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First post, by Intel486dx33

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I have an IBM PS/1 Consultant that I want to restore.
It is a desktop with a 486sx 25mhz. CPU, 8mb ram, 512mb HD, CDROM and Sound blaster 16.
Tseng e4000 VGA.
Model 2155 original config.

I downloaded the the recovery disk images form this IBM restore website.
https://ps1stuff.wordpress.com/download/downl … -for-type-2133/

Which I burned to CD and will install from.

My question is this computer does not have a Math-co processor.
I would like to add one but I am not sure as to which model CPU I need.

Here are some images of the motherboard.

Manual
http://ps-2.kev009.com/pccbbs/aptiva/63g2028.pdf

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Last edited by Intel486dx33 on 2018-09-21, 20:48. Edited 1 time in total.

Reply 1 of 6, by Jed118

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Wow, I haven't seen one of those since middle school!

You'll need something like this, officially:

intel487-sz494_med.jpg

This is basically an entire Intel 486 with an active, built-in FPU. The CPU has an extra pin on it to prevent it from being used in a regular Socket 3, uh, socket.

If you can take the original CPU out and replace it, just do that, as the 487s are quite rare and very pricey:

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Intel-i487-SX-math-co … ~AAAOSwPAxaBQBp

I'm not sure if you can put an ODPR in there (a cursory glance shows the extra pin as on a 487) but if you can, I would go that route - more speed at a cheaper price.

Youtube channel- The Kombinator
What's for sale? my eBay!

Reply 2 of 6, by RJDog

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Wow, I had that exact computer when it was new. Did not have sound card and CD-ROM from factory, added that myself later using a clone SoundBlaster 16 (honestly don't remember the exact brand, just that it wasn't Creative) that came in a "Multinedia Pack" which included the drive, sound card, and Microsoft Encarta '95. Good times. Gonna have to see if I still have that gem of software.

To your question, the required chip is exactly what is shown in the manual: i487SX (or, 80487SX which I think is not technically correct). Quick eBay search yields fairly few results though...

Reply 3 of 6, by Intel486dx33

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Jed118 wrote:
Wow, I haven't seen one of those since middle school! […]
Show full quote

Wow, I haven't seen one of those since middle school!

You'll need something like this, officially:

intel487-sz494_med.jpg

This is basically an entire Intel 486 with an active, built-in FPU. The CPU has an extra pin on it to prevent it from being used in a regular Socket 3, uh, socket.

If you can take the original CPU out and replace it, just do that, as the 487s are quite rare and very pricey:

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Intel-i487-SX-math-co … ~AAAOSwPAxaBQBp

I'm not sure if you can put an ODPR in there (a cursory glance shows the extra pin as on a 487) but if you can, I would go that route - more speed at a cheaper price.

Any way to get around that extra pin ?

Reply 4 of 6, by custm42435

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If your 487 socket has the extra pin then go for an overdrive CPU. My IBM Eduquest Model 50 which was an SX-33 is now a DX4-100 thanks to that socket. I still have a DX2-66 overdrive if yours has that extra pin.

Reply 5 of 6, by Intel486dx33

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Yes, I found an Overdrive CPU on ebay
50mhz !

I could never afford one back in the days.

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Reply 6 of 6, by Ultrax

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The Overdrives are really nice. My main retro 486 PC has one. It would otherwise be running at 25 MHz and not upgradeable without the special Overdrive socket it has!

In my case, it's the DX2ODP50, which is an i486DX2 50 MHz.

Fit that in, and, assuming your RAM is up to par, it will run almost every game and office program from the '92 - '95 era. 😁

Ultrax
__
Presario 425|DX2-50|8MB|SB V16S|D622/WFW3.11 😎
Deskpro XE 450|DX2-50|32 MB|NT4.0/95
SR2038X|Athlon 64 X2 3800|2G|GT710 WINXP
Dimension 4400|P4 NW 2 GHz|256M|R128U AGP|WINXP
HPMini311|N270|2G|9400M|WINXP
Libretto50CT|P75|16MB|YMF711|WIN95 😎