RubDub2k wrote on 2025-03-28, 01:38:

Hi everybody, I've received a computer from a family friend that I'm trying to figure out what to do with. It's a bit older than […]
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Hi everybody, I've received a computer from a family friend that I'm trying to figure out what to do with. It's a bit older than other computers I've worked with, so any help/advice would be greatly appreciated. It has a 100 MHz "Pentium-S" (that's what the BIOS says at least, I haven't removed the cooler to check the CPU itself), 81920 KB of memory, and a Gigabyte GA-586ATS Revision 2D motherboard (I couldn't find the exact revision online, but a similar revision was on the Retro Web). This seems like it could make a decent Windows 95 PC, but I've already got an Optiplex GN+ with 128 MB of memory and a 233 Pentium MMX, so I'm thinking of possibly turning this PC into a Windows 3.1 computer or perhaps a DOS PC. I've attached pictures of some of the expansion cards as well (It has a StingRay Pro ARK1000PV card, but I'm not exactly sure how many MB it is; according to DOS Days Website, it looks like the card either came with one or two MB). I guess what I'm wondering is:

1) What OS do you guys think would be best for this thing?

2) What is your experience with the hardware in this machine? Is there anything that I should be aware of?

3) I'm thinking of using a CF card to store the OS; would you guys recommend going this route, and if so, what size CF card?

4) Also, according to the board's page on The Retro Web, this motherboard supposedly has a PS/2 Mouse input, and while there are a couple of breakout cables from the motherboard that go to the I/O slots in the back (Parallel, Serial, etc), the PS/2 looking port seems a bit funky looking compared to other PS/2 ports I've seen... is that just a regular PS/2 input?

Thanks everyone,

- Rubdub

a Pentium 100 like this would make a great Win9x or DOS/Win3.1 machine. As the ram is >64mb its already fine for all kinds of win98se fun, but you already have a win95 machine with higher cpu speed so it would be cool to make this a dos/win 3.1 machine, especially if the hardware and drivers work out.

a CF is fine, if you think about HDD sizes back in the day i think even 8gb is ok (an old thread: cf 4gb in dos 6.22 )

hopefully there will be others that can help on specifics, maybe they even had this board

it sounds like a fun project anyway

Thanks Gerry, I found some drivers on The Retro Web, but only one for DOS/Windows 3.1 labeled "Triones Bus Master EIDE/ATAPI drivers"; I'm not sure how many others I'd need for the board at least (I've really only worked with 2001+ PC's which generally required chipset drivers for the most part, and any other integrated components they had (ethernet, audio, etc). So maybe just this one driver is all I need?

RubDub2k wrote on 2025-03-28, 01:38:

1) What OS do you guys think would be best for this thing?

I immediately thought of Windows 95. Windows NT 3.51 or 4.0 would be interesting to try as well, though I doubt this video card has drivers for them.

The keyboard connector is a mini-Din type, adaptaters for ps/2 keyboards should be easy to find.
You entered the bios so you found a solution already.

RubDub2k wrote on 2025-03-28, 01:38:

4) Also, according to the board's page on The Retro Web, this motherboard supposedly has a PS/2 Mouse input, and while there are […]
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4) Also, according to the board's page on The Retro Web, this motherboard supposedly has a PS/2 Mouse input, and while there are a couple of breakout cables from the motherboard that go to the I/O slots in the back (Parallel, Serial, etc), the PS/2 looking port seems a bit funky looking compared to other PS/2 ports I've seen... is that just a regular PS/2 input?

The 6-pin mini-DIN on the top bracket? That looks like a standard PS/2 mouse port.

1) What OS do you guys think would be best for this thing?
My vote goes to DOS 6.22 and Win 3.11... I too have a P100 and it's my favorite "sound cards hosting machine" (PicoGUS + AWE64 + MT32pi). It is the perfect speed for late DOS games to.

2) What is your experience with the hardware in this machine? Is there anything that I should be aware of?
In terms of sound card, you can get away with any sound cards you can get your hands on... There are tons of SB16 out there.

3) I'm thinking of using a CF card to store the OS; would you guys recommend going this route, and if so, what size CF card?
Up until Windows 95, CF or SD card are my go to. It makes file transfer sooo easy from your main computer with a cheap USB adapter. I use 8gb cards with 4 x 2GB partitions...

4) Also, according to the board's page on The Retro Web, this motherboard supposedly has a PS/2 Mouse input, and while there are a couple of breakout cables from the motherboard that go to the I/O slots in the back (Parallel, Serial, etc), the PS/2 looking port seems a bit funky looking compared to other PS/2 ports I've seen... is that just a regular PS/2 input?
I agree with shamino, that looks like a standard PS/2 port... Just not green like you're probably used to seeing.

P100's enough for starcraft, diablo, quake, descent 2, win95 red alert, dune 2000, subspace, etc.

Personally, I consider anything earlier then slot 1 more suited for dos gaming but still install Win9x for fat32, file management etc.
So you could either install Win95 and have networked games of the ones leileilo mentioned above as well as have the ability to drop back to dos. From the pics looks like it already has a network card.
or have a pure Dos/Win3x setup, depends which interests you more.

I'm not familiar with Ark cards but seems like you may have quite a fast card?
Ark Logic PCI, an interesting VGA card.

Good to know, thanks for the input everybody! I'm going to go ahead with the DOS/Win3.11 combo 😀