Mau1wurf1977 wrote:ISA video cards also slow things down. However they don't slow down the CPU and can still cause issues with some games, so use these results with caution.
Yep, did consider testing an ISA VGA card, but I don't have one at hand to test. I still have a S7 board for backup anyway.
Mau1wurf1977 wrote:
Your results match up with my findings. Once you disable the Cache on a slot 1 machine you need a very high FSB / clockspeed to get somehwere.
Glad to hear - I did some basic tests before deciding on a twin-BX setup.
bjt wrote:j^aws wrote:are you asking whether there was a "2", "9" or a specific option for "2/9"?
Any of the above 😀 Some games are hard-coded to IRQ 2 and will work if the sound card is set to either IRQ 2 or 9 (due to the interrupt controllers being chained).
Okay, a few more tests using SoftMPU v1.3, SB=220, IRQ=5, MPU=330:
-----Sound card: Aztech 2316A (CS4248)-----
- P2@133MHz, L1/L2 cache enabled: SoftMPU initialises.
Tested and works with Might and Magic 3, and Wing Commander. BTW, I noticed MM3 isn't on your list of games? AFAIK, the game needs an intelligent mode MIDI controller - tested it with a Voyetra v24s (setting LAPC-I option doesn't work with UART mode controllers).
Also tested Ecargxus - SoftMPU initialises with the correct ports, except the MPU IRQ is the same as SB IRQ of 5 - the card is set to MPU IRQ 2.
The game either starts with no sounds, or fails to start depending on MPU IRQ chosen for game options. E.g. when game starts, choosing MPU IRQ 2 starts the game, but with no sound. However, choosing MPU IRQ 5 will freeze the screen. The sound card only has options to set MPU IRQs to 2, 7 and 10. It's not a Plug and Play card, but one of those that has jumpers and EPROM settings. I tried adding more Legacy ISA options in the BIOS, but available MPU IRQs didn't change.
-----Sound card: ESS Audiodrive 1688F-----
- P2@133MHz, L1/L2 cache enabled:
SoftMPU fails to initialise - detects MPU at 330, but reports error: Sound Blaster not detected at port 220 IRQ 5.
- P2@133MHz, L1/L2 cache disabled:
SoftMPU fails to initialise - detects MPU at 330, but reports error: Sound Blaster not detected at port 220 IRQ 5.
- P2@400MHz, L1/L2 cache enabled:
SoftMPU fails to initialise - detects MPU at 330, but reports error: Sound Blaster not detected at port 220 IRQ 5.
- P2@400MHz, L1/L2 cache disabled:
SoftMPU fails to initialise - detects MPU at 330, but reports error: Sound Blaster not detected at port 220 IRQ 5.
BTW, this card has MPU IRQ settings for 2, 5, 7, 10 and 11, and also "none" and "share IRQ". It's a Plug and Play card.
EDIT: Updated some MPU IRQ options. Also tried other settings for the card, but still the same results.