Using Synology Active Backup for Business with VMware vSphere/ESXi vswitchzero 2021-03-24 | Synology's Active Backup for Business is a free backup tool included with many of their higher end "plus" series NAS units. Today I'm taking a look at its integration with VMware vSphere and ESXi. In short, it is an excellent tool that provides features you'd expect to see from enterprise "paid" backup solutions. Synology's Active Backup for Business page:synology.com/en-ca/dsm/feature/active_backup_businessSupported NAS models:synology.com/en-ca/dsm/packages/ActiveBackupvSphere Support:synology.com/en-ca/knowledgebase/DSM/help/ActiveBackup/activebackup_business_requireandlimitUser access requirements for vSphere:synology.com/en-us/knowledgebase/DSM/tutorial/Backup/What_vmware_permissions_are_required_for_ABB_to_back_up
Taking a 486 SX-25 and the FIC 486-VC-HD to the Max! vswitchzero 2024-09-23 | Today I’m doing some old-school overclocking with crystal oscillator cans! Let’s see how far we can push this value-based FIC 486-VC with an on-board Intel 486 SX-25. I wanted to approach this exercise from the perspective of a budget conscious consumer back in 1992 and see what kind of transformation is possible without spending any extra money on upgrades or parts.FastDoom:youtu.be/9zAI8K7OzDQTaking the ISA Bus to the Max:youtu.be/t7Wwx1S-e6EThe portable oscilloscope I use is the FNIRSI 5012H00:00 Introduction01:12 Crystal Can Overclocking03:28 Overclocking to 33MHz04:44 Overclocking to 40MHz05:39 Overclocking to 50MHz07:41 Benchmark Results09:25 ISA Bus Overclocking11:21 ISA Overclock Charts11:56 Conclusion
Repairing a Very Slow FIC 486-VC-HD Motherboard vswitchzero 2024-08-20 | Today I repair and test a budget model FIC 486-VC-HD motherboard. This board refused to boot due to a dead RTC module, but also had terrible memory latency. Join me today as I get this board repaired and dig into a surprising caching problem that impacts many 486 boards from the early 90s. DS12887A+ RTC modules from DigiKey:digikey.ca/en/products/detail/analog-devices-inc-maxim-integrated/DS12887A/95687324-pin DIP sockets:digikey.ca/en/products/detail/adam-tech/ICS-624-T/9832867Necroware’s nwX287 modules:github.com/necroware/nwX287** My Blog: vswitchzero.com Follow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzero Mastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzero If you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero **00:00 Introduction00:34 It’s Broken01:47 RTC Replacement Options02:23 Replacing the RTC Module04:48 Terrible Memory Performance06:01 Disabling the L2 Cache06:23 L2 Cache Configuration07:14 The Dirty Bit09:37 Adding AlterRAM10:07 An Expensive Mistake11:24 Conclusion
FastDoom - Massive Performance Gains on Slow 386 and 486 CPUs! vswitchzero 2024-07-16 | FastDoom is a project with the goal of improving Doom’s efficiency – allowing it to run more smoothly on hardware that could never handle it in the past. Join me today as I explore its rich set of features and attempt to get a more enjoyable experience out of some slower 386 and 486 CPUs. FastDoom github and download pages:github.com/viti95/FastDoomgithub.com/viti95/FastDoom/releasesVideo on the UMC Green 486 CPU:youtu.be/1Rj1B4M6yXMVideo on Doom’s performance and ISA bottlenecks:youtu.be/t7Wwx1S-e6EA big comparison of late-model 486 and 486 “upgrade” chips: youtu.be/dQOmSKERPd0Yes, Doom runs on gut bacteria:arstechnica.com/gaming/2024/01/can-it-run-doom-gut-bacteria-edition** My Blog: vswitchzero.com Follow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzero Mastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzero If you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero **00:00 Introduction01:47 Doom NEEDS a 48603:17 ISA and VLB04:00 Intro to FastDoom!05:23 FastDoom Performance06:10 CPU Specific Renderers07:47 Visual Settings10:41 Detail Levels12:17 So Much More14:50 Conclusion
The Forbidden and Forgotten UMC Green 486 CPU vswitchzero 2024-05-23 | UMC’s Green CPU was a unique and impressive feat of engineering. Although it was late to the party, it could run circles around other 486s when it came to clock-for-clock performance. Despite its very promising efficiency, it met an untimely demise due to legal troubles in 1994 and 1995. Join me today as I take an in-depth look at the UMC Green and compare it to a number of CPUs from Intel, AMD and Cyrix. I also push the green well beyond its rated frequency to get a glimpse of what “could have been”.Big thanks to Andrew (BrassicGamer) from the UK for sending me this CPU. Be sure to check out his blog and YouTube channel:https://x.com/brassicGamerhttp://www.brassicgamer.comyoutube.com/@BrassicGamerSome interesting articles and posts about the UMC legal battle with Intel in the 90s:cpushack.com/2012/09/06/intel-vs-the-world-the-338-patentvogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=78628An article in InfoWorld from October of 1993 about UMC's plans for the CPU:books.google.ca/books?id=-zoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA119&lpg=PA119&dq=UMC+Intel+486+lawsuit&source=bl&ots=cMiF3INmdC&sig=XNukgBqjdl0WZ9pNIg1CTMwjOHU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=aUosUM7dBMPUygHutoC4Ag&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=falseMy repair and modification of the Pentium Overdrive:youtu.be/EkAwTPSPhQsA big comparison of late-model 486 and 486 “upgrade” chips:youtu.be/dQOmSKERPd0**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Introduction01:15 About the UMC Green02:55 It’s All About Efficiency03:29 Legal Troubles04:37 Shout Out!04:56 The Competition and Setup06:17 Benchmark Results10:01 Pentium Overdrive Comparison12:07 Overclocking13:35 Overclocking Benchmark Results14:28 Conclusion
The Cursed 386 – The Atronics International ATI-386/B2! vswitchzero 2024-04-25 | When I saw the bizarre memory layout on the ATI-386/B2, I just had to give it a try for myself. Join me today as I take an in-depth look into this quirky motherboard and explore the very interesting 386 hardware era.The Retro Web page for the ATI-386/B2:theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/atronics-international-inc-ati-386-b2-rev-bSiS Rabbit chipset datasheets and information:theretroweb.com/chipsets/410ThisOldTech's Links:twitter.com/ThisOldTech2ebay.ca/str/thisoldtechMore info on SRAM and TAG ram:youtu.be/CEiSQsDI8dQMore info on CMOS battery pack construction:youtu.be/4oq8h5Jcejg?si=k-5G6PP4fwTsIUOW&t=103David E. Larsson's Sound Blaster 1.5 and GUS clone review:youtu.be/JHTt83WQLLcInteresting vogons thread about SimCity Classic and math co-processors:vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=28177**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Introduction02:00 SiS Rabbit Chipset Overview03:18 The Cursed Memory Layout06:27 Different Board Revisions06:43 Hardware Overview Continued08:38 Other Parts for the Build10:05 Initial Power Up!11:15 Troubleshooting Some Instability12:17 Poor Performance!13:37 Performance Tweaks15:20 Some Classic Games19:04 Conclusion
Repairing an AMD Slot-A Motherboard with the Tomlov DM501 Pro Digital Microscope vswitchzero 2024-01-26 | Tomlov took notice that I use one of their older microscopes in my repair videos and offered to send me their new DM501 Pro. With many improvements over my old microscope, I put it to use in repairing a Gigabyte GA-7IXE Slot-A motherboard. This motherboard has been sitting in my broken pile for over three years, so it’s finally time to see if it can be revived!Big thank you to Tomlov for sending me this DM501 Pro for review today.DM501 Pro Product Page: tomlov.com/products/tomlov-dm501-pro-2k-flexible-arm-digital-microscope-10-1-soldering-microscope-2000xAmazon Link: amazon.com/TOMLOV-DM501-Pro-Microscope-Electronic/dp/B0C779G4J5Amazon Coupon Code for 10% Off: 10TPTQ6BCode is valid until February 13th, 2024 at 11:59 PM PST.**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Introduction01:27 The Tomlov DM501 Pro01:55 Unboxing and Overview04:17 Mount and Lighting05:43 Wobble Wobble07:08 The Polarizer07:32 Gigabyte GA-7IXE Repair Overview08:39 Testing and Damage09:55 The Repair11:54 Inspecting the Repair12:54 The Moment of Truth13:31 Conclusion
These AMD 486 CPUs Are Not What They Appear! vswitchzero 2023-10-26 | I bought a bunch of 486 CPUs on eBay and discovered some very interesting behavior from two of them. These CPUs are not at all what they appear to be. Join me as I take a closer look at these two chips and discover what they are really capable of!**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Introduction00:14 The AMD DX4/10001:04 The AMD DX2/6601:32 Revealing the DX4's Secrets05:35 Overclocking the DX406:02 Revealing the DX2's Secrets07:47 Overclocking the DX209:33 Conclusion
Sound Blaster 1.5 and Gravis Ultrasound PnP Clone Review! vswitchzero 2023-09-11 | With the prices of classic sound cards reaching all-time highs, modern clones and reproductions are becoming attractive alternatives. Today I’ll be reviewing two clones created by David E Larsson. The first is a clone of the Sound Blaster 1.5 and the second, the Gravis Ultrasound Plug and Play. Both are 100% compatible with the originals and feature all the same features, bugs and limitations too. David also includes some minor enhancements without sacrificing anything in the way of compatibility.David’s Website:https://electronics.dose.se/David’s Tindie Store:tindie.com/stores/kdehlDavid’s eBay Store:ebay.ca/usr/davidel28Presentation on the Snark Barker reverse engineering by Eric Schlaepfer aka "Tube Time"youtube.com/watch?v=xyged8Vk8ukIan Scott's PicoGUS Project:github.com/polpo/picogusGravis Ultrasound PnP Floppy and CD Images:http://vogonsdrivers.com/index.php?catid=8**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Introduction01:19 A Bit of Sound Blaster History02:48 A Modern Day Sound Blaster Clone04:12 Important Sound Blaster ICs05:27 Extra Enhancements 06:15 A Bit of Gravis Ultrasound History08:10 A Modern-Day GUS Clone09:22 A Closer Look at the GUS PNP Clone10:41 Test Setup and Software12:07 Sound Blaster Clone Tests16:17 Gravis Ultrasound Clone Tests20:12 Pricing and Options21:40 Conclusion
The Orpheus II LT - A Brand New ISA Sound Card That Ticks The Right Boxes! vswitchzero 2023-08-10 | Join me today as I take an in-depth look at Edro and Leo's (aka Keropi and Marmes) new Orpheus II LT ISA sound card! The Orpheus II LT is the next-generation update of the original Orpheus with numerous enhancements including even better audio quality. It also includes their fantastic PC-MIDI implementation, which I'll be putting through its paces with some intelligent-mode games as well as Serdashop's new Dreamblaster X2GS MIDI daughterboard.I hope to do some more sound card reviews and retrospectives in the coming months and would welcome any feedback.The Orpheus II LT Homepage:http://pcmidi.eu/orpheus2LT.htmlEdro and Leo's website and projects:http://pcmidi.eu/The PC-MIDI card:http://pcmidi.eu/pcmidi.htmlSerdashop's X2GS MIDI board:serdashop.com/X2GS**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Introduction01:58 A Look at the Orpheus II LT04:25 Genuine Yamaha OPL3 FM04:58 Improvements Over the Original Orpheus06:30 The PC-MIDI MPU-40110:29 Digital Audio Out and AC9711:20 Testing Setup12:23 The Serdashop X2GS13:22 Software and Drivers17:15 Testing Some Classic DOS Games22:48 Testing the X2GS26:55 Testing MPU-401 Intelligent Mode28:21 Pricing and Conclusion
Repairing a Stubborn 3dfx Voodoo 3 2000! vswitchzero 2023-07-10 | Join me today as I repair a very stubborn 3dfx Voodoo 3 2000 that I got from a recycler in the UK. It appeared to be in good condition, but looks can be deceiving when it comes to neglected retro hardware! Some mistakes were made, but as always it was a great learning experience!My previous Voodoo 3 repairathon video:youtu.be/H2rIfqd_-rgInfo on Voodoo 3 capacitor replacement:youtu.be/H2rIfqd_-rg?t=745Voodoo 3 Repair and Memory Replacement:youtu.be/zsDudCrGk-sCollection of 3dfx vBIOS files:https://3dfxbios.cl-rahden.de/index.php?title=Main_Page**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 A Big Thank You!01:21 Introduction02:55 Recapping06:04 Under the Microscope08:09 The Old Switcharoo!09:53 Bit Rot and Flashing Woes11:08 Removing the EEPROM13:08 Testing the EEPROM14:07 Preparing the PCB15:00 Preparing the New EEPROM18:06 Soldering the New EEPROM19:18 Back to the Drawing Board20:57 Repairing More Damage!23:44 Success!24:52 Conclusion
Synology DS423+ NAS Review! vswitchzero 2023-06-21 | Today I’ll be taking a break from the retro content to do a review on the Synology DS423+ four bay NAS unit!. As a content creator, I’ve been accumulating a ton of video footage, photos and audio recordings and its time to get my files in order. Of course, it wouldn’t be a vswitchzero video without trying to connect at least one retro PC to it, so stay tuned for that if you’re interested. This premium quality NAS unit is packed with features, but does it live up to its hefty price tag? Big thanks to Synology for sending me the DS423+ and the pair of SAT5210 solid state drives for this review.Synology DS423+ Product Page:synology.com/en-global/products/DS423+Synology Active Backup for Business Review:youtube.com/watch?v=3viWFd8VYcQSynology Power Consumption Measurement:kb.synology.com/en-us/DSM/tutorial/How_is_power_consumption_tested_on_Synology_devicesSynology Hybrid RAID:kb.synology.com/en-br/DSM/tutorial/What_is_Synology_Hybrid_RAID_SHRMy Blog: vswitchzero.comTwitter: twitter.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzero00:00 Introduction01:13 A Tour of the DS423+05:13 CPU and Memory07:57 Hardware Setup10:20 Power Up and Initial Setup11:20 Storage Pools and Volumes13:44 Performance 14:16 Remote Access Options14:50 Software Packages15:45 Virtual Machine Manager16:42 Active Backup for Business17:17 DOS and Windows 9x Connectivity20:21 The Cons21:53 Pricing and Value23:11 Conclusion
Taking an ISA Graphics Card to the Max! ISA Bus Overclocking #isadoom25fps vswitchzero 2023-06-05 | The 16-bit ISA bus was becoming a very serious bottleneck for PC graphics in the early to mid nineties. 3D games like Doom really didn’t run well unless a VESA Local Bus or PCI graphics card was used. There were some ways to get some extra performance though – by overclocking the ISA bus! Today I’ll be pushing the ISA bus to the max to see just how quick games like Doom can run.#isadoom25fpsDoom realtic to frames per second conversion (applicable for demo3 only):FPS = 74690 / ticksCPU Galaxy’s YouTube Channel:youtube.com/@CPUGalaxyCPU Galaxy’s Website:https://www.cpu-galaxy.at/Phil’s DOS Benchmark Pack:philscomputerlab.com/dos-benchmark-pack.html**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Introduction01:03 A Bit of History02:39 The Doom 25FPS Challenge04:27 Strategy05:38 Hardware Setup08:29 BIOS Woes11:17 ISA Bus Overclocking12:28 System Tuning13:04 Taking the ISA Bus to the Max!14:58 Result Summary16:12 Pure ISA Testing18:26 Other ISA Cards at 25MHz19:30 ConclusionA big thanks to @chaslinux and Lee from Nova Scotia for donating parts used in this video today. Much appreciated!
Evergreen Spectra 400 – The Ultimate Socket 5/7 Upgrade CPU! vswitchzero 2023-05-19 | Computers were very expensive in the early to mid-90s and to make matters worse, technology was evolving at lightning speed. The Spectra 400 is perhaps the ultimate upgrade CPU that allows a 400MHz AMD K6-2 to work in even very old socket 5/7 motherboards. Not only did they provide a very potent upgrade chip, but BIOS updates and a great software package to make upgrading as seamless as possible. Join me today as I take an in-depth look at the Evergreen Spectra 400 and attempt to push it even further!The Intel Pentium Overdrive for 486 Systemsyoutu.be/EkAwTPSPhQsNecroware’s Socket 7 VRM Project:youtube.com/watch?v=XV0b5Tvf5gYgithub.com/necroware/s7-vrmEvergreen Spectra 400 Floppy and CD:http://www.vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?fileid=551http://www.vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?fileid=547Evergreen Spectra 400 BIOS Dump:archive.org/details/evergreenspectrabios**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Introduction03:43 The Evergreen Spectra 40006:57 Test Setup08:28 Gaming on the Pentium 10010:19 Installing the Spectra 40012:09 BIOS Updates13:45 The Software Utilities16:03 Much Faster!17:55 3D Possibilities!18:39 Pushing it Even Further22:05 Benchmarks23:49 Conclusion
3dfx Voodoo 3 Memory Replacement and Enhancements! vswitchzero 2023-03-20 | Today I’ll be attempting to repair two 3Dfx Voodoo 3 3000 cards! Both are experiencing artifacting and lockups in 3D games due to defective SDRAM memory chips. Join me as I hunt down the defective chips and not only repair these cards, but enhance them with better SDRAM, a full recap, updated BIOS and more!Geekenspiel’s website:geekenspiel.comMy previous Voodoo 3 repairathon video:youtu.be/H2rIfqd_-rgInfo on Voodoo 3 capacitor replacement:youtu.be/H2rIfqd_-rg?t=745Compatible Winbond memory (W9816G6JH-5) datasheet:mouser.ca/datasheet/2/949/w9816g6jh_a02-1489757.pdf**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Introduction03:11 A Look at the Cards05:13 Test Setup05:44 Card 1 Testing07:43 Strategy08:31 Heatsink Removal10:56 Replacement SDRAM12:27 Card 1 Repair17:18 Card 1 Success21:09 Card 1 Enhancements22:15 Card 3 Repair24:13 Overclocking and Benchmarks25:09 Conclusion
Restoring and Upgrading a Gigabyte GA-586ATV Socket 7 Motherboard! vswitchzero 2023-02-03 | Today I’ll be restoring and upgrading a Gigabyte GA-586ATV motherboard. What was supposed to be a quick upgrade quickly became more involved as is so often the case when working with retro hardware. Join me as I replace some imploding capacitors, sort out a replacement RTC module and give this 25 year old motherboard some much needed TLC.Previous Video on RTC Replacement:youtu.be/XA8YFiDVbCMNecroware’s RTC Module:github.com/necroware/nwX287Necroware’s YouTube Channel:youtube.com/@necro_wareRetro Web Project:theretroweb.com**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Introduction01:37 A Tour of the GA-586ATV04:45 Testing the Board05:57 RTC Woes07:48 Let the Restoration Begin!10:52 Multiplier Woes14:17 Final Touches15:27 ConclusionAudio track is “Sky Skating” by Geographer.
Repairing the Train Wreck 3Dfx Voodoo 2! vswitchzero 2023-01-18 | After some successful repairs, I’m all energized and ready to face my nemesis – the train wreck 3Dfx Voodoo 2. After a failed attempt to repair this badly damaged Creative CT6670 over two years ago, I’m ready to apply what I’ve learned since then to finally get it fixed. Will I be able to get this train back on the tracks? Or will I be defeated yet again?My previous repair video on the Diamond Monster 3D II with lots of information on troubleshooting and debugging tools:youtu.be/tRFucW4uB5kA helpful Vogons thread with 3Dfx Voodoo 2 schematic diagrams:vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=73378My original blog post on the failed repair attempt from back in 2020:vswitchzero.com/2020/10/14/3dfx-voodoo-2-repair-attempt**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Introduction00:51 Damage Overview03:50 Trace Damage Repair06:18 SMD Capacitor Replacement07:56 The Test09:51 Inspection and TMU Pin Repair11:33 A Clue in the Logging!12:33 DAC Crystal Replacement14:42 DAC Power Woes16:23 Toasty Chip17:03 Ferrite Bead Replacement20:45 Finally Fixed!25:34 Conclusion
Troubleshooting and Repairing a 3Dfx Voodoo 2! vswitchzero 2023-01-09 | Today I’ll be troubleshooting and attempting to repair an 8MB Diamond Monster 3D II. Join me as I explore some of the debugging tools available to help narrow down the problem and break out the soldering iron to get this legendary card up and running again.My previous retrospective on the 3Dfx Voodoo 2:youtu.be/iY6XRdPogv8A list of 3Dfx Voodoo/Voodoo 2 environment variables:mdgx.com/3dfx.htmThe 3dfx Glide2 SDK for DOS/Win32 V2.43 (for debugging purposes):http://falconfly.3dfx.pl/reference.htm**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Introduction01:47 The Diamond Monster 3D II04:08 Initial Testing05:41 DOS Debugging09:46 Strategy11:48 What’s Next?13:27 Problem Identified15:26 The Repair!18:01 Success!19:49 Conclusion
The 3Dfx Voodoo 2 - Taking 3D to the Next Level! vswitchzero 2022-11-24 | The original 3Dfx Voodoo Graphics accelerator completely transformed the world of 3D gaming, but by late 1997 the competition was beginning to heat up. How do you improve on such a legendary card? You double down on EVERYTHING. The Voodoo 2 improves upon the original in pretty much every way and even allows two cards to work together in SLI for truly next-level 3D performance.The 3Dfx Voodoo Graphics Accelerator:youtu.be/FgFtNNl2gYQMatrox G100 Repair:youtu.be/sWfLuFG9_D8Phil’s SLI CPU Scaling Project PDF:philscomputerlab.com/voodoo-2-and-sli-processor-scaling-project.htmlSerdashop SLI Bridges:serdashop.com/3DVideoBridgeA huge thank you and shout out goes to Alexander in Germany for his very generous channel donation. Thank you again!**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Introduction01:47 A Look at the Voodoo 205:38 A Big Thank You!06:38 Scan Line Interleaving08:38 SLI Challenges and Scaling09:58 Test Setup and Drivers11:57 Benchmarks14:10 Some Classic Games19:41 ConclusionThe closing audio track is an original called “Prelude to Space” by Bertrand Guégan. You can find more of his work here: soundcloud.com/bertrandguegan
VBIOS Bit Rot? Saving a Pair of Matrox AGP Cards vswitchzero 2022-11-11 | When not one but two of my recently purchased Matrox cards turned out to be dead, I discovered that there have been high failure rates reported for the G100 and G200 series cards over the years. They seem to be susceptible to vBIOS degradation (aka Bit Rot) over time leading to unusable cards. Today I’ll be doing some troubleshooting to get these two cards back in operation. If you’ve got an old video card that just suddenly stopped working, you may want to give it a second look before tossing it into the e-waste bin.The 3dfx Voodoo 3 Repairathon Video:youtu.be/H2rIfqd_-rgUseful Vogons thread including the recovery utility:vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=72685Internet Archive cache of the “MatroX Files”:web.archive.org/web/20040110103309/http://grafi.ii.pw.edu.pl/gbm/matrox**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Introduction02:06 The Dual Card “Switcharoo”03:13 G200 BIOS Recovery05:05 G100 BIOS Recovery06:13 ConclusionThe closing audio track is an original called “Prelude to Space” by Bertrand Guégan. You can find more of his work here: soundcloud.com/bertrandguegan
The 486 Upgrade CPU Showdown! vswitchzero 2022-11-08 | Although no one disputes that the “Pentium Overdrive for 486 Systems” was a great performing chip, it may not have been the best choice for everyone. And it was certainly not the only choice when it came to pushing the 486 platform to its limits. Today, I’ll be pitting the Pentium Overdrive up against two very formidable competitors - the AMD Am5x86 and the Cyrix 5x86. To make things even more interesting, I’ll be overclocking all three chips as well. The results may surprise you!My last video on the Pentium Overdrive for 486 Systems:youtu.be/EkAwTPSPhQsVogons thread on Cyrix 5x86 register enhancements:vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=30607A big thanks to Lee from Nova Scotia in Canada for his recent channel donation that helped with the production of this video.**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Introduction01:50 The Pentium Overdrive05:50 The AMD Am5x86-P7510:19 The Cyrix 5x8614:19 Test Setup15:54 Benchmarks25:40 The Verdict29:08 ConclusionThe closing audio track is an original called “Prelude to Space” by Bertrand Guégan. You can find more of his work here: soundcloud.com/bertrandguegan
The Intel Pentium Overdrive CPU for 486 Systems vswitchzero 2022-10-11 | Back in 1995, Intel released a very special upgrade processor for owners of 486 systems. Despite having a very different architecture and external data bus, the Pentium Overdrive was able to drop right into an existing 486 system and provide next-gen performance. Was it a worth-while upgrade? Or was this heavily modified Pentium processor held back by the aging 486 platform?In today’s video I’ll be restoring a badly neglected 83MHz Pentium Overdrive and will try to answer that very question.**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Introduction00:35 A Bit of History02:02 A Special Processor03:49 A Closer Look at Processor05:29 It’s Broken08:23 Does it Work?10:39 Slowest Pentium Ever?11:31 Active Fan Monitoring14:54 Included Software16:23 A New Cooling Solution22:46 Benchmarks24:07 Can it Handle Quake?25:05 Final Thoughts26:56 Overdrive Installation DemoAs mentioned, the closing track is an original called “Prelude to Space” by Bertrand Guégan. You can find more of his work here:soundcloud.com/bertrandguegan
An Intel and AMD CPU in the same motherboard at the same time? vswitchzero 2022-09-19 | This is the FIC 4386-VC-HD - a 386/486 hybrid motherboard released back in 1992. It has a multi-tiered PGA socket that can be used for a 486 CPU or a math co-processor. Because it has a soldered on AMD 386 DX/40 CPU, it is one of the few boards out there that allows you to have both an Intel and AMD CPU installed simultaneously. Obviously the 386 CPU will be disabled when a 486 CPU is installed, but it is still an interesting sight to behold! There was a lot more flexibility in this era of PC hardware than we see today.
Building the Ultimate 486 DOS Gaming Thin Client! #486buildoff vswitchzero 2022-09-16 | Today, I'll be transforming a very boring looking 1990s thin-client into a small formfactor DOS gaming powerhouse! The Boundless Technologies Viewpoint TC325 isn't an underpowered modern thin client but a true 486! It has a powerful AMD AM5x86-P75 CPU, great onboard video and even an ISA slot. It's not all smooth sailing though and I have to navigate around several annoying roadblocks to unleash this machine's full potential.Don't forget to check out the other great #486buildoff videos out there. There are already quite a few posted and I'm sure there will be more in the coming weeks. I will update this with a playlist if one is created but for now you can just search for the #486buildoff hastag in YouTube or on Twitter.My 486 DOS gaming build series:Part 1: youtu.be/Med-6Q9ROUIPart 2: youtu.be/65X5DWPkAaAPart 3: youtu.be/4oq8h5JcejgAn interesting Vogons thread on Boundless Viewpoint TC systems:vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=77778**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Introduction01:21 The Boundless Viewpoint TC 32503:34 A Tour of the Internals 10:46 No Cache, No Battery!13:01 Solving the Storage Problem15:41 Solving the Power Problem18:30 Solving the Sound Problem20:32 A Quick BIOS Tour22:06 An Unwelcome Feature23:36 Performance Benchmarks26:50 Bio Menace28:01 Doom II29:29 Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold31:04 Descent32:51 Duke Nukem 3D34:47 Final Words
Don’t delay! Get those leaky barrel batteries off vintage motherboards! vswitchzero 2022-08-30 | Many old motherboards came with batteries for maintaining power to the RTC and to preserve BIOS settings. Many had “barrel” batteries like this one, which are infamous for leaking corrosive electrolyte. This fluid eats away copper traces and other components on the board. Since the batteries are certainly dead by this point anyway, they should be removed without delay. Using a pair of snips is often the easiest way to do this and only takes a second or two.
The 3dfx Voodoo 3 3000 Repairathon! vswitchzero 2022-08-21 | What's riskier than buying a defective 3dfx card? Probably buying three of them! Join me as I attempt to repair three Voodoo 3 3000 cards that I bought as-is on eBay. All three cost about as much a single working one. Did I make a good investment, or am I in way over my head this time?Voodoo 3 VBIOS files:https://3dfxbios.cl-rahden.de/index.php?title=Voodoo33dfx Flashing Tools:https://3dfxbios.cl-rahden.de/index.php?title=Flash-Tools**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Introduction03:05 The Cards04:27 Repairing Card One09:25 Repairing Card Two12:25 Recapping Card Two17:02 Repairing Card Three19:23 Conclusion
Repairing the Legendary 3dfx Voodoo 5 5500! vswitchzero 2022-08-08 | The 3dfx Voodoo 5 5500 was 3dfx' last mass produced and commercially available card. The company failed shortly after its release and it has become highly sought after. Unfortunately, it isn't known for it's reliability and these aging bits of 3dfx history often need to be repaired. In this video, I fix a long list of problems with this as-is, untested card that I got for a great price. With some luck and a bit of patience, will I be able to restore it to its former glory?Voodoo 5 5500 AGP Component Map:https://www.voodooalert.de/board/forum/index.php?thread/19046-bauteilliste-einer-voodoo-5-5500-agp-rev-2300/**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Channel Announcement!00:45 Introduction03:07 The Problems04:00 Disclaimer05:04 Fixing the Solder Bridges06:34 Replacing Missing SMD Components09:50 Testing the Card11:17 Voodoo 5 Hardware Overview12:32 Single VSA Mode and Strategy13:42 SDRAM Memory Replacement18:45 Almost Fixed?19:13 More Problems20:06 LTC1929 Regulator Repair21:20 Fixed!
Repairing the Number Nine Imagine 128 Series II video card vswitchzero 2022-07-08 | Today I’ll be repairing the Imagine 128 Series II card made by Number Nine Visual Technology. The Imagine 128 II was completely state of the art when it was released back in 1996 with excellent GUI acceleration and even some 3D capabilities. I picked one up on eBay recently but it turned out to be defective. Join me as I take a look at this card's unique hardware layout and attempt to get it back into working order!**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Introduction01:11 Hardware Overview03:37 Easter Eggs04:07 Testing the Card05:21 Troubleshooting06:57 Problem Identified08:35 The Repair09:38 Success10:08 ConclusionThanks for watching!
The Legendary 3dfx Voodoo Graphics Accelerator #GPUJune2 vswitchzero 2022-06-24 | For #GPUJune2 this year, I'm taking a look at a very special card - the 3dfx Voodoo graphics accelerator. Released back in late 1996, it completely transformed the world of PC gaming and was a very significant card for me personally. From the moment I first experienced GLQuake back in 1997, I absolutely had to have one. For this video, I built a test platform almost identical to what I had back in 1997 and have a look at the very popular Diamond Monster 3D! I explore some 3dfx tech demos and play some of my favorite glide games from back in the day as well.Special thanks to Nathan from @PixelPipes for organizing this great celebration of 3D acceleration history! Be sure to check out the official GPUJune2 playlist for many other great videos from some amazing YouTubers!The official GPUJune2 playlist:youtube.com/watch?v=7N90H5DE7KI&list=PLC-GPEYjsF-jCv-pDjBo_c6sqEroU_eELAll #GPUJune2 tagged videos:youtube.com/hashtag/gpujune2**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Introduction02:20 3dfx Voodoo Graphics Hardware05:17 FB, TMU and Memory Architecture07:54 The Test Setup08:40 Drivers and 3dfx Tech Demos10:54 Turok Dinosaur Hunter13:04 Forsaken14:59 Quake 217:44 Need for Speed 2 SE19:11 MDK21:39 Final Words
The original 3dfx splash screen from 1996! #shorts vswitchzero 2022-06-21 | If you ever played some of the original 3dfx glide games back in the mid-nineties, this iconic 3dfx intro splash screen is no doubt familiar to you! Although it could be disabled, it was always a nice reminder that your 3dfx Voodoo card has just kicked in. This one is the original logo from back in 1996/1997. It was eventually updated to 3dfx's newer orange logo in later driver updates. #shorts
Supra Fax Modem connecting to a BBS at 9600 baud #shorts vswitchzero 2022-06-10 | This is a Supra 14.4 external fax modem - not to be confused with the popular car made by Toyota! I've been doing some testing with my Supra 14.4 Fax modem on a voip line. It does appear to connect properly at 9600 baud, but I can't get it to work reliably. More testing and tweaking will be needed.#shorts
My Daily Use 486 Build - Part 3 vswitchzero 2022-06-02 | Welcome to part three (the final episode) of my adventures building a 486 for my daily gaming use! It’s one thing to cobble a bunch of parts together on a test bench, but it’s another to build a properly functioning AT tower system. In this episode I go over some of the more practical aspects of building old AT systems including power supplies, cabling, batteries, and I/O connectivity. After I get the system built, I have a look at the monitor, speakers and peripherals. And finally, I try out a few of my favorite classic DOS games on the system.If you haven’t done so already, be sure to check out part one and two to learn more about my goals for the system, the components I chose and the testing and benchmarking I’ve done. My Daily Use 486 Build – Part 1youtu.be/Med-6Q9ROUIMy Daily Use 486 Build – Part 2youtu.be/65X5DWPkAaAManuals and Diagrams for Multi-Segment MHz Displays:http://www.minuszerodegrees.net/led_speed_display/led_speed_display.htm**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Introduction00:44 Heatsink and Fan01:43 Battery Pack03:40 The MHz Display05:45 The Power Supply09:37 IO Connectivity10:44 Motherboard Mounting13:00 Building the System15:55 The Final Setup21:55 Some DOS Gaming Classics28:12 ConclusionMusic track is "Sky Skating" by Geographer.
Repairing The Legendary Gravis Ultrasound vswitchzero 2022-05-06 | I never owned a Gravis Ultrasound back in the day, but always wanted to get one to explore the very different and interesting sound experience they provide. Unfortunately, they've become ridiculously expensive over the years, so I could never bring myself to buy one. So rather than shelling out a huge amount of money, I bought a broken one instead! Will I be able to repair it? Or was buying this defective card a big mistake? **My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Introduction01:15 A Brief Look at the GUS05:45 The Test Setup07:15 Software Woes08:50 Testing the Broken Card12:25 The Plan14:11 Spring Cleaning15:51 Problem Identified17:43 A Sketchy Workaround18:39 The Proper Fix20:17 Replacing the Crystal21:52 The Result22:43 Fixing it Again24:15 Upgrading the DRAM24:46 Final WordsMusic track is "Evergreen" by Georgrapher.
Repairing the FIC 4386-VC-HD Hybrid 486/386 Motherboard! vswitchzero 2022-04-18 | Is it a 486 or a 386 board? It's both! Today I'll be repairing a damaged 486/386 hybrid board. This is the FIC 4386-VC-HD motherboard that I bought as-is on eBay. After a repair attempt gone wrong by the previous owner, several components will need to be replaced. Necroware's open source Benchmarq RTC modules:github.com/necroware/nwX287Here's my video on RTC modules and my experience constructing the nwX287:youtu.be/XA8YFiDVbCM**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Introduction01:05 A Look at the Board03:25 The Damage05:44 A Special Mention06:30 The Plan and the Tools10:21 Desoldering the DS128711:28 Desoldering the Capacitor12:31 Replacing the Capacitor14:05 Installing the Socket and RTC15:57 The Moment of Truth16:30 Troubleshooting17:43 Success and Conclusion
My Daily Use 486 Build - Part 2 vswitchzero 2022-04-06 | After a few weeks of distraction, I'm back with part two of my adventures in building a 486 for my daily gaming use! Be sure to check out part one where I go into detail about the parts I'll be using and my goals for the build. Today, I'll be building it on my test bench and will be doing some performance tuning and testing with several different 486 CPUs. I'll be tweaking the cache, memory and my VLB card and will be running a whole suite of benchmarks. I'll also be doing the opposite of performance tuning - trying to slow the system down sufficiently for speed sensitive games. Stay tuned for part three where I'll finally get the system properly built and do some gaming!My Daily Use 486 Build - Part 1youtu.be/Med-6Q9ROUIOverclocking the AMD Am5x86 486 processor to 160MHz!youtu.be/ii0k5ahK9Cs**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Introduction03:11 Changes to the Build05:55 Baseline Benchmarks08:51 Tuning the Memory10:02 Tuning the Cache10:58 Tuning the VGA Card13:40 Benchmark Result Overview15:37 CPU Comparison Results19:31 Choosing a CPU!22:37 Slowing the System Down24:30 Conclusion
Unboxing a bunch of retro motherboards, CPUs and more! vswitchzero 2022-03-10 | Time for another quick unboxing video. Every once and a while you see a great deal you can't refuse! Today I take a look at some retro motherboards, CPUs and other parts I recently acquired. Hopefully these parts will come in handy for future projects and videos.
Upgrading the Full Yes 82430I to 512KB of SRAM Cache! vswitchzero 2022-03-09 | After de-cachifying my poor "Full Yes" 430FX board - yes, that's got to be one of the coolest names in motherboard history - I get it back up and running. Rather than replacing the cache with similar chips, I'll be upgrading it from 256KB to 512KB and providing some information and history on SRAM and caching in general.You find more detailed information on the board in my socket 7 buildoff video here:youtu.be/WC3YWTGbCP4You can also see part one of my daily 486 gaming rig series here:youtu.be/Med-6Q9ROUI**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**
Overclocking the AMD Am5x86 486 processor to 160MHz! #overclockingbuildoff vswitchzero 2022-03-01 | For the #overclockingbuildoff I will be pushing the legendary AMD Am5x86 processor to 160MHz on my ECS UM4981 VESA local bus system. This board doesn't officially support the CPU, so it required a bit of extra work to get it going to its full potential. Despite it's confusing name, the Am5x86 is not a Pentium Overdrive competitor, but rather a true 486 processor with an already incredibly high default clock of 133MHz. Please be sure to check out the other #overclockingbuildoff videos that will be released by others over the coming days and weeks. I'm sure there will be some very interesting reveals!My Daily use 486 Build - Part 1:youtu.be/Med-6Q9ROUI**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Introduction00:45 The AMD AM5x86-P7503:48 ECS UM4981 AIO Motherboard05:05 CPU Installation and Jumpers07:41 First Bootup and Problems09:50 Benchmarks at Stock Clocks13:13 Switching to a 40MHz FSB14:37 Benchmarks at 160MHz17:00 Modified BIOS and L1 WB Cache19:05 Result Summary and Conclusions
My Daily Use 486 Build - Part 1 vswitchzero 2022-02-14 | Welcome to my adventures building a 486 for my daily gaming use! As a retro PC hardware enthusiast, I have a habit of tearing my systems apart and swapping parts around all the time. This year, I have made a commitment to put together a system that'll stay assembled at all times for my day to day gaming use. In part 1, I take a close look at all of the parts for this build. Stay tuned for the assembly, benchmarking and some gaming in the next part!**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Introduction02:47 The ECS UM4981 Motherboard08:01 486 CPU Options11:30 Memory Options12:17 VESA Local Bus VGA Cards15:00 Compact Flash Storage16:08 Pro Audio Spectrum 16 and MIDI27:02 Plextor Caddy-Load CD-ROM28:52 Intel Pro10 Network Card29:28 AT Case and Power Supply31:10 Conclusion
Next-level RTC module Upgrade! Replacing the Dallas DS12887 vswitchzero 2022-01-17 | I have several old motherboards waiting for RTC replacements. Rather than buying new DS12887 modules, I decided to solder up one of Necroware's awesome RTC replacement modules. Unlike traditional RTC modules, the coin cell battery is accessible and can be easily replaced. In this video, I go over the parts required and my experiences constructing it. Note: Check out Necroware's comment below. I used square pin headers for my first module, which work but really aren't the best choice. Look out for the thinner round pin headers instead.Necroware's nwX287 github page:github.com/necroware/nwX287Necroware's YouTube Channel:youtube.com/channel/UCKU5nwSWYXa3xfXGBlKyvdw**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**
Building an AMD Thunderbird Gaming Rig - Geforce 3 and 3D Labs Wildcat III! #socketabuildoff vswitchzero 2022-01-07 | This is my contribution to the #socketabuildoff - an early AMD Thunderbird gaming build! This system is based on the popular ASUS A7V133 and the VIA KT133A chipset. In this video I'll be going over the parts, playing some games and running some benchmarks. In addition to the GeForce 3 Ti200, I'll be trying out an AGP Pro video card - the absolutely massive 3DLabs Wildcat III 6110!**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Introduction01:35 ASUS A7V133 Motherboard07:44 The AMD Athlon 70010:40 PC133 SDRAM11:11 CPU Cooler11:34 Nvidia GeForce3 Ti20013:55 3DLabs Wildcat III 6110 16:57 Creative Sound Blaster Live!18:47 Western Digital WD400 HDD19:47 Case, PSU and Final Build21:51 Booting up!22:35 Games and Benchmarks28:35 Gaming on the Wildcat III31:18 Wrap upThanks for watching! Be sure to check out all of the other great #socketabuildoff videos. You can search for the hashtag in YouTube to find more.
DOS 6.22 in a VMware Virtual Machine! #DOScember vswitchzero 2021-12-14 | I wanted to do something a little different for #DOScember this year - installing MS-DOS 6.22 in a VM! In this video, I go through VM creation, DOS install, setup, memory management and more! And of course, it wouldn't be a retro DOS video without seeing Doom running at least once.Useful links:ISO Image with PCNet32 NIC drivers, CD-ROM driver, MTCP and SB16 utilities:vswitchzero-public.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/dosvm.isoMTCP DOS Network Utilities:brutman.com/mTCP/mTCP.htmlPhil's Computer Lab DOS Benchmark Pack:philscomputerlab.com/dos-benchmark-pack.htmlPhil's MS-DOS Starter Packphilscomputerlab.com/ms-dos-starter-pack.htmlFreeDOS - a great MS-DOS alternative with many modern enhancements!freedos.orgVMware Workstation Pro and Player:vmware.com/ca/products/workstation-pro.htmlvmware.com/ca/products/workstation-player.htmlVMware Sound Blaster 16 MIDI and Enhancements:communities.vmware.com/t5/VMware-Workstation-Pro-Documents/Sound-Blaster-16-on-VMware-Workstation-15-5-and-VMware-Fusion-11/ta-p/2781947**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Intro03:14 Creating the VM12:03 Installing MS-DOS15:47 CD-ROM Setup25:35 Mouse Setup27:33 Network Setup35:47 Memory Management43:57 Sound Setup46:30 Doom and Conclusion
Booting up and testing my newly repaired 430VX motherboard! vswitchzero 2021-12-02 | I picked up this 430VX board for the #sockettome7 buildoff but didn't realize it had a non-socketed RTC module. In the end I had to use a different board, but I finally got around to repairing this one. In this video I take a quick look at the new RTC socket, repaired surface mount capacitor, a new S3 ViRGE and a COAST module for a cache upgrade.System Specs:Intel Pentium 133 (2x66MHz, retail cooler)Gemlight GMB-P56IPS Motherboard (Intel 430VX chipset)16MB 66MHz SDRAMExpertColor S3 ViRGE DX PCI video card**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Intro03:14 Creating the VM12:03 Installing MS-DOS15:47 CD-ROM Setup25:35 Mouse Setup27:33 Network Setup35:47 Memory Management43:57 Sound Setup46:30 Doom and Conclusion
Unboxing a pair of classic Pentium processors with retail coolers! vswitchzero 2021-11-18 | I got a great deal on these two CPUs from a seller on eBay. Unfortunately, they arrived too late to be included in my #sockettome7 build. I put together this quick video to have a look at them and compare the Pentium 200, 133 and my old Pentium 120 with retail heatsinks.
Building a high-end 1995/1996 Socket 7 Gaming PC! #sockettome7 vswitchzero 2021-11-15 | This is my contribution to the #sockettome7 build off! Although "Super Socket 7" systems get a lot of interest these days, I'm going to look at the total opposite end of the spectrum - Intel's very first socket 7 CPU and chipset. I'll be building a high-end gaming system from around 1995/1996, including a 3Dfx Voodoo card for 3D acceleration and a Sound Blaster 32 with 2MB of add-on memory for soundfonts! **My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Intro00:58 Intel's 430FX Chipset04:52 The Intel Pentium 13305:55 Video Cards07:40 Sound Blaster 32 PnP10:16 Fujitsu IDE Hard Drive11:11 3Com EtherLink III Network Card11:37 Analog Modem12:21 Case and Power Supply14:24 Configuring the VFD MHz Display15:39 The Assembled Build!18:40 Booting the System19:08 SB32 Sound Font Loading20:05 Heretic MIDI Tests22:14 Games27:39 Benchmarks
Windows 98 Installed in Under 2 Minutes - Timelapse! vswitchzero 2021-11-01 | This is a timelapse screen capture of the Windows 98 Second Edition installation process. This was done on a real time-correct system with parts available for purchase in (or around) the year 1998. The system consisted of the following:Intel Celeron 300A CPU (300MHz)128MB of PC-100 SDRAMAsus P2B Slot-1 Motherboard and Slotket adapter3dfx Voodoo Banshee AGP Video Card (16MB)Creative Labs Sound Blaster AWE64 Value (ISA)Fujitsu 14GB 5400 RPM HDDToshiba DVD Drive235W PSU and Aopen CaseMusic is "8-Bit Dreamscape" by "The Whole Other".
Building a 1998 Gaming Rig! Part 2 #Slot1BuildOff vswitchzero 2021-10-27 | This is part two of my contribution to the #Slot1BuildOff. I've had these parts for a long time and the build-off gave me the push to finally get it put together! In this video I will swap out a Pentium II for one of the best overclocking CPUs in history - the Celeron 300A. I'll also show the completed build, get Windows 98 installed and play some games and run some benchmarks! And finally, I'll see if the Celeron 300A can handle a 50% overclock.**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Introduction00:29 Installing the Slotket and Celeron 300A04:11 The Completed Build06:29 Installing Windows 98!06:47 Hardware Failure07:30 Installing Windows 98 (Again)08:57 GLQuake10:12 Need for Speed High Stakes11:45 Quake 212:43 Half Life 213:29 3DMark 9913:55 GLQuake Timedemo14:25 Overclocking the Celeron 300A15:34 ConclusionBe sure to check out the other great videos in the #slot1buildoff playlist!*Music during Windows 98 install is "8-Bit Dreamscape" by "The Whole Other".
Building a 1998 Gaming Rig! Part 1 #Slot1BuildOff vswitchzero 2021-10-19 | This is part one of my contribution to the #Slot1BuildOff. I've had these parts for a long time and the build-off gave me the push to finally get it put together! In this video I will go over the parts and talk a bit about why I picked them and provide some background and history as well.**My Blog: vswitchzero.comFollow me on X/Twitter: https://x.com/vswitchzeroMastodon: https://bitbang.social/@vswitchzeroIf you enjoy my channel, please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/vswitchzero**00:00 Introduction01:10 The ASUS P2B Motherboard03:36 Intel Pentium II 400MHz05:39 The "Slocket" and the Intel Celeron 300A07:55 128MB of PC100 SDRAM08:31 The Ensoniq 3dfx Voodoo Banshee10:49 Creative Labs Sound Blaster AWE6412:09 Intel Pro/100 PCI Network Card12:31 Hard drive and Storage Options13:23 Aopen ATX CaseBe sure to check out the other great videos in the #slot1buildoff playlist!
Patching VMware ESXi Manually from the Command Line vswitchzero 2021-03-15 | Learn how to patch your VMware ESXi host from the command line. This is still a quick way to install patches without requiring vCenter or Update Manager and gives you full control of every step in the process.VMware product patch portal: my.vmware.com/group/vmware/patch#searchYou can find a full blog post that I did on the subject back in 2018 here as well: vswitchzero.com/2019/04/25/manually-patching-an-esxi-host-from-the-cliFor more videos and posts on VMware vSphere and NSX, please see my blog:vswitchzero.com
