Aui wrote on 2025-12-23, 22:07:

I think the "usability angle" is a poor measure for retro enthusiasts. Of course there may be some fun in trying to build a system that covers as much as possible from an XT to an i9, but a genuine working i386 is a completely different thing (think of a modern 5$ digital watch vs. an old mechanical clock). If we can forget Doom for a moment, the 386 may be the quintessential early to mid era DOS computer. The game library playable on a 386 is also facinating, because it comes from a time were individual people or small companies really "invented" entire generes. It lacks a lot of the conveniences of late 486 builds (on board IIDE, limited HDD size etc.). But is also has largely solved the at times severe shortcomminngs of the 286 (e.g. only 1MB memory mainboards etc. ) The simplicity of these earlier machines forces you to take a deeper dive into the possibilities and limitations of an era. (you can probably tell fully working 386 machines are my favourite DOS computers 😉 )

its a fully valid measure. At the end of the day you want to use what you buildt, right?

for me is much more interesting pushing the limit, do with a computer what is wasnt supposed to do in its day

a 386 its too limited, even for that.

igna78 wrote on 2025-09-15, 21:14:

Your retro room is simply fantastic; it's essentially a world that developed between the '80s and the early 2000s 🤩 […]
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mjnman wrote on 2025-09-15, 14:03:

My retro room.

Your retro room is simply fantastic; it's essentially a world that developed between the '80s and the early 2000s 🤩

Are the arcade cabinets original (perhaps with modern hardware inside, with Mame running the software) or are they reproductions? (they're still exceptional, though)
“Comunque la monetina da 500 lire (o almeno così mi sembra) per giocare a Super Street Fighter II è un must!” 😁

For other users, sorry for the Italian text; I was talking about inserting old, out-of-circulation Italian coins to play Super Street Fighter II (watch in video).

It's all beautiful; I hope to do something similar one day. For now, I'll have to make do with a little space on my desk and keep the rest in the box 😅

Thanks a lot. The arcade cabinets are original but inside run a Linux OS with a 15 kHz Linux kernel, Attract-Mode, and GroovyMAME. I used an NVMe disk, and the OS/GUI boots in 8 seconds.

Aui wrote on 2025-12-23, 22:07:

Of course there may be some fun in trying to build a system that covers as much as possible from an XT to an i9 [...]

I am actually trying to do exactly this, but not as a single system, but as a whole setup, see RetroRacks Project.

Once it is in a presentable state, I will post pictures of my "computing area" here.

Updated computers setups in my room!

TheChexWarrior wrote on 2026-01-22, 11:58:

Updated computers setups in my room!

i like the light/dark contrast 😀

TheChexWarrior wrote on 2026-01-22, 11:58:

Updated computers setups in my room!

That's a lot of keyboards and mice. Have you considered a KVM?