[Pc_Support] Retro Windows Gaming System: P3-866, 512MB, Voodoo3 16MB AGP TV-Out

[Bryan J. Smith]

In my quest to clean up all my old systems, I've given various
components away, but also come close to finishing off a couple of
specialized systems.

One is my old Abit BP6 dual-Celeron 466MHz, which has 768MB of PC100
Registered ECC SDRAM and (2) hot-swappable HD bays (HPT366) as well as
an earlier generation GSA-4081 (DVD-RAM/R/RW/+R/+RW).  It is in that
black Antec ATX case with an older 435W Enermax ATX 1.0 PS.

Another is an old Tyan S1854 (late rev.) P3-866MHz, which has 512MB of
PC133 SDRAM and (1) 40GB Western Digital HD and a Panasonic DVD-RAM/R/RW
drive.  It's in the smallest ATX form-factor case I've ever had, with a
350W Antec ATX 1.0 PS.  The PS is just above the CPU area -- not enough
good for new CPU fansinks, but good enough for the Intel OEM fansink.
The 80mm outtake fan on the PS spins at 1,000rpm, and the CPU fan is not
audible either, making the system very, very quiet.

The Voodoo3 16MB AGP TV-Out is connected to my Philips 480p/1080i, which
has 1050 lines of horizontal resolution.  The 480i TV output (640x480)
is extremely clear, as it clearly doubles the inputs to seem like
"flicker free" 480p.  Unfortunately, when I push 800x600, it's still
only S-Video out, so it's not quite a nice looking.  The system is
completely manageable -- from BIOS to Windows -- via the TV-Out.

I'll be loading some of my old favorite games, especially older Glide
games, most of which run on the Voodoo3 (only a select few require a
true Voodoo or Voodoo2).  My Compaq wireless keyboard/mouse provides the
needed input, although I'm looking for a wireless gamepad.


-- 
Bryan J. Smith     b.j.smith at ieee.org     http://thebs413.blogspot.com
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The best things in life are NOT free - which is why life is easiest if
you save all the bills until you can share them with the perfect woman