All articles tagged with #retrocomputing
Francisco Ayala Le Brun has recreated the 3DFX Voodoo 1 GPU in SpinalHDL for FPGAs, detailing the fixed-function hardware architecture and the timing/bug challenges of mapping a classic GPU onto modern programmable logic, with a GitHub repository for curious readers; the piece nods to Nvidia’s late-90s acquisition of 3DFX and notes the option of upgrading real Voodoo memory for those who own original hardware.
A 1991 Sun SPARCstation IPX is revived through a series of hardware swaps—PSU, motherboard, video card, RAM, and disk—to install Solaris 2.6; while it eventually boots to a GUI, performance is slow, illustrating how reviving vintage hardware often requires costly parts and extensive tinkering.
A Reddit user has created a clean-room reimplementation of DR-DOS, calling it version 9.0 and placing it in beta after purchasing the trademark. The project aims for full compatibility with DOS, currently runs DOOM, and is free for non-commercial use for now, though the author has not open-sourced the code due to IP/licensing considerations tied to DR-DOS' history with Novell and Caldera.
A Hackaday retrospective tests Windows 98 SE on a Dell Dimension 2100 in 2026, finding it workable for basic office tasks and some 2000s-era software, but modern internet use is painful due to TLS and browser support, often requiring proxies or plugins; gaming is limited to era-appropriate titles; overall, it's a nostalgic curiosity rather than a viable daily driver.
In the 1990s, the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant modernized its remaining RBMK reactors not by a full rebuild of the Soviet-era mainframe, but by wrapping a new auxiliary information-measurement system (DIIS) around the 1970s SKALA mainframe. The upgrade linked a Ukrainian SM-1210 minicomputer and an ARCnet-connected 80386 PC to run real-time reactor-core modeling and visualization via the PRIZMA program, letting data stay local instead of being sent to Moscow. Unit 2 operated until 1991 (turbine fire), Unit 1 until 1996, and Unit 3 until 2000, yielding a pragmatic, hybrid upgrade that pushed the plant toward 21st-century capabilities.
The 1980s Family BASIC package for Nintendo’s Famicom turns the console into a rudimentary home computer with a cartridge, keyboard, tape storage, and a Japanese manual; a video unboxing shows how BASIC programming and loading/saving were done in an all-Nintendo setup that never reached the rest of the world.
A 2020 ThinkPad P14s Gen 1 can run Windows 98 SE alongside Windows 11 and Linux from the same NVMe drive by booting in UEFI-CSM mode and using a USB‑2.0 expansion chain via Thunderbolt to compensate for Win98’s drivers. The setup requires disabling Secure Boot, enabling CSM, and using workarounds like the CREGFIX DOS driver and Rudolph Loew RAM patch to bypass 512 MB RAM limits; ACPI is faked with a S3 power state, and graphics are limited to basic VESA due to lack of Win98 drivers. Disk access goes through BIOS rather than NVMe, but overall the experiment demonstrates surprising backward compatibility on modern hardware.
A maker resurrects Epson’s 1997 FilmScan 200 SCSI film scanner by reverse‑engineering its ESC/I protocol and writing new software to talk to it on a Mac SE/30 with System 7, using an old patched SANE driver to switch negatives and coax color data—delivering a working DIY scan solution, with VueScan as a ready-made alternative.
A Basilisk II port on the ESP32-P4 (via the M5Stack Tab5) runs a 68040-based Mac OS 8.1 with up to 16 MB RAM, about 15 frames per second, and input support (touchscreen mouse and USB), marking a notable advance in retro Mac emulation on 32-bit microcontrollers.
A hobbyist has built an FPGA-based system that emulates a 486 PC, capable of running vintage OS and games like Linux 2.2.6, MS-DOS, DOOM, and Wolfenstein 3D, using a Xilinx Spartan II FPGA and a vintage i486 CPU, showcasing a remarkable DIY retrocomputing project.
SymbOS is a modern multitasking operating system for Z80-based computers like MSX2, offering features reminiscent of Windows 95, including a file explorer, multitasking, and the ability to run classic software and even play Doom, all within an emulated or real hardware environment, showcasing a nostalgic yet innovative take on vintage computing.
Hobbyists have discovered that a capacitor in the mid-90s Macintosh LC III was installed incorrectly, likely due to a design oversight by Apple. This issue went largely unnoticed because the capacitor's function was limited and it was initially rated to handle the voltage. Hobbyists like Brown are now warning others to install the capacitor correctly during repairs to avoid damage. Modern restorers often use tantalum capacitors, which are more sensitive to incorrect voltage. A reverse-engineered schematic is available for those needing to replace damaged boards.
A retrocomputing enthusiast, [polymatt], successfully restored a severely damaged 1993 IBM ThinkPad Tablet. Despite its cracked LCD screen and battered case, [polymatt] managed to find a compatible replacement screen and undertook extensive repairs, including recapping, recabling, and fixing the batteries. This restoration highlights the value and challenge of reviving rare vintage technology.
Enthusiasts Cees Meijer and Scott Baker have recreated the rare 1982 Jupiter ACE computer, which was notable for running Forth instead of more popular languages of the time. The original ACE, resembling the Sinclair ZX81 and developed by former Sinclair employees, suffered from production issues and sold poorly. Meijer's replica, based on Grant Searle's design with some modifications, features a 3D printed keyboard that mimics the original's aesthetic. This project highlights the continued interest in vintage computing and the DIY spirit within the retro tech community.
The "Book 8088" laptop, available on AliExpress, combines modern components with an Intel 8088 processor and 640KB of memory to recreate the experience of using an original IBM PC from 1981. The laptop features a 640x200 16-color LCD screen and built-in interfaces that allow USB accessories and CompactFlash cards to interface with the ancient components. The slow speed and low memory limit make it best suited to MS-DOS, with its text-based interface and general lack of multitasking support. The laptop is made by Hong Kong-based manufacturer Xinrui Technology and is sold out in most versions.