I got myself an IBM 320 server! What should I do?
Posted by matheusoc@reddit | retrobattlestations | View on Reddit | 27 comments
Well, long story short: This IBM 320 is brand new. 6 were found in a warehouse of a company that went bankrupt decades ago, in the box! I managed to get one. The basic configurations are:
Pentium 166MHz
32MB EDO
2.1GB IDE
VGA Cirrus 1MB ISA
A SCSI PCI card
The CMOS battery is dead, and it's one of those Dallas chips. I've already found a new one for sale.
I'll need a Soundblaster-compatible sound card and a better VGA card, probably a RAGE.
Besides the DOS era, I want to run Windows 95 or 98 to run some more modern games like Age of Empires 2.
What do you recommend? Both hardware and software. This server came with all the manuals and software, OSX/2 and Windows NT 3.6, and a bunch of server software...
Boring-War-1981@reddit
I got a PC Server 500 which is from the same family just MCA based, since you got it NOS think you could upload your copy of ServerGuide to archive.org as that software allows you to install OSes and other bits for several servers, but most versions haven’t been archived due to it only coming with servers.
matheusoc@reddit (OP)
I'll take a look, the software are here but without cdkey, you needed to buy the licenses separatedly hahaha
Boring-War-1981@reddit
It’s a good thing that most IBM software of the age didn’t actually have any type of licences or keys. ServerGuide defo didn’t as it’s just a customized copy of OS/2 warp 3
Simon_Fuller@reddit
I personally think OS/2 is the way to go.
DeepDayze@reddit
Nice haul no doubt as NOS in box is darn good and this one looks pristine.
matheusoc@reddit (OP)
I'll use for retrogaming, so dual CPU is kind of useless....
taker223@reddit
Yes, but you could still try to find some compatible P233MMX / AMD K5 just for fun.
I would
matheusoc@reddit (OP)
yes, depending on the processor it would be quite an upgrade
taker223@reddit
You just unlocked my memories from 1998-2000.
Windows NT 4.0
1 system processor
[)
zoharel@reddit
I don't have recommendations, per se, but I'd definitely run OS/2 on that thing, if it were me.
matheusoc@reddit (OP)
I`ll manage some way to install multiple OS, just 4fun
taker223@reddit
Windows NT 3.6 ? Seems that server is before WinNT 4.0, so it is close to 30 years old. Wow
drogenhu1d@reddit
Awesome find. I'd love to see some more pictures from the inside of the machine and the back.
The 1 MB cirrus VGA card has excellent compatibility for DOS games, but might indeed struggle with anything running under Windows 98/98. If you don't need your machine to run 3D accelerated games, there should be plenty of VGA cards availale for the PCI slot. Like the S3 Virge.
As for noise: if that's an issue, you can always replace the Stock Fans for quieter ones or mod the Stock ones for lower voltage.
matheusoc@reddit (OP)
I updated the main post with one more picture
All the noise that this beast does is aweseome, I dont want it quieter hahaha
I have found a PCI SiS 305, but I'll keep searching
drogenhu1d@reddit
The SIS 305 is hilariously bad when it comes to 3D acceleration, with signal Quality mediocre at best. 2D speed and DOS compatibility are pretty decent though.
Thanks for the pictures. The Dual Sockets are wild ^^
Privileged_Interface@reddit
Coolness. It probably isn't loud either.
zoharel@reddit
He says it is loud!
matheusoc@reddit (OP)
It is loud!
matheusoc@reddit (OP)
It is loud!
DeepDayze@reddit
As for the Dallas RTC you can get modded ones that take a coin battery.
matheusoc@reddit (OP)
There are chinese replicas on aliexpress, alredy ordered a couple. I wont mod it myself because I saw a lot of people that ruined it trying hahaha
DeepDayze@reddit
The main trick to modding them is care and patience and not a lot of people have that.
Fewera@reddit
Ahhhh, adjust the screen geometry!
Jokes aside what a cool find!
Shurakai_@reddit
OS/2? You don’t see that a lot these days. You could always boot Linux on there, too, if you’re feeling froggy. Can you get a bigger IDE hard drive somewhere?
Shurakai_@reddit
Wait… talk to me about the keyboard. Did you get a brand new Model M to go with it?
matheusoc@reddit (OP)
I have a used ibm model 8423, but is not working, I am using a dell one, brand new
matheusoc@reddit (OP)
my intention is gaming, so linux is not an option. and yes, i can get a 20-40gb extra disk