Windows 98 Custom Gaming Computer Build

[90snostalga]

Since I've gotten my Gaming Laptop, I have really dug deep and gotten back into computers for the first time since i was a teen.  Well, my laptop will be for newer games due to the windows 8 issue so Im working an old computer of mine, stripped it, and am trying to build it up into a Windows XP Gaming PC; however, I want to build my own gaming pc specific for Windows 98.  Can anyone give me the best recommended hardware from the video card, sound card, motherboard, etc.  I know on Windows 98 you cannot have more than 1 GB of ram so I'm going with 1 GB for ram.  But any suggestions on hardware, please let me know and if anyone has any hardware for sale that would be good, let me know and i will look into it.

Thanks

[retromangia]

Hey 90's,

This is a great topic!  I too have been considering building an old gaming machine for years now... something that will play games from around 92 - 2002.

I don't have all the answers myself, but this forum is a great place to start: http://www.vogons.org/viewforum.php?f=8&sid=0d6276d0cb37904487d8024475ca2c5c


here's something I had in mind:

Intel P3 1GHZ (maybe higher)
Intel 440bx Mobo
1GB Ram
Voodoo 3 or higher (AGP)
Sound Blaster Awe 64 (or something that gives great Midi sound)
IDE hard drive
IDE CD-ROM (12x or better)
Win98 SE

I suppose you could also run an older AMD Athlon XP based machine as well.


Man just thinking about this got me wanting to play some LAN games... we should get a group of people together and play some old school PC games over Game Ranger or Kali (if thats still around lol).

Edit: holy shit! Kali is still alive and kicking... just look at this list of old games it supports http://www.kali.net/games.asp



- Retromangia

[atarileaf]

I'm thinking of building something even older - a 486 since there are so many great dos games from that era that I absolutely love. I found a soundblaster 16 and an isa video card a few weeks back, good starter pieces but got a long way to go. Also gotta find a copy of dos 6.0 or 6.1.

[retrogamer418]

Doing the same here!

I'm actually on the lookout for a complete version of DOS (6.22). My modern displays just aren't the same since the resolution is so high.

I'm going to be going through parts and what not that I have lying around although I'm pretty sure a lot of it is too newer.

We should try and swap some parts if we have any. Fortunately I do have an older CRT monitor lying about that still works.

[pceslayer]

I am running the following for the classics.

Windows 98 SE w unofficial Service Pack 3
ECS K7VTA3
Athlon XP 3200+
1GB DDR RAM
Voodoo3 3000 AGP (Geforce 7300 GT on standby in case I need some more oomf) both have SVIDEO TV out
Sound Blaster Live!
2x 5400RPM 8GB IDE HDD's (yanked from some orig Xbox's after unlock)
12x CDRW Drive

[tripredacus]

This is mine:

OS: Windows 98 FE
board: Intel D850MV
RAM: 768MB RDRAM PC800 Non-ECC
CPU: Pentium 4 2.0GHz
Video: ATI Radeon 9600 XT 256MB AGP
Sound: Creative Sound Blaster Live PCI
HDDs: 20GB WD, 20GB Maxtor
CD: 48x Compaq "Spare" CD-ROM ATAPI
PSU: Antec 400W ATX

This OS install is from 2000 with no reinstalls. Hardware has been changed over the years. There are no original components from the original build except the HDDs and the chassis.

[pceslayer]

This is mine:

OS: Windows 98 FE
board: Intel D850MV
RAM: 768MB RDRAM PC800 Non-ECC
CPU: Pentium 4 2.0GHz
Video: ATI Radeon 9600 XT 256MB AGP
Sound: Creative Sound Blaster Live PCI
HDDs: 20GB WD, 20GB Maxtor
CD: 48x Compaq "Spare" CD-ROM ATAPI
PSU: Antec 400W ATX

This OS install is from 2000 with no reinstalls. Hardware has been changed over the years. There are no original components from the original build except the HDDs and the chassis.

Until now I had forgotten about the P4 initially using RAMBUS...

[90snostalga]

Thanks for the specs on how your guys' pcs are set up.  I think i will be using most of the same specs

[tripredacus]

Also note that you cannot use a video card with more than 256MB VRAM.