TL;DR/I don't want to read this: This thread is going to be about a recent project I will be undertaking. I will be building a retro gaming computer, with a Freelancer theme. The reason I say Retro is because i'm going to build this computer using components that where available when freelancer was first released.
Project Overview
So, Freelancer. The game itself is probably one of the most defining games of my gaming career, even moreso than games like Battlefield 2 or Star Wars Battlefront. I’ve always wanted to contribute more to Freelancer’s various mods, but I’m no modder. I’ve always loved building computers, tinkering with hardware, and stuff like that. I love looking at Computer builds that have strong ties to a game or series, and I thought “Why not try to do something like this for freelancer”.(This build specifically) Well, I want to actually try this, and see if I can actually pull it off. But I don’t want it to be just a homage to Freelancer, but the entire experience of it. Freelancer would not be around today without the dedicated groups of fans that love the game, despite the age, coding problems, and other issues the game has. The community really made the game survive, despite microsoft’s abandoning it.
Why "Project Starflier" as a name?
The reason I am calling it "Project Starflier" is because compared to current hardware, the build will be slow and running on obsolete technology. Considering the Starflier is one of the most overlooked and laughed at ships in Freelancer/Discovery, and the same can be said of the hardware I will be using for this build. It also can be used to compare the engine that freelancer was built on compared to current gen stuff such as Cry Engine 3.
Project Goal
- To build a computer rig completely built around components that where the best and most advanced at the time of Freelancer’s release.
- To create a homage to Freelancer, Digital Anvil, and the various modding groups/communities that have kept Freelancer one of the defining games of the Space Sim genre
- TL;DR goal: To make a Freelancer Themed Computer.
Hardware List (Subject to Change)
CPU: Pentium 4 (Northwood)
Motherboard: ???
RAM: ???
VGA Card: ???
Hard Drive: 80 GB Maxor IDE Drive (From old Dell Dimension)
Power Supply: ??? (Possibly an old Dell Dimension Power Supply)
Case: ????
Current Parts on Hand:
- 80GB Maxor D740X-6L Drive (link) Approx. $182 New at release.
- ATI Rage Pro Ultra 3D 16MB (link) DELL OEM
- Creative Labs Sound Blaster Live! Value 32bit (Link eventually) DELL OEM
- Pentium 4 1.6ghz (Unknown chip)
- Pentium 4 2ghz Northwood
Build Ideas/Plan
Now this is where I get a bit unsure. I've been thinking a bit about what the build will be like, and my current ideas are summed up into something like this. Again, subject to change.
Front: Freelancer Logo, some graphics. Unsure as to specifics.
Left Side: Logo's of most/all the communities that wish to have their logo on the build. From communities such as Discovery GC to WTS World to Starport to Lancer's reactor. These logo's will be the only current things in the build. Included will also be contributors to the original game, such as Microsoft Games and Digital Anvil. I will probably need some help getting the art all collated and made into a good format for the color and printing to decals.
Right Side: A glorious image of Trent, and references to the single player campaign.
General Ideas: Purple color? A couple of quotes maybe. Freelancer has some pretty hilarious quotes.
So why am I posting this? Quite frankly, I am going to need help with this build. Hunting down the correct components are going to be hard, and I don't have the best artistic eye. If anyone has relevant old hardware that they want to donate, contact me. I can pay for shipping and related charges. (Don't ask me to pay for something from the UK please. Slightly broke college student is broke) People that are good with design and computer graphics can also help. This is as much a Community build as a personal build.
And if you read everything, good on you. Will update the post when I get more progress on the build.
I would like thoughts/ideas/suggestions, post or skype me. Whichever you want.
Maxtor 40 GB is great choice because it fits the time perfect for the time.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/1151
The 3,2 P4 Extreme should be the best CPU. In that time the Intels were a way hotter then AMD Athlons 6400 etc so you need to consider proper cooler.
In that time the best were Thermaltake Volkano and 900U/SLK947 from Thermalright
Also Scythe Kamikaze and Globalwin VA476 wasn't that bad as well.
As for DDR any DDR1 at 400 would do preferable 512 mb or 2 x 512 mb if you find any.
Best PSU of that days were the FSP Group Fortrons at 400W- they were blueish,Chinese, toxic( the Chinese used lead paint to colour them that is toxic it was before the RoHS requirements) and unbreakable/damn stable. So try to find some metallic painted model- there were rarer I waited for mine 2 months.
At that time DDR1 2100 at 266 was normal for the mortals, I had mine OCed at 333 together with my 486 P4 2.4 HT OCed at 3.6 on water using old air conditioner radiator with 2 big Papst fans, combined with powerful aquarium 220v pump. I needed to plug the pump at separate plug then leave it 1-2 min to start the water flow then start the PC.
About the Mobo I had some Gigabite one that was quite solid in overcloaking with decent bios settings. Intel 875P chipset is must for 2003, good options are Abit and Gigabite also MSI. But in that time Abit were the best/most expensive option.
Best Case of that days were the big Chieftec Mesh case. It was the first mass produced case that allowed many fan spots and it was first dammed as well. I had no money for one so I used the cheapest possible one. that I had to keep open most of the time to get some airflow.
Best CD/DVD should be any ancient LiteON that you can find. At that time they were new at that compared with the total market domination/rebranding nowadays. They were twice as cheaper as the competition and worked flawless but damn noisy.
About the looks I never cared about them so I cannot be useful there. But nice idea to remind me the good old times when the hardware was rock solid and was able to sustain heavy damage and abuse by enthusiasts.
(10-09-2013, 10:51 AM)Knjaz Wrote: Official faction players that are often accused of elitism, never deploy them and have those weird, immersion killing "fair fight/dueling" suicidal hobbies. (yes, i've seen enough of those lolduels, where house military with overwhelming force on the field willingly loses a pilot in a duel. ffs.)
Gold Mine of old tech information Govedo, thanks. I know lots about new tech, not this old stuff. xD
Anyway. The Pentium 4 Extreme chips where released after Freelancer, So I can't use that. Shame, but I want to keep to my original idea when it comes to the hardware. As for cooling, of course I would be using aftermarket cooling, stock intel HSF's where never particularly useful. I googled the two coolers you suggested, they look horridly small. They didn't have supercoolers like they do now?
As for DDR RAM, I have a couple sources I can probably call up to get me some ancient ram kits. It helps when you went to a school that has a sea crate full of donated computers.
Lastly. Who knew, graphics cards using Molex for supplemental power. Heh.
Edit: About the power supply, I don't want to deal with Lead paint, its horrid to deal with. I think I will test how the current Power Supply works, if it will supply the necessary current I need for this build. Actually, if I can even get it out of the Dell case. If you thought Dell was bad at computers now...oh boy. xD
Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts... perhaps the fear of a loss of power.
I know that I changed 2 original Dell XPS 1550 Laptop Power Supplies in 3 years that I used my Dell. The 3rd one still works even if I does not use that Laptop any more. They popped like they were on schedule. All this pain to get FullHD laptop.
If you cannot got with the said P4 EE then go for AMD 64/Opteron it is better then the normal P4s. Properly cooled Opertrons were breaking records back in those days.
Ram would be your bigger problem because old RAM is always hard to find.
Also I posted random stuff that I remembered from the period 2002-2003 where FL was realised.
I figured now that Chieftec Mesh in Blue fits to the colour of the Freelancer cover as well.
About the other stuff- now everything is really easy. Back in the times we overclocked via jumpers on the mobo and waited 3-4 months for reserve bios chip after we busted ours..
(10-09-2013, 10:51 AM)Knjaz Wrote: Official faction players that are often accused of elitism, never deploy them and have those weird, immersion killing "fair fight/dueling" suicidal hobbies. (yes, i've seen enough of those lolduels, where house military with overwhelming force on the field willingly loses a pilot in a duel. ffs.)
(10-27-2013, 03:59 AM)Saronsen Wrote: Those loud fans, that click clacky keyboard, the cancer 4000 monitors
and WINDOWS XP
oh the nostalgia
No Cancer 4000 monitors will be used for the obvious cancer reasons. Not putting my safety on the line for this build (Same reason I'm not using a Lead Painted PSU)
(10-27-2013, 03:50 PM)belarusich Wrote: I had 128 MB when was playing freel and it was OK, I think that 512 MB was the best RAM.
Also, Windows XP existed in 2003?
Yes, my family's first computer, a Dell Dimension from 2002 had XP Home. For security's sake I will use Service Pack 3 for the build, even though that came later.
Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts... perhaps the fear of a loss of power.