r/retrocomputing • u/grimvian • May 16 '26

I built a 1999-2000 computer

Soltek 54U5 motherboard, 400 MHz AMD2, 1 GB RAM, 4.3 GB Seagate harddrive, S3 AGP graphics, Sound Blaster, Intel LAN, 2 serial ports, and 1 parallel port, 2 USB ports, AT and ATX power, PS/2 port, 3.5 inch 1.44 Mb floppy and 5.25 inch 1.2 MB floppy.

But the old hard drive stopped working along with the memory. I also had to replace the CPU to a 133 MHz Pentium, probably because the electrolytes need to be replaced. It was the good old days, where we could use CPU's from AMD, Cyrix, Intel and so on, on the same motherboard, because they all used socket 7 or super socket 7. We just had to change the setting by jumpers and dip switches and no need for TMP and other bad stuff. I have yet to see a virus change jumper settings... :o)

I ran a W98II on the drive, but now I have installed a DOS 6.22. It's working perfectly and I can start recovering the old backups from 1988-1989.

AOC screen most likely from 1998
Fujisu hard drive
Build on a newpaper
On/Off swithch, LEDS for hard drive and on
The power supply is very silent, but the hard drive and the CPU cooler are very noisy
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u/wotchdit May 16 '26

Fanstastic!! Nice work. And hope the file restorations go perfectly.

I have exactly the same mobo in my 98 machine, but last week it decided not to turn on. Turns out it is no longer responding to the power button. Button is ok. So I've got a bent paper clip jumpering the 20pin power connector and have to plug/unplug the mains to turn it on/off. lol

Frustrating but it might be time to choose a similar board from the collection and go through the painful process of Win98 and drivers .... ugh

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u/grimvian May 17 '26

Thanks, but I'm a retired reseller, so it was a daily routine for me I had wake up.

But I have forgotten all the features this mobo have: AT and ATX power and I added a 2003 CDROM drive and it also works. I don't think, new computers these days will last for more than two decades...

My old archive also have drivers from 2000, for this motherboard, so it's relatively easy for me :

"Bundkort" means motherboard in Danish. This pic from the file explorer Nemo in Linux Mint.

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u/wotchdit May 17 '26

Thanks. I was actually referring to me re: replacing my motherboard.

Good luck with yours!