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Cache (COASt) testing

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First post, by Roman78

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Recently i got a nice Pentium one board whit a 133 Mhz CPU on it. First I installed Novell Dos 7 and got some strange emm386 error messages while running some programs, like the SB installer or Duke Nukem 3D. So i installed MS-Dos 6.22 and got some error messages while loading himem.sys. So i figured out there is something wrong. I Suspected the memory, so i run memtest86 and got some errors. So i replaced the memory, run memtest86 again... and i got some errors, so i replaced the memory and again... errors. So now i sucpect the Cache module, there is a 256K so called COASt (Cache on a Stick) module installed. I removed it, run Memtest86 again (or better saying it is running at this moment) whitout any errors.

Is there also a program to just test the Cache module?

Reply 1 of 3, by lowlytech

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I don't know of a cache test program per se, but your memory errors sounded exactly like my issue with bad cache that was soldered to a socket 7 asus board. It would only pass a memtest with the cache disabled unfortunately.

Reply 2 of 3, by Roman78

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I found a DOS program called Cachechk, who was able to test the speed of the cache. But when I did an intensive check the machine restated. As said, after removing the module everything went fine. Also could run programs that were not working before. So I assume the module is broken, or there is something wrong whit the mainboard.

Reply 3 of 3, by phantom_pl

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Have you tried to clean contacts of COAST module and connector with isopropyl alcohol? Sometimes they just got dirty with age and don't make proper contact.

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