Re: [Hampshire] [OT] Hardware : Old PC, new hardware

[Rafał Frąckowiak via Hampshire]

Hi Rob

Consider Retropie x86 and build your own Nintendo Classic Mini :)

https://retropie.org.uk/docs/RetroPie-Ubuntu-16.04-LTS-x86-Flavor/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-Lnvb2oBkw

Cheers
Rafal


> On 7 Apr 2017, at 12:15, Rob Malpass via Hampshire 
>  wrote:
> 
> Hi all
>  
> I’m thinking of resurrecting an old PC for retro gaming.   Before I get 
> going, need a few questions answered…   I have such a machine (P-IV, 512Mb 
> RAM, decent enough graphics) but it’s circa 2004.
>  
> 1)I’ve not powered it on in years, but the CR2032 mobo battery is almost 
> certainly dead.   Is it a question of just replacing it – or are there better 
> solutions out there nowadays?
> 2)Is it likely to be a standard battery or do they vary by mobo?
> 3)I think it has SATA and IDE so I’m going to replace the HDD with an 
> SSD.   Any issues here?   I’ve heard some BIOSes complain about the side of 
> the HDD inside, but if we’re talking SSD, then 128Gb will be all I can afford 
> so even in 2004, 128Gb wasn’t too big a BIOS was it?
>  
> Any other considerations (VGA to HDMI in DOS mode games)?   I think I still 
> have the Windows XP CD and the license no is still on the box.   Might have 
> some fun activating it!
>  
> Cheers
> Rob
> 
>  
> 
>  Virus-free. www.avg.com 
> 
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Re: [Hampshire] [OT] Hardware : Old PC, new hardware

[Paul Stimpson via Hampshire]

Hi Rob,
Every motherboard I've had in ages used a CR2032 lithium coin cell. You can 
pick a pack of these up  in most pound shops. I certainly wouldn't pay the £3 
each people like Maplin are likely to charge. I also wouldn't mess with 
changing them for a different type. Be careful not to damage the holder when 
you change it. Those are a real pain to change. Make sure you go into the BIOS 
and use the "load performance defaults" or "load defaults" option after you 
change the battery as you never know what could be in the backup memory if the 
battery has died or been very low. I would open the case and check that's what 
it actually takes before buying, just in case it's something else.
You well hopefully be able to find the motherboard model number printed on it 
and a search for that or the machine model should hopefully reveal the specs if 
you are worried about the drive size. Make sure LBA is turned on if this is a 
BIOS option. If the machine has SATA, I don't think you're likely to have a 
problem. If you have an old SATA spinning drive bigger than 128 GB, it might be 
worth putting that in as a test to make sure the machine works and performs as 
you want before dropping money on a new SSD.
VGA to HDMI isn't a simple job. It will need a piece of active electronics to 
convert as one is analogue and the other digital. I think the easiest way to 
solve this problem would be to retire the VGA card and replace it with a used 
card of equivalent or greater performance that has a DVI connector. DVI to HDMI 
adaptors or cables are simple things that you should be able to pick up on eBay 
for a few pounds if you can't find anyone with one they don't need. I think I 
paid around £3 for my last adaptor.
Good luck,Paul.

-- Original message--From: Rob Malpass via HampshireDate: Fri, 7 Apr 
2017 11:15To: hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk;Cc: Subject:[Hampshire] [OT] 
Hardware : Old PC, new hardware
Hi all I’m thinking of resurrecting an old PC for retro gaming.   Before I get 
going, need a few questions answered…   I have such a machine (P-IV, 512Mb RAM, 
decent enough graphics) but it’s circa 2004. 1)    I’ve not powered it on in 
years, but the CR2032 mobo battery is almost certainly dead.   Is it a question 
of just replacing it – or are there better solutions out there nowadays?2)    
Is it likely to be a standard battery or do they vary by mobo?3)    I think it 
has SATA and IDE so I’m going to replace the HDD with an SSD.   Any issues 
here?   I’ve heard some BIOSes complain about the side of the HDD inside, but 
if we’re talking SSD, then 128Gb will be all I can afford so even in 2004, 
128Gb wasn’t too big a BIOS was it? Any other considerations (VGA to HDMI in 
DOS mode games)?   I think I still have the Windows XP CD and the license no is 
still on the box.   Might have some fun activating it! CheersRob




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[Hampshire] [OT] Hardware : Old PC, new hardware

[Rob Malpass via Hampshire]

Hi all

 

I'm thinking of resurrecting an old PC for retro gaming.   Before I get
going, need a few questions answered.   I have such a machine (P-IV, 512Mb
RAM, decent enough graphics) but it's circa 2004.

 

1)I've not powered it on in years, but the CR2032 mobo battery is almost
certainly dead.   Is it a question of just replacing it - or are there
better solutions out there nowadays?

2)Is it likely to be a standard battery or do they vary by mobo?

3)I think it has SATA and IDE so I'm going to replace the HDD with an
SSD.   Any issues here?   I've heard some BIOSes complain about the side of
the HDD inside, but if we're talking SSD, then 128Gb will be all I can
afford so even in 2004, 128Gb wasn't too big a BIOS was it?

 

Any other considerations (VGA to HDMI in DOS mode games)?   I think I still
have the Windows XP CD and the license no is still on the box.   Might have
some fun activating it!

 

Cheers

Rob



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