CPU choice for retro build

[PingSpike]

If you're going to play old games with it I'd recommend getting an older graphics card like a GeForce 7950 GT or something. A lot of these older games don't render 100% properly on newer cards.

Even that might not be old enough in some cases. Around the nvidia 8800/HD 2000 series introduction both manufacturers broke support for some old DX modes IIRC. But that was only used mostly in the first 3D games so that might not matter.

 

[RichUK]

If you're going retro, it has to be s939 A64 on NF3.

Just.. because.

 

[PeterScott]

My 8800GTX is still going strong since XP era. Now it's stuck in win 7 but still capable doing anything beside playing latest games. It just the matter of how old his game is. Because there's some games that work better in pre-CUDA or openCL era cards.

Same here. My Win7 PC runs a C2Q and 8800GT, and I get all my games from GOG. I never have issues. People with newer PC's seem to have more issues with older games.

 

[WildW]

Until recently I was dual booting Windows 10 and XP on my 2500k + GTX 970. Unfortunately the 970 died and they sent me a 1060 replacement. . . faster card but no more XP.

 

[mizzou]

theres very few retro games id be willing to play and have another desktop taking up space.

with that said, i find more nostalgia with win 98 then xp. Most xp games worth their salt, if i recall correctly, have transitioned to win 7

 

[Shmee]

SW: Dark Forces was a great game that I just can't play anymore. I have it on steam, but the controls are very wonky compared to what I am used to recently, and I don't think they are customize-able.

 

[dbcooper1]

Didn't some versions of Windows 7 include a virtualized XP?

 

[PeterScott]

Didn't some versions of Windows 7 include a virtualized XP?

I am not sure why you need that. Windows 7 compatibility mode works very well. I run games that specify Windows 95-98 on the box and they still work on Windows 7. I really think HW matters more when running old games.

I get all my games from GoG these days, and on the forums I see tons of people having many problems running old games on Intel IGPs.

 

[Madpacket]

The key to retro PC gaming is using a decent high refresh rate 5:4 ratio CRT monitor to play these older games on.

I recommend Windows 98 and XP to cover 10 solid years of gaming. No dual boot crap, use two separate hard drives for easy file system support.

I keep an old custom PC to avoid emulation issues.
X86 PC gaming emulation is blah, especially in virtual machines.

Abit NF7-S V2, XP 2500 clocked at 2.2Ghz or higher, 512MB / 1.5GB PC3200 RAM*, 256MB AGP ATI Radeon 1950 Pro, 17" NEC CRT, Antec ATX case, 16X DVDRW, Intel PCI 10/100 NIC.

Nice thing about the NF7 is the 8x AGP speeds, decent on board audio, overclocking ability, and SATA support. Also no shoddy Via or SiS chipset to deal with.

Good peripherals are also important. A Microsoft Sidewinder for games like X-Wing vs. Tie Fighter, an Aureal 3D Vortex or Soundblaster Live, Logitech Wingman gaming mouse, IBM Model M Keyboard, external speakers, etc.

A setup like this will play everything from Command and Conquer to Half Life 2. It's also good to also keep a spare Voodoo 2 or Geforce 2 in case you run into compatability issues with the Radeon. *Also may need to pull the 1GB stick when playing Windows 98 games as it can act strange with more than 512MB.

Fun times but keep it off the internet NIC only meant for IPX/SPX LAN gaming.

 

[TahoeDust]

2700k running around 5.0GHz on a z68 board with a 980ti would be a windows xp monster.