The Tech Deck

The Packard Bell Club 533C

Well well well, wasn't this a deal? I saw this PC listed on eBay for like $90. It was a bid so I bidded the $90 and waited to see if I got it and to my excitement I did get it! Since the listing had postage too it added up to $110 but that isn't too bad compared to the prices I see computers listed here for as they're all so expensive!

History

The history? Well, originally I was trying to install Windows 98SE on the old family PC on a separate hard drive but nothing would work as it only had 1GB of RAM and Windows 98 and 98SE hate having 1GB for some reason. After a lot of trial and error I kinda gave up in dismay and well, waited to see if I could find a cheap retro PC. A lot of the PCs I found were too expensive and either the buyer wanted so much more for postage or wouldn't post at all until one day I saw the Club 533C listed on eBay for a cheap price so I launched into it and bidded on it. To my excitement no one else bidded on it and I won the bid! It arrived way earlier than expected too but that was a bonus.

Specifications

As for the specifications, I can list them properly for this machine hahaha! This PC has:

  • A Celeron clocked at 2.66GHz
  • 768MB RAM with 32MB integrated
  • An 18.6GB PATA hard disk
  • A RTL8139 network interface card
  • Two optical disk drives
  • A 1.44MB floppy disk drive

The PC originally came with no OS so I installed Windows 98SE along with the unofficial Windows 98 Second Edition Service Pack 3.

Pictures and Videos
The box the Packard Bell arrived in.
This was the box it came in. A bit misleading but fun!
Opening of the box.
It was well protected in two layers of bubblewrap!
Front of the PC.
This is the front of the PC. The box stated 12KG but it feels heavier!
Packard Bell stickers. Year 2000 compliant sticker.
The stickers on it: Windows 98 and Intel Celeron, plus Year 2000 compliant.
First boot screen.
Startup screen showing ASUS P4SGL-VM info and Energy Star logo.
Windows 98 setup screen.
Picture during setup. Here I finally could install 98SE!
Windows 98 welcome screen.
Windows 98 desktop (before display driver fix).
Blue Screen of Death.
Classic 90s trouble — driver issues + blue screen!
Carnivores game waiver screen. Carnivores main screen.
Thankfully, I got Carnivores working after all the struggle.
NIC in PCI slot.
Inside: the NIC and extra USB backplates.
Another photo of the NIC.
More of the inside: RAM sticks and ribbon cables.
CPU cooler.
CPU cooler and internals.
PATA hard disk.
The PATA hard disk. Replugging the cable fixed a blinking-light issue.
All of the inside.
The entire interior of the case.