First post, by Tempest
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I have an IBM ValuePoint 433SX/S which as the name implies uses a 486SX/33 processor. I'm using it for playing mid to late 90's games, and I'm wondering if I should bother with any upgrades to it. Here are it's current specs:
CPU: 486SX 33 MHz
Video: It has a S3 86C805 video controller built in, but I'm using a Matrox Millennium card (I have no idea which is better)
Sound: Soundblaster AWE-32 with Roland MT-32
RAM: 16MB
Other: CD ROM drive
As far as I can tell I have three possible upgrade options:
1. Max out the RAM to 64MB. This sounds cool, but I think it would cause trouble with games and be completely useless too since 4-8MB was the max RAM requirement at the time. 16MB should be plenty.
2. Add a cache board. There's an empty slot labeled CACHE which I assume is for a 256MB cache board. The system comes with an internal 8K cache though. I'm not sure what sized board goes in the slot however. I grabbed a 256K cache board from a junk IBM at work (some PS/2 industrial PC) but it's too wide for that slot even though it looks like it should fit. Finding a board that fits might be hard.
3. Upgrade the processor. There's an empty area on the board labeled Processor Overdrive and looks like it takes a CPU. I'm not sure if this is for adding a special overdrive chip or if it's for putting in a whole new processor. Can the 486SX just be swapped out for a DX chip? Is it worth doing so (I think the DX added a math co-processor or something)?
I suppose I could also upgrade the video card, but I'm not sure what to go with. The system supports ISA and VESA.
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