I'm debating on building a maxed-out, old Windows 98 machine for gaming. Please help spec it out.

[RH | 4,965]

A little background.  I could game many of my favorite 90s/early-00s games on my laptop, on my dual 27" modern setup but that's no fun.  What I want to do is shop out vintage parts and build a "top-of-the-line" Windows 98 SE gaming rig, that's mostly period accurate.

What do I mean by that.  Here's my general requirements.

• I want a vintage case stocked with vintage components. Motherboard, RAM, CPU and installed cards.
• I want "top of the line" hardware, but nothing that's super-rare and worth something like $500 per unit.  I know Adlib cards are amazing, but I don't want "white whale" levels of PC architecture.  I just want the best that's reasonably obtainable.
• My own exception to period original hardware is something like an SSD or even a "drive" that mounts from an SD card  slot, preferably mounted internally or from a slot in the back, for "maximum affect".
• I will want a CRT but I'll worry about that.  I don't mind recommendations but nothing over $1,000.

My primary goal is simply this--when Windows 98 SE was at it's end of life, what is a good hardware Bill of Materials that I could use to build a "God System" for a consumer.  I want max RAM, max CPU a killer sound card (but again, nothing in that expensive, stupid rare category), etc. that should be able to play anything at max/near-max settings for that era?

If I end up doing this, this is going to be a passion project.  I have minimal space in my office but I might drop one of my monitors for single, 8k monitor in a couple of years, so I have space on my desk for a decent CRT monitor, hooked up to the gaming rig.

I'm in no rush to build this, but I could see myself reaching this goal in a couple of years.  I don't mind rare components, I just don't want to end up with a vintage $3,500 rig.  Maybe something in the $1,200 range.  Do any of you guys build vintage PCs and could help me spec out components?  Also, is there a reliable source for back stock?  I've seen some places from YouTubers but many of those vintage computer shops are kind of giant warehouses you can rummage through and then you buy what you find.  I'm not aware of anything like that on the East Coast, so I'm going to probably be stuck with eBay, maybe the lucky Craigslist listing or online shops with good reputations for vintage, fair priced parts.

[Deadeye | 1,596]

I did this a few years ago targeting 98SE.  This was my list and the end cost.

• 1 x ($18.43) Mushkin Enhanced Essentials 256MB 168-Pin SDRAM PC 133 Desktop Memory Model 990614
• 1 x ($39.98) Fractal Design Core 1000 Black MATX Mini Tower Computer Case
• 1 x ($8.69) Cables Unlimited 34-Inch IDE Dual Device 40 Pin Cable
• 1 x ($9.33) StarTech FAN370PRO 58mm Ball 65x60x45mm Socket 7/370 CPU Cooler Fan w/ Heatsink & TX3 connector
• 1 x ($7.51) StarTech BRACKETFDBK 3.5in Hard Drive to 5.25in Front Bay Bracket Adapter
• 1 x ($13.40) SD SDHC Memory Card to 3.5" 40 Pin Male IDE Hard Disk Drive Adapter Converter
• 1 x ($9.86) AWM 2651 VW-1 E53793 LL83498 105C 300V 28AWG 18" 40-Pin ATA IDE Ribbon Cable
• 1 x ($60) AT&T ddf5-22h-39c 5-1/4" Floppy Drive
• 1 x ($20) 3-1/2" Dell DD131 Floppy Drive
• 1 x ($22) Floppy Emulator
• 1 x ($22) Sound Blaser 16 ISA 
• 1 x ($30?) Dreamblaster S2 
• 1 x ($120?) Gigabyte GA 5SMM Motherboard with AMD K-2 Processor 
• 1 x ($15?) Socket 7 heat sink and Fan
• 1 x ($40?) Power Supply (ignore the one in the photo, it was faulty and had to replace)

I couldn't find all the emails for the purchases so the ? are estimates.  In the end I think it was around $ 500 with shipping.  I had PVM with an Extron VSC500 to use it a display, not ideally.  If you have the room, factor in a PC CRT as well. 

Note on the floppy emulator, if you don't have a computer that already has a floppy drive, you may need this.  This is how I was able to install DOS.  From there on, I could write files to the SD card and swap it in. 

[RH | 4,965]

18 minutes ago, Deadeye said:

I did this a few years ago targeting 98SE.  This was my list and the end cost.

• 1 x ($18.43) Mushkin Enhanced Essentials 256MB 168-Pin SDRAM PC 133 Desktop Memory Model 990614
• 1 x ($39.98) Fractal Design Core 1000 Black MATX Mini Tower Computer Case
• 1 x ($8.69) Cables Unlimited 34-Inch IDE Dual Device 40 Pin Cable
• 1 x ($9.33) StarTech FAN370PRO 58mm Ball 65x60x45mm Socket 7/370 CPU Cooler Fan w/ Heatsink & TX3 connector
• 1 x ($7.51) StarTech BRACKETFDBK 3.5in Hard Drive to 5.25in Front Bay Bracket Adapter
• 1 x ($13.40) SD SDHC Memory Card to 3.5" 40 Pin Male IDE Hard Disk Drive Adapter Converter
• 1 x ($9.86) AWM 2651 VW-1 E53793 LL83498 105C 300V 28AWG 18" 40-Pin ATA IDE Ribbon Cable
• 1 x ($60) AT&T ddf5-22h-39c 5-1/4" Floppy Drive
• 1 x ($20) 3-1/2" Dell DD131 Floppy Drive
• 1 x ($22) Floppy Emulator
• 1 x ($22) Sound Blaser 16 ISA 
• 1 x ($30?) Dreamblaster S2 
• 1 x ($120?) Gigabyte GA 5SMM Motherboard with AMD K-2 Processor 
• 1 x ($15?) Socket 7 heat sink and Fan
• 1 x ($40?) Power Supply (ignore the one in the photo, it was faulty and had to replace)

I couldn't find all the emails for the purchases so the ? are estimates.  In the end I think it was around $ 500 with shipping.  I had PVM with an Extron VSC500 to use it a display, not ideally.  If you have the room, factor in a PC CRT as well. 

Note on the floppy emulator, if you don't have a computer that already has a floppy drive, you may need this.  This is how I was able to install DOS.  From there on, I could write files to the SD card and swap it in. 

Awesome, that helps a lot.  Maybe I'm missing it but did you get a graphics card?  Back in the day, I ordered PC before going to college (this was mid-99) and I had 256MB of RAM and a top of the line Voodoo 3dfx.  Windows XP was still a couple of years away, so I imagine the RAM could be higher.

Nice setup though.  For the nostalgia affect, I'll probably hunt down a sizable case like another Dell one from the XPS line, or maybe just a generic ATX case with a (unused) Turbo button.  Man, who didn't love that even if it was mostly useless.

[Deadeye | 1,596]

I think I have been using the integrated video.  However @Jeevanhad a spare Diamond Stealth 3D 4000 that he sent me. 

IIRC if properly setup and processor supported it, the turbo button put the processor in a downgraded speed in order to play older games that were clock speed depended. 

[Brickman | 4,012]

Nothing to recommend but I look forward to seeing the final product.

I wish you luck with 98 though. My previous job still had a 98 machine (offline of course) and everything was a PITA to do. I forgot how much is just standard now.

For example, drivers. Make sure everything you buy has easily accessible drivers including USBs. 

[Jeevan | 8,931]

1 hour ago, Deadeye said:

I think I have been using the integrated video.  However @Jeevanhad a spare Diamond Stealth 3D 4000 that he sent me. 

IIRC if properly setup and processor supported it, the turbo button put the processor in a downgraded speed in order to play older games that were clock speed depended. 

I got rid of most things, I still might have some ram lying around, but dad got rid of the pentium 2 or 3 and the other went to @neodolphino, I assume he got it running, but never really heard or I forgot, all he had to do was add a gpu and some other stuff I think, not sure....

[Jeevan | 8,931]

@RH, if only u had been on in discord when I was handing stuff out, u prolly could have had a machine, but unfortunately, like i said in the post above, i think most of it is gone.

[Tulpa | 3,534]

37 minutes ago, Brickman said:

I wish you luck with 98 though. My previous job still had a 98 machine (offline of course) and everything was a PITA to do. I forgot how much is just standard now.

Don't forget crashing if you look at it funny.

I applaud your effort, @RH, but man, that's an era of PC gaming I don't want to go back to without GOG or something.

[JamesRobot | 5,825]

Love this.  Best of luck.

If I had space, I'd look at an old school 486 DOS PC.  I anticipate collecting era games would be considerably more expensive than the machine.

[neodolphino | 267]

5 hours ago, Jeevan said:

I got rid of most things, I still might have some ram lying around, but dad got rid of the pentium 2 or 3 and the other went to @neodolphino, I assume he got it running, but never really heard or I forgot, all he had to do was add a gpu and some other stuff I think, not sure....

Oh... I still have it... just need to get around to it XD

Got a little dinged in the shipment, but overall arrived in good shape.

[CMR | 522]

Phil's computer lab has a lot of info on this type of stuff, both on his website and youtube channel.

https://www.philscomputerlab.com/

https://www.youtube.com/c/philscomputerlab

[G-type | 2,517]

I remember around that time, the stuff I was drooling over was the 3d graphics cards... The Voodoo2 seemed to be the one I saw advertised in a lot of magazines.

[RH | 4,965]

51 minutes ago, G-type said:

I remember around that time, the stuff I was drooling over was the 3d graphics cards... The Voodoo2 seemed to be the one I saw advertised in a lot of magazines.

That was the one I got.  Top of the line for the time.  It's almost funny, it was something like $250-350.  That's a cheap graphics card by todays standards.

[TheGameCollector | 18]

On 9/23/2022 at 9:47 AM, Deadeye said:

I did this a few years ago targeting 98SE.  This was my list and the end cost.

• 1 x ($18.43) Mushkin Enhanced Essentials 256MB 168-Pin SDRAM PC 133 Desktop Memory Model 990614
• 1 x ($39.98) Fractal Design Core 1000 Black MATX Mini Tower Computer Case
• 1 x ($8.69) Cables Unlimited 34-Inch IDE Dual Device 40 Pin Cable
• 1 x ($9.33) StarTech FAN370PRO 58mm Ball 65x60x45mm Socket 7/370 CPU Cooler Fan w/ Heatsink & TX3 connector
• 1 x ($7.51) StarTech BRACKETFDBK 3.5in Hard Drive to 5.25in Front Bay Bracket Adapter
• 1 x ($13.40) SD SDHC Memory Card to 3.5" 40 Pin Male IDE Hard Disk Drive Adapter Converter
• 1 x ($9.86) AWM 2651 VW-1 E53793 LL83498 105C 300V 28AWG 18" 40-Pin ATA IDE Ribbon Cable
• 1 x ($60) AT&T ddf5-22h-39c 5-1/4" Floppy Drive
• 1 x ($20) 3-1/2" Dell DD131 Floppy Drive
• 1 x ($22) Floppy Emulator
• 1 x ($22) Sound Blaser 16 ISA 
• 1 x ($30?) Dreamblaster S2 
• 1 x ($120?) Gigabyte GA 5SMM Motherboard with AMD K-2 Processor 
• 1 x ($15?) Socket 7 heat sink and Fan
• 1 x ($40?) Power Supply (ignore the one in the photo, it was faulty and had to replace)

I couldn't find all the emails for the purchases so the ? are estimates.  In the end I think it was around $ 500 with shipping.  I had PVM with an Extron VSC500 to use it a display, not ideally.  If you have the room, factor in a PC CRT as well. 

Note on the floppy emulator, if you don't have a computer that already has a floppy drive, you may need this.  This is how I was able to install DOS.  From there on, I could write files to the SD card and swap it in. 

That is a very cool looking setup, although if I was doing it I would want a CD-RW drive on my machine as well to play the early CD games like Primal Rage, Sonic CD, Diablo, Oddworld etc that I've bought in that format, or be able to install Roxio Easy CD Creator like I used to use on my old Win 98 machine. It doesn't look like that case has room for another built in drive though.

[Deadeye | 1,596]

@TheGameCollectorthank you.  You are correct, it is a two bay tower, and  I went with two floppy drives.  I use virtual drive software for CD images to get by.

[a3quit4s | 4,124]

I’d probably run XP since it was a little better at running drivers and could support better hardware. It still had the ability to run 98 compatibility mode no?

[RH | 4,965]

15 minutes ago, a3quit4s said:

I’d probably run XP since it was a little better at running drivers and could support better hardware. It still had the ability to run 98 compatibility mode no?

I honestly thought about that.  It also has .Net support for the earlier versions of the framework, which is where I got started in my career.  I kind of want to install Visual Studio .Net and .Net 1.0 and remember good terrible ole days C++ .Net!

[Tulpa | 3,534]

57 minutes ago, a3quit4s said:

I’d probably run XP since it was a little better at running drivers and could support better hardware.

Not to mention more stable. I remember my first XP machine, and how it went months and months without a crash. I was like, "OMG, Microsoft managed to do it!"

Of course it would still blue screen once in a blue moon, but nowhere near the frequency of 98.

[DefaultGen | 5,427]

On 9/23/2022 at 5:09 PM, Brickman said:

Nothing to recommend but I look forward to seeing the final product.

I wish you luck with 98 though. My previous job still had a 98 machine (offline of course) and everything was a PITA to do. I forgot how much is just standard now.

For example, drivers. Make sure everything you buy has easily accessible drivers including USBs. 

If you have an issue with DirectX on Windows 98 there's no way to remove it. You have to reinstall the OS. It's a beautiful operating system.

[phart010 | 1,708]

I believe XP had something called compatibility mode. This is also available on newer versions of Windows. Basically, before installing something, you can tell it which previous Windows version it would have worked on. You just right click on the installer and click troubleshoot compatibility and follow the instructions.

I personally wouldn’t want to run anything older than XP.. service pack 3 got the OS to be basically bulletproof. But I can respect wanting to operate natively in the older environments. It’s like reliving the older eras. Nostalgia trip.

[RH | 4,965]

8 minutes ago, phart010 said:

I believe XP had something called compatibility mode. This is also available on newer versions of Windows. Basically, before installing something, you can tell it which previous Windows version it would have worked on. You just right click on the installer and click troubleshoot compatibility and follow the instructions.

I personally wouldn’t want to run anything older than XP.. service pack 3 got the OS to be basically bulletproof. But I can respect wanting to operate natively in the older environments. It’s like reliving the older eras. Nostalgia trip.

This is what has mor torn. I used Windows 98 SE all through college and since I mostly used my PC to play games and 25% of the time doing school work, I want to relive those old days. BUT… back then I also wasn’t afraid to reinstall the OS, MS Office and what ever other tools I wanted at the drop of a hat.  At times, I’d even install Linux because, why not?! Now however, I don’t think I have the patience to reinstall drivers again and again, much less the OS, so I might go with XP.

[DefaultGen | 5,427]

I'm gonna put my vote in for Windows 98. If you're building a crappy old computer, it should run a crappy old operating system. That's part of the experience! You can play most of these games better on your current PC if it was just about the games. If you're going to play with a trackball mouse on a CRT, complete the experience with hours of diving through Vogons trying to figure out how to get sound to work.

[Link | 2,726]

2 hours ago, RH said:

BUT… back then I also wasn’t afraid to reinstall the OS, MS Office and what ever other tools I wanted at the drop of a hat.  At times, I’d even install Linux because, why not?! Now however, I don’t think I have the patience to reinstall drivers again and again, much less the OS, so I might go with XP.

When you finish installing everything, use Ghost to clone your image to another hard drive. Something goes sideways, clone it back. Boot, give it two commands, wait ten minutes. Reboot and you're back in business. 

[a3quit4s | 4,124]

6 minutes ago, Link said:

When you finish installing everything, use Ghost to clone your image to another hard drive. Something goes sideways, clone it back. Boot, give it two commands, wait ten minutes. Reboot and you're back in business. 

Been awhile since someone ghosted an IDE HDD hahahah

[Link | 2,726]

40 minutes ago, a3quit4s said:

Been awhile since someone ghosted an IDE HDD hahahah

Idk, yeah it definitely has been quite a while. I used to do it twenty times a day though. Is that way too much time, or too little?