Using the above method, could you hook up a LCD screen and use that instead of the old style monitor in the game?
Nope. I don't remember the video card in that machine off the
top of my head, but it has a custom BIOS that doubles as copy protection
and sets the card to run in medium resolution mode and only when the game
software needs it.
If you plug it into a VGA monitor you will get nothing, zip, nada. You need
an old PCI VGA card. Any card will do, just needs to be PCI.
As far as motherboard replacements:
The motherboard is an Intel E139761 which is unfortunately pretty vague since
there are a zillion revisions. You need to look at the barcode tag that starts with AA.
I've found that the number after the AA on the original boards starts with 720xxx or
something like that. Any number at or higher than the 720xxx has worked in these games
for me. BUT! you also need to check possible replacements because some of them
don't have audio circuitry. My last one had a revision AA754xxx and worked fine.
I even had a mobo that wouldn't work and I flashed it with the BIOS for the original
MOBO and it worked !
Hope this helps anyone with DOA Hydro or Off Road Thunders in back of the shop.
These really are easy to get back up and running - presuming your video card is
still good.
Next time on This Old Game - My Arctic Thunder replacement PC !
JD