Marco wrote on 2025-10-31, 18:51:

Just noted that the non-busmaster setting results are similar to the ones of the 509b. So you could (!) assume that speed advantage mainly derive from the busmaster capability. Just a theory 😀

With a much faster CPU, the 515 is better even without bus mastering - Re: Fast Ethernet on ISA

Thanks for clarification.

Pls take note that my 509b results are based on 16MHz bus thus they might be lot lower with normal speed. Whereby bus speed might not have too much impact while busmastering.

Edit: just replaced all OSs again by 509b but with the availability of packet driver alternatives I will switch back to 515.

Marco wrote on 2025-10-31, 21:35:

Pls take note that my 509b results are based on 16MHz bus thus they might be lot lower with normal speed. Whereby bus speed might not have too much impact while busmastering.

Edit: just replaced all OSs again by 509b but with the availability of packet driver alternatives I will switch back to 515.

Comparing your ISA 13,3 MHz results ("Win311 large file copy FTP to NUL: 1520kb/s") with my EISA card (scratching around 25 MBit/s in best case) I don't think it is worth bothering with a 100 MBit/s ISA card. I'm not happy with my 100 MBit/s EISA card's results as well. Both 3C597 and 3C515 are rare and expensive. I doubt I would look for a 3C597 again.

For fast disk transfer solution you can consider using a SCSI controller and a SCSI disk using an external cable. Since there is no synchronisation it has limited use but it is very fast. I easily can connect my 386sx' 1 GB SCSI HDD with a HD-50 cable to a much more modern system and have a transfer rate that just is limited by the disk to ~ 6 MB/s.
100 MBit/s Ethernet starts getting interesting with a fast 486 and a PCI card. Sorry to say that.

Except if
- you want to run your ISA bus permanently and heavy overclocked
- you want to get a peak result in a single run of a good benchmark

I'm still interested in your packet driver results.