Windows 95/98/XP Battlestation - WIP

Posted by realLudoKresshh@reddit | retrobattlestations | View on Reddit | 73 comments

Here is a big update on my battle station. I upgraded some parts, got rid of some parts and made a cool Windows wall after finding those picture frames at goodwill. Here is the part list for my Win95 and Win98/XP rigs. I hope you guys like the room!

P.S. I will eventually get to the cable management under the desk 😵‍💫

Windows 95 Rig:

Tekram P5MVP-B4

Creative CT6710 Riva TNT

Intel MMX 233Mhz

Micron 64MB SDRAM PC66

Creative CT2800 ISA Sound Blaster

3COM ISA Etherlink III Network card

4.3GB Maxtor Hard Drive

Windows 95 OSR2

Windows 98/XP Rig:

ASUS A7N8X - Deluxe Rev 2.00

ATI Radeon 9800 PRO

AMD Athlon XP 2500+

512MB Corsair Platinum Series PC2700

Sound Blaster PCI (removed for nForce onboard Dolby Digital audio, it’s better than the card)

60GB Maxtor Hard Drive

Dual boot 20GB Windows 98SE/40GB Windows XP SP2

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Objective-Horror-479@reddit

Superb!!

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_3DINTERNET_@reddit

Is it a dual boot?

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realLudoKresshh@reddit (OP)

The 98/XP machine is yup.

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GoodEveningFolks@reddit

i need that image in paint! It looks so good

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realLudoKresshh@reddit (OP)

I got it on red bubble!

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Then_Ad_8926@reddit

Sweet

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avdolainen@reddit

That's cool! Only one thing I would remove -- LEDs from the case :) it's a plague of modern hw, why to transfer that to the old good hw ... BTW, room itself looks cool (all the 007's from 90x ... what a time).

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66659hi@reddit

Have you managed to do anything with those “Games for Windows” CDs? I keep hearing about how it made a generation of CD games useless… I already have a couple that are useless because they want to run thru Steam.

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realLudoKresshh@reddit (OP)

Oh yeah there’s a GFWL bypass that will fix practically any game that has it.

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django-cat@reddit

Wow! An amazing time capsule! LOVE IT! Thank you for shearing this nostalgia.

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inashu@reddit

Hey, what's the name or do you have a link to that furniture where you keep your big boxes on?

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realLudoKresshh@reddit (OP)

It’s called the BAYKA floating shelf on Amazon. It won’t let me post the link. Enjoy!

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scrollingforgodot@reddit

r/monitortoohigh

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realLudoKresshh@reddit (OP)

Nooooo

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scrollingforgodot@reddit

Haha I love the setup!

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realLudoKresshh@reddit (OP)

Haha thank you!

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Turquoise_HexagonSun@reddit

I really dig it! You nailed the look of an inviting and comfortable retro PC space.

I dig your 95 and 98/XP builds!

I’d still throw an Audigy 2ZS in the 98 build but you do you!

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realLudoKresshh@reddit (OP)

That’s actually a good idea! I’m also going to snag an X850 cause Oblivion runs like poo on this 9800 Pro.

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Turquoise_HexagonSun@reddit

Your Athlon XP would do justice to an X850, so nice choice!

You’ll like the Audigy 2ZS, good drivers and support for W98 DOSbox, W98, and Windows XP. All the EAX you’ll ever need for that hardware. Also, it’s a Nice clean and quiet card and they are still quite affordable.

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realLudoKresshh@reddit (OP)

You’re right. The x850 is kinda needed for this pc. Thank you for that! It’s now on my list to add! :)

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BeatTheMarket30@reddit

Athlon XP is also underpowered for entire Windows XP era.

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zesammy@reddit

Where are the pocketPC from James Bond and the Ericsson one to control the 750iL

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realLudoKresshh@reddit (OP)

Unfortunately the phone he uses to drive the car is a prop but I do have a super rare Ericsson phone he used in the beginning of the film!

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Gelion_@reddit

whered u get the posters from?

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realLudoKresshh@reddit (OP)

I’ve had them all for about 20 years. You can find them on eBay though.

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Successful_Slice_495@reddit

What is on the 4th photo?

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Mecha120@reddit

The only thing that 'ruins' the immersion is the fact that it isn't on one of those bulky computer tables with shelves on both sides plus a backing with more drawers on top.

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realLudoKresshh@reddit (OP)

Hahahaha trust me I’m actively looking for one

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GTXNate@reddit

That lamp is peak 90's. I think everyone had one at some point.

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realLudoKresshh@reddit (OP)

It definitely fits the theme :)

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Proto-Schlock@reddit

Those speakers are cool! How do they sound?

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realLudoKresshh@reddit (OP)

They sound fantastic!

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psoericks@reddit

I forgot cold cathode fans were a thing. Nice.

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realLudoKresshh@reddit (OP)

Indeed I love them

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PsychologicalArm2138@reddit

Is it safe to use EOL software like XP connected to the internet? I feel like someone’s going to get hurt at some point.

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realLudoKresshh@reddit (OP)

Yes for the most part. As long as you connect to your router and not directly to your modem. Your router ip “protects” you. I recommend using supermium or retrozilla to surf the web.

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Zedsdead42@reddit

I’ve got you beat. I have windows 286 on 3.5 and windows 2.0 on 5 1/4. You are missing OS2 unless I’m blind.

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realLudoKresshh@reddit (OP)

Nice! I’ve got OS/2 if needed lol

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Big-Note-508@reddit

I really like how sun hits this room ! it so well lit ! this type of daylight makes me so happy !

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realLudoKresshh@reddit (OP)

Me too until the reflections are everywhere! LOL

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TheRealCOCOViper@reddit

Is the other colored DIMM slot for a different type of RAM (like SDR or something), or are you running a dual channel memory board in single channel?

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realLudoKresshh@reddit (OP)

I’ve actually got a gig installed right now. The one module is just a single channel-ish.

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Aggravating-Exit-660@reddit

Sidewinder goes hard

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lofapoo@reddit

The Brosnan posters just seal the deal, excellent work

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realLudoKresshh@reddit (OP)

Hahaha thank you and yes they do.

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BennyTroves@reddit

Looks great!

Any tips to get a windows 95/98 box? Or how much is a good deal to buy one?

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realLudoKresshh@reddit (OP)

You can find plenty of the big boxes on eBay. They range in price depending on version of course. If you want a big box I recommend getting an upgrade one for around $50-$75 and getting a serial on internet archive if you don’t have a previous version to upgrade from. If you don’t really care too much, you can burn a disc from the internet archive of any version you’d like. I got lucky years ago and got that version of XP sealed for I think $75. Now they’re 3-4x that 😵‍💫

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BennyTroves@reddit

Thanks. I like how you have it for display. I probably wouldn’t use the serial but ya they have been a bit expensive lately.

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realLudoKresshh@reddit (OP)

Thank you and yeah I agree get them while you can.

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swedetrap666@reddit

Let’s play some 007 Nightfire!!

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realLudoKresshh@reddit (OP)

Yessssssss

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Big-Highway-8100@reddit

I LOVE It, very nice and clean

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realLudoKresshh@reddit (OP)

Thank you! Cables aren’t clean yet but Rome wasn’t built in a day ;)

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Big-Highway-8100@reddit

You are welcome! That's It!

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mario24601@reddit

Nice collection!!

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realLudoKresshh@reddit (OP)

Thank you!!

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ordinary_fing_person@reddit

Haven't seen or thought of a Sidewinder in ages, great retro setup! Just need to get some more big software boxes now!

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realLudoKresshh@reddit (OP)

No kidding 😵‍💫 I need more DOS games for sure. I also have the precision joystick as well.

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TekitiZi@reddit

Wow I remember that controller. This is an awesome room!

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realLudoKresshh@reddit (OP)

Thank you and yes it’s a cool little controller!

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jacf182@reddit

Is that an AGP Radeon 9800 Pro?

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realLudoKresshh@reddit (OP)

It is. It has some custom heatsinks on it and an iceberq 4 fan. I’m thinking of eventually grabbing an x850 since it’s the last ATI AGP card to support 98SE. Super overkill lol

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NorthSleepingBear@reddit

Very cool. Add the voodoo in 98/xp

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realLudoKresshh@reddit (OP)

Thank you! It’s actually a Radeon 9800 Pro :)

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NorthSleepingBear@reddit

It's work without voodoo? I just haven't used such GPUs.

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big-beandude@reddit

How well does this thing run battlefront?

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realLudoKresshh@reddit (OP)

It runs Battlefront very smoothly. I had to try practically 10 different catalyst versions until I got the right one. Catalyst 6.6 is the most stable for it.

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