VOGONS


IBM Aptiva 2144-M51

Topic actions

First post, by Keith1212

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

I found this IBM Aptiva 2144-M51 on Craigslist for $40 from the original owner. He bought it new my 1995 just before Christmas. So for $40 I got the pc running Windows 95, original monitor, speakers, microphone, keyboard, mouse, and the printer. He also at the time bought a power switching unit with the Radio Shack branding that he included. Included as well was ALL the software it came with including the recovery cd and Windows 95 OEM keys. I got the hardware manual, first steps manual, monitor manual, warranty info, and the power switching supply manual. As well as the ad from Radio Shack that he saw it in before he bought it. I have already framed the ad but it is a full 4 page ad with all kinds of 90's goodies. I also got all of the receipts for everything he bought for it.

Here are the pics of the system from the Craigslist ad below as well as the pics I took of the ad and reciepts it came with. (I edited all pics to links since they are WAY too big for forum use. Sorry.)
6Tpq9i6.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/eYnrLgg
https://i.imgur.com/w9oSEyI
https://i.imgur.com/pyVrhEk
https://i.imgur.com/Sfafoj2
https://i.imgur.com/kaDqFUk
https://i.imgur.com/fJbb432

When I got it home I booted it up and it ran great except for some missing .dlls in windows. So I used the already installed Aptiva Recovery to make a boot disc. Rebooted with the disc inserted and also inserted the included IBM Aptiva Recovery cd. Before you know it I had a perfectly running Windows 95 system with all the correct drivers installed as well as the software and games.

The system came stock with a Pentium 100mhz socket 7 processor, 8mb ram(expandable to 128mb), 1mb Vram(expandable to 2mb), and a 1gb harddrive. The owner had already upgraded the ram to 2x16mb for a total of 32mb ram.

So after playing a few games that ran quite well I decided I wanted to max this thing out.

First I upgraded the Cd Rom from the stock IBM branded Mitsumi A model to the Mitsumi branded B model with the headphone port and volume knob. (Yes it only works for cd media, but hey it was $10 bucks on ebay and now I have a back up cd rom.)
https://imgur.com/4jdFNO2
Next I picked up 2 sticks of 32mb EDO ram. EDO ram is much faster than the standard ram and is supported by the motherboard. I just had to switch it in the bios. Since these worked great I ordered two more to max it out at 128mb. 4x32mb
https://imgur.com/HAviNC7
https://imgur.com/SqgTZ7R

After that I wanted to max out the on board video cards DRAM from 1mb to 2mb. I found two 512kb SOJ DRAM and it got the job down. Now showing 2mb video memory in the bios.
https://imgur.com/TcMaRA9
https://imgur.com/tHc1eEQ
https://imgur.com/h6vf4BM

Next on the list was to fill those two empty cache memory slots. I found two sticks of 256kb HP Sync Pipeline Burst Cache Memory. Popped them in and switched the correct jumpers on the motherboard per the hardware manual. I got a 229 memory error in the bios which according to the hardware manual asks me to check and re seat the cache memory. I did this 3 times as well as double checked my jumper settings. After confirming it all the bios did report the correct cache memory at 512kb. It still has the 229 memory error. But I can just exit and still boot to Windows 95 no problem. The cache memory is enable in the bios and I assume it is using it, but have no real way to tell. I'll leave it since it's causing no problem other than a beep when I boot up. Any ideas from anyone?
https://imgur.com/hLWxjMu
https://imgur.com/QKiKGWO
https://imgur.com/tqJhzWI
https://imgur.com/Fvzf8Sb
https://imgur.com/qddSK01
https://imgur.com/dPc2FTS
https://imgur.com/sFCsgK2

Next on my list of upgrades will be the processor. I have found a Pentium 200mhz with MMX technology dirt cheap on ebay and ordered it. Then I found out it will also take the Pentium 233mhz with MMZ technology as well. There dirt cheap as well so I will go ahead and order one. I also ordered a heat sink and fan for it since they originally came with one.

Now I wanted a faster way to copy files over than burning cds and writing floppys so I have a compact flash to IDE on the way. Then I can pop it in and out from the back of the case.

Now for the best upgrade of all I have on order a Voodoo 1 graphics card with 4mb vram and a Voodoo 2 with 8mb. Not sure witch one I will keep, but I will see witch works best with the system.

So now I I have an awesome DOS gaming system and will soon have a good 3D gaming system as well! I really love the look of this system!

ONE LAST THING!
It has an AT compatible drive. I wanted to get a back up going for if and when it does fail. Except none of my hard drives from 8-40 gig will work. It finds them in the bios, but when installing Windows 95 it will copy install files to the drive, but cannot install. It says I need to format, When I try to FDISK it cannot find it either. What options do I have? These drives go for WAY too much on ebay and I'm afraid another would fail even soon than my own.
https://imgur.com/wRf324i

Thanks for reading and checking out my retro rig! Please any and all advice is welcome! I'm new to all of this!!

Commodore PC-10
NEC 8088 Processor - 8087 Math CoPro - 640k Ram - DOS 3.3
IBM Aptiva 2144-M51
Socket 7 Pentium 166MHz MMX - 128MB Ram - Voodoo 1 - Windows 95
Win 98 Desktop
Asus P2b Mobo - Slot 1 Pentium 2 450 MMX - 400mb Ram - Voodoo 3 3000

Reply 1 of 24, by kanecvr

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

If the system was bought in 1995, it's probably a socket 5 machine. Personally I recall seeing IBM Aptiva machines in this form factor only in socket 5, nothing in socket 7, witch means the pentium 200 will not work on it, since that is a dual-voltage chip. What you need is a non MMX pentium 200 (single voltage) or a pentium 200 mmx overdrive.

Here's a link with specs for your machine: http://mastodonpc.tripod.com/personal/2144-141.html

Great find, awsome machine!

Reply 2 of 24, by BeginnerGuy

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie
kanecvr wrote:

If the system was bought in 1995, it's probably a socket 5 machine. Personally I recall seeing IBM Aptiva machines in this form factor only in socket 5, nothing in socket 7, witch means the pentium 200 will not work on it, since that is a dual-voltage chip. What you need is a non MMX pentium 200 (single voltage) or a pentium 200 mmx overdrive.

Here's a link with specs for your machine: http://mastodonpc.tripod.com/personal/2144-141.html

Great find, awsome machine!

That said Pentium 200s also cost peanuts, and the lack of MMX extensions and extra cache isn't really a big deal in my experience since if a game is sluggish on a Pentium 200, you're really at the point where a pentium 2 or 3 system on the side would be the cure 😎.

I'm super jealous of this machine. This is just like the Aptiva we had (the second PC I ever owned) which was socket 5, I recall the socket 7 ones were in the stand up towers about a year or two later. I upgraded mine to a P166 (the only remaining part of that poor old IBM).

Nice find!

Sup. I like computers. Are you a computer?

Reply 3 of 24, by Keith1212

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

Thanks for the replys. I may just take the cache out to avoid the beeping at the bios screen then. The Motherboard is 100% a Socket 7. I checked it when I had it apart before I ordered the processor. Here's the best pic I can get of it while it's still together. You can see the bottom of the 7 there.
https://i.imgur.com/cA2AYwd
The manual I have refers to both the stand up tower and the desktop model. Pretty neat readings.
Here's a pic of the reciept from 95 as well.
ANuDka5.jpg

Thanks again for the replys!

Last edited by Keith1212 on 2017-12-08, 16:19. Edited 1 time in total.

Commodore PC-10
NEC 8088 Processor - 8087 Math CoPro - 640k Ram - DOS 3.3
IBM Aptiva 2144-M51
Socket 7 Pentium 166MHz MMX - 128MB Ram - Voodoo 1 - Windows 95
Win 98 Desktop
Asus P2b Mobo - Slot 1 Pentium 2 450 MMX - 400mb Ram - Voodoo 3 3000

Reply 4 of 24, by Keith1212

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

Also what do you guys think about the addition of a voodoo 1 4mb graphics card or the voodoo 2 8mb? Which would be a better suit for this pc?

Commodore PC-10
NEC 8088 Processor - 8087 Math CoPro - 640k Ram - DOS 3.3
IBM Aptiva 2144-M51
Socket 7 Pentium 166MHz MMX - 128MB Ram - Voodoo 1 - Windows 95
Win 98 Desktop
Asus P2b Mobo - Slot 1 Pentium 2 450 MMX - 400mb Ram - Voodoo 3 3000

Reply 5 of 24, by probnot

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

Nice find! I especially love the matching monitor with the round-style bezel.

kanecvr wrote:

If the system was bought in 1995, it's probably a socket 5 machine. Personally I recall seeing IBM Aptiva machines in this form factor only in socket 5, nothing in socket 7, witch means the pentium 200 will not work on it, since that is a dual-voltage chip. What you need is a non MMX pentium 200 (single voltage) or a pentium 200 mmx overdrive.

Here's a link with specs for your machine: http://mastodonpc.tripod.com/personal/2144-141.html

Great find, awsome machine!

I recently picked up a similar machine (2134-C21) in the same form factor, and it's a socket 7 (the CPU socket literally has "Socket 7" on it).

Reply 6 of 24, by Keith1212

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

Thanks! I'm pretty happy with it for the $40 bucks I paid. The monitor does work, but it's went green ish. All the blue is gone, so if I have a blue wallpaper it's completly black. Other monitors work great. I've even tryed all the settings on the front with no change at all. It's really sharp and visable just no blue. I thought it was the cable, but I can't find another cable like it to test at all. Its a 9 pin dsub to vga. The vga end only has 11 of 15 pins. They don't look broken off, so I think it came this way. So possible the monitor is bad also.

Commodore PC-10
NEC 8088 Processor - 8087 Math CoPro - 640k Ram - DOS 3.3
IBM Aptiva 2144-M51
Socket 7 Pentium 166MHz MMX - 128MB Ram - Voodoo 1 - Windows 95
Win 98 Desktop
Asus P2b Mobo - Slot 1 Pentium 2 450 MMX - 400mb Ram - Voodoo 3 3000

Reply 7 of 24, by feipoa

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

Gorgeous system! Love these mid-90's Aptiva beige beauties.

You sure EDO RAM is "much faster" than standard FPM on this motherboard? Might be interesting to benchmark the difference. I think what this board does is automatically adjust the wait-states depending on if FPM or EDO is installed, e.g. from 7-3-3-3 to 7-2-2-2. On 486 boards, for example, good 60 ns FPM RAM can be run at the fastest wait states already and there is no benefit in EDO. Actually, in some systems, it seems like FPM can handle faster timings compared to EDO when running with fast 40MHz + FSBs and large cache quantities (512KB and 1024KB), probably due to some extra overhead (speculation).

128 MB on a P100, wow! What chipset is in the motherboard? If it contains a 430FX, VX, or TX, then the cacheable limit is only 64 MB, and using more than 64 MB of RAM will degrade your Windows performance. I suspect your board contains a 430FX, Triton I chipset, which is indeed an early socket 7.

Trident 9680 for the graphics - How is the performance? Tridents were popular for being pretty low-end. Does the system have PCI expansion slots?

Does HIMEM report any errors if you set the memory test to ON? Did you try a MEMTEST bootable diskette? Did you adjust the cache timings after increasing the cache size? Its a long shot, but try downgrading to 64 MB and leaving the 512 KB installed to see if that 229 error goes away. Cache size and timings used to be a big issue. On PCI-based 486 boards, for example, I have noticed that when when dealing with barely acceptable (stable) cache/RAM/FSB speeds, then requiring the chipset to use more cache, e.g. 256K vs. 512K, that it just cannot handle it unless the timings are reduced. Alternately, if it can handle 512K with the fastest timings, then the limiting factor may be the amount of RAM the systems is required to deal with. I've seen cases where a system would be stable with 512K, but only if the RAM was limited to 64 MB when using CPU type X, but when using CPU type Y, the system could handle 512K and 128 MB. This is a subject of massive frusturation, requiring a lot of testing. It is why the BIOS AUTO setting for cache/memory timings tend to be ultra conservative, to avoid all the possible combinations. Even some 60 ns RAM is better than other 60 ns RAM at handling these faster timings and the only way to be sure is to run exhaustive tests. The problem is further complicated by different motherboard designs. Some use a 74F244 series of buffers between the TAG RAM and the cache, while others us, for example, 22-ohm resistors, or 0-ohm, and each have their benefits and drawbacks and effect the stability of these varoius cache size/FSB speed/RAM size combinations and timings. Even on socket 7 boards, I've had to reduce memory quantities to be able to run with reduced wait states (optimal speed). I've even seen on a 430TX board that using 256 MB of FPM memory would be stable, but not when using 256 MB SDRAM.

In short, run the system with only 64 MB and try 512 KB cache. You are hurting performance by using 128 MB. If you insist on reduced performance just to say you have 128 MB, then try 128 MB of FPM RAM and the error might go away (or it might now!).

I've had so many of those IDE Caviar drives fail over the years. I personally avoid them at all costs.

I've not personally tested these 430FX boards. Do they work with P233 MMX chips? Does your motherboard have voltage settings for split-voltage? If not, then probably not.

Plan your life wisely, you'll be dead before you know it.

Reply 8 of 24, by Keith1212

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

Thanks! It really caught my eye and had to have it!

I'm not sure myself only what I had read. I forget if it was in my hardware manual or when researching it on the internet. I ended up with EDO really because I couldn't find anything except EDO on ebay. Thanks for all the great info! I would love to do some tests if I know what program to run on a win 95 system to test it.

I'm not sure on the chipset. Where could I find that info at? The hardware manual doesn't go into specifics on the motherboard spec. It does say I can put a max of 128 mb of ram.

So the Trident has really amazed me so far. I have played a few games, but the highest tax rate probably being Blood. It didn't have any noticable slow dows and played the game perfectly. I have alot of other games on disc like Doom and Doom 2. What would you suggest to test out on it? I still have a voodoo 1 and 2 on the way to try in this system. and yes it has 3 ISA slots and 2 PCI slots. right not I only have one ISA slot taking up a slot.

I'm still new to Win 95 and DOS so I will find MEMTEST and see what happens. As far as cache timings there is nothing in the bios for it. Only thing I can do is switch jumpers on the motherboard for dual module or single module. Then 256k or 512k cache. I had it in the dual 512k setting.

WOW again so much great info to take in. I really appreciate you taking the time to write that all out for me. I will try the 64mb and 512 cache and see if it goes away.

So the info I from google said I could put a max of a pentium 200 with mmx tech so that's what I have atm. I did install it tonight. With no jumpers changed it reports 133mhz in the bios no instead of the stock 100mhz. So I need to figure out which jumpers to change. There isn't alot of info on google about it, but I did find a couple links mentioning the jumpers but no real specifics. Here are the links below. I think I have found the jumpers, but not which to change to. From what I can tell it's set at 2/1 and needs to be set to 3/1. Other info I read said no jumper change is needed and the 3/1 is already set in the chip and the bios won't report it properly and to use a program like MICROSCOPE to see what it's actually running at.

https://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?t=863892

http://aptivasupport.com/uas/cpu/

Here's the stock jumper settings next to the cpu. Any idea which to change?
rwGxzRU.png
U17KBKR.png

Again thank you VERY much for this info. I will now try to find MEMTEST and MICROSCOPE and see what info I can find out as well as test the 64mb ram and 512k cache. Atm though with 128mb ram and no cache I have no noticeable slowdowns in games or the desktop as well as no slowdowns with 128mb and the 512k cache in.

Last edited by Keith1212 on 2017-12-10, 04:48. Edited 1 time in total.

Commodore PC-10
NEC 8088 Processor - 8087 Math CoPro - 640k Ram - DOS 3.3
IBM Aptiva 2144-M51
Socket 7 Pentium 166MHz MMX - 128MB Ram - Voodoo 1 - Windows 95
Win 98 Desktop
Asus P2b Mobo - Slot 1 Pentium 2 450 MMX - 400mb Ram - Voodoo 3 3000

Reply 9 of 24, by Keith1212

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

From what I can tell the Chipset is an Opti Viper.

Here's where I read that EDO is faster and what it says about cache memory in the hardware manual for my aptiva.

0Qp5cDT.png
bkvQurh.png

Commodore PC-10
NEC 8088 Processor - 8087 Math CoPro - 640k Ram - DOS 3.3
IBM Aptiva 2144-M51
Socket 7 Pentium 166MHz MMX - 128MB Ram - Voodoo 1 - Windows 95
Win 98 Desktop
Asus P2b Mobo - Slot 1 Pentium 2 450 MMX - 400mb Ram - Voodoo 3 3000

Reply 10 of 24, by Keith1212

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

Here's some more info I found on the Opti Viper chipset. On my board are 3 different Opti Viper Chips.

82C556M
82c557M
82c558M

And here's is a link to some info on them.
http://www.opti-inc.com/html/products.html

Here's another link that gives more info about my Aptiva. This is the 2144-M50. I have the 2144-M51, but everything it lists is what I have exactly.

Commodore PC-10
NEC 8088 Processor - 8087 Math CoPro - 640k Ram - DOS 3.3
IBM Aptiva 2144-M51
Socket 7 Pentium 166MHz MMX - 128MB Ram - Voodoo 1 - Windows 95
Win 98 Desktop
Asus P2b Mobo - Slot 1 Pentium 2 450 MMX - 400mb Ram - Voodoo 3 3000

Reply 11 of 24, by feipoa

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

I recommend running CPUMark99 in Win9x as it is highly sensitive to small changes in cache and memory timings, as well as when your system contains more RAM than it can cache. It is freeware. I've attached the file.

It was quite common for chipsets to allow the use of more RAM than the system can cache, but if you do so, then half your RAM will be uncached, which is like when the system is using that block of RAM (the uncached RAM), your system will behave as if you have no cache at all.

I think a Voodoo or Voodoo2 would be a nice addition to this system. From what I've seen, it seems the Voodoo2 has a clear display, but if you're gunning for a period correct system, then perhaps the Voodoo 1. If, for example, someone bought this system in Jan 1996 and the Voodoo2 was realeased Feb 1998, that would be close enough for me. Everyone has their own opinion on this though.

If I recall right, you want to look for MemTest 4.00 (not 4.2 or newer). I recall that 4.2 and newer didn't work on my PCI-based 486s, so it may or may not work on your 430FX. MemTest is freeware and runs off a bootable floppy.

Did the P200 MMX have an unlocked multiplier? I cannot recall at the moment. If unlocked, then yes, you would need to set the CPU clock multiplier to 3x instead of 2x. Try running CHKCPU16 to ensure that it is really running at 133 MHz. Sometimes system manufacturers don't update the CPU table in the BIOS to account for newer CPU speed options.

Looking at your silkscreen, keep in mind that P55C = Pentium MMX. So you'll want to set jumper 3-5. I'm not sure what the silkscreen M1 implies. Is it refering to the Cyrix M1 CPU?

Redhill didn't paint a very glamurous picture for the OPTI Viper, http://www.redhill.net.au/b/b-96.html

Look some old newsgroups, one guy commented about this chipset, "They are SLOW!!!!!!!!! AVOID". Another guy, "avoid, avoid, avoid ... miserable performance... bad, bad, bad ...", yet a third, "slow... 3D bench went down from 100 for a Triton FX to about 75 for Viper."

On the bright side, if you don't have a 430FX, VX, HX, TX, etc. to compare it too, then you will not know if it is slow or not!

Looks like Compaq also used boards with this chipset. Seems that they sold them without the cache.

I think this may be the datasheet for that OPTI Viper, https://www.datasheetarchive.com/pdf_dl/?f=34 … 2&t=1&g=82C556M

According to the datasheet, this board supports, both, asynchronous and synchronous cache, which was not all that common and can even us 2 MB of direct-mapped L2 cache. Chipset supports up to 512 MB of RAM. Reference to M1 is indeed the Cyrix 6x86 (M1). Page 78 contains a list of the cacheable ranges. With the asynchronous configuration of cache, it will cache up to 128 MB when using 512 KB of L2 cache. Even for 2 MB of cache, the cacheable range is still 128 MB. For whatever reason, the chipset databook did not contain a table of cacheable ranges when using synchronous pipeline burst cache. Would it be half that of the asynchronous or the same? The table also didn't specify if that range was for write-through or write-back L2 cache. For async cache, the cacheable range is cut in half when using the cache in write-back mode compared to write-through mode.

You can try running the DOS program CTCM7. This will tell you if all your RAM is being cached, and if not, how much of it is being cached. I've had pretty good luck with this program, but on occasion found the information inaccurate.

Attachments

  • Filename
    Ziff-Davis_CpuMark99.zip
    File size
    177.43 KiB
    Downloads
    97 downloads
    File license
    Fair use/fair dealing exception

Plan your life wisely, you'll be dead before you know it.

Reply 12 of 24, by bjwil1991

User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t

My grandpa has the 2168-M55 model that has a 1.6GB HDD, 100MHz Socket 7 Pentium, 16MB RAM, 4x CD-ROM, integrated Maestro sound, Trident video (2MB maximum), 64KB L1 cache, and either 1MB or 2MB L2 cache. It also has the original IBM keyboard (Model M or equivalent), GE optical mouse with scrolling wheel, Windows 95, and a Sony Trinitron MultiScan 15sf with JBL speaker or equivalent.

Discord: https://discord.gg/U5dJw7x
Systems from the Compaq Portable 1 to Ryzen 9 5950X
Twitch: https://twitch.tv/retropcuser

Reply 13 of 24, by SpectriaForce

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

I would simply stick to a cpu where the motherboard was designed for. I own an Aptiva 2176 and its socket 7 (not 5) motherboard officially supports Pentium P54CS up to 166 MHz (yes that's weird for a socket 7 board!). I have tried Pentium MMX 200 MHz, which does work, but I got a bootup cpu error everytime, because the BIOS (latest 1999 version) doesn't support it and basically the 3.3 vcore fries the chip on the long run (at least, if the motherboard doesn't have a vcore regulator, which I don't know because it's not documented..). It even didn't like a Pentium P54CS 200 MHz (though multiplier can be set to 3x).

Perhaps this page can help you with the multiplier settings: http://ps-2.kev009.com/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/ea3a.htm

Actually I kind of like the limited upgrade possibilities, nostalgia for me 😊

Reply 14 of 24, by Keith1212

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie
SpectriaForce wrote:

I would simply stick to a cpu where the motherboard was designed for. I own an Aptiva 2176 and its socket 7 (not 5) motherboard officially supports Pentium P54CS up to 166 MHz (yes that's weird for a socket 7 board!). I have tried Pentium MMX 200 MHz, which does work, but I got a bootup cpu error everytime, because the BIOS (latest 1999 version) doesn't support it and basically the 3.3 vcore fries the chip on the long run (at least, if the motherboard doesn't have a vcore regulator, which I don't know because it's not documented..). It even didn't like a Pentium P54CS 200 MHz (though multiplier can be set to 3x).

Perhaps this page can help you with the multiplier settings: http://ps-2.kev009.com/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/ea3a.htm

Actually I kind of like the limited upgrade possibilities, nostalgia for me 😊

Thanks for the info. I have had the 200MHz MMX installed for a week or more now with no issues. I get no errors on boot either. After trying all the jumper setting I could only get the Bios to report 166MHz. It has been running well since. I did install a socket 7 heat sink and fan. The fan is powered through a molex splitter.

As far as the 512kb cache I decided to take it out even though the bios does report 512kb that it's supposed to it would post a 229 error at each post. 229 in the manual just states to reseat the cache which I tried multiple times. I figured it just didn't like the HP cache even though all the specs match what the manual calls for. I have found 1 stick of IBM sync pipeline burst cache so will be ordering that eventually and see how it likes it.

I now have the Voodoo 2 card installed and it runs great in quake 2 with no issues. I really like maxing out this old PC.

Commodore PC-10
NEC 8088 Processor - 8087 Math CoPro - 640k Ram - DOS 3.3
IBM Aptiva 2144-M51
Socket 7 Pentium 166MHz MMX - 128MB Ram - Voodoo 1 - Windows 95
Win 98 Desktop
Asus P2b Mobo - Slot 1 Pentium 2 450 MMX - 400mb Ram - Voodoo 3 3000

Reply 15 of 24, by dionb

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++
SpectriaForce wrote:

I would simply stick to a cpu where the motherboard was designed for. I own an Aptiva 2176 and its socket 7 (not 5) motherboard officially supports Pentium P54CS up to 166 MHz (yes that's weird for a socket 7 board!).

Not so weird, Socket 5 is limited to max P54C, but support for higher CPUs is optional for Socket 7 implementations. The first generation of So7 boards (mainly with i430FX chipsets) didn't support split voltage and frequently lacked the 3x multiplier needed for 200MHz (although given you need two jumpers for three settings, the fourth would generally give you 3.0x even if not documented as such).

But...

See the pic Keith1212 posted earlier:
rwGxzRU.png

That's P55C explicitly mentioned on the silkscreen. No guarantee that BIOS will behave, but it looks like this thing has split voltage and the necessary multiplier supports 😀

P200MMX would need the 3/1 multiplier, P233MMX remaps 1.5 to 3.5, so it would want the 3/2 setting.

But yeah, I feel the nostalgia. My mother's second PC was a 1996 Aptiva, a tower model but quite possibly containing the exact same motherboard. It was shipped with dual-boot Windows 95 and OS/2 Warp 3. Not sure if my nostalgia would extend to that particular detail (Warp 4 was pretty good eventually, but the Warp 3 pre-installed on ours was a nightmare - even compared to the early Windows 95 build it was paired with).

Reply 16 of 24, by chinny22

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

Nice system, I also get my kicks out of maxing my systems out.
Both my 486's have more RAM than is cashable, I know its taking a performance hit, but its not going to make or break if a game is playable or not so don't care.
You don't mention network card? I'd recommend one to transfer files even more easy then CF card, Also can be fun challenge to get Windows 95 networking to work with newer OS's.
Or ftp if you want to bypass all that.

As your "new to all this" Gotek floppy drive can be useful, either one that you just chuck into a PC as you need or one per PC, they are pretty chap. I wouldn't worry about the HxC firmware, not for basic PC needs.

Reply 17 of 24, by KSHIRZA1

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

I recently pickup a 2144 m63. Any chance you could upload the recovery and application iso’s. Would really appreciate it!

I would even take the extra software iso’s.

\\IBM Aptiva 2144 build\
My instagram @kshirza1

Reply 18 of 24, by Keith1212

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

Here's the boot disk .iso https://www.dropbox.com/s/w69s8d4d9tfeokh/ibm … oot%20disc?dl=0

and here's the Recovery Cd .iso https://www.dropbox.com/s/s83z2l8vp8f6r4l/IBM … y%20CD.iso?dl=0

I'll work on uploading the extra software as well. Check back!

Commodore PC-10
NEC 8088 Processor - 8087 Math CoPro - 640k Ram - DOS 3.3
IBM Aptiva 2144-M51
Socket 7 Pentium 166MHz MMX - 128MB Ram - Voodoo 1 - Windows 95
Win 98 Desktop
Asus P2b Mobo - Slot 1 Pentium 2 450 MMX - 400mb Ram - Voodoo 3 3000

Reply 19 of 24, by KSHIRZA1

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member
Keith1212 wrote:

Here's the boot disk .iso https://www.dropbox.com/s/w69s8d4d9tfeokh/ibm … oot%20disc?dl=0

and here's the Recovery Cd .iso https://www.dropbox.com/s/s83z2l8vp8f6r4l/IBM … y%20CD.iso?dl=0

I'll work on uploading the extra software as well. Check back!

You’re the man! thank you sir

Last edited by KSHIRZA1 on 2018-03-07, 01:47. Edited 1 time in total.

\\IBM Aptiva 2144 build\
My instagram @kshirza1