Vintage PC Builds - Think 486 Era

Matzo · 31 Jul 2017 at 21:03

There's just about every category in this site, but can't find a vintage section.

So when I say vintage I'm not talking about whole rooms that computers used to occupy, but think more 486 which is when I really started taking an interest in custom PC builds.

I've got 486 processors, motherboards, 30-pin and 72-pin simms, Windows 95 on floppy. What I'd like to do is do an old build using the best equipment that I can get a hold of in that era and maybe running a few BOINC projects on it.

Question is then, who would be interested in such a ramble? Not everyones cup of tea but I'm in the right place.

Matzo · 31 Jul 2017 at 21:26

Yeah, thanks for that. I'll stick it in there and see if I can drum up some interest.

Matzo · 31 Jul 2017 at 21:41

I do agree, it was messy and things didn't always work and you had to install dos, then windows, then drivers for just about every bit of hardware. Better off with an emulator? Still, thought it was worth asking the question. After all isn't it just easier to buy an xbox with a game you can just simply pop-in and play, rather than building a custom gaming rig? Technically yes, but which do you prefer?

Matzo · 31 Jul 2017 at 21:56

Sounds like you were in the game a little before me, although I do still remember mods to autoexec.bat in the Windows 3.0/3.1 days. Trying to get 3.1 on the Internet was a pain, 3.11 made it a little easier. Speaking of old sound cards I have an Creative AWE64 Gold in the loft, sitting next to an early PCI geforce.

Matzo · 31 Jul 2017 at 22:13

Some classic games there.

Still got quite a few oldies. Still remember loading the games in on the tapes at my mates then an hour or so later they may have loaded.

Started off with a BBC Acorn 32K, then...

286 @ 12 MHz - Windows 3.1
AST Premium II - 486DX33 with a 66MHz overdrive processor. This machine had 2 full length vesa cards with banks of memory totaling an insane 16MB ram.
Packard Bell - Pentium 50

...are the first few.

Matzo · 1 Aug 2017 at 19:27

Nice rig @cee-S-dee, looks in great condition. Nothing like a bit of beige, funny I did come across a company a while back who did the large ATX desktop cases. Think the retro look would suit a custom gaming rig, kind of like the wolf in sheeps clothing sort of thing.

Good shout @Conscript, will have to pick through that channel over a few lunch breaks.

With some mixed opinions, I've decided to give this build a go. https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/486-project-gaming-machine.18788302/