Enthusiast builds a working 486 DX2 retro PC on a breadboard in just 16 days, immediately runs Doom
An app engineer has showcased his homemade breadboard 486DX2 PC running Doom, put together in just over two weeks.
A gifted app engineer has constructed a functional 486 DX2 retro PC on a breadboard in just 16 days, and immediately utilized it to run the iconic game Doom. The creation process came to light in early November 2026, with the first appearance of the Intel i486 DX2 CPU on October 24, and a subsequent video demonstration of Doom gameplay on November 9. The engineer, based in Tokyo, also designed a CRT monitor to complement the homemade early-90s gaming machine.
The project's inception was noted on October 24, when the engineer showcased the sought-after Intel i486 DX2 66 CPU, which operated at 66 MHz internally and 33 MHz externally. This chip boasted 168 pins, appearing quite substantial by today's standards. Following the acquisition of the CPU, the engineer attached it to an FPGA board from Colorlight to handle chipset duties.
The breadboard PC's key achievement was reached on October 26, as the system began to take shape, and the CPU successfully blinked an LED using x86 code.
The engineer then integrated 31 gigabytes of RAM by October 31, carefully ensuring its error-free operation. MicroSD storage was added to the system on November 3, allowing the breadboard 486 to boot FreeDOS 1.3 on the same day. The engineer later employed a Bambu Lab A1 mini 3D printer to create custom parts for a CRT-style enclosure, designed by Claude and assembled with a 5-inch 800×480 Raspberry Pi panel inside.
On November 9, the engineer unveiled the breadboard PC alongside its matching beige-shelled CRT monitor, powering up the system to display Doom with smooth performance. The engineer aims to further refine the project, striving for full PC-98 compatibility to match the prevalent NEC PC-9800 series in Japan during the early 1990s.
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