The DIY tech scene has always been driven by people asking “what if?” rather than accepting what’s available. Changiang Li’s Retro Handheld Computer project embodies this spirit perfectly, creating something that shouldn’t exist but absolutely should: a genuinely retro handheld PC built from actual 90s hardware.
This isn’t another Raspberry Pi running emulators in a nostalgic shell. Li’s build uses a real Intel Pentium i586 processor and an industrial motherboard salvaged from 90s medical equipment. The kind of compact board that once powered million-dollar hospital machines running Windows 95.
Designer: Changliang Li
The hardware foundation is impressively authentic. The motherboard supports both Intel Pentium and AMD 5×86 processors, complete with North Bridge, South Bridge, on-board graphics, and all the classic ports. Floppy drive, VGA, serial, parallel, IDE hard drive interface—everything that made 90s computing both powerful and wonderfully clunky.
Li paired this vintage core with a 4:3 aspect ratio LCD, staying true to the visual proportions of the era. A full-sized keyboard dominates the front panel, while a Logitech trackball handles pointing duties. These aren’t compromises but deliberate choices that reinforce the project’s authentic feel.
The custom case started as hand sketches before moving to 3D modeling and printing. The result is unapologetically chunky, with visible screws, clear labels, and an acrylic LCD cover. This looks like what handheld computers should have looked like in 1998.
Building this required serious hands-on skills. Manual soldering, internal layout planning, spray painting, and plenty of problem-solving. Li shared the project as open source, inviting other tinkerers to build their own versions rather than keeping the design locked away.
The “handheld” label needs some context here. This machine is large and heavy by modern standards, better suited for desk use than true portability. But that’s part of its charm—it’s handheld in the sense of being self-contained, not pocketable.
What makes this particularly compelling is the authentic software experience. This machine runs real Windows 98 on period-correct hardware, complete with slow boot times, limited RAM, and all the quirks that made 90s computing both frustrating and endearing.
The gaming capabilities really shine here. StarCraft, Tomb Raider II, and Diablo II all run exactly as they did twenty-five years ago. No emulation layer, no compatibility issues, just pure nostalgic gaming on hardware that was cutting-edge when these titles launched.
Li’s project represents something deeper than just retro aesthetics. It’s about the tactile pleasure of real keys, the satisfaction of making old hardware work in new ways, and the joy of building something genuinely personal.vThis chunky, lovable machine proves that the best DIY projects aren’t always about pushing forward but sometimes about bringing the past back to life.
The post DIY Retro Windows 98 Handheld Computer is Old-school Inside and Out first appeared on Yanko Design.