VOGONS

Search

Common searches

Testing the Intel Classic-PCI Expandable Desktop (Ninja)

Topic actions

First post, by GL1zdA

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

There's a change I will part with my Classic-PCI Expandable Desktop soon, so I decided to leave here all the information that someone, who comes across this motherboard, might need.

It's 420EX (Aries) based - with ISA and PCI slots. The IDE controller is attached to the northbridge (TODO: attach the chipset datasheet). It works with almost all VGA cards I tested, Cirrus Logic based cards wont work in the top (when you have the KB port on your left and the CPU is facing you) PCI slot for some reason.

My board came without cache chips. I tried using cache chips from another board, but they don't work - it seems the small 1-bit chip is required. Here are some SPEEDSYS results for this board.

Ninja + Intel DX4 - this is the standard configuration for this motherboard.

ninja.png

Ninja + AMD X5 - it doesn't like the X5, instead of 133 MHz it runs at 100 MHz.

ninja_x5.png

Ninja + Kingston Turbochip - VCC has to be set to 5V for this one to run. Works perfect, but the integrated fan is very loud.

ninja_turbochip.png

I'll update this post with further information later. Ask any questions you might have about this motherboard - I will try to answer them as well as I can.

Attachments

  • ninja x5.png
    Filename
    ninja x5.png
    File size
    11.52 KiB
    Views
    1804 views
    File comment
    Ninja + AMD X5 133
    File license
    Fair use/fair dealing exception
  • ninja turbochip.png
    Filename
    ninja turbochip.png
    File size
    11.47 KiB
    Views
    1804 views
    File comment
    Ninja + Kingston Turbochip
    File license
    Fair use/fair dealing exception

getquake.gif | InfoWorld/PC Magazine Indices

Reply 1 of 7, by Gona

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

I have bought one but it halts at the very beginning at the boot (D1).
I have tried DX50 and DX4-100 OverDrive but the same.
The "PCI 3.3v Power connector - J6J1" not needed?

Video card compatibility matrix for DOS games | ATI3DCIF compatibility matrix | CGL API compatibility matrix

Reply 2 of 7, by Tiido

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t

Are the CPU voltage jumpers set right ? Here's the jumpers info : http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/PCschit/Classic-PCI-ED_4317.pdf

The 3.3V PCI connector isn't required to be used but it'll help that regulator near it which gets pretty hot otherwise, especially with a 3.3V CPU in use.

I also have that board and I made a little utility called SETARIES to significantly boost its performance. You can find it here : http://www.tmeeco.eu/TKAYBSC/

Stock 33/66MHz : http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/PCschit/A66S.png
Faster 33/66MHz : http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/PCschit/A66F.png
Stock 40/80MHz : http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/PCschit/A80S.png
Faster 40/80MHz : http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/PCschit/A80F.png
Stock 50/100MHz : http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/PCschit/A100S.png
Faster 50/100MHz : http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/PCschit/A100F.png

I did a mod to the PLL to allow 40 and 50MHz FSB (and PCI) speed : http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/PCschit/NinjaPLL.jpg
Memory performance is pretty poor compared to SiS and OPTi boards I have.

T-04YBSC, a new YMF71x based sound card & Official VOGONS thread about it
Newly made 4MB 60ns 30pin SIMMs ~
mida sa loed ? nagunii aru ei saa 😜

Reply 3 of 7, by Gona

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member
Tiido wrote:

Are the CPU voltage jumpers set right ? Here's the jumpers info : http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/PCschit/Classic-PCI-ED_4317.pdf

Thanks for reply. Yes, J2A1-J2A4 jmpers are on 2-3 (5V); J4C4 on 1-2 (non SX); J1C3 is 1-2 (non SL), all others are on default. No card in the motherboard except the mobo tester card. Only CPU installed. With or without memory also halt on D1.

Tiido wrote:
I also have that board and I made a little utility called SETARIES to significantly boost its performance. You can find it here […]
Show full quote

I also have that board and I made a little utility called SETARIES to significantly boost its performance. You can find it here : http://www.tmeeco.eu/TKAYBSC/

Stock 33/66MHz : http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/PCschit/A66S.png
Faster 33/66MHz : http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/PCschit/A66F.png
Stock 40/80MHz : http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/PCschit/A80S.png
Faster 40/80MHz : http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/PCschit/A80F.png
Stock 50/100MHz : http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/PCschit/A100S.png
Faster 50/100MHz : http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/PCschit/A100F.png

I did a mod to the PLL to allow 40 and 50MHz FSB (and PCI) speed : http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/PCschit/NinjaPLL.jpg
Memory performance is pretty poor compared to SiS and OPTi boards I have.

Wow! Great tool!

Video card compatibility matrix for DOS games | ATI3DCIF compatibility matrix | CGL API compatibility matrix

Reply 4 of 7, by amadeus777999

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie
Tiido wrote:
Are the CPU voltage jumpers set right ? Here's the jumpers info : http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/PCschit/Classic-PCI-ED_4317.pdf […]
Show full quote

Are the CPU voltage jumpers set right ? Here's the jumpers info : http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/PCschit/Classic-PCI-ED_4317.pdf

The 3.3V PCI connector isn't required to be used but it'll help that regulator near it which gets pretty hot otherwise, especially with a 3.3V CPU in use.

I also have that board and I made a little utility called SETARIES to significantly boost its performance. You can find it here : http://www.tmeeco.eu/TKAYBSC/

Stock 33/66MHz : http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/PCschit/A66S.png
Faster 33/66MHz : http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/PCschit/A66F.png
Stock 40/80MHz : http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/PCschit/A80S.png
Faster 40/80MHz : http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/PCschit/A80F.png
Stock 50/100MHz : http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/PCschit/A100S.png
Faster 50/100MHz : http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/PCschit/A100F.png

I did a mod to the PLL to allow 40 and 50MHz FSB (and PCI) speed : http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/PCschit/NinjaPLL.jpg
Memory performance is pretty poor compared to SiS and OPTi boards I have.

Awesome!

Reply 5 of 7, by Tiido

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t
Gona wrote:

Thanks for reply. Yes, J2A1-J2A4 jmpers are on 2-3 (5V); J4C4 on 1-2 (non SX); J1C3 is 1-2 (non SL), all others are on default. No card in the motherboard except the mobo tester card. Only CPU installed. With or without memory also halt on D1.

What about cache ? The board needs all 10 sockets to be populated or it will not work. One is a special 1bit SRAM memory. I ended up modding my board to get around it : http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/PCschit/NinjaCache.jpg

T-04YBSC, a new YMF71x based sound card & Official VOGONS thread about it
Newly made 4MB 60ns 30pin SIMMs ~
mida sa loed ? nagunii aru ei saa 😜

Reply 6 of 7, by GL1zdA

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

Nice, didn't expect anyone to revive this thread after 6 years 😉. Where have you found information about the registers you are setting in the SETARIES program?

getquake.gif | InfoWorld/PC Magazine Indices

Reply 7 of 7, by Tiido

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t

The info came from the datasheet of 82420EX. When I have more time and knowledge I want to make an UMB driver for this chipset too, it seems that UMBPCI doesn't support it nor other utilities I have found. I'll have to see how the UMB services are provided and create a small util. I want to do same for SiS471 also.

Attachments

  • Filename
    i420.pdf
    File size
    1.64 MiB
    Downloads
    111 downloads
    File license
    Fair use/fair dealing exception

T-04YBSC, a new YMF71x based sound card & Official VOGONS thread about it
Newly made 4MB 60ns 30pin SIMMs ~
mida sa loed ? nagunii aru ei saa 😜

Go to top of page Go to top of page
Back to General Old Hardware
Close window
Close window