Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!hp-pcd!hpsgwp!plim From: plim@hpsgwp.sgp.hp.com (Peter Lim) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware Subject: Re: 80486 expert opinion wanted ... Message-ID: <3370004@hpsgwp.sgp.hp.com> Date: 29 Dec 90 05:47:36 GMT References: <3370002@hpsgwp.sgp.hp.com> Organization: HP Singapore IC Design Ctr Lines: 51 I have done quite a bit more testing of the motherboard since I last posted. I sure feels unlucky that the version number is printed at the bottom of the chip. And on my motherboard, the chip has a sticker over it which reads, "Warranty void if tempered with" :-(. May be someone from Intel cann tell from the markings (date code etc ??) on top of the chip. On mine, it says .... A80486DX-25 SX308 I0332313 INTEL(M)(C)1989 Does that make any sense ? Should the date '1989' strike fear ?? Well, if I didn't mention in my original posting. This board uses the OPTI cache controller chipset. The AMI BIOS is dated 04/09/90 (April, 90). I was having a lot of problem trying to start SCO UNIX/386 on the machine. After the boot: prompt upon booting the UNIX N1 disk, hitting RETURN sends the machine back to a cold boot. Finally, I went in a play around with the AMI BIOS CMOS setup. I found that by setting the CACHEABLE MEMORY to 15 MB instead of 16 MB (I have 16 MB RAM installed), the machine is able to boot the N1 disk to the point where it request sticking in the N2 disk. I haven't tested beyond that point yet. Soon ...... May be this info is useful to someone; or may be someone like to point out that this is a sign of trouble with the cache system. I also found that with 12 MB of RAM, there is no problem at all. So, something must be happening at the 16 MB boundary. Since someone mentioned that B5 version will work fine with OS/2 and UNIX too, then how can I test to make sure that I have a good chip ? Anyone has any idea what changes were made in each of the revisions (B5, B6, C0, C1 etc. etc.) ? BTW, what benchmark reading should I get from a 486-25 with 128K external cache. I got Performance index of 54.0 from Norton 5.0's SYSINFO (but 38.x from Norton 4.5's SI). Much thanks for anymore information. Regards, . .. ... .- -> -->## Life is fast enough as it is ........ Peter Lim. ## .... DON'T PUSH IT !! >>>-------, ########################################### : E-mail: plim@hpsgwg.HP.COM Snail-mail: Hewlett Packard Singapore, : Tel: (065)-279-2289 (ICDS, ICS) | Telnet: 520-2289 1150 Depot Road, __\@/__ Singapore 0410. SPLAT ! #include