First post, by mOBSCENE
These last few months I've been busy perfecting my DOS/Win98 system. Recent changes include replacing the CPU fan, replacing the PSU, adding another Voodoo2 card, putting the HDD in a seperate caging, cable organizing and optimizing/organizing the (configuration) files.
This PC is mostly used to play my favourite old DOS games from the 90s. During tweaking the system I stumbled upon this website which has helped me out quite a few times now (thanks everyone!). I also just love to read all the topics on configuring and optimizing old systems - and people showing off their creations.
My first own computer was an Olivetti 286 12Mhz system, at 9 years of age (which I have my dad to thank for 😉). Since that age I've always been interested in configuring, optimizing and organizing my computer systems. About 6 years ago, I decided to invest in an old system which would run all my favourite classics perfectly. Every now and then I've invested some time on this project, which I've been finally able to finish now!
Time to show him off ! (he goes by the name 'OLDSHIT' btw 😜)
Specs:
Case: Cooler Master Elite 334
PSU: be quiet! Pure Power L7 300W
Mobo: Soyo SY-5XA/E Socket7 - Intel 430TX -> Gigabyte GA-5AX rev. 4.1 Super7 - Aladdin V
CPU: Intel Pentium MMX 233Mhz -> AMD K6-III+ 400Mhz @ 550Mhz (5.5x100Mhz @ 1.8V)
Mem: 2x 128MB SDRAM CAS2 -> 256MB SDRAM CAS2 PC133
GPU: Diamond Viper V330 PCI 4MB (NVidia RIVA 128) -> ASUS V3000 AGP 4MB (NVidia RIVA 128)
3DFX: 2x Diamond Monster 3D II 3Dfx Voodoo2 12MB PCI (SLI)
SATA: Via VT6421A SATA RAID Controller + VT6214L USB2.0 Controller PCI
HDD: Western Digital WD200BB 20GB 7200rpm 2MB cache IDE (inside Silentmaxx HD-Silencer 2.0) -> Intel X25-M G2 SSD 80GB SATA
FDD: NEC 1.44MB 3.5" FD1231H-302 IDE
DVD: Plextor DVD-ROM PX-130A IDE
Net: 3Com 3C905-TX Fast EtherLink XL 10/100 PCI
Sound1: Gravis UltraSound MAX ISA (1MB RAM)
Sound2: Creative SB AWE64 Gold ISA (28MB RAM using SIMMCon)
Sound3: Internal PC Speaker 0,5W 😀
Peripherals:
Keyb: Logitech Media Keyboard Y-SAE71 PS/2
Mouse: Logitech MX518 Optical Gaming Mouse PS/2
Monitor: Samsung SyncMaster 193P+ (shared with Main PC)
Speakers: Edifier 2.1 S330D (shared with Main PC via audio switch)
Joystick: Gravis GamePad Pro (Gameport)
Flippers: Philips Virtual Pinball PS/2 (still need to find a proper table or something to use it with, this thing is HUGE)
Some "special" additions: a dual soundcard to CD-Audio connector, so the audio is being sent to both soundcards. Also I've rerouted the Front USB connectors to the back using an internal cable, as you can see on the back picture.
The 3DFX setup might be a little overkill with the CPU (not so much anymore!), but at least it looks cool on the inside 😜 The only hardware change I might try in the future (gosh, what was I thinking?), is replacing the GPU/3DFX cards with a Voodoo3 2000 PCI - that is if I can actually find one. (been there, done that - not satisfied)
Picture time !
Now some pictures from the internal goods, from different angles:
So.. let's power him on 😀
For DOS I use MS-DOS 7.10 + 4DOS 8.00. QuikMenu III is a menu system app, for managing my DOS games/apps. The first option gives me 596K of conventional memory (with CD and Mouse drivers loaded), which is plenty for all my games.
The second configuration is required for 3 of my DOS games which actually require EMS memory. This configuration also gives me access to my network, for imaging purposes using Norton Ghost. Also USB support is included here, to give me access to USB flashdrives from DOS.
The third as you can see is Windows 98 SE - the Micro edition created with 98lite Professional, which boots in 15 seconds and shuts down in like 3 seconds 😀 I only use Windows for playing a few Win9x games and sharing the HDD with my Main PC over the network.
QuikMenu, all the games and a few apps on the last picture:
Quikmenu, some special configs:
All games/apps shown in the screenshots are working smoothly. I use the GUS for (nearly) every game/app that supports it. All others use the SB AWE64 or the Internal PC Speaker for the real oldies. Both soundcards are connected to the DVD-ROM drive, for in-game CD Audio.
Win98 desktop with games listed:
For those who are interested, here's the contents of my CONFIG.SYS / AUTOEXEC.BAT:
[MENU]
MENUITEM=QM,QuikMenu III
MENUITEM=QMS,QuikMenu III (+EMS/USB/LAN)
MENUITEM=W98,Windows 98 SE
MENUDEFAULT=QM,10
MENUCOLOR=11,1
[COMMON]
DOS=HIGH,UMB
BUFFERSHIGH=12,0
FILESHIGH=40
LASTDRIVEHIGH=F
FCBSHIGH=4,0
STACKSHIGH=9,256
[QM]
SHELL=PROGRAM\4DOS\4DOS.COM
DEVICE=WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=WINDOWS\COMMAND\ANSI.SYS
DEVICE=WINDOWS\COMMAND\VIDE-CDD.SYS /D:FUCKYEAH
DEVICE=WINDOWS\IFSHLP.SYS
[QMS]
SHELL=PROGRAM\4DOS\4DOS.COM @PROGRAM\4DOS\4DOSUMB.INI
DEVICE=PROGRAM\QEMM\QEMM386.SYS RAM BF:N
DEVICEHIGH=WINDOWS\COMMAND\ANSI.SYS
DEVICEHIGH=WINDOWS\IFSHLP.SYS
DEVICEHIGH=WINDOWS\COMMAND\VIDE-CDD.SYS /D:FUCKYEAH
DEVICEHIGH=WINDOWS\COMMAND\USBASPI.SYS /U /V
DEVICEHIGH=WINDOWS\COMMAND\DI1000DD.SYS
DEVICEHIGH=WINDOWS\COMMAND\NET\PROTMAN.DOS /I:WINDOWS\COMMAND\NET
DEVICEHIGH=WINDOWS\COMMAND\NET\EL90X.DOS
DEVICEHIGH=WINDOWS\COMMAND\NET\NEMM.DOS
DEVICEHIGH=WINDOWS\COMMAND\NET\TCPDRV.DOS
[W98]
SHELL=PROGRAM\4DOS\4DOS.COM @PROGRAM\4DOS\4DOSUMB.INI
DEVICE=PROGRAM\QEMM\QEMM386.SYS RAM BF:N
DEVICEHIGH=WINDOWS\COMMAND\ANSI.SYS
DEVICEHIGH=WINDOWS\IFSHLP.SYS
@ECHO OFF
PATH=C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND;C:\ULTRASND
PROMPT=$E[s$E[1;60H$d / $t$H$H$H$G$E[1;60H $l$E[u$E[0;133;"EXIT";13p$E[0;134;"C:\PROGRAM\LIST\LIST.COM";13p$P$G
ALIAS DIR=*DIR/P
GOTO %CONFIG%
:QM
CTMOUSE
SHSUCDX /D:FUCKYEAH
GOTO SNDQM
:QMS
CTMOUSE
SHSUCDX /D:FUCKYEAH
:SNDQM
CALL GUS.BAT
CALL SB16.BAT
MODE CON RATE=32 DELAY=1
CLS
QM
GOTO END
:W98
CLS
WIN
:END
I hope you enjoyed this little show-off. All that's left for me now is to start enjoying it 😁 Any comments / questions / suggestions are welcome.