About This Video
Join me for a 486 Build Off project as I put together my own early 1990s-style MS-DOS gaming PC. I started with finding the right beige mini tower case and a 486 motherboard equipped with an Intel 486DX-33, then upgraded it to the classic Intel 486DX2-66 processor.
The motherboard has a 1993 AMIBIOS and 30-pin SIMM memory, and I filled out the rest of the build with hardware that makes for a great DOS-era machine:
- Intel 486DX2-66 processor
- 1993 AMIBIOS
- 30-pin SIMM memory
- Teac 1.44 MB floppy drive
- Teac CD-540E IDE CD-ROM drive
- Cirrus Logic CL-GD5428 VLB VGA video card
- Creative Sound Blaster 16 CT-2290 sound card
- SIIG floppy and hard drive I/O card
- IDE CompactFlash hard drive adapter
- IBM Model M keyboard
- Segmented front-panel MHz display
In the video I go through the entire build, from installing the motherboard and drives to adding the VLB video card, Sound Blaster 16, I/O card, and CompactFlash adapter. There's also the all-important first smoke test, peeling the protective plastic off the front of the case, and adding a Geekenspiel case badge to finish off the look.
Once everything is together, I boot the machine into MS-DOS 6.22 and finally get to see the front-panel display showing 66 MHz. The Turbo button also works, letting me switch the system between 66 MHz and 33 MHz.
And of course, I couldn't build a 486DX2-66 without answering the important question: can it run Doom? Yes. Yes it can.
This was a fun project and gave me exactly the kind of 486 I wanted: a real beige-box DOS machine with VLB graphics, Sound Blaster audio, CompactFlash storage, a Model M keyboard, and plenty of room for future projects and upgrades.
For more information, check out my DOS-era PC System Guide.