TPU's Nostalgic Hardware Club

[dieselcat18]

I had 3 of these, sold off 2 and kept this one that's still new and sealed in the box. Thinking of building a retro PC with a nice 939 socket board I have to play older PC games that won't run on W10.
Wish I had kept one of those other 4800+ chips, really don't want to break the seal on this one.

 

[biffzinker]

To bad I've always had more fun overclocking lesser chips. I had a Athlon 64 X2 4200+ running as fast as the 4800+.

 

[Keullo-e]

Those caps need replacing, but don't just replace the bulging ones, replace them all to be safe.

Agree. When I repaired my little brothers' original Xbox, I've should replaced all. But as my mom didn't give me money*, I used my own, and I just replaced those which were bulking. Well, at least it works now.

* well, she bought me few beers for the caps and work when I brought the console to my parents & bros.

I had 3 of these, sold off 2 and kept this one that's still new and sealed in the box. Thinking of building a retro PC with a nice 939 socket board I have to play older PC games that won't run on W10.
Wish I had kept one of those other 4800+ chips, really don't want to break the seal on this one.


View attachment 100373View attachment 100374View attachment 100375View attachment 100376

Damn, I've would liked to get one if you wouldn't live so damn far that the shipping is waaaay more than the CPU price..

 

[Trekkie4]

So, with all this recent debates on RAM usage & how much memory is enough for a '96 system running W95, I decided to officially investigate things out & talk solid numbers.


What you see here is the screenshot of W95, "system monitor" utility. The value on top shows "CPU usage", and the the lower one "amount of free RAM". According to this, the system idles between 0% and 25% of CPU activity & 10MB of free RAM. Remember, the physical amount of memory is 32MB, which we talked about the other day & agreed that it's too much. However, as soon as I launched Duke3D Atomic, CPU activity went sky high, to 100% and the amount of free RAM dropped all the way down to 0.


So, what's the conclusion? Would 16MB be enough for the job? Probably, maybe. After all, I DID have 16 for a while before I upgraded to 32, and the game was still playable. It took much longer to load, true. And there was NO WAY to run Duke3D in Win95, I had to log off into pure DOS mode, in order to unload W95 stuff from the RAM before I could get the smooth gameplay. Where on the other hand, 32MB does the job perfectly fine even in W95, with all the other stuff that's going on at the same time. Such as system monitoring itself, networking, drivers, default Windows processes, etc. So, after seeing this, I would most definitely have to say that it would be impossible to run this configuration with only just 8MB of RAM. Perhaps to only just START the Win95, yeah. But nothing more.

 

[lexluthermiester]

So, with all this recent debates on RAM usage & how much memory is enough for a '96 system running W95, I decided to officially investigate things out & talk solid numbers.

Nice, well done!

So, what's the conclusion? Would 16MB be enough for the job? Probably, maybe. After all, I DID have 16 for a while before I upgraded to 32, and the game was still playable. It took much longer to load, true. And there was NO WAY to run Duke3D in Win95, I had to log off into pure DOS mode, in order to unload W95 stuff from the RAM before I could get the smooth gameplay. Where on the other hand, 32MB does the job perfectly fine even in W95, with all the other stuff that's going on at the same time. Such as system monitoring itself, networking, drivers, default Windows processes, etc. So, after seeing this, I would most definitely have to say that it would be impossible to run this configuration with only just 8MB of RAM. Perhaps to only just START the Win95, yeah. But nothing more.

This is why some gamers dropped the cash for 48MB, 64MB or more. They wanted the performance and it was worth it. I wonder how your testing would turn out with 64MB+ in that system... Do you have it to test? Suspect that result would be interesting.

 

[stinger608]

I wonder how you testing would turn out with 64MB+ in that system... Do you have it to test. Suspect that result would be interesting.

I totally agree. It would be an interesting conclusion on that test!

 

[Trekkie4]

Nice, well done!

This is why some gamers dropped the cash for 48MB, 64MB or more. They wanted the performance and it was worth it. I wonder how your testing would turn out with 64MB+ in that system... Do you have it to test? Suspect that result would be interesting.

I totally agree. It would be an interesting conclusion on that test!

Hmm, good idea but it'll have to wait I'm afraid. I just wrapped things up & disconnected all my testing gear. Overall this was a triumph, I'm making a note here - huge success! It literally is, considering I found (and restored) two rare AT "x86" based systems

Besides, adding more RAM into 5x86 system is a real PITA. EDO memory banks are located in upper-left corner, just below the PSU box. So in order to add (or remove) the RAM modules, I have to disconnect both the floppy & Primary IDE channel from the motherboard. Not to mention the two PSU leads, this thing is just crazy.


But do remind me about this, down the road, I'd love to do a proper comparison What I'm guessing is that memory usage would proportionally increase up to a certain point, where the supply would overtake demand, and then you would see a noticeable "Free Memory" increase. In fact, this system might have originally came with 64MB of RAM, as it had all 4 memory banks populated with 72-pin modules.


What I'm guessing is that the former owner upgraded RAM mover time, especially later when EDO technology became cheaper. But with that being said, 64MB of RAM most definitely WOULD be overkill on a 5x86 system, since my Pentium II, 350MHz originally came with the same amount of RAM back in '98, '99 and it ran Win98 (along with 3D accelerated games using Voodoo2) just fine. Again, it could have been faster, but it was more than acceptable, I never even considered buying more RAM, not until I finally upgraded to WinXP in early 2000s

Update
I'm going through my old pics, and yeah - I was right. It came with 4 memory modules, but since I wasn't getting any feedback from the motherboard, I took out all the RAM, cleaned the banks with contact cleaning solution & replaced two of them back, just to see if it would post or not. And it did, system recognized 32MB of RAM. So with two additional modules, it most probably had 64 total.

 

[phill]

I thought I'd put a post in here, but I'm not sure some of this stuff belongs here.. But I'll post it anyways, as it's my complete collection of stuff I have laying about the house...

Some spares laying about...



Not quite old enough, but out of date already lol


My 'HomeServer'


a few Asus Strix RX480s


My OCF collection...


Some more OCF but also X58.. Must love and respect there!!


Well my Server rack (22u) and my SR-2 Puts a smile on my face regardless of how much power it takes


Ah, my socket A rig Abit NF7-S Rev 2...


And some more...

Now some 775 and 939 setups...


A few random bits of hardware I have laying about ... Older GPUs, a sealed 56k modem and a few CPUs.. 462, 939, 775, 1156 (I think... i3 550??), a 486 CPU and some Xeon's from my R710 and one's I've bought from China to help with Cancer Crunching, L5640's


Here's a few from when I quit benching.. A few bits of everything I think...





Such a hardware *^%"" and proud of it Wishing I hadn't sold quite a bit of the hardware there, but, I still think I've more than I ever should have but I just can't seem to want to sell it or part with it.. Must just be mad then I guess

I hope these pictures are acceptable.. If anyone deems them not, I'll delete the post so apologises in advance if it is!!
If not, I hope you enjoy

 

[stinger608]

Damn @phill , it's a good thing you don't live close to me or there would be a bunch of wet drool all over that ton of hardware man!!!!!!!!

Some of it probably doesn't belong in this thread, but a ton of it does for sure man!!!!!!

Thanks for sharing brother!!!!!!

 

[Mr.Scott]

MLG phill?

 

[Norton]

Ya know that post is pretty darn close to pron @phill ... I might have to consider giving you an infraction for it

Some more OCF but also X58.. Must love and respect there!!

My Asus Rampage III Extreme humbly bows to your Gigabyte X58A-OC

That board is pretty rare now- only one listed on ebay atm and it's in the UK... for $400 (290 GBP)!!!

 

[lexluthermiester]

I hope these pictures are acceptable.. If anyone deems them not, I'll delete the post so apologies in advance if it is!! If not, I hope you enjoy

I'd say you're good, just my opinion though. Good grief what a stash!

 

[phill]

Damn @phill , it's a good thing you don't live close to me or there would be a bunch of wet drool all over that ton of hardware man!!!!!!!!
Some of it probably doesn't belong in this thread, but a ton of it does for sure man!!!!!!
Thanks for sharing brother!!!!!!

You'd be more than welcome to come over!! I'm make sure a few beers and curry if wanted was available!! I love my hardware, I think I have issues...

MLG phill?

My apologises @Mr.Scott , I'm unsure what MLG means!! Too google!!

Ya know that post is pretty darn close to pron @phill ... I might have to consider giving you an infraction for it
My Asus Rampage III Extreme humbly bows to your Gigabyte X58A-OC
That board is pretty rare now- only one listed on ebay atm and it's in the UK... for $400 (290 GBP)!!!

Well I do try my best I didn't pay that much for this one Norton, plus it came with a i7 950 as well I've really got to get it tested and see if it's up and running!! Oh it did come with a heatsink and fan combo too

I'd say you're good, just my opinion though. Good grief what a stash!

Thanks @lexluthermiester I like to keep hold of stuff I enjoy.. Trouble is I like to keep too much!! lol

 

[Trekkie4]

Thanks @lexluthermiester I like to keep hold of stuff I enjoy.. Trouble is I like to keep too much!! lol

Nah, there's no such thing as too much hardware ... says the guy who stacked more than 40 PC systems in his room Besides, I'd say you, me, or anyone else here for that matter are nowhere close to @Artex & his famous collection Remember, guys?

 

[stinger608]

I'd say you, me, or anyone else here for that matter are nowhere close to @Artex & his famous collection Remember, guys?

Yea, that is the king of nostalgic hardware for sure!!!!!

Haven't seen Artex around since though.

 

[Mr.Scott]

My apologises @Mr.Scott , I'm unsure what MLG means!! Too google!!

It's ok. You answered my question
You would know if you were who I thought you were.
http://hwbot.org/user/phill_2/

 

[phill]

I'm that person, I'm guessing you mean Midlife Gamers??! So sorry @Mr.Scott , blonde and slow brain moment!!

Yea, that is the king of nostalgic hardware for sure!!!!!

Haven't seen Artex around since though.

That did look amazing but to have everything in boxes and not use it, well I couldn't do that!! I might need some help finishing off these builds tho guys so.........

@FreedomEclipse - This is what I'm powering

 

[Mr.Scott]

I'm that person, I'm guessing you mean Midlife Gamers??! So sorry @Mr.Scott , blonde and slow brain moment!!

Haha..I had a feeling.
You're a good bencher, how come you quit?

 

[phill]

I quit due to money and not getting anywhere really.. I was up in the top 200 of the world and top 10 (top 5 of the UK as people had quit) but without any help with sponsorship and such I just had to call it a day.. When I bought my 5960X and thought yes I will bench this, then released if it broke I'd have lost all the cash I'd paid for it I was thinking, hang on....!!

The benching was keeping me going through the dark time of my daughter being taken by the ex and all the rubbish that surrounded that. 3 years later, not much has changed on that score but I try gaming instead, it seems to be a little cheaper!!
Also about 10 months ago I took a job at the company I work for to go into the IT department, so I started at the bottom in first line support. It's been something that I've wanted for nearly 20 years so I took a massive pay cut and I've gone for it.. Nearly a year on, I don't look back I had hoped it would have helped with seeing my daughter more often, but until that pink with purple dotted elephant starts flying over my head in the sky, I'm not sure that's ever going to change..

But enough about me, are you still benching away @Mr.Scott ?? Is your name the same in Hwbot as well? Haven't spoke to any of the guys but themaddutchdude from MLG for a long time.... I hope all is ok

 

[Robert B]

I have been really busy: Socket 4 cleaned, 80386DX-40 Cleaned, AWE64 Value Cleaned, Various cards Cleaned, I850 Cleaned, Abit SA6 Cleaned.

The downside to being clean is that fingerprints are visible imediately. I had to wear gloves while I took pictures

All that remains is the Mighty K7M AssssSSsuuuSSSssss

I'll have to start posting the stories as there is a lot to get out of my system

 

[Susquehannock]

Here is one for you. When was the last time you saw Bigfoot?
Don't often see working 5.25" HDDs any more.

Quantum Bigfoot CY - circa 1996.

These were a big deal back in the day. Especially the triple platter 6gb versions like this. Delicate as hell. One small drop and they were toast.

Almost cut this Bigfoot open about 10 years ago when scavenging the rare earth magnets from a stack of dead 3.5" drives. Glad I didn't. It was in my Father's system back in the mid-90s, and is running in my Win98 retro rig currently.



Look at those benchmarks. Average read = 6.1 MB/sec. Burst speed = 8.9 MB/sec (bottom bar)
Oh how far we have come!

 

[Trekkie4]

I have been really busy: Socket 4 cleaned, 80386DX-40 Cleaned, AWE64 Value Cleaned, Various cards Cleaned, I850 Cleaned, Abit SA6 Cleaned.

The downside to being clean is that fingerprints are visible imediately. I had to wear gloves while I took pictures

All that remains is the Mighty K7M AssssSSsuuuSSSssss

I'll have to start posting the stories as there is a lot to get out of my system

AWE64? Make that two!


Also got loads of other stuff, including Plextor CD-RW from around early 2000s, yet another CD-RW drive from Teac but with SCSI interface & appropriate PCI controller, and Socket 7 mobo featuring Socket 5 Pentium (non-MMX) CPU @ 133MHz. Yup, just like 5x86, except one gen newer

Funny though, that V7 Mirage of yours is EXACTLY the same as mine, featured in latest 5x86 build. Except for the memory, I believe mine says "2MB", where I'm assuming yours is 1MB?

 

[Robert B]

Yep 1MB but it is dead. No signal.

My AWE64 value is CT4520.

 

[Trekkie4]

Yep 1MB but it is dead. No signal.

My AWE64 value is CT4520.

That's a shame But then again, better to have a dead Mirage than AWE64 ... these PCI cards are quite often to see (and find), where on the other hand AWE64 is more difficult to replace.

 

[phill]

@Robert B you never seem to amaze me !