First post, by Vic Zarratt
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... A or holy trinity...
Owing to the idea that one computer cannot play every game ever made, i theorized if having just 3 computers would play (if one seriously had the time...) all dos/windows games based on the decade it was built for... a rough idea goes like...
80s dos computer: plays all games from 1980-1989
386 cpu, 4mb ram, cga/ega video, Dos 3.1, hard-disk around 350mb, creative soundcard with opl3, 5.25 floppy disk drive.
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90s dos/windows computer: plays all games from 1990-1999
pentium 3 cpu, 512mb ram, 64mb 3D video card with T&L, windows 98se, 40gb hard-disk, soundblaster live!, DVD-ROM, 3.5 diskette drive
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Noughties windows computer: plays all games from 2000-2009
I'm not too knowledgeble on this era of PC gaming, but i'd like make a rough guess with this setup, if not be lazy and use my win7 sandybridge laptop 😀
core2duo/quad processor, 1-2gb ram, nVidia series 9 GT class or ATi equivalent, windows xp with sp3 or win7, 750gb hard disk, creative X-fi, DVD-RW (were there seriously any BD/blu-ray games in this period? just asking because i've yet to see them outside the PS3 console)
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You may of noticed that i've cut out certain enhancements that might make certain games look/sound their best, but otherwise might complicate a functioning setup when trying to play all every other game, such as the issue of early 3D in the 90s rig where getting a ton of different 3D cards to behave seems impossible, so perhaps a fast cpu and more ram would at least give a well performing software mode.
Likewise the 80s rig will require a slowdown utility and CGA will be of importance, hence no VGA. (unless one has a cirrus eagle, which i don't practically recommend from lack of knowledge) and the sound will mainly be adlib/speaker - again there is the compromise of no CMS or certain MIDI (the latter is more 90s anyway) because they enhance, but are not crucial to a lean, mean and competent rig.
It's just a theory anyway - place your thoughts on it and let the fun begin!
I manage a pot-pourri of video matter...