The 286 processors are either 16 bit or 8 bit. It is impossible to run 32 bit applications on one. The 386 was the first of the Intel processors to include 32 bit support. And, THEORETICALLY anything ISA should run with a 286, since ISA is 16 or 8 bit. (Not all work, however) I wouldn't know of a GPU though since I don't have any 286 machines.

Do Diamond Speedstar 16BIT ISA PCBs have Windows 3.1 drivers that work on a 80286?

Would a Number Nine GXi work?

Oh, and another thing: Windows 3.1 is 16 bit, and not 32. Windows 3.1 can only use 16 or 8 bit drivers. So, it is a problem with your drivers. You have to type this in DOS:

1cd Windows
2setup.exe

Then, in setup, push the up arrow until you are on VGA and press enter. Then scroll down in the next menu to "Other (Requires Disk Provided By a Hardware Manufacturer)" . After that it will prompt you to put in the directory. Do that, and then select the appropriate version of the driver from the list.
Hope this helps. You cannot really change display driver inside of Windows. You can only do it through the setup program. Need any more help? You can also PM me if you want.

^^ All drivers are 16 bit in 3.x but that doesn't mean some drivers don't need enhanced mode.

Drivers for CL-5429 are from 1994 and are compatible with Windows 3.1 - so it says. But looking at the file list, there is a file named: VDD542X.386 and this clearly wants 32-bit cpu.

I checked drivers for Tseng ET4000 and ET4000/w32 - they both have VDDTLI4.386.

I'm guessing the GUI acceleration was only implemented in 32-bits - maybe there are some Windows restrictions and GUI acceleration only works in Enhanced mode.

PeterLI & sliderider: get the drivers for your card and (at least) check the files.

HardwareExtreme: I know the basics (been around that long) 😉

Sorry if I insulted you. I at least had that problem with setting up drivers, but not with a 286. Currently, I only have one 386 25MHz, and nothing earlier. I do have some cards laying around that are 286-era, but I do not know what kind of cards they are, since I mostly use an ISA ATI card of some sort or a VESA Cirrus Logic card I have for 486s. The reason why I said about using setup is because there are some new DOS users (I am somewhat of one, but I do have a sizable amount of experience) who aren't familiar with Windows 3.1. Anyways, I'll see if I can find any cards that do have drivers, and tell you about them.

I got protection-faults when using Highcolor-Drivers with Win3.1 on a 286.
But my diamond-speedstar and the et4000 with highcolor doc work fine with my 286 and windows 3.0!

Doc

What chipset does your speedstar use? I believe it's ET4000 or ET4000AX - which aren't GUI accelerators.

HardwareExtreme: no problemo 😉

The SpeedStar 24x I used has got a WDC901 or so. The SpeedstarPro or SpeedStar24 have got ET4000 or something else.

That's a nice card you have there 😀

I think some of the early S3's and ATI accelerators were based on the 8514A adapter, and I figure they're more likely to have 286-mode accelerated drivers.

Also look for cards that had Windows 2.x accelerated support, sometimes the drivers move up (or the company ported it to Win3.0...)

Today I tested CL-5422 card and the same result as with CL-5429 - drivers are different.