Just look on ebay or anywhere second hand.. I would go for an 40mhz if i where you.. But that depends on what you want. Do you want more a system that is more same speed as an 286? Or do you want a 386 system for just running games that runs fine on 386 and the beginning first version of the 486 ..

If you want the same speed as an 286 system, you have a choice to go for an 386 SX 25 /33 mhz system..need it more slower you also can take an SX 16 mhz processor..
For the last option i prefer to go for an DX 40mhz version..

40mhz precessor are today easier to find processors, sometime they are already soldered to the motherboards.. Only have to look if its an 40mhz version..
SX motherboards are easier to obtain.

In my opinion, an DX 33mhz is sometimes a little bit to slow, so that why i prefer the 40mhz one.

Iam only think, that you are a little bit to late with building this older computer.. Every year the prices will go higher on parts.. So i really dont know how much you want to spent..
But i can tell you, it can be very expensive if you arent beware of that.. my suggestion, try to find some stuff local.. it could be much cheaper then using ebay.

Finding an nice AT case it the most difficult part, most is already been processed by metal collectors.. So it would be very hard to find a nice looking, non / limited damaged case..
The motherboard could be expensive, but if you go for a cpu solderd onboard, you already got the processor and motherboard..
The other hard part is finding 30 pin simm memory.. There is still available yet, but very limited..
The rest of the parts is much easier to get.. So good luck on building that system!.

Robin4 wrote:

Just look on ebay or anywhere second hand.. I would go for an 40mhz if i where you.. But that depends on what you want. Do you w […]
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Just look on ebay or anywhere second hand.. I would go for an 40mhz if i where you.. But that depends on what you want. Do you want more a system that is more same speed as an 286? Or do you want a 386 system for just running games that runs fine on 386 and the beginning first version of the 486 ..

If you want the same speed as an 286 system, you have a choice to go for an 386 SX 25 /33 mhz system..need it more slower you also can take an SX 16 mhz processor..
For the last option i prefer to go for an DX 40mhz version..

40mhz precessor are today easier to find processors, sometime they are already soldered to the motherboards.. Only have to look if its an 40mhz version..
SX motherboards are easier to obtain.

In my opinion, an DX 33mhz is sometimes a little bit to slow, so that why i prefer the 40mhz one.

I basically want the option of FPU and onboard cache simply because of the nostalgia in it. I'm sure a 40 MHz would cover most or all of my needs, but I just want that kind of "look" I guess. 😀

Then you need to go for an DX system, some SX boards doesnt have onboard cache or limited cache..

In the day the FPU didnt come with the system.. The 386 processor doesnt have an FPU build in, if you wherent beware off. The customer, or client had to buy the FPU separately. Most software didnt use it actually.. Only limited software did, but that wasnt a very big group of software.. Nowdays finding an 386 FPU would be tough.

Depending on where you live you should be able to find a 80386 pretty cheap (complete) as an OEM. I have bought 9 (2/3/4)86s in November / December: each $75 (USA) or as low as $40 including shipping. I always recommend OEM: dependable, very well documented and complete (plug & play). 😊

FPUs are pretty useless: at least for gaming. They are pretty common on eBay and CPU collector forums.

RAM: very common and pretty cheap on eBay, Amibay and other forums (& classifieds sites).

Have fun & good luck!

I also find FPU a bit of a gimmick on a 386. As if you are going to benchmark / play with / use AutoCAD 😵

A 386DX-40 board with crystal oscillator is very flexible as you can run it at 33 and 25 MHz. Some boards have the AMD CPU SMD soldered. Some come with a socket. There are also hybrid boards taking a 486SX / DX. Easy to spot with two CPU sockets.

You can also get cheaper SX motherboard like this one: M396F motherboard

If the price is good, just buy one. They are streamlined and work very well. The SX-33 I have performs like a DX-25 which is pretty good.

That same board is also available with a Cyrix, which performs on a 486 level.

There isn't THAT much choice at good prices. But there are quite a few "buy now" auctions sitting at $100+ if you really need something.

Excellent suggestions.

Whatever you do: stay clear of IBM PS/2 (except Models 35 & 40) as they have the MCA bus. 😀

@Robin4: in December I had an AT desktop case and I tried to sell it. Nobody was interested. I advertised on eBay DE, Amibay and Vintage Computer Forum. The problem with computer cases is that the shipping is really high and boxes are not easy to find. So, unfortunately, I had to sell the parts (MOBO, HDD, FDD, VGA, I/O) and dropped the case off for recycling. I gave the PSU to a friend.

I find the same applies to the US BTW. It is very hard to sell old computers. There is very low demand from people who are willing / able to pay for shipping. It less of a hassle to just drop it off for recycling or put it curb side for the scrap collector to pick it up.

Thanks for the suggestions. I know the FPU is rarely used in games, but I like the look of it and how it "completes" the system. I just like the idea of having a physically separate discrete FPU. 😀

I live in Norway, there are never any sales of old computers on local thrift shops. On garbage dumps people usually throw out Pentium 4s and even Core 2 systems.

They throw out Core 2 machines 😲

And are you rescuing them? Because in 10 years time you wish you did 🤣