Looking to build a computer just for older games

[XT]

Hey all,


Recently when rummaging through some old boxes, I came across a ton of old dos game that i used to play. I'm talking tons, about 50 of them or so. I looked on the boxes and the highest requirement is a 386 for Doom and the lowest a 8086 for Tetris. I know you can make some of these programs playable with slow down programs, but some of them, especially games made for a XT, just wont slow down enough..

Anyhow, I wanted to build a low end PC just for my older games and nothing else. I went searching through my parts pile and this is what i have left. I had much more a while back, including the parts I need, but gave most of them away when i moved....

anyway, what I do have to work with:

IBM 6x86 P120+ With fan

Victor 14 inch VGA color monitor

MS Dos 6.2 and Windows for Workgroups 3.11
(This is all I need and want on the pc.)

Assorted memory 30 and 72 pin with 30 to 72 pin adapters (2) Total about 40 megs of ram

80 meg HDD

8x Samsung Cd Rom
with audio cable

1 Meg VGA ISA video card

5.25 1.2M floppy drive

2 port gamecard

all essential cables.



What I Need:

ISA soundcard

Motherboard that supports a Cyrix 6x86

AT Case with power supply

3.5 1.44M floppy drive

Can you all recommend a few second hand shops to go on the web for this stuff? I'm hoping i can get all of this cheaply.

Sorry for the long post, and thanks for reading

[Greasy Burger]

get a playstation2

Problem solved

[RustyGT]

Cripes XT.
My folks dumped a 20 year old XT [AT?] in perfect nick, to the dump this year.

I dumped a 486/66, two complete P133s, a huge bag of 72 pin ram, spare cases and PSs to the local PC recycling charity, just 2 months ago.

Now you tell me, some of this stuff is valuable?!

Actually you might surprised where you'll still find this stuff.

I went to a garage sale recently where there was boxes and boxes of old crud, Isa vid cards, 386 mobos, 486/25 mobos.
A whole box of 5.25 floppy drives.

Now that it is getting way old, finding bits still alive, might be a challenge.

Noticed there is a bit of an interest in old stuff at Ebay.

Have Fun! Cheers Rusty

[Bluskytraveller]

might try Computer Geeks for some of the old stuff, or the ebay auctions, you can find a ton of old stuff up there for bidding. I know someone that had an old AT P-233 for sale up there just recently and it went for $40 plus shipping, and the damn thing worked just fine.

[XT]

Originally posted by Greasy Burger
get a playstation2

Problem solved

How does a playstation 2 have anything to do with trying to build a pc to play older games? I already have a faster computer to handle the newer games.



besides, I already have a ps2..... Bought it for my wife

[XT]

Thanks for the info Rusty and Blusky

I already tried compgeeks, and im looking on ebay. I saw a nice socket 7 jobbie that would of took my little cyrix, and it was 10 dollars buy it now, but the shipping was 20 bux! thats rediculous. Maybe i'd have better luck hitting a flea market. BTW, I feel your pain rusty. I gave away most of my parts too when i moved to the new place, and I had then what i need now too..

[PresterJohn]

Originally posted by Greasy Burger
get a playstation2

Problem solved

don'tcha just love replies like this

seems like a crime to buy this old stuff, all over again, from outfits like compgeeks. i would check around locally for places that dump their old pc's (schools/churches/small businesses). you could also post a want add in the sellers forums here.

if you're patient enough, i think you'll find what you need.

[Good Companion]

Originally posted by PresterJohn


i would check around locally for places that dump their old pc's (schools/churches/small businesses). you could also post a want add in the sellers forums here.

I think PresterJohn's on the money here. I have some old junk at home and I think I might have an ISA sound card.

Even if we can't help you, I would check out one of your local PC charities - like the folks who take donations of old junk and make them into something useful as training. Those folks probably wouldn't mind getting a cash "donation" for some spare parts.

Good Luck!

Dana

P.S. I have a P200 junk machine made up of old parts for just the same purpose!

[DPA]

so is this a call for help or what? do you need to collect the remaining parts to build a low ender or what? cuz if you need low end parts, im your man. I should still have a couple of 386's and 486's, and ive got this one really, really scary computer (not sure on brand, as its that scary) and it has its own monitor, and the keyboard is a registered lethal weapon, it weighs 5 pounds. Must be a 286.

But that sounds like fun, my brother and i have begun to purchase old school arcade games that we used to enjoy when we were kids. (i.e. TMNT, Battletoads, Simpsons, R-Type, etc...) and build all of the motherboards into a collective "tower" with a very large screen in it. Quite a job, but it'll be worth it.

[XT]

Hi gents,


DPA, I'm not looking for something as old as a 286 or 386. I had a few of them and gave them away. I already have a 6x86 P120+, just need a motherboard to go with it I' guess I'll just keep looking. And your right prester, I dont really want to pay for something old when i gave away a ton of it already. But thats probally what im gonna have to do Good Companion, let me know if you have a errant socket 7 board hiding in a closet somewhere... heh :P



Chris