First post, by feipoa
- Rank
- l33t++
The World's Fastest 486
I am curious what everyone would consider to be the world's best PCI-based 486 system. Included in the term 'system' would be models/types of,
1) Motherboard/Chipset/Cache
2) CPU
3) Memory
4) Harddrive/Controller
5) Graphics
6) Audio
7) NIC
8) Operating system
9) Other features like USB, PS/2 mouse port, etc.
The desired application for such a system would be general, such as retro gaming mixed with office-oriented applications. Benchmarks screenshots have been included on page 3 of this thread.
The intent of the question is not so much as an individualised component comparison (like what's the best Graphics card), but more focused on the best combination of items 1-9 that are known to work well together, in the same system. One reason for this particularity is that some graphics cards, for example, don't work with all motherboard/chipsets, or some systems don't work with EDO RAM, or some motherboards don't work with all Cyrix 5x86 features, like linear burst mode.
If possible, try avoid generalisations like 'any motherboard with 4 PCI slots and 1024 KB cache.' I'm more interested in proven fast/stable hardware combinations. Assume the cost for all components is negligable.
I have enclosed the specs for my own system two 486 systems, but at this point, I am more intersted in what other people have succeeded at.
For my system mentioned below, it has been 8 years stable with a Cyrix 5x86-120 and, so far, 8 months stable with a Cyrix 5x86-133/4x. The features which might make this system more optimal would be 1024KB cache (in WB mode) to increase the cacheable limit to 128 MB RAM, an additional PCI slot for a USB card, and perhaps a non-UMC chipset that allowed for graphics cards better than a Matrox Millennium G200-16MB, while still maintaining all other features mentioned below. I have decided to stick with the Ultra2 SCSI controller over the tested SATA controller because I doubt the SATA would be any faster.
While the system works with EDO RAM, I find FPM more stable and allows for faster cache timings with 512 KB cache. Is an AMD X5-200 better if proven long-term stable? This is certainly arguable. Refer to the Ultimate 486 Benchmark Comparison. The system noted below is also stable in W2K sp4 with the SCSI host controller, which not many, if any other, UMC-based motherboards can claim. Biostar really seems to have gotten bus mastering figured out on this board. The M919 and HOT-433, both, seem to have issues with SCSI bus mastering in W2K.
A stable configuration of 66 MHz FSB and a 2X multiplier was recently reported. Such a system may be up to 18% faster than a 33 MHz x 4 system. Refer to this post. Also note that FP_FAST may not be entirely stable with certain graphic cards and GLQuake/Quake II, as noted here.
For more information on modifying your Biostar MB-8433UUD motherboard for CPUs in the 3.45 - 4.10 V range, refer to the PDF in this post.
The system is as follows,
1) Motherboard/Chipset/Cache
● DTK PKM-0033s
AWARD 4.50PG BIOS, 12/11/95
SiS 496 (9618 NV) / SiS 497 (9624 NU)
Modified for native PS/2 mouse support
33 MHz FSB system
1024 KB double-banked Cache, 10 ns TAG (W24512AK-10), 10 ns cache (8 pieces of IS61C1024-10N)
2-1-1 cache wait state and 0/0 for RAM (33 MHz FSB)
● Biostar MB8433-UUD v3.0 or 3.1
AWARD 4.51PG BIOS, 05/20/96
UMC 8881F (9633-EYT) / 8886BF (9631-FXO) Chipset
Socketed Dallas DS12887+ RTC
Modified to accept 1024K external cache
Modified with a variable voltage regulator
66 MHz FSB system
1024 KB double-banked Cache, 10 ns TAG (W241024AK-10), 10 ns cache (8 pieces of IS61C1024-10N)
3-2-2-2 cache wait state and 2/0 for RAM (66 MHz FSB)
2) CPU
● Cyrix 5x86-133 (4 x 33 MHz FSB)
● IBM 5x86c-133 (2 x 66 MHz FSB)
● RSTK_EN = 1
● BTB_EN = 0 (branch prediction is long-term stable in DOS; set BTB_EN = 1 and LOOP_EN=0 in DOS to improve performance)
● LOOP_EN = 1
● LSSER = 0 (optimal performance is when LSSER = 0)
● USE_WBAK = 1
● WT1 = 1 (for hardware stability)
● BWRT = 1
● LINBRST = 1
● FP_FAST = 1 (must be set to 0 with SiS 496/497 chipset)
● MEM_BYP = 1
● DTE_EN = 1
● IORT = 000
3) Memory
● Samsung 128 MB (2x64) CMOS Dynamic RAM w/Fast Page Mode and Parity, 60ns w/gold contacts K4F640411C-TC60 x 8 pieces per stick
A modified BIOS is attached which allows for setting the L2 cache into write-through mode)
4) Harddrive/Controller
● Ultra320 SCSI 146 GB Harddrive (ST3146707LW) - 320 MByte/sec (this is the boot/system/storage drive)
Adaptec 2940U2W, Ultra2-LVD, 40 MHz - 80 Mbyte/sec
5) Graphics
● PCI ATI Rage 128 VR, 32 MB SDRAM
250 MHz RAMDAC, 80 MHz Core, 120 MHz Memory
64-bit Core
Drivers do not function in WinNT 4.0 when a Cyrix 5x86 chip is used.
● PCI Matrox Millennium G200, 16 MB SDRAM
250 MHz RAMDAC, 84 MHz Core, 112 MHz Memory
128-bit Core (dual 64-bit unidirectional buses)
BIOS 3.3.30, Rev0.30 (11/21/00)
● PCI 3dfx Voodoo3 3000, 16 MB SDRAM
350 MHz RAMDAC, 166 MHz Core, 166 MHz Memory
128-bit Core
For use in SiS 496/497 chipsets only
For other fast/overkill graphics combinations on a 486, view this thread
6) Audio
● ISA AWE64 Gold, CT4390 w/28MB RAM
ROM Version 2.08, EMU8000 Sound Engine
7) NIC
● ISA 3Com 3c515-TX 10/100Base-TX
● PCI 3Com 3c905C-TX-M, 10/100Base-TX
Test Results (3c905C):
● Sending a 30 MB file from a PIII to the 486, whereby the PIII initiated the transfer: 1.54 MB/s
● Sending a 30 MB file from a PIII to the 486, whereby the 486 initiated the transfer: 2.37 MB/s
● Sending a 30 MB file from the 486 to the PIII, whereby the PIII initiated the transfer: 3.20 MB/s
● Sending a 30 MB file from the 486 to the PIII, whereby the 486 initiated the transfer: 1.37 MB/s
8) Operating system
● Windows NT 4.0 sp6a, Windows 2000 sp4, Windows 95c, Damn Small Linux (DSL)
9) Other features
● Complete stability in W2K sp4 with all noted hardware
● PS/2 Mouse Port
● External IDE CF-card Reader w/16GB 200X CF Card
(connected to the internal PIO-4 port or 50-pin narrow SCSI connector via AEC7720U - used for testing differing OS's)
● Floppy Drives - NEC 3.5" and 5.25"
● Harman/Kardon HK195 Speakers
● Monitor - NEC 17" AccuSync LCD72VX at 1280x1024 (white colour!)
● Battery Backup - APC Backup-UPS 500
● Laser Printer - Brother HL-5250DN w/NT4.0 drivers
● SCSI Scanner - HP Scanjet 7400c - SCSI (previously UMAX Astra 600S)
● Sony Optiarc SATA/SCSI DVD-ROM (DVD+-RW, CD+-RW, DVD-RAM) connected thru ACARD AEC7732U
● KVM w/audio - IOGEAR GCS614A MiniView, 4-port
● PSU - 250 Watt, unknown
● 2006-era white softkey keyboard
● Linksys WRT54G Router, Hardware Version 2, Software Version 4.21.1
● Linksys EtherFast 10/100 5-port workgroup Switch (EZXS55W)
● VIA Dual PCMCIA External Card Reader (16-bit ISA)
10) Other additions known to work well on newer UMC, PCI-based 486 systems
● ISA U.S. Robotics 5687 v.90 56K modem
● PS/2-to-USB mouse converter for modern mice
● ISA 3Com 3c515-TX, 10/100Base-TX (100Base mode non-duplex)
● PCI Intel Pro/100S 10/100Base-TX
● PCI 2-port USB Host Controller, SIIG Intek 21 (TKP2U022) OPTi 82C861
● PCI Creative DXR2 DVD/MPEG Decoder
● PCI SATA/ATA Host Controller, Promise SATA150 TX2plus (has NT4.0 drivers)
● ACARD AEC7732U Bridge Adapter, SATA (ATAPI DVD-ROM) to 50-pin Ultra SCSI
● ACARD AEC7720U (C1) Bridge Adapter, IDE/ATA (CD/DVD-ROM or harddrive) to 50-pin Ultra SCSI