Challenge - recognize 386 motherboard from 1993 TV VHS recording :) [solved] \ VOGONS

Challenge - recognize 386 motherboard from 1993 TV VHS recording :) [solved]

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First post, by rasz_pl

Posted on 2024-10-29, 03:07

rasz_pl Offline

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Here is a fun challenge. VHS footage of "Joystick" program that ran on TV in Poland between 1993-2000, segment name "assembling computers" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29wj35JU6O0 timestamp 1:35 to 2:15
What motherboard are they using? Its something from ~1992, main characteristics:
soldered PQFP132 Am386 DX-33 or 40
PGA121 PGA132 sockets
3 chip Chipset. UM82C480? 82C382? 82C391? CS82310? EF8290WB?
2 banks of cache, 64KB and 256KB supported?
8x 16bit ISA
8x 30 pin simm
bios and Keyboard controller in lower right corner is a bit unusual
~~Afaik not in theretroweb database.~~ /narrator voice: It was in theretroweb database.

Last edited by rasz_pl on 2024-10-29, 07:13. Edited 1 time in total.

https://github.com/raszpl/FIC-486-GAC-2-Cache-Module for AT&T Globalyst
https://github.com/raszpl/386RC-16 memory board
https://github.com/raszpl/440BX Reference Design adapted to Kicad
https://github.com/raszpl/Zenith_ZBIOS MFM-300 Monitor

Reply 1 of 6, by luckybob

Posted on 2024-10-29, 05:00

luckybob Offline

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https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/cachin … ech-cor-bc3486f

might be a slightly different version - looks like the TV model has a 386 chip soldered on in place of the real socket.

kinda like this: https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/sunlog … xpress-computer

It is a mistake to think you can solve any major problems just with potatoes.

Reply 2 of 6, by StriderTR

Posted on 2024-10-29, 05:04

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Perhaps... Sunlogix 80386-33/40? Or close to it, another Sunlogix.

~~https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/sunlog … xpress-computer~~
https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/sunlog … dx-cache-system

Edit: Luckybob beat me to it. 😜

SO many clones back then.

Last edited by StriderTR on 2024-10-29, 05:08. Edited 1 time in total.

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Reply 3 of 6, by luckybob

Posted on 2024-10-29, 05:07

luckybob Offline

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yea, i found the 486 upgrade first before the 386. finding the 486 one let me limit the search to FOREX chipset.

It is a mistake to think you can solve any major problems just with potatoes.

Reply 4 of 6, by rasz_pl

Posted on 2024-10-29, 06:13

rasz_pl Offline

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Nice one guys. I totally failed at retroweb searches despite having all the info I needed 😐 386DX, PGA121, PGA132, 8x 16bit ISA, 30 pin simm gets it on the second page.

StriderTR wrote on 2024-10-29, 05:04:

~~https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/sunlog … xpress-computer~~
https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/sunlog … dx-cache-system

Those are totally same board and entries should be consolidated.
Interestingly never bios already has 486 support. Wonder how that works on chipsets that started their life as 386 capable, does it not support burst transfers?

Reply 5 of 6, by luckybob

Posted on 2024-10-29, 06:23

luckybob Offline

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rasz_pl wrote on 2024-10-29, 06:13:

Those are totally same board and entries should be consolidated.
Interestingly never bios already has 486 support. Wonder how that works on chipsets that started their life as 386 capable, does it not support burst transfers?

no. the first one i posted had a proper socket for a 486. its a different board. BUTTTTTT... maybe they should cross-link?

i mean, it was pretty common for 486 chips to get shoe-horned into 386 boards during the transition.

It is a mistake to think you can solve any major problems just with potatoes.

Reply 6 of 6, by rasz_pl

Posted on 2024-10-29, 07:12

rasz_pl Offline

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luckybob wrote on 2024-10-29, 06:23:

rasz_pl wrote on 2024-10-29, 06:13:

Those are totally same board and entries should be consolidated.

no. the first one i posted had a proper socket for a 486. its a different board. BUTTTTTT... maybe they should cross-link?

I meant the ones StriderTR linked, both same board

luckybob wrote on 2024-10-29, 06:23:
it was pretty common for 486 chips to get shoe-horned into 386 boards during the transition.

Chipset is from 1991 so maybe it already fully supported 486.
EDIT: Then again it doesnt take much to support 486 so maybe you dont have to explicitly support Burst mode and its possible to force 386 chipset into cooperating as long as you can handle cache invalidation: 486 running with just a bunch of TTL chips handling the bus http://www.s100computers.com/My%20System%20Pa … CPU%20Board.htm
Curiously switching CPU type takes 15 jumpers 😮 some major rewiring going on. Judging by tests ran by pshipkov its at the bottom of the pack performance wise Re: 3 (+3 more) retro battle stations that would explain only two/two and a half motherboard models ever using it.

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