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Fastest MS-DOS ThinkPad?

Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2022 10:16 pm
by nanomacguy
What would be the best ThinkPad for running DOS games (e.g. Doom, SimCity, etc.)? I've wanted to have a DOS PC but don't want to take up a bunch of space with a desktop.

Re: Fastest MS-DOS ThinkPad?

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2022 2:22 am
by Bondi
Well, the usual problem with newer Thinads is sound suport in pure DOS. So the fastest one with native SB/FM support is T/A22 series Thinkpads that have CS4624 chip https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/CS4624
I have a A21p and it supports sound in DOS. Yet, the FM sound volume is very low in some games for some reason. Also something to be concerned is that these laptops often suffer from BoD (Blink of Death).
If you're okay to play DOS games in Windows, then T/X4x series have decent SB emulation.
But practically IMO DOSBox is a better option.

Re: Fastest MS-DOS ThinkPad?

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2022 2:22 am
by dr_st
I believe the A21/A22 and T20/T21/T22 (not T23) series are the latest Thinkpads that have fully DOS-compatible audio chipsets. They can be had with ~1GHz Pentium III.

Edit: Bondi beat me to it. :)