Retro PC build

[bbz149]

OK after seeing Tykes Game post for old retro Games, decided to pull what I have from the Loft and Shed to build a machine while stuck indoors

Well I'm sure glad I never binned a lot of this stuff after looking at current prices!

I also have some P4's 2.8ghz but might be too fast for retro Games?

Ill prob have to stick with a LCD Screen as not enough space on my Desk for a CRT, also gave away all the boxed NOS Monitors I had to Forum members a few years ago

Here is my old work PC from BITD, Compaq Deskpro 4000 P2 233mhz MMX, needs a good clean!

Not sure to use the Compaq, or this below which would look nice in a DIY Perspex Case as it's a lot smaller! it's a P3 600E/256/100/1.65V 600mhz with 100mhz Bus speed. Or worth looking for a faster CPU to fit this Board?

ROBO608 Industrial Mainboard

Other little Gems I found

Also have CD Drives, HD's and Floppy Disks

And another AWE64 non Gold ver

What would you build, the Compaq or the Modular PC which I think would look great in a Perspex Mount? Looking to get to Also get a Roland SC-55 or MK2, yeah, I know I just missed one on here

feel free to post what your currently running and any input appreciated

bbz1492020-06-07 23:31:29

 

[bbz149]

Compaq cleaned up nicely! Replaced the Faulty CD with a slot in CD/DVD and added more RAM! Booted up first time in nearly 20 Years without problems

 

[big10p]

That cleaned up nice!

 

[andyman]

I've been doing almost the same with a 20 yr old laptop...no HD or RAM...spent 9 hours looking for bits, had to buy a PATA HD from FB in the end...all so I can power up my eprom programmer, which I cant find the cable or PSU for...then find out wrong PSU (not enough juice) for laptop so CD drive wont work

Difficult to find things with Parallel ports here

No headers or graphics card for my old 386 board so thats out too...

 

[robotech]

Nice little project that i like building pcs from pc bits i get given when people have finished with them or when work have a clear out

The beige case looks great

 

[bbz149]

I've been doing almost the same with a 20 yr old laptop...no HD or RAM...spent 9 hours looking for bits, had to buy a PATA HD from FB in the end...all so I can power up my eprom programmer, which I cant find the cable or PSU for...then find out wrong PSU (not enough juice) for laptop so CD drive wont work

Difficult to find things with Parallel ports here

No headers or graphics card for my old 386 board so thats out too...

Yeah, but it's all bloody great fun!!! Spent a Day p1ssing
about building a Win7 machine for a USB Flasher I got cheap on eBay so I can
flash a Gotek Floppy Emulator to OLED screen, couldn’t get the poxy driver to
install on FA so binned the Programmer and ordered a proper one FFS!

USB to Parallel adapter no good?

 

[bbz149]

Cheers, I was shocked how clean it came up too! Need to store this properly and not in the Loft or Shed this time

Got no room to have it permanently setup and would love to have a CRT on the Compaq at some point.

 

[andyman]

I've been doing almost the same with a 20 yr old laptop...no HD or RAM...spent 9 hours looking for bits, had to buy a PATA HD from FB in the end...all so I can power up my eprom programmer, which I cant find the cable or PSU for...then find out wrong PSU (not enough juice) for laptop so CD drive wont work

Difficult to find things with Parallel ports here

No headers or graphics card for my old 386 board so thats out too...

Yeah, but it's all bloody great fun!!! Spent a Day p1ssing
about building a Win7 machine for a USB Flasher I got cheap on eBay so I can
flash a Gotek Floppy Emulator to OLED screen, couldn’t get the poxy driver to
install on FA so binned the Programmer and ordered a proper one FFS!

USB to Parallel adapter no good?

Nope tried that...plus programmer software doesnt like win 7...sorted now, found all the rest of the bits in another box of crap...next mission, get supergun working so I can at least test boards

And yeah, Its great although sooo frustrating at times...

 

[bbz149]

Thanks to Chris, I got a NOS 32MB Radeon PCI Card

Will be used with the Industrial P3 Motherboard. Installed the Awe64 Gold and Radeon, need to install the 3DFX Card and build a Case for it all. Should be a nice size for my Desk! Will be powered from a Pico PSU once delivered. Also waiting for a Roland SC-55 from Germany

 

[phillv85]

Haha that’s cool. Some memories brought back seeing that old kit. Wish I’d kept all my old spare parts from when I scrapped PC’s. Could have sold my Voodoo 3 2000 and bought myself a decent new Gfx card

 

[swisstoni]

Anyone interested in retro PCs should watch the Phils Computer Lab youtube channel on YouTube.

 

[bbz149]

LGR is a great Retro channel!

Anybody into Retro PC's must watch the whole of this Video!!

 

[andyman]

LGR is a great Retro channel!

Anybody into Retro PC's must watch the whole of this Video!!

That vid was awesome...my house kind of looks like that at the moment

 

[The Last Bandit]

That Compaq cleaned up very nicely !!

The open frames are dead handy for more experimental builds, this a Pentium I put together for a bit of DOS gaming a while back.
Vogons is a great site for information on old PC stuff and they have a large archive of old drivers.

The Last Bandit2020-06-21 21:28:28

 

[bbz149]

LGR is a great Retro channel!

Anybody into Retro PC's must watch the whole of this Video!!

That vid was awesome...my house kind of looks like that at the moment

Wish mine did! I'd be rich!

If only that warehouse was located ion Europe, i'd be over there in a Van quicksmart!!

 

[bbz149]

That Compaq cleaned up very nicely !!

The open frames are dead handy for more experimental builds, this a Pentium I put together for a bit of DOS gaming a while back.
Vogons is a great site for information on old PC stuff and they have a large archive of old drivers.

That looks awesome!

I was looking at those open Frames, might be a bit big for the Board I have, or might just look for a smaller one

Or I could just look for a normal P3 Motherboard as I have spare CPU's! I do have some P4's 2.8ghz but think that might be overkill and too modern

 

[andyman]

Wish mine did! I'd be rich!

If only that warehouse was located ion Europe, i'd be over there in a Van quicksmart!!

Yeah, I was a little gutted it was so far away but I'm trying to get rid of stuff, not collect more

 

[bbz149]

Decided to go with Open Frame in the end so just getting all the bits together to build my own rather than getting a pre designed one. Not got the Mounts yet to put it all together but will look something like this but still need to put the two top bars in

Might get some Perspex cut to box it off but not sure yet

 

[bbz149]

Another item just turned up from Germany

 

[bbz149]

Getting there! Was going to use a 160w Pico PSU, but decided to install 2 x DVD/RW's so I can copy stuff if needed, 1 Floppy Drive which I need to replace with a Black one, also installed a Gotek USB Floopy which I modded last week so now has an OLED display. Loads of space to install an ATX PSU! Still waiting for PCB risers, Frame end caps, Clear Perspex top.



Anybody know where I can get the long screws that hold the Cards in place?