PC Hoarder Patrol wrote on 2022-01-10, 05:39:

Yeah, I did look again but this list (pretty much the same as the jumper manual) seems to be it for this board - https://web.archive.org/web/19990220164452/ht … c/cpat85tec.htm

Yep, there's hardly any info about it.

Dusko wrote on 2022-01-10, 00:57:

snufkin wrote on 2022-01-09, 12:31:

Possible updated BIOS (Oct 26th 1998) here: https://web.archive.org/web/20030415205633/ht … 500tec_bios.htm

Yes, that looks about right. I haven't tested it yet though.

I did search there but it didn't show up. What was your search keyword?

It was something I learnt from PC Hoarder Patrol. Search Wayback for http://biostar-usa.com/ , change from the default 'Calendar' to 'URLs' (options just under the search bar). That lists all files archived from biostar-usa.com, which is lots (it says more than 10,000). Top right of the list is a box to filter the results, so I filtered by 8500tec, which narrowed it down to 5, including a couple of BIOS references and that short settings page.

snufkin wrote on 2022-01-10, 14:06:

It was something I learnt from PC Hoarder Patrol. Search Wayback for http://biostar-usa.com/ , change from the default 'Calendar' to 'URLs' (options just under the search bar). That lists all files archived from biostar-usa.com, which is lots (it says more than 10,000). Top right of the list is a box to filter the results, so I filtered by 8500tec, which narrowed it down to 5, including a couple of BIOS references and that short settings page.

I see now, good to know! Thanks for sharing!

Odd the only two BiosStar / Bioteq websites that list the 8500TEC are http://biostar-usa.com and http://www.biostar.com.tw. The Euro, UK, German and Latino sites do not list it and the Bioteq site does not either. All on a quick search.
Too bad someone did not save the Biostar ftp site as it had some .doc's but they could also be just the web pages converted.....
Very odd but am guessing without MMX support it was not pushed but in US (orcould be wrong...)

PC Hoarder Patrol wrote on 2022-01-10, 05:06:

Found reference to a couple of older BIOS versions here - https://web.archive.org/web/19990220172430/ht … ec/tec-bios.htm

Looks as if your original was TEC0607.BIN from June 7 1995 (sadly no trace of TEC0831.BIN)

Think I found TEC0831.BIN original BIN file date 8/31/95, internal .tmp file dated same.
Award Modular BIOS v4.50PG. Copyright (C) 1984-95, Award Software, Inc..MB-8500TEC 08/31/95

Dusko wrote on 2022-01-10, 03:55:

There are more jumpers that are not documented and some have charts printed on the board:

Also found a jumpers and connectors page which may be of use since it lists a few more jumpers/connectors that you have no info on yet.
Included the original BIOS self extractor file plus extracted .BIN and jumper webpage....
Note: found while looking for other Biostar info that lead me there more by accident than anything 🤣

NICE!!! I think it has all the jumpers that I was missing! I'll update the the doc I made and post it back.

Thanks Horum!!

Dusko wrote on 2022-01-20, 02:23:

NICE!!! I think it has all the jumpers that I was missing! I'll update the the doc I made and post it back.

Thanks Horum!!

Hope it helps a little, seems a few jumpers were still not documented. Let us know what you find out.

This is the exact motherboard on the PC we had growing up, which I'm in the process of rebuilding. Thanks for this info, I'm definitely going to need it!

FWIW in cataloging this particular board, I can tell you from memory that ours shipped with a Quantex PC, and that we got it in June of 1995 with a 100mhz Pentium. The newest chips on mine date to the 20th week of 1995.