TPU's Nostalgic Hardware Club

[80-watt Hamster]

@Trekkie4 , got any better pics of this monstrosity? I don't think I've ever seen an HSF anything like it.

 

[QuietBob]

EVGA Geforce 6800 Ultra AGP 256 Mb

Ah, Timbury! The only Nvidia 6-series tech demo that for some weird reason doesn't run on my 6100
Have you tried it yet?

 

[Trekkie4]

@Trekkie4 , got any better pics of this monstrosity? I don't think I've ever seen an HSF anything like it.

View attachment 187163

You may look it up HERE

Nothing special I guess, just a passively-cooled 8600 GTS. Interesting cooling approach, nevertheless! I actually received two of these, identical (along with the SLI bridge). Unfortunately, the mATX board is/was too small to accommodate two of these (and besides, the board only has one PCIe x16 slot available, in the first place) so the 2nd card was fitted in one of my other systems ... for now. Maybe one day I decide to pair them together & make a real SLI rig out of these

 

[80-watt Hamster]

You may look it up HERE

Nothing special I guess, just a passively-cooled 8600 GTS. Interesting cooling approach, nevertheless! I actually received two of these, identical (along with the SLI bridge). Unfortunately, the mATX board is/was too small to accommodate two of these (and besides, the board only has one PCIe x16 slot available, in the first place) so the 2nd card was fitted in one of my other systems ... for now. Maybe one day I decide to pair them together & make a real SLI rig out of these

There are at least two unusual things going on, IMO, three if you count passive cooling (which, admittedly, was probably more common when this card was new). First, that's probably the largest cast heatsink I've seen on a PC component. Not to mention the thickness and spacing of the fins. Second, the smaller heatsink extends outside the slot cover. Definitely never seen that.

 

[stinger608]

@Trekkie4 , got any better pics of this monstrosity? I don't think I've ever seen an HSF anything like it.

View attachment 187163

You may look it up HERE

I actually have one of those exact cards. It was a great video card in it's day!!!! I ended up putting a small 40mm fan on it to help cool it down. They got stupid hot when gaming

 

[Trekkie4]

There are at least two unusual things going on, IMO, three if you count passive cooling (which, admittedly, was probably more common when this card was new). First, that's probably the largest cast heatsink I've seen on a PC component. Not to mention the thickness and spacing of the fins. Second, the smaller heatsink extends outside the slot cover. Definitely never seen that.

Agreed! Never seen something like that before - the heatsink is protruding from back of the PCI slot, outside. Not sure how efficient this layout going to be in the long run, but so far at least I didn't have any issues with it. And to be perfectly honest, I /was/ worried about heat being an issue - especially since this is an old case, designed for old(er) Slot 1 Celerons & Pentiums II with S3 & ATI Rage cards, NOT something like Core2 Duo with 8600GTS...

I actually have one of those exact cards. It was a great video card in it's day!!!! I ended up putting a small 40mm fan on it to help cool it down. They got stupid hot when gaming

Absolutely! I'm going to use this thing for Source-powered games, and I have to admit - all of them are running perfectly fine, around 60FPS on average. Including Black Mesa ... the original one, not the current edition (available from Steam) which isn't free.


Speaking of Adisons, here's my Adison "stack" ... my powder coated unit on the bottom, 2nd P2 placed above it, and the sleeper on top. The one without the face plate is currently empty, and will (hopefully) be resprayed & powdercoated eventually. And yes, all of these (or at least most of them) are going to receive a retrobrite (or at least hydrogen peroxide) treatment, to brighten up the plastic panels as much as possible!

 

[stinger608]

Black Mesa

I know, I wish I would have gotten that when it was free.

I don't even think you can get the original Black Mesa anymore?

Great to see you posting brother!!!!!!!!

 

[biffzinker]

I don't even think you can get the original Black Mesa anymore?

Chances are it's on the internet somewhere. I use to have the version.

 

[Trekkie4]

I know, I wish I would have gotten that when it was free.

I don't even think you can get the original Black Mesa anymore?

Great to see you posting brother!!!!!!!!

Well, apparently you can't ... they removed all the working links due to one reason or another, probably to force people into buying Black Mesa through Steam. But if you wish, I can upload the original installer someplace & make it available for you (and everyone else in here, who would wish to play the game). I don't think this would be a violation of copyright rights, since the original license clearly states that the game is FREE, and was widely available through mirrors & websites.

And thanks, it's been a nightmare really. Not over yet ... and I already see more crap coming, but at least things are (somewhat) calming down ... especially for now, so I've decided to take the opportunity & maybe finish what I started.

 

[stinger608]

And thanks, it's been a nightmare really. Not over yet ... and I already see more crap coming, but at least things are (somewhat) calming down ... especially for now, so I've decided to take the opportunity & maybe finish what I started.

Well, I hope things get better for you very very soon man!!! You are in my thoughts and prayers bro!

I'll probably just buy the Black Mesa from Steam to get the updates and what not.

 

[Trekkie4]

Well, I hope things get better for you very very soon man!!! You are in my thoughts and prayers bro!

I'll probably just buy the Black Mesa from Steam to get the updates and what not.

Thanks. And OK ... but if you change your mind, let me know. I got the original installer on my external HDD, fortunately I've decided to keep it, in case I ever have to set it up on a system which doesn't have inet connection - retro build or otherwise. Never had this situation before, but at some point I realized that the old Black Mesa is no longer available through mirrors & that it only exists on my hard drive. For whatever the reason.

I've decided NOT to buy the game out of protest. The actual product is superb, and the whole idea, thought was carried out beautifully. And I wouldn't even mind buying the game, IF they came out clean right from the beginning & said "OK, we are going to do all this work, and we are going to finish the game, but it's not going to be free". Instead, they chose a different approach, claiming that it's a mod, and that (as such) it's going to be free ... until they lost motivation, and people started to leave the project. Things were looking shaky, and for a while the whole Xen development seemed even less possible than Half Life 3, until they've turned it into the real, full-featured game & put a price tag onto it.

 

[F-Zero]

Ah, Timbury! The only Nvidia 6-series tech demo that for some weird reason doesn't run on my 6100
Have you tried it yet?

Yep, Doom3, Half Life 2, Quake 4, NOLF2 it works beautiful ! Always wanted one and it works great in combination with Q6600 & Asrock 4CoreDual-Sata2.

Totally forgot to put some 3DMark scores.

 

[Trekkie4]

Another Adison build is done ... this time it is my own, original Pentium II 350 from back in a day. Still have to replace the CD-ROM drive - the one used for now is just a temporary solution, but I'm already waiting for another unit, and have plans to retrobrite one of the other, extremely yellowed BTC drives which I have available



Normally I wouldn't bother taking a picture of the rear side panel, but this thing looks good from either angle IMHO!


I sincerely hope that in couple of months from now I will get to finish the 2nd one. As finished, powder coated & complete as this one here!

 

[biffzinker]

Anyone want to see SimCity 2000 maps rendered in 3D? There's a new program on the Steam store called SC2K Render that is free to download. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1527140/SC2KRender/

 

[debs3759]

Anyone want to see SimCity 2000 maps rendered in 3D? There's a new program on the Steam store called SC2K Render that is free to download. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1527140/SC2KRender/

I'd love to see how it renders the rockets taking off (or was that a different version?), but I'm too much of a cheapskate to use Steam.

 

[biffzinker]

I'm too much of a cheapskate to use Steam.

It's free to download other than needing a Steam store account.

 

[Trekkie4]

It's free to download other than needing a Steam store account.

Just like Black Mesa game, which I brought up yesterday... It only requires Source SDK 2007 (if I'm not mistaking) and a Steam store account. Both of which are free.

 

[debs3759]

It's free to download other than needing a Steam store account.

Does it work on an install off an original disc then? Might be worth a look if it does. I'm not a big gamer, and only play games if I can own an original disc, but I do have a steam account.

 

[framebuffer]

My first computer (re)build

• ASUS P3B-F
• Intel Pentium III 450MHz
• 64MB PC100
• 3dfx Voodoo3 2000 AGP
• Creative Sound Blaster Live!

Full story: https://framebuffer.io/project/project-retro-build-1999

Short video

 

[Trekkie4]

Oh wow! Funny you brought up P3B-F & Voodoo3, because I'm actually planning a rebuild of an P3B-F system soon! It is one of my few remaining systems which I decided to keep for myself. Paired with P3 550, V3 3000 (AGP), 256MB of RAM & Creative SB Live, just like yours!

I wasn't going to talk about this just yet, but as I already mentioned couple of days ago, I got one empty "Adison" case left... And since I can't seem to find a suitable place for existing P3B-F system anywhere, due to its bulky & unusually long case, I've decided to repack the entire thing into the Adison. Because why not! But in order to do so, I first have to take care of that other Pentium II 350, so it is all connected I'm afraid & will have to wait for now.

 

[framebuffer]

Oh wow! Funny you brought up P3B-F & Voodoo3, because I'm actually planning a rebuild of an P3B-F system soon! It is one of my few remaining systems which I decided to keep for myself. Paired with P3 550, V3 3000 (AGP), 256MB of RAM & Creative SB Live, just like yours!

I wasn't going to talk about this just yet, but as I already mentioned couple of days ago, I got one empty "Adison" case left... And since I can't seem to find a suitable place for existing P3B-F system anywhere, due to its bulky & unusually long case, I've decided to repack the entire thing into the Adison. Because why not! But in order to do so, I first have to take care of that other Pentium II 350, so it is all connected I'm afraid & will have to wait for now.

Cool!
Make sure you have the latest BIOS on the P3B-F, I had issues (BSOD during Win98SE install) with some early version

 

[Trekkie4]

Ironically, P3B-F was actually one of my first retro systems ever assembled, when I was first getting started around 2012, 2013. So I honestly don't remember the exact BIOS revision (will have to check) - that thing was buried under tons of other rigs & spare parts up until recently. But thank you for the tip!

 

[lexluthermiester]

I'd love to see how it renders the rockets taking off

Unfortunately it doesn't.

 

[framebuffer]

GAINWARD GeForce 6800

 

[F-Zero]

GAINWARD GeForce 6800

Smashing card ! C'mon you owe us at least a few 3dmark benchs