First post, by Intel486dx33
On the Quest for the Best Compatibility 486 computer of 1993. Not necessarily the fastest but a 486 computer with good quality DOS game and application compatibility and performance. This is the computer I would have liked to have had back in 1993/94
This was a strange time when computer manufactures were transitioning to Multimedia computers by adding CDROM drives and sound cards..
RAM was very expensive in 1993 at $100 per Megabyte. Sound cards and CDROM drives where also very expensive.
2x CDROM drives were what was available at the time.
Many Manufactures were offering a Multimedia computer with 486DX-33 CPU and 4mb ram, 2x CDROM and Sound Blaster compatible sound card.
Manufacture builds like:
IBM PS/1 486
AST Bravo 486
Gateway 2000 486
Dell Optiplex 486
HP Vectra 486
Building the Ultimate 486 computer ( NOT 5x86 ).
This may NOT be entirely period correct but this is what I would have liked back in 1993/94
The 2x CDROM drives were too slow for Multimedia CDROM play back of videos. They would seek allot.
And it is NOT easy finding a good AT case today. So the CDROM drive is NOT period correct.
I remember taking classes back in computer education school and realizing that the computers where too slow for
Some of the software they were using. So this is the computer I would have liked to have had back in 1993/94 when I was taking
Computer education classes.
This build probably would have cost over $5,000 back in 1994
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Specs with 1994 retail consumer costs:
Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-486vs ( VLB ) ( $150 ) ( Cache did not work )
http://www.motherboards.org/files/manuals/47/486vs8a.pdf
Motherboard - Vega vs486f VLB ( Young Micro Systems inc. ) ( $150 ).
http://www.elhvb.com/webhq/models/486vlb3/vs486f.html
CPU - Intel 486dx4-100 Overdrive ( $300 )
Cache - 256kb, -20ns
RAM - 32mb. ( 8 x 4mb, -60 ns , FPM ) ( $3200 )
Hard-drive - 240mb. ( IDE ) ( $240 )
Video - Cirrus logic 5429 ( 2mb , VLB ) ( $200 )
Audio - Sound Blaster Pro 2.0 ( ISA ) ( $300 )
Network - 3com 3c509 combo ( ISA ) ( $70 )
Controller - DTC-2278D, VLB ( 2 channels ) ( $60 )
CDROM - 2x Sony CDROM Drive with controller ( IDE ). ( $ 130 )
Floppy drives - 1.44mb. floppy and 5.25 1.2mb floppy drive. ( $100 )
Modem - US Robotics 2400 external modem. ( $150 )
SCSI - Adaptec AHA-1542CF ( ISA ) ( $100 )
Power supply - 300watt ( $60 )
Case - AT ( $75 )
OS - DOS 6.22 / Win3.11 ( $150 )
Estimated Total = $5,000+
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I found this computer case on eBay.
It’s from a computer builder back in the 1990’s called “Techmedia”
It’s a nice design AT case. Could have been for a Pentium 1st gen computer.
I don’t know. But it should work nicely for this 486 build.
I like it because it has lots of room inside and it has a bay door cover to give it a clean simple look when closed.
