Introduced in late 1998, the ATI Rage 128 evolved from the Rage family and competed with NVIDIA’s RIVA TNT and 3dfx Voodoo products. It was among ATI’s early cards offering full 32-bit rendering and an integrated MPEG-2 decoder. Key variants included Rage 128 GL, Rage 128 VR, and the later Rage 128 Pro.
Key specifications (summary)
GPU: Rage 128 (Rage R6)
Process: ~250 nm
Core clock: ~100–125 MHz (varies by model)
Memory: 16–32 MB SDRAM/SGRAM
Memory bus: 128-bit
Interfaces: AGP 2x/4x and some PCI variants
APIs: DirectX 6.0, OpenGL 1.2
Features: 32-bit color, hardware MPEG-2 decoder
Platforms
The card was used in mainstream PCs (Pentium II/III, AMD K6/Athlon) and was also integrated into several Apple machines (iMac G3 DV, some Power Mac models). OEM vendors like Dell and Compaq offered it as a midrange option.
Gaming performance (overview)
Rage 128 provided solid performance in late-90s titles but was limited by less advanced T&L and driver maturity. Typical results:
Quake II — very good (60–80 FPS at 800×600 on capable systems)
Rage 128 is historically significant as a transitional GPU: good image quality and multimedia support for its era, but limited in raw 3D throughput compared to later competitors. It remains an interesting piece of late-90s PC hardware history.
ATI Mach64 is a family of 2D graphics accelerators produced by ATI Technologies in the mid-1990s (starting around 1994). It followed the earlier Mach8 and Mach32 lines and became the technological predecessor to the later ATI Rage series. The primary goal of Mach64 was to accelerate graphical user interfaces, improve Windows performance, and provide enhanced multimedia capabilities. Early models did not feature true 3D acceleration.
History and Evolution
The Mach64 family appeared during the transitional period when PC graphics were moving from basic VGA cards to hardware-accelerated multimedia adapters. The series included many chip revisions with different performance levels and multimedia features. Some versions introduced early 3D functions, which later became the foundation for the ATI 3D Rage line.
Mach64 VT – enhanced multimedia/video playback support (YUV to RGB conversion).
Mach64 GT / GT-B – early 3D-capable revisions that later evolved into ATI 3D Rage.
Mach64 LT – mobile/OEM-oriented versions.
Hardware Specifications
Memory bus: 64-bit internal architecture.
Video memory: Typically 1 MB, 2 MB, 4 MB or 8 MB (DRAM, VRAM or SGRAM depending on card model).
Interface: ISA, VLB (VESA Local Bus), and PCI versions existed.
RAMDAC: Integrated RAMDAC in most CT/CX/GX versions; higher-frequency RAMDAC available in “Turbo” models.
Video features: Select models supported hardware-assisted video scaling and basic MPEG playback through drivers.
Supported Operating Systems
ATI provided official drivers for a large set of operating systems of that era:
DOS
Windows 3.1
Windows 95
Windows 98 / Windows Me
Windows NT 3.51 / NT 4.0
OS/2
Some OEM versions for classic Macintosh systems
Gaming Performance
The gaming capability of the Mach64 series depends heavily on the specific revision:
Excellent Performance in 2D Games
The Mach64 was designed primarily as a 2D accelerator, so it excelled in classic DOS and early Windows titles:
Wolfenstein 3D
Doom and Doom II (software rendering)
Warcraft I & II
Command & Conquer
Age of Empires (2D elements)
Point-and-click adventures, platformers, and many early strategy games
3D Games (Software Rendering)
Early Mach64 models did not contain hardware 3D acceleration, so games requiring 3D APIs ran in CPU-driven software mode. Titles like:
Quake
Quake II
Unreal
Duke Nukem 3D (with 3D effects)
were technically playable but performed slowly without dedicated 3D hardware.
Mach64 GT and Later (Early 3D Rage)
The GT and GT-B variants introduced primitive 3D acceleration and improved performance in some Direct3D titles. However, they still could not compete with popular 3D cards such as the 3dfx Voodoo or NVIDIA Riva TNT.
Multimedia Features
Many Mach64 cards included enhanced video playback capabilities. The VT and GX versions supported:
The ATI Mach64 remains an important historical graphics chip. It offered fast and reliable 2D acceleration and excellent support for DOS and early Windows games. While it was not a strong 3D performer in its base versions, later Mach64 GT derivatives became the foundation of the ATI 3D Rage series. For retro PC builds focused on classic DOS/Windows 95 gaming, the Mach64 is still an excellent and authentic choice.
Legacy PCI 10/100 Ethernet adapter based on Realtek RTL8139 — overview, driver tips for Windows 98/ME, Linux notes and troubleshooting.
Quick summary
The Compex RL100ATX is a classic PCI Fast Ethernet adapter (10/100 Mbps)
that was widely sold in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It is typically built around the
Realtek RTL8139 family chipset. Because of the ubiquity of that chipset, the
RL100ATX enjoys broad operating-system support and often works “out of the box” on many
older systems.
Technical specifications
Model: Compex RL100ATX (sometimes listed as RL100ATX 10/100 Base PCI)
Interface: 32-bit PCI (PCI 2.x era)
Speed: 10/100 Mbps (10Base-T / 100Base-TX)
Typical chipset: Realtek RTL8139 family (RTL8139A/B/C)
Auto-negotiation: Yes (10/100, full/half duplex)
OS support (historical): Windows 98 / ME / 2000 / XP, many Linux kernels
Short history and context
When Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps) became mainstream, chipset vendors such as Realtek produced
very low-cost, compact controllers (RTL8139). Small networking companies like Compex
soldered those chips onto PCI cards and sold large volumes to OEMs and end users. The
RL100ATX is one of those low-cost, high-compatibility adapters that helped desktops move
from 10 Mbps to 100 Mbps networking affordably.
Driver and OS compatibility
The important compatibility fact is that the RL100ATX most often identifies itself to the
operating system as a Realtek RTL8139 device. That means:
Windows ME / 2000 / XP: In most cases the OS contains an appropriate RTL8139 driver and will configure the card automatically.
Windows 98 / 98 SE: Windows 98 can sometimes install a built-in driver but may need the Realtek driver INF. Using the “Have Disk…” option and selecting the generic RTL8139 driver usually works.
Linux: The kernel module rtl8139 (or 8139too in older kernels) provides broad support; adapters are normally plug-and-play on modern distributions.
Practical installation tips (old machines)
Try the built-in driver first: In Windows 98, when asked for drivers choose “Show all devices” → look for Realtek RTL8139/8139 family drivers.
If you cannot copy files to the machine: use alternative file transfer methods: floppy disk, grab the hard drive and copy files on another PC, write a CD-R, or use a serial/parallel LapLink cable (InterLink) if available.
Windows ME option: Upgrading to Windows ME on the same hardware often brings newer bundled drivers and increases chances of plug-and-play detection for RTL8139 cards.
Linux: Most live CDs or modern installs already include rtl8139 support — the card should work with no extra driver required.
BIOS/IRQ issues: On very old machines, disable unused onboard devices or free IRQs in BIOS if the card is not detected or IRQ conflicts appear.
Troubleshooting checklist
No link light: check the cable and switch port; try a different known-good Ethernet cable.
Link but no network: confirm IP configuration (DHCP vs static); try pinging the gateway; swap ports on the switch/router.
Intermittent drops: test on another switch or directly to another PC (crossover or auto-MDI/MDIX). In Windows, disable checksum/large-packet offload in driver properties if available.
Not detected at all: reseat the card, try another PCI slot, check for bent pins, or test card in another machine to verify hardware failure.
Legacy use and modern relevance
The RL100ATX is a legacy device today. For restoration projects, retrocomputing, or small
isolated networks it remains useful. However, for modern home/office networks a Gigabit
PCIe adapter is recommended because many switches and routers now provide gigabit speeds.
Suggested keywords & tags
Compex RL100ATX, RTL8139, PCI Ethernet, Windows 98 driver, Windows ME, legacy network card
The specs for SL-61D comes in these configurations with a retail price tag. The configuration Soltek provides comes with a Intel Pentium II/III or Celeron Slot 1 Ultra ATA/33 PCI/ISA/AGP n/a,.
This Soltek Motherboard can take up to 768 MB ram, with a fixed amount of 0 MB (removable) installed PC100 SDRAM DIMMs.
This full-featured mainstream Motherboard enhances the previous generation Soltek models with the chipsets and new levels of customization. Get the best experience on your Soltek SL-61D Motherboard with improved performance, make it easy to create a home network and share all of your favorite items.
The specs of Motherboard shows full configuration information. The SL-61D is designed for users who require maximum performance in a mainstream Motherboard. Even with its form factor design, the SL-61D doesn’t skimp on performance offering the ideal blend of power and efficiency. The SL-61D is sure to leave a lasting impression with its easy to use and slim design. Located on the side of the unit, the modular bay’s innovative latch is designed for easy insertion and removal of the various module options.
The SL-61D Motherboard only supports Intel Pentium II/III or Celeron. The SL-61D features two on-board data caches for transferring information to and from the processor. These caches are known as the L1 and L2 caches. The SL-61D L1 cache is 64 kilobytes in size, while its L2 cache is rated at either one or two megabytes.
When you have a clear idea of which Motherboard best suits your needs, check for its specifications. As the SL-61D is supported by Soltek, check if the Motherboard has full support and warranties by its manufacturer, like SL-61D specs you will have lots of options from the Motherboard manufacturer to choose from, like the Motherboard processor, Motherboard RAM, its graphics capacity, Motherboard display options and specs, and other features that the Motherboard provides.
Sound Blaster 16 (June 1992), the successor to the Sound Blaster Pro, introduced CD-quality digital audio to the Sound Blaster line.
The Sound Blaster 16 WavEffects (CT4170) was released in 1997 as a cheaper and simpler redesign of the Sound Blaster 16. It came with Creative WaveSynth also bundled on Sound Blaster AWE64 Gold, a physical modeling software synthesizer developed by Seer Systems (led by Dave Smith), based on Sondius WaveGuide technology (developed at Stanford’s CCRMA).
The WavEffects line also supports CQM synthesis for Adlib/OPL compatibility.
The 6BX85/6ZX85/6VIA85/6VIA85P is designed for the PC user’s who want many new key features processed by the fastest CPU in a economic package.
This motherboard: New general CPU support :
– Intel Celeron (300AMHz–500MHz) processor. – Intel Coppermine (500MHz–733MHz) processor. – Socket: PGA370. – CPU clock select support for 66/100MHz and up to 133MHz (6VIA 85P) CPU bus speed configuration.
Main features Manufacturer ACORP Mat chipset. Intel 440ZX Socket 370 processor ppga socket At board format, 22×22 cm
CPU support Supports Intel Celeron Mendocino series processor types Compatible processors Bus frequency 66, 75, 83, 100 MHz Multiplication is defined by the processor
Memory Support Number of Simm/DIMM 0/2 slots Max RAM 512 MB
Disk System Support UDMA / 33 Yes Slots for installing expansion cards ISA / PCI / AGP 2/3/1 slots
