Cirrus Logic ISA and 440BX motherboards \ VOGONS

Cirrus Logic ISA and 440BX motherboards

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First post, by The Serpent Rider

Posted on 2018-03-06, 00:07

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For some strange reason both ISA Cirrus Logic video cards in my possession (5402 and 5420) just hang on their boot screens when paired with ASUS P3B-F motherboard. Is it particular ASUS quirk or just PIIX4E south bridge problem on any motherboard?

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Reply 1 of 14, by derSammler

Posted on 2018-03-06, 09:05

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Could be that the maimboard does not provide the 14.3 MHz clock on the ISA bus? I've read that CL cards won't work then.

Reply 2 of 14, by Tetrium

Posted on 2018-03-06, 09:58

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derSammler wrote:
Could be that the maimboard does not provide the 14.3 MHz clock on the ISA bus? I've read that CL cards won't work then.

I suppose one can check this from inside the BIOS? I'm not too familiar with ISA graphics cards and the ones I did try in an ISA slot in a BX board seemed to provide an image.

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Reply 3 of 14, by appiah4

Posted on 2018-03-06, 12:58

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It could be an IRQ conflict? Have you tried reserving IRQ 9 and if that fails IRQ 2 for Legacy ISA in BIOS.

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Reply 4 of 14, by The Serpent Rider

Posted on 2018-03-06, 13:20

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I'll try that.

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Reply 5 of 14, by derSammler

Posted on 2018-03-06, 13:26

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Tetrium wrote:
I suppose one can check this from inside the BIOS?

No, you need to look for an 14.3 MHz crystal on the mainboard. Many manufacturers dropped that at some point.

Reply 6 of 14, by Tetrium

Posted on 2018-03-06, 13:37

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derSammler wrote:
Tetrium wrote:
I suppose one can check this from inside the BIOS?

No, you need to look for an 14.3 MHz crystal on the mainboard. Many manufacturers dropped that at some point.

Cheers 😀

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Reply 7 of 14, by The Serpent Rider

Posted on 2018-03-06, 14:43

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Tinkering with IRQ9 didn't help and IRQ2 can't be reserved. With 5402 things got even worse - card couldn't boot up properly.

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Reply 8 of 14, by dondiego

Posted on 2018-03-06, 15:16

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This:
http://www.os2museum.com/wp/the-isa-osc-mystery/

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Reply 9 of 14, by The Serpent Rider

Posted on 2018-03-06, 16:29

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Interesting, but in my case both cards can display picture.

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Reply 10 of 14, by The Serpent Rider

Posted on 2018-03-08, 19:17

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So I've tried another VGA card, this time even older and packed with oscillators - Jovian Logic RUBY 451. To my surprise even that card still hangs up on the initial screen with VGA card info.

I must be some kind of standard: the anonymous gangbanger of the 21st century.

Reply 11 of 14, by Great Hierophant

Posted on 2018-03-09, 00:07

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I am almost sure I tried an Adlib or an early Sound Blaster in my ASUS P3B-F and they worked. The early FM/OPL2 cards lacked an onboard 14.3MHz oscillator and won't work without one from the ISA connector.

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Reply 12 of 14, by gerwin

Posted on 2018-03-09, 01:02

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Can confirm that 14,3MHz is present on an Asus P2B for example:
Sound Blaster Pro 2 and SB 16's dying on me

--> ISA Soundcard Overview // Doom MBF 2.04 // SetMul

Reply 13 of 14, by appiah4

Posted on 2018-03-09, 09:21

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The Serpent Rider wrote:
So I've tried another VGA card, this time even older and packed with oscillators - Jovian Logic RUBY 451. To my surprise even that card still hangs up on the initial screen with VGA card info.

Have you checked the ISA slot for corrosion? Do you have a second ISA slot you can try on the Motherboard, preferrably one that does not share resources with the PCI bus?

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Reply 14 of 14, by The Serpent Rider

Posted on 2018-03-09, 09:30

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Trident 8900D and various sound cards are working fine, so ISA slot itself is not a problem.

I must be some kind of standard: the anonymous gangbanger of the 21st century.

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