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Who here has a Gateway 2000 386/33?

O

otacon14112

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Apr 19, 2012
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115
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Iowa, United States
Years ago when I worked for an office supply store, a customer came in and said that he was giving away an old computer, which was sitting right outside his garage. Well, knowing me, I went there and got it. It's a Gateway 2000 386/33. It's never worked as long as I've had it; I always meant to restore it to working condition, but never have. When I get a bigger place, I will.

Anyway, I'm surprised at how little information I can find on the 'net about this. They were pretty common, probably the highest-selling brand back in the early-to mid '90s. The main reason I love it is because back in school, when the most powerful computer in our house was the Nintendo Entertainment System ;), my best friend had one in his basement that he played Duke Nukem 3D, Wolfenstein 3D, and Doom on. Since I didn't get my first computer until after I graduated (and I had to buy my own used Pentium 100), I was always overly excited whenever I was in the presence of a computer. I still remember my jealousy that he had a computer and I didn't.

Here's the closest-looking picture I could find on the 'net of one. It looks the same, but mine says 386/33 on it, instead: https://www.google.com/search?q="Ga...UIDCgD&biw=1538&bih=776#imgrc=z_yfQuVQiGM8jM:

Anyway, I was just looking through here for anything on the Gateway 2000 386/33, but only saw one. I'd just like to hear some stories or memories you have of using it if you ever had one, just to hold me over until I can fix mine :D
 
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I have a Gateway 2000 P5-90 but that's a Pentium. And even then it still takes some time to load Duke Nukem 3D. Obvious slow down in the music when loading the title screen. But after that it's fine. I couldn't imagine playing it on a 386.
 
otacon14112 said:
Years ago when I worked for an office supply store, a customer came in and said that he was giving away an old computer, which was sitting right outside his garage. Well, knowing me, I went there and got it. It's a Gateway 2000 386/33. It's never worked as long as I've had it; I always meant to restore it to working condition, but never have. When I get a bigger place, I will.

Anyway, I'm surprised at how little information I can find on the 'net about this. They were pretty common, probably the highest-selling brand back in the early-to mid '90s. The main reason I love it is because back in school, when the most powerful computer in our house was the Nintendo Entertainment System ;), my best friend had one in his basement that he played Duke Nukem 3D, Wolfenstein 3D, and Doom on. Since I didn't get my first computer until after I graduated (and I had to buy my own used Pentium 100), I was always overly excited whenever I was in the presence of a computer. I still remember my jealousy that he had a computer and I didn't.

Here's the closest-looking picture I could find on the 'net of one. It looks the same, but mine says 386/33 on it, instead: https://www.google.com/search?q="Ga...UIDCgD&biw=1538&bih=776#imgrc=z_yfQuVQiGM8jM:

Anyway, I was just looking through here for anything on the Gateway 2000 386/33, but only saw one. I'd just like to hear some stories or memories you have of using it if you ever had one, just to hold me over until I can fix mine :D
Click to expand...

You my want to pop the cover and check your CPU. I think you will that it's an Intel 486DX-33 and not a 386 at all.

Late edit: Just reread your post and I see that the image is not your PC. My bad.
 
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TravisHuckins said:
I have a Gateway 2000 P5-90 but that's a Pentium. And even then it still takes some time to load Duke Nukem 3D. Obvious slow down in the music when loading the title screen. But after that it's fine. I couldn't imagine playing it on a 386.
Click to expand...

LOL My mistake. The Duke Nukem he had was either the first or second one for DOS.
 
I've got two that use that same case - a 4SX-25 and a 4DX-33. The 25 is working with a 2GB CF card HDD setup, and the 33 has a strange issue where once a CF card is inserted into the adapter, the computer refuses to POST. The adapter is fine (tried multiple other ones) and the CF cards are fine. Power consumption isn't an issue as all voltages read correct. May have to try something other than the onboard IDE controller. But it reads from the original HDD just fine.

There's a story you're looking for. Condensed version of it, that is, as it continues.
 
evildragon said:
Yea I played on a 486 with no issues like that.
Click to expand...

It only slows down for like 10 seconds while it loads the menu but after that there's no other slow downs at all when running the game. I am using an internal CDRW drive for compatibility with burnt CDroms though.
 
So if loading off of a CDROM drive, it is likely in PIO mode which is why it slows down the system when reading. The correct driver for your CDROM should allow it to work in one of the UDMA modes, which would not only speed it up but not affect the system as you described.
 
None of the other games I have that use the CDrom drive have this slowdown. Just Duke Nukem 3D.
 
Eventually I'd like to hear back from somebody who has a Gateway 386/33 with cache. It may have been the 386/33C (normally in the full sized desktop case). I'm really curious about benchmark results for the Micron chipset.
 
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