m396f Replica chipset help \ VOGONS

m396f Replica chipset help

Topic actions

First post, by lackofpatience

Posted on 2025-05-14, 10:25

lackofpatience Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 59
Joined: 2019-11-05, 07:54
Location: Queenstown, New Zealand

Hey people,
I have a bit of an odd one. I'm looking at having a go at building the following.

https://github.com/Marco-Both/M396F-Replika/t … ov-file#topview

It's based of the following motherboard. And uses a SARC RC2016A5 Chipset

https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/pcchips-m396f-v2.2

The problem I'm facing is that SARC chipset is no longer available. From my best research on the following links, it's based on another type/brand.

Identifying PCChips 386 era chipsets
https://dosdays.co.uk/topics/Manufacturers/pcchips.php#m396f

These 386 SX boards also appears to use other models of the chipsets, RC2016A4, RC4018A4 but these are more 386DX Chipsets.

Would anyone know what other chipset's I might be able to use as an alternative?
I was hoping to find another QFP 208 pin chip and compare the pin out to the diagram I found for the project here:

https://github.com/skiselev/mb386sx-rc2016/bl … hematic-1.8.pdf

Cheers!
Mitch

Reply 1 of 4, by clownwolf

Posted on 2025-05-14, 10:43

clownwolf Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 84
Joined: 2023-06-07, 06:31

I have 5 of these SARC chips I bought from UTsource. No bent pins when they arrived, they looked fine. Unfortunately I cant tell you if these chips works since I put the project on hold.

The issue I had for this project are the CPUs. I bought several AMD and Cyrix variations, and the issue are always bent QFP chips even when bought "new".

Reply 2 of 4, by lackofpatience

Posted on 2025-05-14, 10:57

lackofpatience Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 59
Joined: 2019-11-05, 07:54
Location: Queenstown, New Zealand

clownwolf wrote on 2025-05-14, 10:43:

I have 5 of these SARC chips I bought from UTsource. No bent pins when they arrived, they looked fine. Unfortunately I cant tell you if these chips works since I put the project on hold.

The issue I had for this project are the CPUs. I bought several AMD and Cyrix variations, and the issue are always bent QFP chips even when bought "new".

Thanks for the reply! I saw them as a option but was a little suspect. I've also just found the OG Thread on the project

PC CHIPS/FOXCON M396F ver. 2.6

It appears it could be a Headland HT21, I'll compare the pin out or look at UTSource

Reply 3 of 4, by lackofpatience

Posted on 2025-05-14, 11:40

lackofpatience Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 59
Joined: 2019-11-05, 07:54
Location: Queenstown, New Zealand

Well sadly the pinout is not the same between said Chips, according to the datasheet

Reply 4 of 4, by clownwolf

Posted on 2025-05-15, 09:13

clownwolf Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 84
Joined: 2023-06-07, 06:31

If you want to buy it off of me at cost, I already have all the parts and the PCB. I have enough to build 5, I can send you enough to build 2 but I have to calculate what I paid for them.

Go to top of page Go to top of page

Back to General Old Hardware