Just a hint: It is easier to put some SIMM sockets into the SIPP sockets than soldering pins on SIMM modules.

Group A sockeds are supposed for parity memory (usually optional)
Group B sockets are intended for main memory (256k x 4 DRAM chips), four pieces (512 kB) should be sufficient to make it operational. Don't forget to set the jumpers accordingly.

^ thanks for the info!

Indeed I am trying with 512kb of ram ... but I can't get it to boot, I get 3xBeeps that repeat after some time... I assume you are referring to the jumper block next to the BIOS?

I tried both settings, having all jumpered to 1+2 or 2+3 , still the same behavior...

Have you tried the other 4 sockets ?

yes... I even tried alternating sockets, or cross patterns etc... meh
I can easily solder some pins to a couple of simms and test, maybe the dram chips I use are not compatible or something

According to the specs sheet, these are 256k modules - should work.
On the picture: you definitely filled both memory banks to half - each (smaller) parity chip belong to the two (high and low) memory socket IN THE SAME LINE.
I cannot judge which is BANK 0 and BANK 1 on this board, but you start with a chance of 50% 😀

In your shoes -even lacking the manual- for me it would be easier to figure it out as I have an amply stock of dram chips and SIPPS as well. Still the permutation game with the jumper settings is unavoidable. 😢

BastlerMike wrote:

Just a hint: It is easier to put some SIMM sockets into the SIPP sockets than soldering pins on SIMM modules.

Group A sockeds are supposed for parity memory (usually optional)
Group B sockets are intended for main memory (256k x 4 DRAM chips), four pieces (512 kB) should be sufficient to make it operational. Don't forget to set the jumpers accordingly.

And if you were looking to max out the memory on this board, high density SIMMs are a hell of a lot easier to find and cheaper than high density SIPPs.

My last 286 board I bought partly because it did have SIMM sockets instead of SIPP.

@jolaes76

thanks for the tip~ will try tomorrow and report
I have 4x1MB simms, I suppose they will work in SIPP sockets, right? My 286 experience is 0 atm...

@siderider
yep, the plan is to use simms with pins once the modo fires up

Keropi,

your guess is right - the SIPP socket was just a cost-cutting move to spare with the gold (no connectors). Probably the socket was cheaper, too. Otherwise they are the same.Seated SIPPs are particularly sensitive to push from the sideways, take care. Also, inserting a SIPP the wrong way is MUCH easier than forcing a SIMM into the socket backwards...

sadly I can't get it to boot with those 4 dram chips... will try with some simm converted to sipp and see how that goes

it booted fine with "sipp" memory installed:

Apparently it's a "SNOBOL MINI" motherboard

and I get these 2 bios screens:

and the diags one:

What's the deal with this EMS option on the BIOS? (I have no real experience with anything lower than a 386sx...)

The chipset supports EMS emulation (which is slower than the real EMS card but still much faster than simulated EMS)
You will need the chipset specific driver to make it work. The BIOS-specified potion of memory will then be unavailable for other uses (you will see the main memory reduced on bootup POST screen memory check)
With 1 MB main memory, you can safely make 64kb-96kb EMS on most chipsets so DUNE2 will be happy 😀 Your 2 megabytes are A-OK for a general 286 system.
But 4 megs are much better, of course, for a 20-25 mhz hot-rod.

http://ibm-pc.org/drivers/memory/memory.htm

http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum/showt … g-in-a-286-BIOS

thanks for the info again Jolaes76 , I did install 4MB of ram... basically I invested some time, desoldered the simm sockets from a dead mobo and inserted them in the sipp sockets. So I just used normal 30pin simms, like BastlerMike suggested 😀
Will look on your links, hopefully I'll find a suitable driver

Just seen the date of the BIOS, 06/13/90. You might want to back it up as EPROMs often start losing their data after 20 years+. You'll probably need an EPROM burner to do it as I doubt there's software available like modern BIOSes to back it up.

Cheers!

^ good thinking, will back it up , I do have a willem programmer , thanks for the tip because once it's dead the mobo will be useless...

The CMOS part can be restored at boot from floppy or HDD by certain utilities. Date and time settings, of course, are lost and one gets CMOS checksum errors / battery errors at each boot but the previously saved settings are loaded from HDD or floppy and the computer is usable.

Hi. The pictures in this topic are no longer available but I think the motherboard which BIOS I need is either the same or very similar. Here is a picture of my dead motherboard:

The BIOS is either corrupted or which is less likely has data bits shuffled due to motherboard track routing. ISA bus has working clock and reset signals. That's all. No code is output to port 80 to the diagnostic card I used. Does anybody have BIOS for this or with the same chipset motherboard? Thanks.

Remove the barrel battery first.

Read the ROM with a Programmer and test your image in an emulator. Please upload here if it works
80286 BIOS image collection

Did you try the Supersoft diagnostic ROM? If this does not run, your board has another problem...

Great idea Predator99. Found this reference in Githubs and legeek.info MAME depository:
MAME Rom Update 0.213 to 0.214 includes \snomi286\gst_286.bin = "Snobol Mini 286 - BIOS-String: DGS2-1402-101090-K0
// Chipset: GST GOLD GS62C101 and GS62C102." That is the only good ref I can find for the BIOS so far...

Predator99 wrote:

Remove the barrel battery first. […]
Show full quote

Remove the barrel battery first.

Read the ROM with a Programmer and test your image in an emulator. Please upload here if it works
80286 BIOS image collection

Did you try the Supersoft diagnostic ROM? If this does not run, your board has another problem...

The battery is not an issue so far. I have already read it in a programmer in order to speculate that data bits might be flipped. If the bits are reordered, then the diagnostic ROM won't work too. I haven't heard about the AT diagnostic ROM but obviously I have missed it all these many years. Here is the dump of the current EPROM which does not alter with multiple readings.