Railsimroutes.net :: Projects | Miscellaneous | PC Specs

Development PC(s) and Network - Introduction

This section of the website is for those with an interest in computers (both workstations and servers), networking, hardware and software. Here you can find out what systems I develop my routes on, and what components I've chosen for good performance in openBVE, BVE Trainsim or other applications. Apart from my first ever PC, I've assembled all my computer systems myself, as usually a much better computer that's suited to my needs can be built this way. You can also find out what software I use, what hardware I've developed my routes on, both currently and in the past, as well as see what kinds of add-ons I've been able to produce thanks to each new generation of hardware.

Within the Development PC(s) and Network Section:

The Intel i486 SX2 50MHz System (1994 - 1996)

My first PC (and last ever ready-built, brand name system) was a Packard Bell Executive Multimedia PC running Windows for Workgroups 3.11 and MS-DOS 6.22, with an Intel i486 SX2 50Mhz CPU, 4MB RAM, 2x Matsushita-Kotobuki/Panasonic CD-ROM drive, 341MB Seagate hard disk, and on-board Cirrus Logic graphics chip. I upgraded the system with a WinTV CinemaPro ISA TV card.

Prior to this machine, I used the Commodore Amiga A600 with it's Workbench v2.05 operating system which was fantastic at the time (and before that, the Sinclair ZX Spectrum 128K +2A which was my introduction to computers and BASIC). After using Intel based Windows 3.11 PCs at school, I knew I had to have an i486 machine, so it was with great excitement that I turned on this Packard Bell system on the Christmas Day in 1994. My enthusiasm was soon dampened, as after less than 3 hours use, the monitor went 'bang'... Not the best start, but after it was replaced I went on to be introduced to multi-media, learning about Windows 3.11 and MS-DOS 6.22 and batch files, DOS games, Pascal, Lotus Organiser, Microsoft Works and Office and more, using this system. Ultimately it's low amount of RAM, slow hard drive and the release of Windows 95 made me want a faster system, which brought me into the Pentium era.

Gallery

Inside the case:

Specifications

CPU:

Intel i486 SX2 50 MHz [25Mhz FSB, AT form factor]

Motherboard:

Packard Bell Unknown (Executive Multimedia PC)

RAM:

4MB on motherboard

Graphics:

Cirrus Logic graphics chip on motherboard [Vesa Local Bus (VLB)]

Audio:

Sound Blaster Pro 16 Clone [ISA]

Internal Storage:

341MB Seagate drive

Optical Storage:

2x Matsushita-Kotobuki/Panasonic CD-ROM

Display:

Packard Bell 14" CRT @ 1024x768

Input:

Packard Bell keyboard and mouse
CH Virtual Pilot Pro

TV Card:

Hauppauge WinTV CinemaPro [ISA]

Case:

Packard Bell (Executive Multimedia PC)

Power Supply:

DVE 150W AT PSU

Operating System(s):

Windows 3.11 For Workgroups (MS-DOS 6.22)

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Content last updated: 10th April 2019