jheronimus wrote on 2024-10-09, 09:35:

Does the memory you use pass the test on another motherboard? […]
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d00mo wrote on 2024-10-08, 21:00:

jheronimus wrote on 2024-10-03, 19:49:

Does your Asus board even boot? The empty socket near the cache chips is a TAG Ram socket. It‘s just a cache chip like the others, but your board likely won‘t start without it.

Thanks for noticing that! I went with the other motherboard and never got to try it out. Did a quick test now, it starts and I get a post, but then stuck on memory test. Could the missing chip be the reason?
Trying to find out what chips I could use, do you know?

Does the memory you use pass the test on another motherboard?

Here's the cache combinations for you board.

The attachment Screenshot 2024-10-09 at 12.02.53.png is no longer available

Looking at the jumpers it seems like the board is set up for 256KB of L2 cache. That means all cache chips should be 32Kx8, like this one. That's the most common kind of cache chip, you can look for it on AliExpress, but make sure to buy extra chips, because these vendors sell salvaged untested parts. These also have access time ratings, that's usually two last digits in the part name (like -15 or -20). Generally the lower, the better, but your TAG chip shouldn't be slower than the other cache chips, so look for 15.

Now the other problem is that your other cache chips are mismatched (different brands, access times, etc). That may or may not cause troubles, so ideally you'd want to replace the full set.

The other way (much simpler) is to get a COAST module. Then you can remove all the other cache chips and just insert it into the brown slot.

It should look like this:

The attachment Screenshot 2024-10-09 at 12.23.16.png is no longer available

This one came with my Asus board that hase the same chipset as your board, so you can use it for reference.

There are two most common modules out there, pipeline burst (pictured above with bigger chips) and async (has the same kind of smaller chips you have on your motherboard). The manual for you motherboard says it only supports PB cache sticks, so make sure to get one like that (it's a more common one anyways).

Pipeline burst is also faster than async, and you won't need to mess with chips at all. Most COAST sticks are 256KB, but there are some rare 512KB ones (but it really doesn't matter that much).

A follow-up on this.. I decided to give it a try with replacing the chips, and to add the missing one. So I ordered a bunch from AliExpress. They were not identical, but they are all W24257AK-15 and the same brand.

The behavior now is that it freezes or fails to start at all around 50% of the times I try. If it starts up, it freezes either after identifying 640kb in the memory test, or within the BIOS, if I manage to get that far.
Sometimes it works all the way, the only single memory of 8MB is identified, and I get to disk boot.

Any idea why this freezing/locking happens?

I also noticed that the cache memory says None, when I get that far. Is that expected?

d00mo wrote on 2024-10-23, 18:23:

Any idea why this freezing/locking happens?

I also noticed that the cache memory says None, when I get that far. Is that expected?

The attachment IMG_3843.jpeg is no longer available

One possible explanation is that the cache can be faulty. Like I've said, these AliExpress vendors are selling salvaged untested parts. I'm not 100% sure this is the case here, as when I had faulty AliExpress chips on my board, it simply wouldn't start at all (it was a 486 board though, older than your board). But seems probable.

I don't see any problems with your cache configuration, W24257AK is a 32K chip, the jumpers on your board is set up for 256KB of cache total, everything seems legit.

I think there are three ways to proceed:

1) when you do boot into DOS, try cachechk, this might give you some hints about the condition of your cache
2) get access to a pretty popular TL866-II EPROM programmer, it has a mode for checking SRAM chips (maybe you know someone who has this device)
3) check the legs on your chips. It's pretty easy to bend or break them, especially when dealing with used chips. You can either try reseating them one by one, or use a multimeter (check for continuity by touching a chip's leg with one rod, and touch the corresponding leg of the cache socket on the other side of the board with the other rod).

jheronimus wrote on 2024-10-23, 18:32:

One possible explanation is that the cache can be faulty. Like I've said, these AliExpress vendors are selling salvaged untested […]
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d00mo wrote on 2024-10-23, 18:23:

Any idea why this freezing/locking happens?

I also noticed that the cache memory says None, when I get that far. Is that expected?

The attachment IMG_3843.jpeg is no longer available

One possible explanation is that the cache can be faulty. Like I've said, these AliExpress vendors are selling salvaged untested parts. I'm not 100% sure this is the case here, as when I had faulty AliExpress chips on my board, it simply wouldn't start at all (it was a 486 board though, older than your board). But seems probable.

I don't see any problems with your cache configuration, W24257AK is a 32K chip, the jumpers on your board is set up for 256KB of cache total, everything seems legit.

I think there are three ways to proceed:

1) when you do boot into DOS, try cachechk, this might give you some hints about the condition of your cache
2) get access to a pretty popular TL866-II EPROM programmer, it has a mode for checking SRAM chips (maybe you know someone who says this device)
3) check pins of your chips. It's pretty easy to bend or break them, especially when dealing with used chips. You can either try reseating them one by one, or use a multimeter (check for continuity by touching a chip's leg with one rod, and touch the corresponding leg of the cache socket on the other side of the board with the other rod).

Regarding the second way, I actually have an T48 Programmer since previous EPROM upgrade project. I will try them all out using that, thanks!
I guess this is the way to test it and the result I'm looking for?

d00mo wrote on 2024-10-23, 18:58:

Regarding the second way, I actually have an T48 Programmer since previous EPROM upgrade project. I will try them all out using that, thanks!
I guess this is the way to test it and the result I'm looking for?

The attachment Skärmbild 2024-10-23 205544.png is no longer available

Honestly been a while since I did this, but looks like this is indeed what you need, yes.

Dude, if you can I would suggest you get an Intel AN30TX motherboard. I have been building and troubleshooting PCs since the 90's. If you go with an Intel motherboard and an Intel chipset, everything just works like magic. I have an Intel AN30TX(Anchorage) motherboard and have had 0 issues. There are 2 right now on eBay if you are able.