Re: Building Windows 98 computer

pcbuilder98 wrote:
"Paul" <nospam@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:fgbcet$s3$1@xxxxxxxxxxx
pcbuilder98 wrote:
"Paul" <nospam@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:fgb4a0$brc$1@xxxxxxxxxxx
pcbuilder98 wrote:
"Bill" <spamtrap@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:MPG.219271305a2c89b698970e@xxxxxxxxxxxx
In article <13ih9ku2q2d4e61@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, pcbuilder98@xxxxx
says...
<snip>
Thanks Bill. I would feel safe if I could find a page on a mother
board
manufacturer site where is says that those boards are compatiable
with
WIN98. So far I haven't been able to find such a page. Is there such
a
page(s)? If so can you give a link(s) to it?
pcbuilder98

What you do is go to the drivers section for the motherboard and see
if they have Win98 drivers available, like so:

http://www.biostar.com.tw/app/en-us/mb/driver.php?S_ID=246

If the chipset has Win98 drivers, the MB will work.

Bill
Not clear if there is a WIN98 USB driver for P4M80-M4. It does say
USB
2.0
for Windows 2000/Windows XP x86. If the x86 means WIN98 it's not
clear
to
me. What do you think?
pcbuilder98


USBman.com recommends this driver. There is a usbehci.sys in the Win98
folder of this zip, and AFAIK EHCI (E=enhanced) is USB2. This is for
VIA.
http://www.usbman.com/USB%202%20News.htm
http://downloads.viaarena.com/drivers/others/VIAUSB2V242L.zip

The viaarena.com site offers this, but I suspect this is just for USB
1.1.
I'd try the 242 driver first, and see what happens.


http://www.viaarena.com/default.aspx?PageID=420&OSID=6&CatID=1470&SubCatID=121
PCI USB2 cards are another alternative. Some of those shipped with
Orangemicro USB2 drivers. The key there, is the letter "O" is the
first letter in the driver names (ousbehci). Generally, you'd want to
buy
a USB card that comes with a driver CD, to improve the odds of
getting multi-OS support.

There is an example of an Adaptec USB2 card here - AUA-4000C
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=AUA-4000C-BULK&cat=CCD
This is a possible driver package for the card (aehcd.sys).

http://www.adaptec.com/en-US/downloads/ms/ms_win_98?productId=AUA-4000&dn=USB2connect+4000
http://download.adaptec.com/usb/usb2_win_drv_v31.exe (version I had on
disk for some reason)
http://download.adaptec.com/usb/usb2_win_drv_v31a.exe (latest)

This one is a possibility if you want USB mass storage support in Win98
(nusb31e.exe)
http://www.technical-assistance.co.uk/kb/usbmsd98.php

Plenty of fun and test cases, that's for sure.

Paul
I've picked a MB and I'll be using a Sempron so now I need to choose a
VGA.
I will use 8X AGP possibly nVidia. They have a few boards that still
support
WIN98:
http://www.nvidia.com/object/81.98_9x_supported.html
Here's one example:
http://www.pcdirect.com/product.asp?Sku=VI%2DNVA5900128DVT
I've just started looking. I'd appreciate your suggestions. Your help
has
been invaluable (aka awsome)!
Thanks
pcbuilder98


What are you looking for in a video card ?

If the answer is gaming, then I'd probably got for the 6600GT AGP.
Cards like this can be noisy, and due to the Rialto bridge chip under
the separate heatsink, finding an aftermarket cooler to fit it, is
difficult.

http://images.techtree.com/ttimages/story/XFX-6600-GT-AGP-128.jpg

With the Nforce3, I'd steer clear of the 6800 series. Use your search
engine, and look for "Nforce3 6800 stutter" for more info. An example:

http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=32759&page=85&pp=15

I've used an FX5200 here, and found it worked in every computer I've
tried it in (even my 440BX board worked).

I'm willing to bet, that your FX5900 will be good choice.

Paul

My priorities in a VGA (or any equipment) are reliability, quiet operation
and performance in that order. Do you know if the fan on the nVidia GeForce
FX 5900 is replaceable and how difficult/expensive would it be to get a
replacement? If not then can you recommend a model without a fan (preferably
using the same WIN98 compatiable drivers)? Do you think the 5900 would be
noisy?
Thanks
pcbuilder98



I have two fanless FX5200 cards. For gaming purposes, they are rather gutless.
But as long as your Win98 driver thing works out, I think they're fine.
I point an 80mm case fan at one of them, as a means of keeping the thing
cooler. Of the two cards, one isn't perfectly stable when gaming, and the
fan made the difference. No problems with the fan pointed at it.

It doesn't appear there is much choice left in these any more. There used to
be lots of FX5200s around. I like the look of the construction of the first
card (I don't like cards with ribbon cables for VGA). The difference between
this and an FX5200, is the graphics memory is 128 bits wide, instead of 64 bits
wide, so more memory bandwidth. I'd plan on blowing a fan over this, just to be
safe. A wider memory means a slightly warmer GPU.

ZOGIS FX5500 256M AGP GeForce FX 5500 256MB 128-bit DDR AGP 4X/8X $46
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131014

This is an MSI FX5200, also fanless. 64 bit memory interface (typically
half as many chips used for memory).

MSI FX5200-TD128LF GeForce FX 5200 128MB 64-bit DDR AGP 4X/8X $30
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127181

HTH,
Paul
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: New build (was Motherboard drivers and win98se)
    ... to get to upgrade my own Win98 system. ... I'm just going to have to get a new graphics card. ... wouldn't have the specific drivers, e.g. you might be stuck with no power ... ATI cards have good mpeg playback support etc but their driver support is ...
    (uk.comp.homebuilt)
  • Re: Windows 98 and its DOS mode option
    ... Windows 98 can use the BIOS to do access the hard drive, ... I don't think you can get the drivers from Creative any more. ... Maybe the Win98 idea isn't entirely dead in the water? ... For the sound card, maybe get an older Creative card from ebay - when ...
    (comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.rpg)
  • Re: Video card questions
    ... any drivers I can download from ATI ... that WILL install in Win98 WON'T recognize the card because it is too new. ...
    (alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt)
  • Re: flashdrive
    ... > windows drivers, sometimes. ... different than or identical to the drivers on the Win98 CD. ... > installed on that hardware _would not_ recognize the USB devices plugged ... >> hard disk in this Compaq so that my wife could continue using her ...
    (soc.genealogy.computing)
  • Re: Building Windows 98 computer
    ... pcbuilder98 wrote: ... What you do is go to the drivers section for the motherboard and see ... if they have Win98 drivers available, ... PCI USB2 cards are another alternative. ...
    (alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt)