TPU's Nostalgic Hardware Club

[lexluthermiester]

People still use Arctic Silver? That was the shit here in Finland like 15 years ago and we just moved to pastes like those which are still used today (MX-4, GC-Extreme, NT-H1 etc).

Yeah, they still make it too. When something works well and people buy it...

I've had AS5 go hard in the tube after a year or two as air gets in after it's initial use.

Never had that problem. Have a big tube of it bought years ago and it's still fine. Used it last week, no issues.

 

[Susquehannock]

"People still use Arctic Silver?"

Yes. I have a large tube still and use it as TIM on automotive ignition modules.

 

[lexluthermiester]

"People still use Arctic Silver?"

Yes. I have a large tube still and use it as TIM on automotive ignition modules.

Interesting use-case-scenario.

That reminds me....

 

[Durvelle27]

Could it be this from Arctic Silver? Why someone would of put it on a CPU is a hole another question.

Arctic Silver Thermal Adhesive

www.arcticsilver.com

Edit: They even warn against using it for CPU application. A warning is not going to stop someone though.

Doesn't look like AS5. Its blueish in color

 

[lexluthermiester]

Doesn't look like AS5. Its blueish in color

The Arctic Silver Adhesive looks difference from the TIM product. The adhesive is a two-part thermal epoxy type compound.

 

[Durvelle27]

The Arctic Silver Adhesive looks difference from the TIM product. The adhesive is a two-part thermal epoxy type compound.

looks more like dried tooth paste

 

[lexluthermiester]

looks more like dried tooth paste

Yeah, that sounds about right. You might need some sand-paper to get it off.

 

[QuietBob]

Posting from my Win7 min spec machine

Aquamark bench results at the lowest resolution and settings. GF6100 using 128 MB of shared DDR1 RAM @ 200 MHz:



With a CPU overclock I can now watch YT @ 240p
This guy needs more subs:

 

[biffzinker]

With a CPU overclock I can now watch YT @ 240p

Wonder what difference it would make as a dual-core?

 

[lexluthermiester]

Wonder what difference it would make as a dual-core?

I'd imagine quite a bit!

 

[8BitZ80]

Wonder what difference it would make as a dual-core?

Kind of random, but this reminded me that a year ago I actually tried doing an LGA775 processor shootout to quantify the performance results of specific processor variables. It was quite a fun test idea.

Apparently I tested four processor configs to compare the following combinations:

1) Core count with stock E6600 vs stock Q6600,
2) Clock speeds with stock E6600 vs 3.0GHz O.C. E6600, and
3) Cache quantity with stock E6600 vs 2.4GHz O.C. E6400.

Results were quite interesting, it proves that the best processor for the job always depends on what the workload benefits from.

Spoiler: LGA775 processor shootout results

Damn, now I feel like I want to play with some old processors again....

 

[Susquehannock]

Still rocking 8-bit textures in Quake2 GZ on *this* retro Win98/voodoo4 system. Funny thing is I downloaded Doom Eternal several weeks ago and never installed it. Really enjoying the old school. If you are a Q2 fan the 1998 release expansion packs are worth a try. Going to include links to the Quake2 wiki if nobody minds.

The new 'turrets' are tough. Keeps me lurking around corners. Inclusion of defensive weapons like the 'prox' sticky mines and my favorite, the 'Tesla mines' really add a lot of game play options over the usual offense only strategy. Once I learned how to utilize them I went back and started over. Tesla is great for watching your back since there are many more hidden panels for enemies to pop up behind you than before. The new 'Daedalus' have a green shield up front. Can be tough with two or three coming down a corridor after you. Bit of lightning to break down the shield and keep them distracted while you blast them in their more vulnerable back is fun. Looking forward to what the game has to offer in higher levels.

[Edit]

^^ oops! Meant to post that in the "What are you playing?" thread instead. Guess it works here too?

 

[Robert B]

I first played Quake 22 years after its release (in 2018) and I absolutely loved it! Back in the day I didn't have a good PC to play it and it sort of slipped under the radar. I knew about it but when I had something that could play it well I moved on. Back then I was a Doom guy.



Then in 2019 I bought Quake II on Steam and I finished that game also.

I played the Q1/Q2 on my Z68/i7 2600K/ 1070 GTX but the next time I get he chance I'll build something with more era period correct HW.

It was epic stuff! I truely appreciated the impact those games had back in the day.

Since 2009 I played a lot a Quake Live the old version not the one on Steam until it closed down and before that some Quake III Arena.

I liked the DOOM (2016) but I find Doom Eternal not what I would've wanted even if I think that it still is a great game and a normal evolution of the series.

Now I'm waiting for a Quake reboot as it really needs it and there's enough "meat" in that story.

 

[QuietBob]

Wonder what difference it would make as a dual-core?

I'd guess night and day. AMD later released a few dual core Semprons on AM2, which were essentially binned Brisbane Athlon 64s.
But an even bigger difference for YT would be to add a GPU capable of VP9 hardware acceleration. I don't have any in my possession now. I may give it a shot later when the prices come down. Just imagine pairing this with a current gen video card

As it is, the CPU has to do most of the decoding. Depending on the content, 360p is still watchable (no stuttering once buffered), and sometimes even 480p (mostly static videos, with occasional hiccups).

this reminded me that a year ago I actually tried doing an LGA775 processor shootout to quantify the performance results of specific processor variables.

Great job testing these, thanks for the insight!

 

[Apocalypsee]

I found that people managed to install XP on modern Ryzen system, I have the urge to install them since my retro gaming PC went bust a few month after I made them, but that defeats the purpose building period correct hardware playing their games. Still, its very tempting to have immense amount of CPU power since emulating Truform on other than R200 (Radeon 8500/9100) GPU require good CPU processing power. Time will tell if I really wanted to do this...

 

[lexluthermiester]

I found that people managed to install XP on modern Ryzen system, I have the urge to install them since my retro gaming PC went bust a few month after I made them, but that defeats the purpose building period correct hardware playing their games.

If you want a rockin XP retro machine, get a Dell T3500 or HP Z400 and make sure you get a Quad or 6 core CPU with speeds north of 2.8ghz. For RAM go with 3x1GB+3x512MB DDR3 DIMMs(as the socket1366 is triple channel). Yes this will equate to a little wasted RAM, but you will get the max XP can use(outside of fiddly PAE settings) at triple channel speeds. For a GPU, go with a GTX 460 or 560 2GB card. You can go with a GTX 780 3GB but make sure the included PSU is at least 500w. For a sound card, onboard is passable but only just. Get yourself an SB Live at the very least, but an Audigy or XFi would do better. For system drives, any SSD made in the last few years will be XP compatible as TRIM is built into the NAND controller so you don't need OS support. However, recent models of mechanical HDD's such as WD Black or Blue are excellent performers and you can get a 1TB or 2TB drive for cheap.

All of this will run you $300 tops and that's if you splurge.

 

[Susquehannock]

If you want a rockin XP retro machine, get a Dell T3500 or <snip>

Would be a good set up. You make me want to run one of my extra T3500s this way. Must resist. Have not even done much with the socket 939 and HD 3850 system that I put together. Win98 rig has been too much fun. And to answer your question from a few pages back which I forgot:

How? The DX9c libraries are just that, a library of code used when needed. They do not get used until called for.

The old arcade style games would revert back to desktop when opened, or reboot the system all together. No idea whether it had to do with DX9c or not but that is what happened and I could not get things right again without re-installing Win98. With the system running everything so smoothly I am sticking with DX8.0 for now. Used to have over 100 of those things but lost all but a few favorite games. Mostly mouse/cursor control. That was a big thing for me with PC. No more d-pads. Hardly looked back since yet still have all my old consoles and games.

I first played Quake 22 years after its release (in 2018) and I absolutely loved it! Back in the day I didn't have a good PC to play it and it sort of slipped under the radar. I knew about it but when I had something that could play it well I moved on. Back then I was a Doom guy.



Then in 2019 I bought Quake II on Steam and I finished that game also.

I played the Q1/Q2 on my Z68/i7 2600K/ 1070 GTX but the next time I get he chance I'll build something with more era period correct HW.

It was epic stuff! I truely appreciated the impact those games had back in the day.

Since 2009 I played a lot a Quake Live the old version not the one on Steam until it closed down and before that some Quake III Arena.

I liked the DOOM (2016) but I find Doom Eternal not what I would've wanted even if I think that it still is a great game and a normal evolution of the series.

Now I'm waiting for a Quake reboot as it really needs it and there's enough "meat" in that story.

Quake 2 re-boot would do well in my opinion. Already rekindled interest with the RTX version. Got my very 1st PC, a Dell pre-built, december 1998 and Q2 was my first game. Played for couple weeks at 640x480 software mode because I didn't know any better. Bought the GZ mission pack a few months later and hardly played at all. Went over to UT'99 soon after.

 

[Bungz]

I am currently messing about with W98se for the first time in a while, most of my old builds I tend to opt for W2000 but for some older games would like to get a true legacy set up installed.

Have not missed the crossing fingers every driver install!

Only installing drivers and direct X and have already had to use safe mode twice to undo things, getting flashbacks to regular re installs from back in the day! Never used to mind it then seemed quite normal.

Think I will make a image of the drive once happy, would be mortified to kill it all and have to start over.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Have not missed the crossing fingers every driver install!

I never did that. Rarely had problems either..

 

[Ruru]

Going to run 3DMark06 with the slowest capable hardware I have that supports it (SSE, SM2.0). Installing WinXP atm.

AMD Duron 1200MHz
Asrock K7VT4A Pro (VIA KT400A)
2x1GB HyperX PC3200
Club3D Radeon 9550 (256MB, 128-bit)
Windows XP SP3

I'll run it first with everything at stock speeds, then I'll OC the CPU & GPU to their limits and check how performance increases. Also I'll run 3DMark 2001SE, 03 and 05, but the point here is to check how 06 runs on hella slow hardware.

 

[QuietBob]

Going to run 3DMark06 with the slowest capable hardware I have that supports it (SSE, SM2.0).
. . .
I'll run it first with everything at stock speeds, then I'll OC the CPU & GPU to their limits and check how performance increases. Also I'll run 3DMark 2001SE, 03 and 05, but the point here is to check how 06 runs on hella slow hardware.

Yeah boi! Can't wait to compare your results with mine

 

[Ruru]

Yeah boi! Can't wait to compare your results with mine

At stock clocks:
2001SE: 6437
03: 2171
05: 998
06: 313

WinXP crapped itself and too lazy to fix it yet as my main PC had also problems. Going to continue tests maybe later on tomorrow today.

 

[QuietBob]

At stock clocks:
2001SE: 6437
03: 2171
05: 998
06: 313

Food for thought

 

[F-Zero]

Something new in the mail today ! EVGA Geforce 6800 Ultra AGP 256 Mb

 

[Trekkie4]

There had been some updates on my end, but I'm mainly just taking one thing at the time ... as I wrote on another forum, I had even more crap in my life, which (needless to say) put everything on hold until further notice.

Nevertheless, I did get to finish the 1st of the 4 "Adison" systems. The smaller, mATX "sleeper" unit...


Performance Rating (running Windows 7, 64bit with all the latest updates & fixes)


I've also made some progress on my original Pentium II 350. It's almost finished, I would say 98 or 99% there ... still have to tidy up the cable management & replace the CMOS battery. I also sourced the identical Chaintech 6BTM motherboard, which is going to be used in other, identical system.


Compared to my own 6BTM from back in a day ... about the same, except for slightly older BIOS revision:


Because, remember - I'm going to make two of them, as identical as possible... One for myself & the other one for my recently deceased friend. They are going to have some minor differences, but overall they are going to share the same construction - 6BTM motherboard paired with PII 350 CPU & 64MB of SD-RAM.

Both units will have ATI Rage IIc & Diamond Monster 3DII, 12mb cards & both of them are going to have Quantum Fireball hard drives. Mine has the original 6.4GB one, and the other one is going to have 4.3GB one ... mainly because I couldn't find a 6.4 anywhere locally. Furthermore, both units are going to share the same floppy drive, along with the same (BTC) CD-ROM drive which was a PITA to find & buy. But again - I took care of BTC & even got both generations, variations of BTC drives

Unfortunately, the 2nd Adison PII machine will have to wait, indefinitely. The "problem" is of financial nature - I'm planning & going to give it a full respray & powder coat, just like I've done with that other one, "my own" system. I even had everything already set up & gave the guy a phone call, when everything went south. And so, without going into personal details, I had to bail out & spend the money on more immediate, real-life interventions. Therefore, I have no idea WHEN is the 2nd P2 going to be completed, but I'm hoping that it's going to happen "eventually". Fingers crossed...