Vintage Computing & Hardware Restoration

Preserving late-1990s x86 hardware, period-correct expansion cards, and CRT technology.

Welcome to the W4DXR hardware laboratory. Here I document the acquisition, component-level restoration, and bench testing of late-1990s computer systems, CRT displays, and expansion cards.

🖥️ Featured Workbench Build: 1997 Pentium II 266 MHz

  • CPU: Intel Pentium II 266 MHz (Klamath, Slot 1)
  • Motherboard: Intel PD440FX (Portland) Slot 1 ATX
  • Memory: 128 MB 50ns EDO SIMM RAM
  • Graphics: PCI Video Accelerator
  • Display: ViewSonic CRT Monitor
  • Peripherals: Microsoft SideWinder 3D Pro Joystick & Interact PC PowerPad Pro
  • Operating System: Microsoft Windows 95 OSR2.1

💾 Preservation & Project Focus Areas

  1. Hardware Restoration: Deep cleaning, cap checks, period-correct PCI/ISA/AGP board testing, and retro gamepad/joystick interface configuration.
  2. Period Software & Gaming: Benchmarking early 3D graphics hardware and LAN gaming setups featuring classics like Quake II, StarCraft, and Command & Conquer.
  3. Data Archiving: Imaging legacy media, maintaining local driver mirrors, and restoring historic x86 environments.