First post, by bjt
- Rank
- Oldbie
Reading about some of the great builds here inspired me to build a dos gaming PC using some of the parts I've had stored in the garage for nearly a decade. From about 1995-2005 I was into PC tech until I got too busy with work/family. Back then I was on a budget so some of the parts were pretty low end.
I've had some interesting bits over the years that I wish I still had:
AMD 486 DX/4 100 CPU & Mobo - Think this one went in a break-in around 2000
SB AWE32 & AWE64 Gold w/SPDIF header - Traded for other bits
FIC PA-2007 & VA-503+ socket 7 motherboards - Chucked these out around 2005. Not sure what I was thinking
AMB K6-3+ 450 - Overclocking casualty
Matrox M3D (PowerVR) - Traded for a Voodoo 1
Orchid Righteous 3D - Traded up to a Voodoo 3
Anyway I collected together the best of what was left and put together a socket 7 system. One thing I was missing was a motherboard. I managed to pick up an Asus TXP4 AT motherboard & P233MMX from eBay reasonably cheap. Although I have fond memories of the Cyrix CPUs (still have a MII PR333 lying around), I always wanted a P233.
It was actually quite relaxing putting a PC together again, although I got some funny looks from the rest of the family 😀
Spec as follows:
Cheap 15-year matured beige AT case (razor-sharp edges)
New 300W ATX PSU with ATX->AT converter
Asus TXP4 (TX chipset)
P54C 233Mhz. CPU fan downvolted to 7V
2 x 64MB SDRAM dimms, CL2
PS/2 Mouse and USB headers, AT->PS/2 keyboard adapter
S3 Trio 64 V+, Gainward Dragon 1000 (Voodoo 1 4MB)
3Com 3C905
Magic S32 Sound Card (Creative Vibra 16S, Real OPL3, DSP 4.13)
Matsushita CW-7582 8x/4x CD burner
Original floppy
Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 6800 13GB (7200rpm, whiny)
Eizo F56 16" CRT
Yamaha YST-M20DSP speakers
Microsoft Internet Keyboard
Microsoft PS/2 mouse
Pics!
I've got a NEC XR385 on the way from that Chinese eBay seller, so if the Magic S32 has the hanging note bug (likely) I'll be looking for a new sound card. Also have a Viglen clicky keyboard and a quiet laptop drive on the way as the 7200rpm drive is loud.
Thanks for all the info and inspiration! I've had a lot of fun already playing Duke Nukem & Monkey Island.