And, do I need a .cfg file for ISA cards also? I'm planning on installing a sound card, of course, and maybe a 3Com NIC.
Draco72 wrote on 2025-06-23, 14:37:Thanks! Problem is solved 😀 I have now a working WfW 3.11 on my AST 😀
Another question, those .cfg files, are they system dependable or is it standard for all EISA systems?
Glad you made it 😉
Some are OEM specific, as in this case with the AST .CFG file for the embedded Mach32, but other .CFG files that come with specific EISA expansion cards are standardised and should be compatible with all other EISA systems.
Draco72 wrote on 2025-06-23, 14:41:And, do I need a .cfg file for ISA cards also? I'm planning on installing a sound card, of course, and maybe a 3Com NIC.
CFG files for ISA cards do exist, but they are more or less just graphical files, which tell how to set switches and jumpers or how to configure the autoexec.bat or config.sys files, so in essence, those ISA .CFG files do not modify resources and generally are not required.
Adding a few more benchmark results, now at 40MHz FSB. Memory bandwidth is pretty poor considering this motherboard is configured for a 64bit memory data bus with its two TACT84541 memory buffer chips (hence the need for two SIMMs to fill a bank).
For comparison - a regular 486 VLB system from the same time period (1992~), UMC480 chipset, WT L2 cache:
Draco72 wrote on 2025-06-23, 14:41:...
Draco72, could you please post some Speedsys results of your system with and without L2 cache installed?
SSTV2 wrote on 2025-06-26, 17:49:Adding a few more benchmark results, now at 40MHz FSB. Memory bandwidth is pretty poor considering this motherboard is configure […]
Adding a few more benchmark results, now at 40MHz FSB. Memory bandwidth is pretty poor considering this motherboard is configured for a 64bit memory data bus with its two TACT84541 memory buffer chips (hence the need for two SIMMs to fill a bank).
For comparison - a regular 486 VLB system from the same time period (1992~), UMC480 chipset, WT L2 cache:
Draco72 wrote on 2025-06-23, 14:41:...
Draco72, could you please post some Speedsys results of your system with and without L2 cache installed?
I will, as soon as I can, but have a little going on at the moment 😀
I installed the memory expansionboard for the SCSI controller card. Went from 0,5mb to a wopping 4,5mb. Will be interessting to see how that could affect the speed also.
However, I have problems locating the drivers for the SCSI controller card. I need it to get the SCSI CD-Rom to work in Dos and Win 3x. Anyone here who could help?
When that is sorted, the PC is more or less complete, and the fun can really begin 😀
Oh, one more thing. It seems like the cache card also needs a .cfg file? Someone who can help with that also?
SSTV2 wrote on 2025-06-26, 17:49:Adding a few more benchmark results, now at 40MHz FSB. Memory bandwidth is pretty poor considering this motherboard is configure […]
Adding a few more benchmark results, now at 40MHz FSB. Memory bandwidth is pretty poor considering this motherboard is configured for a 64bit memory data bus with its two TACT84541 memory buffer chips (hence the need for two SIMMs to fill a bank).
For comparison - a regular 486 VLB system from the same time period (1992~), UMC480 chipset, WT L2 cache:
Draco72 wrote on 2025-06-23, 14:41:...
Draco72, could you please post some Speedsys results of your system with and without L2 cache installed?
I can see you use a Intel DX4 120mhz! I have a DX4 100mhz, but I havent been able to determin if my PC supports it... Would be nice if my AST Premmia 4/66D could take that CPU....
Where did you even manage to get a cache module for that unknown EISA SCSI card in the first place? 😳
Regarding drivers - try booting from the Win98SE boot disk with "start computer with CD-ROM support", this boot disk contains several SCSI CD-ROM drivers, mostly for Adaptec controllers, but they may work with your card.
This M/B supports DX4 processors via the latest BIOS versions, but the FSB is officially limited to 33MHz max. I had to mod the clock generator to enable 40MHz FSB option, but video card does not like this clock bump. Under DOS, sometimes random characters appear or are replaced with different characters, but games and Windows environment is unaffected. I used a DX4ODPR100 with an integrated 3.3V voltage regulator.
SSTV2 wrote on 2025-06-27, 14:20:Where did you even manage to get a cache module for that unknown EISA SCSI card in the first place? :O […]
Where did you even manage to get a cache module for that unknown EISA SCSI card in the first place? 😳
Regarding drivers - try booting from the Win98SE boot disk with "start computer with CD-ROM support", this boot disk contains several SCSI CD-ROM drivers, mostly for Adaptec controllers, but they may work with your card.
This M/B supports DX4 processors via the latest BIOS versions, but the FSB is officially limited to 33MHz max. I had to mod the clock generator to enable 40MHz FSB option, but video card does not like this clock bump. Under DOS, sometimes random characters appear or are replaced with different characters, but games and Windows environment is unaffected. I used a DX4ODPR100 with an integrated 3.3V voltage regulator.
It came with the machine. Sealed and all. I tried a Win 98 boot floppy, but no go... So I have to check more.
Do you know if the cache board for the PC, thats mounted in the CPU/Cache slot, need to be configurated to work? When I'm in the config tool, it states that a slot is empty, and i suspect it to be the CPU/Cache slot. The SL1 slot:
https://stason.org/TULARC//pc/motherboards/A/ … REMMIA-486.html
Draco72 wrote on 2025-06-27, 18:45:Do you know if the cache board for the PC, thats mounted in the CPU/Cache slot, need to be configurated to work? When I'm in the config tool, it states that a slot is empty, and i suspect it to be the CPU/Cache slot. The SL1 slot:
https://stason.org/TULARC//pc/motherboards/A/ … REMMIA-486.html
Doubt it, I think "MODULE" in the EISA util refers to the C shaped IDC40 slot group (J15,16,46), which is meant to be used with some kind of proprietary AST Ethernet module.
Try these CD-ROM drivers for DPT Smartcache controllers.
SSTV2 wrote on 2025-06-27, 20:36:Try these CD-ROM drivers for DPT Smartcache controllers.
Thanks, I'll try them. But if I understand correctly, it's a driver for the SCSI controller I need... But, I see a driver here for Plextor CD-Rom, and it is a Plextor I have 😀
