To 386 or not to 386 \ VOGONS

To 386 or not to 386

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First post, by Rhuwyn

Posted on 2016-05-31, 22:49

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So I have this 386WB (Write Back Cache) motherboard which has an AMD Am386DX/DXL40 in it. It needs a new battery soldered to it and it doesn't have a math co-processor and I would need to pickup some 30 pin simms which seem a lot more expensive their their 72pin counterparts. It supports up to 32MB. It does not have a math co-processor. I am debating on selling the board or building the system.

Its running an Opti 82C391/82C392 chipset that has plenty of 16bit ISA slots. What do people think of this chipset? Anyone recognize the 386WB motherboard model? I have the manual with it but it doesn't really have the manufacturer on it.

How much ram would take me to more then I need but less then overkill. Not sure if anything that can run on a 386 can use anywhere near 32MB.
Is it worth it to get a Math Coprocessor primarily for DOS gaming? Does it do anything at all?

I've got a I/O board I can't identify well but it has an Acer chipset. My only ISA video card is a Trident 8900C which I hear are subpar.

I would also need to get another AT Case and those are scarce where I am.

Reply 1 of 4, by Anonymous Coward

Posted on 2016-05-31, 23:59

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OPTi 391/392 is not bad, but nothing special. It think it was one of the first affordable 386 chipsets, so it was pretty popular.
On a 386, 4mb is okay if you're playing DOS extender games. 8MB would be better for running Windows 3.x.
Getting an FPU probably isn't worth it unless you have software that requires it.
The Trident 8900C should be enough to get the job done.

I like 386s, so I would never discourage anyone from building one.

"Will the highways on the internets become more few?" -Gee Dubya
V'Ger XT|Upgraded AT|Ultimate 386|Super VL/EISA 486|SMP VL/EISA Pentium

Reply 2 of 4, by Jo22

Posted on 2016-06-01, 00:41

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I completely agree. Couln't have said this any better.

And a math co-processor is only useful if you want to run simulation games, like SimCity.
Or if you have other hobbies you want to run software for. Like astronomy, drawing or music.
Windows 3.1 also benefits a little bit from the x87 unit (GDI drawing)..

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In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

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Reply 3 of 4, by kixs

Posted on 2016-06-01, 03:42

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I like 386 boards and would keep it.

Some Trident 8900C are almost as fast as Tseng ET4000. But for starters even a slower one is fine. You'll see what you have when you run some benchmarks.

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Reply 4 of 4, by oerk

Posted on 2016-06-01, 07:13

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Yep yep yep.

DOS only, 4 MB is sufficient, for Windows 3.1, better get eight. Those 1MB SIMMs should be dirt cheap.

Coprocessor not necessary at all.

I/O card is irrelevant.

Trident 8900C is fine for a 386, IMO.

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