This Laptop DESTROYS My Other DOS Gaming PCs – 166MMX Siemens Nixdorf SCENIC 710- Ep18

Vintage DOS Gaming Beast – Pentium MMX Siemens Nixdorf SCENIC MOBILE 710

Review & Repair
I’m thrilled to share my latest retro PC find – the Siemens Nixdorf SCENIC MOBILE 710, a rare 1996 QUANTA-based laptop rocking a 166MMX Pentium Processor, hardware wavetable audio, and a design perfect for MS-DOS gaming. This machine fixes the shortcomings of the AST Ascentia P and WinBook FX I reviewed earlier — faster graphics, easier upgrades, and a built-in USB port.

💻 Key Features & Upgrades:

CPU: Pentium MMX 166MHz (modular board design)
Graphics: Chips & Technologies 65554, 64-bit interface (20% faster in Quake at 320×240)
RAM: Four standard 144-pin SIMM slots (up to 192MB EDO RAM)
Drives: Dual modular bays (optical drive, floppy, or batteries) + standard 44-pin IDE (8GB CF card bootable)
Ports: USB, MIDI/Game, PS/2 Keyboard & Mouse, Audio In/Out
Sound: ESFM + hardware wavetable for amazing DOS audio
Modding: Epoxy case repair, BIOS battery replacement, SETMUL performance tuning
🎮 Gaming Performance:
Quake at 640×480 over 15 FPS with the same CPU as the AST/WinBook, outperforming even a 233MHz Toshiba 740 in some tests. Supports titles from 386-era speed-sensitive games up to late DOS 3D titles.
🔧 Repair Highlights:
Rebuilt brittle emerald-green case with two-part epoxy, replaced leaking VL1220 BIOS battery, full motherboard removal & cleanup.

📦 Why It’s My Top Pick:
✅ Easier to upgrade than AST & WinBook
✅ Faster graphics and better USB convenience
✅ Outstanding audio for retro gaming

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:20 Restoration
02:04 External presentation
02:30 Ports, RAM upgrade
03:00 HDD
03:15 BIOS Battery replacement
04:55 Power UP, BIOS settings
05:10 Quake 3D, Test drive, Ultima 7
06:00 Fullscreen VEXP scaling
06:35 Audio setup
06:45 Wavetable and Roland SC55 comparisons
10:00 Joystick connectivity
10:40 3D Bench results
10:52 File transfers, Windows 98
11:05 Windows Games, Diablo, Need for speed
11:40 Remarks
12:00 RB Score
12:20 Credits and Closing remarks


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