My Next Build (Interesting)

[NotALlama]

Hello everyone. Currently I am going through the process of building a 'new' older computer to play some of the good old classics, and enjoy the benefits of the compatibility and stability of older hardware, especially in other operating systems. Right now I am considering building the following system:

Pentium II 400 MHz Processor
Intel 440BX based motherboard
128~256 MB SDRAM
Voodoo 3 2000 AGP

I am all well and good with this machine, but was wondering if it would be lacking in other functions, such as DVD playback and divx playback. Most other feedback is welcomed!

Please do not refer me to newer hardware, as I have aforementioned I'd _love_ to build an older system.

Thank you for your replies!

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

I suppose your current system is faster, right? I'm going to defy what you said and I'll tell you that if your going to spend money, get better parts. If you get 2000 Pro or XP Pro, you can choose compatibility levels for Microsoft's Different operating systems. This way, you can run a program in XP, but to the program, you may let it run in a 95, 98, 98SE, enviroment, etc. It will perform close to what that OS you choose will do. I don't see any reason for building an old computer. You'll be able to play all those good old games on your current com puter or and upgraded version of it.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Or, if you just want to spend money on some old system you won't ever use just for the fun of it, go ahead and do it. That could be a nice MP3 server, or a server in general.

 

[Duvie]

Originally posted by: NotALlama
Hello everyone. Currently I am going through the process of building a 'new' older computer to play some of the good old classics, and enjoy the benefits of the compatibility and stability of older hardware, especially in other operating systems. Right now I am considering building the following system:

Pentium II 400 MHz Processor
Intel 440BX based motherboard
128~256 MB SDRAM
Voodoo 3 2000 AGP

I am all well and good with this machine, but was wondering if it would be lacking in other functions, such as DVD playback and divx playback. Most other feedback is welcomed!

Please do not refer me to newer hardware, as I have aforementioned I'd _love_ to build an older system.

Thank you for your replies!

DVD could be lacking and definitely take alot of your available cylces to do it....

Divx could be very lacking especially if you play higher bitrate movies like ones assoc. with 2 cd rips.....

Get yourseff an older tbird (750+) or low end duron (1gb+) to keep it cheap....

 

[Malladine]

256mb of ram wouldn't hurt the performance of games released around '95 or later (ie make them too fast) but a much faster CPU would. 400mhz will be fine, I expect. I'm mainly going off my experience trying to get XCOM to work on my system. If I actually manage to get it installed (difficult with win2kpro) it runs so quickly that it's just not worth it. I suppose it's really a question of just how old these older games will be!