a lot more useful if Intel had made them PCI. I don't think there are enough good PCI graphics cards for this era.

Kahenraz wrote on 2021-10-03, 19:10:

I have an Intel i740 graphics card and it's pretty good. It's nothing special and it's not very fast but it worked well in my tests and would be a great choice for 2D and basic 3D.

I think these would have been a lot more useful if Intel had made them PCI. I don't think there are enough good PCI graphics cards for this era.

Yeah, I heard they are decent, but I want to test it. That's why as was collecting a lot of less common graphics cards from around '96-2000.

Also there were plenty of good PCI 3D accelerator graphics card in the later-mid-90s. Probably everything had PCI variants.

Just working on cable routing and management in my newly acquired Windows ME era Compaq, make it as clean as possible in this old case. I installed a new 80 GB IDE hard drive which will be plenty for Windows 98. Haven't decided which video card I'm going to run in it yet, either a Radeon 9600 Pro or XT, or GeForce 2 GTS. This will just be a sort of all around, general gaming Win 98 PC.

Restarted my old PC, it is a 386SX with a 33 MHz AMD cpu.
The MB is a GMB-386SAL with a soldered 386SX cpu, it currently has 2MB of ram, but if necessary I can easily upgrade it to 4MB by adding two more 1MB 30pin RAMs.
The coprocessor is missing, but for DOS use it is not a problem, the VGA is a 256KB Hualon ISA.
If I wanted, I could add an ISA sound card, but I don't know if it can be used, maybe it could be used for some video games, but most use the PC speaker.

PC@LIVE wrote on 2021-10-03, 21:18:

Restarted my old PC, it is a 386SX with a 33 MHz AMD cpu. The MB is a GMB-386SAL with a soldered 386SX cpu, it currently has 2MB […]
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Restarted my old PC, it is a 386SX with a 33 MHz AMD cpu.
The MB is a GMB-386SAL with a soldered 386SX cpu, it currently has 2MB of ram, but if necessary I can easily upgrade it to 4MB by adding two more 1MB 30pin RAMs.
The coprocessor is missing, but for DOS use it is not a problem, the VGA is a 256KB Hualon ISA.
If I wanted, I could add an ISA sound card, but I don't know if it can be used, maybe it could be used for some video games, but most use the PC speaker.

Nice old machine, slow enough to cover the XT era (with Turbo off), AT era, and the beginnings of 32-bit.

Depending upon which games you intended to play, I would think first about a sound card, rather than RAM.

Because, and correct me if I'm wrong!, but it seems to me that Games benefiting from 4MB RAM + playable with a 386SX is a fairly short list, and Games playable with a 386SX + using a sound card is probably a much longer list.

Intel486dx33 wrote on 2021-10-03, 11:31:

aha2940 wrote on 2021-10-02, 03:42:

Not PC retro related, but today I tried to play a CD on my discman sony D-E406CK: (pic is not of not my actual discman, but it i […]
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Not PC retro related, but today I tried to play a CD on my discman sony D-E406CK: (pic is not of not my actual discman, but it is identical to mine)

However it would not work. It turned on the screen for a second, turn the disc about 2 degrees and power off again. So I disassembled it, did some tests and found that the lens was not moving. I had to disassemble the whole lens assembly, lube the gears and re-assemble the discman. To my relief, after this it worked again without issues.

🤣,…..Back in 1980’s I had one of those in my truck. It had a cassette deck so I had to use the cassette deck adapter for the Sony CD player.

Cool however I think you are mixing dates because those Discman units with the cassette thingie and the ESP2 feature did not come out until mid to late 90's. Anyway, I have the same cassette tape and power adapter. They were also useful for my minidisc, since it uses the same power connector and voltage as the discman (minidisc is an MZ-R37SP, still have it working fine).

Swapped the cooler from a dead 6800 GT and installed it on a 6800 LE, because Nalu. And memory cooling for what it's worth.
Unlocked the extra pixel pipelines and vertex units as well, without artifacts.
Today was a good day.

Shreddoc wrote on 2021-10-03, 21:54:

Nice old machine, slow enough to cover the XT era (with Turbo off), AT era, and the beginnings of 32-bit. […]
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PC@LIVE wrote on 2021-10-03, 21:18:

Restarted my old PC, it is a 386SX with a 33 MHz AMD cpu. The MB is a GMB-386SAL with a soldered 386SX cpu, it currently has 2MB […]
Show full quote

Restarted my old PC, it is a 386SX with a 33 MHz AMD cpu.
The MB is a GMB-386SAL with a soldered 386SX cpu, it currently has 2MB of ram, but if necessary I can easily upgrade it to 4MB by adding two more 1MB 30pin RAMs.
The coprocessor is missing, but for DOS use it is not a problem, the VGA is a 256KB Hualon ISA.
If I wanted, I could add an ISA sound card, but I don't know if it can be used, maybe it could be used for some video games, but most use the PC speaker.

Nice old machine, slow enough to cover the XT era (with Turbo off), AT era, and the beginnings of 32-bit.

Depending upon which games you intended to play, I would think first about a sound card, rather than RAM.

Because, and correct me if I'm wrong!, but it seems to me that Games benefiting from 4MB RAM + playable with a 386SX is a fairly short list, and Games playable with a 386SX + using a sound card is probably a much longer list.

Solution... buy an AWE32 with two 1MB SIMMs installed and swap those into motherboard. 🤣

Are we working on a super tight budget here though, I thought one could still find SBPro/Adlib compatible cards and 1MB SIMMs cheap enough, that it's not a $100 a pop either/or buy like it's 1993.

edit: though 33Mhz 386sx is probably capable of playing stuff that's 486sx25 recommended, even so called 486 games, they still didn't want ppl who had Oak VGA, no cache and a slug of a HDD complaining it was unplayable. As soon as you start seein DX2 on the box though tap out, even if it doesn't really use co-pro, it's shorthand for 50-66Mhz.

BitWrangler wrote on 2021-10-04, 13:23:

Shreddoc wrote on 2021-10-03, 21:54:

Nice old machine, slow enough to cover the XT era (with Turbo off), AT era, and the beginnings of 32-bit. […]
Show full quote

PC@LIVE wrote on 2021-10-03, 21:18:

Restarted my old PC, it is a 386SX with a 33 MHz AMD cpu. The MB is a GMB-386SAL with a soldered 386SX cpu, it currently has 2MB […]
Show full quote

Restarted my old PC, it is a 386SX with a 33 MHz AMD cpu.
The MB is a GMB-386SAL with a soldered 386SX cpu, it currently has 2MB of ram, but if necessary I can easily upgrade it to 4MB by adding two more 1MB 30pin RAMs.
The coprocessor is missing, but for DOS use it is not a problem, the VGA is a 256KB Hualon ISA.
If I wanted, I could add an ISA sound card, but I don't know if it can be used, maybe it could be used for some video games, but most use the PC speaker.

Nice old machine, slow enough to cover the XT era (with Turbo off), AT era, and the beginnings of 32-bit.

Depending upon which games you intended to play, I would think first about a sound card, rather than RAM.

Because, and correct me if I'm wrong!, but it seems to me that Games benefiting from 4MB RAM + playable with a 386SX is a fairly short list, and Games playable with a 386SX + using a sound card is probably a much longer list.

Solution... buy an AWE32 with two 1MB SIMMs installed and swap those into motherboard. 🤣
Are we working on a super tight budget here though, I thought one could still find SBPro/Adlib compatible cards and 1MB SIMMs cheap enough, that it's not a $100 a pop either/or buy like it's 1993.

That's very much a coincidence. I just got my hands on a CT3620 with I believe, 2x 1MB. 🤣
I'm afraid to damage the fragile plastic SIMM slots, so I will keep them in place...

Most parts for my P3 build has arrived, so I started putting it together.

The 20pin motherboard atx power connector to 24pin PSU adapter.

There's always something you forget, it's like a law. No matter, I don't have the SD card adapter or the SATA to IDE adapter yet either, so I wouldn't been able to get to installing windows anyway.

Sombrero wrote on 2021-10-04, 14:36:

Most parts for my P3 build has arrived, so I started putting it together.

The 20pin motherboard atx power connector to 24pin PSU adapter.

There's always something you forget, it's like a law. No matter, I don't have the SD card adapter or the SATA to IDE adapter yet either, so I wouldn't been able to get to installing windows anyway.

Except this site here says I can plug a 24pin psu connector to 20pin motherboard as long it fits in there, is that right?

Yes, some PCUs also have the atx connector as 20+4,.

sirotkaslo wrote on 2021-10-04, 15:34:

Yes, some PCUs also have the atx connector as 20+4,.

Yeah, I was expecting the PSU to have 20+4 but didn't check. The manual says it's a 20+4 even though the actual connector is very much 24pin, there's no extra 4pin bit you can remove.

But now that I actually stopped doing a hundred things at the same time and tried to fit it in there, I noticed there's a coil on the right side and a jumper for enabling/disabling keyboard/mouse wake up fuction on the left side, so an adapter is needed. Oh well.

Shreddoc wrote on 2021-10-03, 21:54:

Nice old machine, slow enough to cover the XT era (with Turbo off), AT era, and the beginnings of 32-bit. […]
Show full quote

PC@LIVE wrote on 2021-10-03, 21:18:

Restarted my old PC, it is a 386SX with a 33 MHz AMD cpu. The MB is a GMB-386SAL with a soldered 386SX cpu, it currently has 2MB […]
Show full quote

Restarted my old PC, it is a 386SX with a 33 MHz AMD cpu.
The MB is a GMB-386SAL with a soldered 386SX cpu, it currently has 2MB of ram, but if necessary I can easily upgrade it to 4MB by adding two more 1MB 30pin RAMs.
The coprocessor is missing, but for DOS use it is not a problem, the VGA is a 256KB Hualon ISA.
If I wanted, I could add an ISA sound card, but I don't know if it can be used, maybe it could be used for some video games, but most use the PC speaker.

Nice old machine, slow enough to cover the XT era (with Turbo off), AT era, and the beginnings of 32-bit.

Depending upon which games you intended to play, I would think first about a sound card, rather than RAM.

Because, and correct me if I'm wrong!, but it seems to me that Games benefiting from 4MB RAM + playable with a 386SX is a fairly short list, and Games playable with a 386SX + using a sound card is probably a much longer list.

Thanks for the suggestions, in fact a sound card could be useful, since I have some ISAs aside I plan to add it soon.
It is actually quite slow as PC, but when you think about it it might be because the turbo switch is not plugged in, and therefore probably runs at reduced frequency.
Today I connected the controller with CF-IDE adapter, the CF card I use is only 8MB (another 128MB is not detected), the PC starts up correctly, and I have tried some programs including hwinfo.
I have not yet decided whether to use a relatively small mechanical HD, or another larger CF, at least 128 or 256MB.
For the RAM I have a couple of 30 pin SIMMs to put in, but for the moment it is not necessary to have more RAM, I will put them on when I have the final configuration.

Received a pair of (used) SL25A Pentium Pro 200MHz 1MB processors to upgrade my Vectra. Hoping it can handle the increased TDP, maybe time to upgrade the cooling too.

Also took a crack at fixing my Toshiba 4015CDS which unfortunately is stone dead. Power supply is giving out correct voltage but zero signs of life. Took it apart and found no bulging or leaking caps or batteries, nor any scorched or suspect-looking components. Stumped…

Tested a few gfx cards I've had lying around.

- XFX 7950 GT seems to have died, bumbgate claims another one I guess
- Asus EN7600 GT Silent on the other hand is still kicking, for the time being at least
- Gainward 9800 GTX+ is also working, but the fan doesn't sound happy. Need to macgyver some other fan on there

Brawndo wrote on 2021-10-03, 20:48:

Just working on cable routing and management in my newly acquired Windows ME era Compaq, make it as clean as possible in this ol […]
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Just working on cable routing and management in my newly acquired Windows ME era Compaq, make it as clean as possible in this old case. I installed a new 80 GB IDE hard drive which will be plenty for Windows 98. Haven't decided which video card I'm going to run in it yet, either a Radeon 9600 Pro or XT, or GeForce 2 GTS. This will just be a sort of all around, general gaming Win 98 PC.

What Atlhon is there ?

I'm working on kind of simmilar project, and It's calling "Budget Tualatin Smasher". 😉

Today I expanded the RAM to my 386SX, now with another 2MB they are at 4MB total, for the moment it is the maximum amount that can be installed, because I have filled all four SIM holders. Wanting and finding modules of 4MB each I could, by finding a couple, further expand the RAM reaching 10MB total (8 + 2), there are modules of this capacity for sale, but the prices are not so cheap, perhaps with some experience ( ?) you could do some mods to expand the capacity of the 1MB ones, I don't know if it is possible to combine two of them in order to obtain modules of 2MB each.

Put the VersaDock backup for about 2 weeks, only to rip it down again because it died. SO the Versa-beasties are on the move now...got the V/50 with me today. Also ugpraded the XUB Firmware on the Tandy 1000A - such a speed improvement. I was still running the original 2008 Firmware.

Have not been messing with PC's too much though, most of my time has been spent playing Dragon Warrior IV on the NES as I finally got the cart. Just on the verge of winning (and having a god-tier savegame) again.

Future plans are
- fix the AT&T DS Docking STation (probably fuse or bad cap)
- Upgrade the Tandy 1000 (V20, 8087 - gamepad adapters)