First post, by iulianv
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In exchange for helping someone debug an old (socket 7 generation) computer (used for controlling some modelling tool, so pretty business-critical), I got an incomplete HP Vectra VE 5/75 system (no FDD/HDD, but other than that fully functional) to play with. Here's what I found so far:
[1] (CPU): 5/75 and 5/90 models share the same mainboard; there is a "CPU Voltage Selection Jumper" - position "Vcc" is for the 75MHz Pentium, position "Vr" is for 90MHz and position "Vre" is undocumented (I'm not sure how voltage is relevant here - as far as I know, 75MHz and 90MHz Pentiums are not different in this aspect). There's also a jumper for FSB selection (50, 60 or 66 MHz) - I have a 90MHz Pentium somewhere, and I'd also be curious to try 100, but see point [2] below...
[2] (cache): there is a "Memory Cache" option in BIOS, which seems to affect L1 cache on the CPU - when disabled, the 75MHz Pentium benchmarks like a 386DX. There is also a cache slot on the mainboard, currently populated with a "terminator" which, according to the little documentation found on HP's site, comes in different part numbers for 75 and 90MHz (I cannot tell which one I have - the part number on it is not listed in that PDF). I hope I'll come across a 256KB cache module, in which case CPU frequency is not relevant. What's weird is that NSSI detects 512KB of cache...
[3] (RAM): the PDF recommends populating all four slots with same-size SIMMs for maximum performance (interleaved memory operation) - however, my system will not POST with 4*8MB (tried several pairs, all good); it does work with 2*8+2*16 though...
[4] (other): it has a VLSI chipset, four ISA (no PCI) slots on a riser/backplane card and the infamous CMD640 IDE chip (only one connector though, so I shouldn't have to worry about the "access-both-channels-simultaneously" bug)
The system also contained a CT2230 Sound Blaster 16 card, regarding which I could also use some help:
- according to stason.org, it has jumpers for setting the I/O address, but not for IRQ; is it PnP or not?
- it has a 40 pin proprietary connector for Creative CD-ROM units, and I think I have one around (E2550UA); can I use a regular IDE cable to connect it to the card? in such situations (proprietary connectors), do drivers come with the card or with the CD drive? I see that Funai provides drivers for several models except those Creative-branded: http://www.funaiusa.com/down_load.htm
- which drivers from the Creative driver thread work with it?
- what is the ASP chip used for? (slot is empty on my card, but it doesn't hurt to know 😀)
Thank you.