86Box Blog
86box.net · Company blog · on HN since 2020
The 86Box project blog covers release notes and development of an emulator for IBM PC-compatible systems, including graphics card emulation.
What HN saysHN commenters recommend 86Box for retro PC gaming, such as running Windows 98 with Voodoo cards, and as a more capable alternative to PCem.
20HN people shared it
12linked it in comments
15stories submitted
399story points
4 months agolast shared
2020people per year2026
Most-shared posts
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What HN people wrote when they linked it
mrbuttons454 · 2024-10-03
86box is also great, especially for retro PC gaming support. I can run Windows 98 with a Pentium 233 MMX and Voodoo3 on relatively modest hardware. (AMD 7840HS)
https://86box.net
int_19h · 2022-11-29
This is great to take a quick look at some old piece of software, but if you want to get more involved, I would suggest something less constrained and more performant than a web app. I can't speak for other platforms, but https://86box.net/ seems to be the standard for old PC emulation on desktop OSes.
sargstuff · 2026-05-31
Now just needs an x86 simulator port.[0]
[0] : https://86box.net/
sandreas · 2024-07-14
I'd prefer OpenRA [1] or X86box[2] / PCEm [3]. The latter can even emulate BIOS + 3DFX cards, if configured correctly.
There also is a video by LTT on how to use and configure it correctly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWEE2RJj3YI
1: https://www.openra.net/
2: https://86box.net/
3: https://www.pcem-emulator.co.uk/
accrual · 2023-11-26
86box is another alternative. Last I checked it was updated more frequently than PCem, but times may have changed.
https://86box.net/
stavros · 2023-10-12
I used https://86box.net/ to install and run Windows 95, and it works perfectly.
zare_st · 2023-09-30
Use https://86box.net/
There's a ton of hardware profiles embedded. I found my old XT PC which is not that common. Goes up to Pentium era.
It is not perfect tho. My XT has a Plantronics card which is a CGA+, with double memory granting few additional modes, but it's not emulated. There is some historical software targeting this graphics card, even some contemporary retro-indie games.
speps · 2023-09-19
Just use https://86box.net/ it's updated regularly and works wonders!
badsectoracula · 2023-08-29
PCem is dead, use 86Box[0] (forked off PCem) instead.
[0] https://86box.net/
LeoPanthera · 2023-02-02
Remember that Windows 3.1 is a shell, not an operating system. You need to install DOS first.
https://winworldpc.com/product/windows-3/31
And your choice of DOS:
MS-DOS 6.22: https://winworldpc.com/product/ms-dos/622
or, PC-DOS 2000: https://winworldpc.com/product/pc-dos/2000
A good choice for early PC emulation is 86Box: https://86box.net
rnd0 · 2021-12-01
PCem has been all but abandoned, try 86Box instead.
https://86box.net
chungy · 2024-12-30
See also, the main site: https://86box.net/