How do you think about Windows 98/ME on these modern boards? OK, in DOS we can take YMF7x4 (DSDMA) or Vortex2 and they will work with 90% games. And how about Win98? You can find AGP-to-PCI adapter https://pp.userapi.com/c849336/v8493368 ... oqZuRs.jpg for video cards. But chipset driver??? HDD, USB etc
- Windows 98 is proven to run on everything up to Z170 for Intel, i personally did Z97 and X99 +5960X, AM3 is also not problem. Ryzen is for now dead end and i dont know nobody who tested Z270 or Z370 test (i should be very similar to Z170).. If you care about pure DOS and sound within you could get up to X58 - there are at least 2 users - include me, which could confirm that it is working from Pure Dos up to Windows 10, Linux and even Hackingtosh is possible with them. I can say that Z97+ - is dead end for pure Dos audio for now, i didnt tested but someone sayin that Yamaha SB would work on anything with native PCI slots - it means that H/Z 6x/7x and maybe even 8x will work.
- Z170 board had not Bios IDE mode - you need some knowledge from rLoew or external controller- he know how to do it.. 4 months of MSFN history are lost some there is no link..
- from X99 above, i also hit 1 stuppidity, but BIOS for 32 bit OSes, which dont give fuck about them and you have only for example 1 GB or 1.5 GB free memory f[or them available, is just but address space mapping - i had that problem with MSI board, Gigabyte and Supermicro boards are proven ok and as probably all other but i cant guarantee it.. - i would avoid MSI and Asrock.
- i also met some X99 / X58 board, which has not more PCI-E v1 cards, compatibility.. MSI X99 - after only 920 MB ram fix for 32 bit, there lots PCI-E v1 compatibility, 1 X99 from Gigabyte is not working with ATI PCI-E v1 cars.. HP O.E.M X58 board, when Geforce 7 card is used from boot is everything very, very slow.. last Nvidia Geforce 7 firmware used, last HP bios used.
- there is some myth than PCI-E is not working with Windows 98, its working for GPUs and Network card at least, if there is driver
- last officially supported GPU are Geforce 7xxx and ATI X300 - X850, i would recommend ATI because of with Nvidia afaik not working Dosbox W98 dosbox fullscreen - that is Nvidia driver bug, there also problem with 512MB Nvidia cards - you need rLoew paid patch. More modern cards works - with Russian bear driver, but only 2D.
- must have is IDE disk controller - or at least Sata controller (AHCI) set to IDE mode and even than for full speed you need paid patch from rLoew, native IDE controller are ok
- chipset drivers - to put it simple you dont need them, Linux also working without vendor specific drivers, you could have some unknow devices because of MB, but there not esenssial for any SW execution.. Its sample as integrated LAN, Soundcards etc - there are simple not driver for them for old OSes, but its not blocking anything..
- USB is good to have board with some USB2 ports, after than you could try Maximus decim drivers, on AMD970 and one you mine Z97 board they worked, otherwise you need PCI USB2 controller, for PCI-E boards also PCIe-PCI controller.. Its everythine good to have on board more USB controllers from multiple vendors - bigger chance to find some Windows 98 ports.
With PS/2 mouse + keyboard you could live without USB at all, only good thing in Windows 98 are flashdrives (its not Windows 98 native, but its USB drivers dependend) - only FAT32 and USB soundcards - if you dont have PCI soundcard..
- its good to have board with Primary GPU slot selection for multiple GPUs, new one for modern OSes - only Gigabyte has such feature, otherwise you need to have old GPU as primary and for modern OS something what is called dual GPU stunt (just annoying configuration way how to make for modern OS not primary GPU working..).. Nvidia / Nvidia combination means some additional problem with modern OSes ATI/Nvdia its bettter.. You cant have 2 different Nvidia drivers version active at same time (same path problem) and Windows is trying to make it happens - install drivers for every device.
- HDD / SSD if you use Grub bootloader you could have everything on more disk.. Dont forget enable DMA for HDD or you will suffer with 3-4 MB/s transfer rate. Disk controller has to have Windows 98 driver (VIA / Micron), or you need paid rLoew patch for bigger speed.
- Network card - if you are ok with 100 MB/s - Intels, Realteks card are working, i have found one 3com PCI - Gigabit card capable of Windows 98.. and even one Broadcom PCI-E - but its ATX Windows 98 shutdown, what is common issues with newer boards - you have to shutdown it manually.
- RAM - im using HimemX to limit memory to 512 MB for installation, later to 1024MB and 64 MB for Pure Dos, rLoew has patches for even more than 1 GB for Windows 98 - paid - 10/20$ something like than..
- it strongly recommend to use PS2 mouse and keyboards
Windows 98 installation:
- i recommend use USB for it, formatted like USB-FDD, copy installation files there, run setup with parameters to dont test anything, parameter "/p i" are essential.
You really dont need any long tutorial for make Window 98 installation flash, just need basic autoexec/config and bootable USB flash with Dos - same as for Bios upgrades etc..
- after 1 restart you get memory error, there is time to install HimemX.exe and patch IO.sys (w98iopat.exe once - it will fix safe mode) for more than 512 MB Ram
- from there is everything normal..
=> now its hammer time - messing with drivers to make all working. - I recommend often create partition image from modern Windows.. You could hit classic Windows 98 IRQ conflict hell, Windows condom error(protection error) - its same as on old MBs.
- device for XP and newer, will just unknow or device without driver and its good to disable them in device manager - i mean Sound card or GPU for modern OS
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Im old goal oriented goatman, i care about facts and freedom, not about egos+prejudices. Hoarding=sickness. If you want respect, gain it by your behavior. I hate stupid SW limits, SW=virtual world, everything should be possible if you have enough raw HW.