Pentium Overdrive Build Using the Glorious Biostar
MB-8425UUD-A Motherboard.
Posted by Soylent_Caffeine@reddit | retrobattlestations | View on Reddit | 31 comments
No-Check-1374@reddit
Something about seeing Windows 3.x in 256 colors on a CRT just screams “premium computer” to me!
Soylent_Caffeine@reddit (OP)
I knocked it down from 16 million colors to 256 because it makes the monitor whine.
Coupe368@reddit
What are the cards in the slots on the back?
CF flash to IDE?
Soylent_Caffeine@reddit (OP)
Yes
trytreddit@reddit
What's the card at the bottom?
Soylent_Caffeine@reddit (OP)
an ISA 3com Etherlink III; has coax, d-sub 15, and ethernet
cazzipropri@reddit
Windows 3.1 was beautiful. Microsoft got something right with the UI at the time.
gcc-O2@reddit
As OS/2 of that era looked similar, I wonder how much of the UI was dictated by IBM?
cazzipropri@reddit
Presentation Manager for OS/2 initially looked like Windows 3.1, and that's because it was still made and sold by Microsoft.
gcc-O2@reddit
Right, but since OS/2 was a joint IBM-Microsoft effort, I'm wondering what role (if any) the IBM side played in writing the specifications for Presentation Manager
SchmidtCassegrain@reddit
I had exactly that case back in the day, probably on my P233MMX. Thank you for sharing.
DaveMcElfatrick@reddit
It's glorious. What are you going to run on it?
Soylent_Caffeine@reddit (OP)
Currently it is in my main desk KVM stack as my 3.1 machine. Using it to hobby write with Microsoft Word 6.0C. There are many DOS games I should try out but I frequently get pulled into to silly Microsoft Entertainment Pack games for time burning, especially Taipei for some reason. Might throw the Calmira shell onto it since it has a bit better of a file explorer and the imitation start menu.
Yobbo89@reddit
What jumpers do have set on your gotek?
Soylent_Caffeine@reddit (OP)
S0 and JC. I think I could put a front Noctua intake in this.
gcc-O2@reddit
These boards tend to give you trouble booting if the battery is dead, and I notice the 1996 Dallas is still zip tied in. Did you end up replacing it or does it miraculously still have enough charge to hold settings?
Soylent_Caffeine@reddit (OP)
I replaced it with one of the delightful Necroware clones. Thankfully this board was socketed because they are a chore and a half to de-solder!
gcc-O2@reddit
I had a childhood OEM PC that came with this board in it, so I'm quite familiar with it and its quirks. I've been able to find the same case I had (including the ps/2 cutout) but not the exact PC.
If you use the onboard IDE and want to know more about it (through reverse engineering that I don't want to post everywhere) you can DM me or connect on discord.
There were a few other Baby AT Biostars with the mouse port. I've got a Socket 7 one that had the Dallas soldered down, but thankfully I was able to remove it without much trouble.
Soylent_Caffeine@reddit (OP)
I'm sure the reverse engineering is impressive but my knowledge at that level of things is limited so your efforts would likely be lost on me! Not that I do not appreciate the offer. It runs stable with 2 CF cards on one and the optical and zip on the other thus far.
gcc-O2@reddit
It's slow but stable without the UMC driver, and the UMC driver is annoying and doesn't work for some people with anything newer than Win95a
Soylent_Caffeine@reddit (OP)
I plan to keep it a Windows 3.1 system. I like to have one on my KVM for document/story writing.
gcc-O2@reddit
I see. Obviously such PCs existed, but to me personally the Energy Star boot screen just doesn't go with pre-Win95 :D
Soylent_Caffeine@reddit (OP)
I vaguely remember my PC as a kid in the very late 90s having the energy star logo. I was born in 93 so I am unsure where my fondness for 3.1 comes from considering I never used it in my youth.
gcc-O2@reddit
I used both, with 3.1 rapidly fading into the sunset. I remember liking the 3.x titlebars, menus, widgets, default fonts, and so forth better for some reason. Since it is less 3D than Win95 maybe I was decades ahead on the flat UI trend. Anyway, I think we've crossed paths before on the subreddit and are both within a reasonable distance of Kennett Classic whenever they reopen?
Soylent_Caffeine@reddit (OP)
Ya I'm up in Bucks; near Feasterville-Trevose
duiwksnsb@reddit
DVD, Zip drive, USB, and windows 3.11?
They certainly an interesting think to see
Soylent_Caffeine@reddit (OP)
The USB is a floppy emulator. DVD drive because it is beige and not yellowed like my other spares.
duiwksnsb@reddit
Ahhh makes more sense now haha
Soylent_Caffeine@reddit (OP)
The Noctua badge is a purposeful anachronism though. It is hard to find nice metal badges.
Soylent_Caffeine@reddit (OP)
I had been wanting to do a Pentium Overdrive build for a while so I seized the chance when a Biostar MB-8425UUD-A board came up one eBay for a somewhat reasonable price (compared to the other listings anyway). This board has excellent compatibility for socket 3 processors and it was just a matter of moving jumpers around to get it working with the PODP5V83. It has a Creative Awe 64 for sound, S3 Virge DX for graphics, and 16MB of EDO ram. This board also has a PS/2 mouse port which is uncommon on baby AT boards and I was thankfully able to find a case without a cutout for it!
https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/biostar-mb-8425uud-a
https://www.x86-guide.net/en/cpu/Intel-Pentium-Overdrive-83-cpu-no910.html
Laser_Krypton7000@reddit
Well done !
👍