TPU's Nostalgic Hardware Club

[StrayKAT]

Semi-unrelated: I was in the market for a 4:3 monitor.. I had no idea there are still new (LED) versions. Would I better off with that or an old CRT monitor? Usually it'd be used for older games. They'd still look good on 4:3 LED, right?

 

[Trekkie4]

Semi-unrelated: I was in the market for a 4:3 monitor.. I had no idea there are still new (LED) versions. Would I better off with that or an old CRT monitor? Usually it'd be used for older games. They'd still look good on 4:3 LED, right?

If it's going to exclusively used for retro gaming (maybe even lower-res), I'd say you'd be better with CRT over LED/LCD.

Although I've tried modern Philips LCD, I ended up choosing LG StudioWorks 57M in the end. Gives it that warm "retro" atmosphere, if not anything else.

 

[StrayKAT]

If it's going to exclusively used for retro gaming (maybe even lower-res), I'd say you'd be better with CRT over LED/LCD.

Although I've tried modern Philips LCD, I ended up choosing LG StudioWorks 57M in the end. Gives it that warm "retro" atmosphere, if not anything else.

Yeah, pretty much. Mostly DOSBox stuff that isn't easy to adjust (Daggerfall, Wing Commander, etc).

 

[Susquehannock]

Monitors ... timely subject since I was trying to decide which to use when I get the Voodoo rig back together.

The CRT does provide a better retro visual experience. But using an LCD was my one consession when assembling my retro gaming set up. The CRT is a beast. Near 60 pounds, and takes up near my entire desk front to back. It has VGA connector only. The LCD gives me my desk back, has both VGA and DVI-D inputs so I can still connect a modern PC. Plus it acts as a USB hub as well.

> Dell UltraSharp 1905FP (LCD)​

> Dell Trinitron UltraScan P990 (CRT)​

 

[phill]

Interesting ram heatsinks there....

 

[biffzinker]

Interesting ram heatsinks there....

That's what REAL cooling looks like. None of the silly gamer glitz cooling you see now.

Peeled the metal foil off my MSI B350 VRM just to expose what bit of extra cut surface area to CPU cooler.

 

[delshay]

fitted with amd phenom 9850 quad core cpu...

View attachment 105631

Now that's something i'v never seen before. Integrated memory cooler with heatpipe. Why can't modern motherboards have this.

 

[HUSKIE]

Now she's running now after struggling to get an DDR2 Ram, but only Got 2x2gb 800mhz. Will put them up the case later. Also I found one problem motheboard gave an error like usb over current shut down in 15sec. So took one of the shorted capacitor. Problem solved.

 

[phill]

That's what REAL cooling looks like. None of the silly gamer glitz cooling you see now.

Peeled the metal foil off my MSI B350 VRM just to expose what bit of extra cut surface area to CPU cooler.

You know it's proper cooling when the motherboard weighs more than the case your putting it in

 

[delshay]

Will we ever see full copper heatsink on motherboards again. Even todays top end motherboards don't have them.

 

[cornemuse]

Semi-unrelated: I was in the market for a 4:3 monitor.. I had no idea there are still new (LED) versions. Would I better off with that or an old CRT monitor? Usually it'd be used for older games. They'd still look good on 4:3 LED, right?

In front of me now is my Eizo 21" (21.3"!) 4-3 monitor. I have allus prefered 4-3 monitors for going online.
Previously I had a 'Microtek' 19" 4-3 mon, had it for like 8-10 years. both were fairly expensive, guess I have more money than good sense, , , , ,

https://www.amazon.com/Eizo-FlexScan-S2133-BK-Monitor-1600x1200/dp/B00KDMMKD0

-c-

 

[HUSKIE]

Oh well not too great after installing windows 7/8/10. All usb ports are not working. She's sat on the case now. Might be put the Motherboard in the wall for Collection.

 

[Aaron_Henderson]

CRT is a must have for me...still waiting to score a nice beige one from the local e-waste / recycle spot. I am even looking for one of those old 90's corner desks to complete the retro setup. LCD just doesn't give the same feelings of nostalgia as an old CRT.

Also, about the dead usb ports...if the board is fully functional otherwise, maybe get a cheap PCIe USB 3.0 add-in card.

 

[Trekkie4]

Yeah, pretty much. Mostly DOSBox stuff that isn't easy to adjust (Daggerfall, Wing Commander, etc).

Monitors ... timely subject since I was trying to decide which to use when I get the Voodoo rig back together.

The CRT does provide a better retro visual experience. But using an LCD was my one consession when assembling my retro gaming set up. The CRT is a beast. Near 60 pounds, and takes up near my entire desk front to back. It has VGA connector only. The LCD gives me my desk back, has both VGA and DVI-D inputs so I can still connect a modern PC. Plus it acts as a USB hub as well.

> Dell UltraSharp 1905FP (LCD)​

> Dell Trinitron UltraScan P990 (CRT)​

CRT is a must have for me...still waiting to score a nice beige one from the local e-waste / recycle spot. I am even looking for one of those old 90's corner desks to complete the retro setup. LCD just doesn't give the same feelings of nostalgia as an old CRT.

Also, about the dead usb ports...if the board is fully functional otherwise, maybe get a cheap PCIe USB 3.0 add-in card.

I know some of you here might think I'm weird lol, but I actually remember something from my childhood, which always makes me feel nostalgic...

A CRT refresh rate flickering, specifically at the lower resolutions (640x480), that was only visible (or at least occurring) with Diamond Monster Voodoo2 card. Don't remember if it happened all the time or just with that particular game, but I remember seeing flickering white/light blue sky in Carmageddon II. Very bright textures, felt as if it was glowing right in front of my eyes. I did some experimenting later on & found out that it's related to Voodoo2 settings (refresh rate & resolution settings) in properties/3dfx control panel tab.

So, whenever you just want that old-school look, backwards compatibility, better colors or anything similar, I'd say CRT works better for old-school hardware every time!

 

[StrayKAT]

In front of me now is my Eizo 21" (21.3"!) 4-3 monitor. I have allus prefered 4-3 monitors for going online.
Previously I had a 'Microtek' 19" 4-3 mon, had it for like 8-10 years. both were fairly expensive, guess I have more money than good sense, , , , ,

https://www.amazon.com/Eizo-FlexScan-S2133-BK-Monitor-1600x1200/dp/B00KDMMKD0

-c-

Damn.. that thing is still pricey.

 

[Mr.Scott]

Now that's something i'v never seen before. Integrated memory cooler with heatpipe. Why can't modern motherboards have this.

The memory cooler part is actually an option on a couple boards. It is removable. More aesthetic than anything else. Marketing ploy.

 

[cornemuse]

Damn.. that thing is still pricey.

Well, the Microtek cost $750+ but lasted about 10 years, $75 a year give or take. The Eizo has to last 14 years to match!! Best monitor image of all for me. The Microtek was the same. After it broke, I kept it a year before letting it go, , , , ,

-c-

 

[Trekkie4]

Just received a tip on something cool ... and old Perhaps not as old as 486 or 586, but almost there! (IMO, it should be obvious hint)

So yes, stay tuned throughout these next couple of days for future updates!

 

[Robert B]

BRING IT ON! EARTHLING!

A K5 setup?

 

[Trekkie4]

BRING IT ON! EARTHLING!

A K5 setup?

I wish!! But nope... You're VERY close though. Try its counterpart

 

[Robert B]

Regular Pentium or Pentium Overdrive? Though I have a sneaking suspicion it is a Cyrix as the Pentiums are more common.

A K6(5+1 ) maybe?

 

[Trekkie4]

Regular Pentium or Pentium Overdrive? Though I have a sneaking suspicion it is a Cyrix as the Pentiums are more common.

A K6(5+1 ) maybe?

Nope, just the regular Pentium I'm afraid... But here's the thing, unlike my other 233MHz MMX units, this one is 133 ... and I have a sneaky suspicion that it's non-MMX one, ceramic package.

The guy who generously offered it to me said that its pretty much complete unit (mini AT tower), except for sound card (no big deal) and that the hard drive is shot. Again, no big deal. I still have that AWE64 that's looking for its place to stay, and I have more than enough 10/20GB drives, which should be more than enough for this Windows 95-to be system

After working on that Am5x86 Socket 3 system (that's also running at 133MHz), it will be interesting to compare it against the next generation hardware... Primarily aiming for DOS & software-rendered games, although I'm planning to give it a try with 3D, as long as I can get enough power from my Matrox Mystique ... the only decent PCI video accelerator card available.

 

[agent_x007]

A Devil on left, an Angel on right (bit damaged, but still works), and... something in-between at the center
Wish everyone made VRM heatsinks like those three have...

 

[Trekkie4]

Well, I'll be... Did some searching around & as it turns out, Matrox MGA Power Graphics IS-STORM R2 translates to Millennium series, NOT Mystique... It will be interesting to see how it performs against 3dfx Voodoo card. I have no doubt that 3dfx would have been better, but since I don't have any Voodoo cards available, this one will have to work.

 

[Disparia]

Nice. Should look through my boot magazines to see if they ever did a review back then.

I had gone the other extreme route, Plextor SCSI drives.