VOGONS


First post, by Socket3

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Hello vogons!

After years of searching for a working, well priced and local(ish - with the EU at least) socket 8 machine and a couple of dead motherboards, I finally managed to trade for one working motherboard and buy a complete untested kit - so, I started planning a pentium PRO build:

- Period correct ATX case
- 200MHz 256kb pentium pro (running at 233mhz)
- Intel Venus VS440FX motherboard, one with onboard sound, one without
- 64MB (4x16MB) new old stock compaq branded EDO dram
- 8GB Seagate HDD
- ATi RageII C PCI 4MB
- Creative CT6670 Voodoo 2 12MB
- Yamaha DX-XG YMF724

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I was expecting it to performance similar to a 233Mhz pentium 2, but what I'm getting is around pentium 166MHz performance and I don't really understand why. The game in question is Quake 2, version 3.24 with OGG audio. For testing purposes it's set to 640x480, OGG music disabled, cd-music disabled, sound quality to low, 3dfx voodoo 2 301001 driver.

The pentium PRO at 233mhz does 30.6 fps, sound quality set to low, OGG music disabled.
My period accurate pentium II 350@3.5x66MHz (233) can do 37.6 fps. (Asus p2b, Asus V3400/TNT, Creative AWE64 value, 64Mb SDRAM, same version of quake, same 3dfx driver)

Both aren't great results, but there's quite a bit of a leap from the P Pro to the P2.... Anyone know why?

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^ Pentium II @ 233MHz, Quake 2 3.24 - 37 FPS with sound set to low quality and OGG music disabled ^
^ 30 FPS with sound set to high quality and OGG music enabled ^

Last edited by Socket3 on 2026-06-03, 20:01. Edited 7 times in total.

Reply 1 of 6, by Law212

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Is the cooler on properly ? Is cache enabled? What are you running to think that the performance is not as it should be?

Reply 3 of 6, by Socket3

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Law212 wrote on Yesterday, 18:20:

Is the cooler on properly ? Is cache enabled? What are you running to think that the performance is not as it should be?

Heatsink is on correctly yes, and the CPU is cooled via the PSU fan (120mm fan sitting 5cm from the CPU cooler and pulling hot air away) + 80mm intake fan at the front of the case. Heatsink won't go over 49C with the case open (measured with an IR thermometer)

Repo Man11 wrote on Yesterday, 18:25:

Interesting, but no Quake 2 benchmark, or 3DFX hardware acceleration. Software only. I know in quake 1 the pentium P54 and P55 are faster due to heavy optimizations done by Carmack so it will even beat a pentium II clock per clock in software mode.

Reply 4 of 6, by leileilol

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I'd advise not using source ports (including 'unofficial patch' ports)- most often they'll leave the assembly out to make (windows) compiling easier, as stock Q2 had inline assembly on the drawing spans and the audio mixing. (Also it was Michael Abrash who did the optimizing)

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Reply 5 of 6, by Socket3

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leileilol wrote on Yesterday, 19:32:

I'd advise not using source ports (including 'unofficial patch' ports)- most often they'll leave the assembly out to make (windows) compiling easier, as stock Q2 had inline assembly on the drawing spans and the audio mixing. (Also it was Michael Abrash who did the optimizing)

I see... ok, I'll give Q2 v3.20 a shot.

[UPDATE]

Well sh|%.....

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Quake 2 3.20 - 640x480, timedemo 1:

Voodoo 2 12MB with 3dfx 301001 driver : 46fps
ATi Rage 128 GL 16MB PCI Driver 4.12: 37fps

I guess that answers my question...

Thank you everyone!

A couple more questions.... Here goes:

1. Has anyone managed to get a PCI USB card working on one of these? I tried both boards and the result is the same: under windows 95 OSR2, with a VIA VT6202 PCI card the driver installs but reports the device is not functioning correctly. With a NEC card the driver for the controller installs OK, but all USB Root Hub devices have an exclamation mark next to them with the same message "device not functioning correctly"

2. My second motherboard, the one with no on board sound - came in an odd Maxdata "Artist" computer. What is odd about the case is that it's technically ATX, but the power button is AT style. No power supply - I only got the case with no side covers (shame, it's a really neat case), cpu (no heatsink), dead HDD and a 4mb Rage IIc PCI graphics card. This motherboard will not respond to the power pins on the front panel header. If I trigger the PSU on by shorting green and black, the computer powers on and runs normally. As soon as I release them the computer shuts off. Under windows 95 selecting shut down from the start menu will lead to a "It's now safe to turn off your computer" like you'd see on an AT machine. What gives? The power switch was wired via a 2 pin connector to something I presume went to the PSU that came with the PC... Anybody see this kind of setup before? If so, is there some jumper on the motherboard that controls ATX soft power on like on super socket 7 AT motherboards - or something similar?

Reply 6 of 6, by rmay635703

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My experience with usb on anything 450mhz or slower was that it made everything slower, remove usb card faster.

YMMV