Quick Specs
Architecture: 586
CPU: Intel Pentium, Pentium MMX, AMD K6
Video: S3 Trio64V2/GX
RAM: 256MB Max
Chassis: NLX low-profile desktop / short tower
Bus: 1* 16bit ISA, 1* PCI, 1* shared PCI/ISA (desktop), 2* PCI, 2* ISA, 1* PCI/ISA (short tower)
Operating System: Windows 95B, Windows NT 4.0
Digital Venturis FX-2 / Digital PC 3100
The Venturis FX-2 was announced on 7 May 1997 replacing the earlier and virtually identical looking Venturis FX
(which itself replaced the Venturis). For some absurd reason on 20 October 1997 DEC
announced they were moving to more generic and un-googleable (un-altavistaable?) brand names for their PC
products with the Digital Venturis FX-2 being renamed to the Digital PC 3100.
Main Differences from the Venturis FX
| Feature |
FX |
FX-2 |
| Chipset |
SIS |
Intel 430TX |
| Memory |
6x 72pin EDO |
3x SDRAM |
| CPU |
Pentium |
PentiumMMX or AMD K6 |
| Graphics |
S3 Trio64V+ 1MB EDO |
S3 Trio64V2/GX 1MB SGRAM |
Operating System, Documentation & Pre-loaded Software
These machines originally shipped with either Windows NT Workstation 4.0, or Windows 95 OSR2 (4.00.950 B,
CD-ROM 0796 Part No. 000-45234). The Windows 95 CD is a regular unmodified Microsoft OEM one. Even machines
delivered in late 97/early 98 appeared to use OSR 2 with USB support delivered via the USB Supplement to OSR2
on the System Software CD
I've only got an FX-2 media kit, but the PC 3100 should be much the same - just a different label and newer
versions of some of the drivers. The included media was:
- AK-R3RTD-CA DIGITAL Startup DISKETTE, Intel based Systems, Disk 1 of 1, Batch No. 040897
- AG-R4STD-BH Venturis FX-2 System Software CD Version 1.3, August 1997
- AK-QX1BA-CA EtherWORKS PCI network Management Diskette V1.0, May 1996, Batch No. 260397 (in the EtherWORKS Turbo PCI 10 envelope)
- AK-QNW6D-CA EtherWORKS Turbo PCI 10 DOS format Driver Diskette V2.5, February 1997, Batch No. 260397 (in the EtherWORKS Turbo PCI 10 envelope)
- 0796 Part No. 000-45234 Microsoft Windows 95 OSR2
The System Software CD is just a CD full of the driver versions current at the time of issue. You can almost
certainly get newer drivers from either the FX-2 Drivers Page
or the PC 3100 Drivers Page (that pages title is wrong).
Both pages likely contain largely the same content as the PC 3100 and FX-2 are the same machine. The latest
drivers and documentation for the DE450 and other DEC NICs can be found
here.
Below are a few files recovered from the OEM install on my PC 3100 which may be of interest:
Software in the Digital start menu folder lived in the following locations.
The Installer column gives what should be the location on the Venturis FX-2 System Software CD (AG-R4STD-BH above):
| Start Menu Entry |
Target |
Installer |
| Programs > Digital > ClientWORKS > ClientWORKS Help |
C:\Windows\Winhlp32.exe C:\Client~1\LiveLINK\BIN\LIVELINK.HLP |
\APPS\CW\ |
| Programs > Digital > ClientWORKS > ClientWORKS MIFMaker V2.0 |
C:\Client~1\Livelink\Bin\mifmkr32.exe |
| Programs > Digital > ClientWORKS > ClientWORKS Read Me |
C:\Windows\Notepad.exe C:\Client~1\LiveLINK\README.TXT |
| Programs > Digital > ClientWORKS > DMI Local Browser |
C:\Client~1\Livelink\Bin\LiveLINK.exe |
| Programs > Digital > ClientWORKS > DMI Remote Browser |
C:\Client~1\Livelink\Bin\LiveLINK.exe /network=yes |
| Programs > Digital > ClientWORKS > Registry Instrumentation Initializer |
C:\Client~1\Livelink\Bin\Regcisu.exe |
| Programs > Digital > ClientWORKS > Run SMART at StartUp |
C:\Client~1\Livelink\Bin\smart.exe |
| Programs > Digital > ClientWORKS > Set ClientWORKS Information |
C:\Client~1\Livelink\Bin\SETLI.exe |
| Programs > Digital > Installable Options > Acrobat Reader 3.01 > Acrobat Reader 3.01 Setup |
C:\Options\Reader\Ar32e301.exe |
options.zip or \APPS\ACROBAT |
| Programs > Digital > Installable Options > Universal Serial Bus > USB Readme |
C:\Windows\Notepad.exe C:\Options\USB\usb.txt |
? |
| Programs > Digital > PC Care > Diagnostics |
C:\Diag\PCCare\Addiag.exe |
\APPS\WIN95\PCCARE |
| Programs > Digital > PC Care > Manager |
C:\Diag\PCCare\Pccare.exe |
| Programs > Digital > PC Care > Readme File |
C:\Windows\Notepad.exe C:\Diag\PCCare\README.TXT |
| Programs > Digital > Desktop Wellness |
C:\Digital\Dsktpwln\Present.exe ERGON.IWM |
\APPS\WELLNESS |
| Programs > Digital > Digital Read Me |
C:\Windows\Notepad.exe C:\DIGITAL\README.TXT |
\HELP |
| Programs > Digital > Using your computer |
C:\Windows\Winhelp.exe C:\DIGITAL\USING.HLP |
Additional Photos
In The Collection
| Name |
Model |
RAM |
CPU |
HDD |
CD-ROM |
Cards |
Condition/notes |
|
PC 3100 5200ML |
32MB |
PentiumMMX 200MHz |
WD Caviar 22000 2GB |
Digital DE450 NIC |
|
Working 1/02/2024. Received without PSU, seized CPU fan, no CMOS battery. Case is yellowed. Now has the PSU from the FX-2 and new Startech S7/370 cooler.
Hard disk had original OEM install of Windows. First boot by original owner was 4 March 1998 and last boot was 5 July 2003 at 7:26:20am
Model FR-DBD5W-W0
|
|
FX-2 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Dead. Owned since before 2004. Never worked as long as I've owned it - don't recall issue. PSU moved to the PC 3100
No PSU, No CPU, No RAM, No cards, No drives. Case de-yellowed via the sun (trial run before subjecting anything
else to this method). Model FR-DZA01-K2.
|
Documentation & Drivers
Press Releases
