PC gaming could be a pain before Windows XP. IRQ conflicts, Soundblaster always caused problems but it was stellar when it worked, having to get patches via snail mail after calling the software company, and CD ROM drives (and modems!) were built out of the same material as Bob Sanders.
Then it seems like immediately after 2000/XP came out, everything worked better. Components actually lasted, on board sound matched or even eclipsed Sound Blaster, broadband Internet etc.
Ironically people that skipped PC gaming in the early 2000's missed out on one of the greatest games ever made! Battlefield 1942! That thing had all the features of modern console gaming with 64 players and all!