First post, by gca
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Does anyone have a motherboard manual for the AMBRA Sprinta 386SX? NOT the 486 model (which is all I can find any detail about on-line and those details are pretty thin on the ground) it is most definitely a 386.
What I am looking for is a reference guide as to what purpose each jumper serves as none of them are labelled and I need to disable the on-board VGA controller because it failed and from what I can tell I have to disable it before an external one will function.
Additional details that might help (or hinder)...
Model: Ambra (ICPI Ltd?) Sprinta (AMD-386SX)
DOM: 11/1992
Motherboard: Rev B. 2225
Part Number of Machine: AMA2100 according to a label on the base of the chassis (which is stuck over another label marked AMA1100).
Thanks greatly in advance to anyone who can provide any information/assistance.
..........
In case anyone is wondering why I think the onboard video is dead:
Pulled out a fully functional machine (well, it was when I put it in the cupboard) and powered it up to find it totally catatonic (no beeps, messages or anything).
Checked PSU output and visually checked for bad caps, all good on both fronts.
Pulled expansion cards (NIC & Sound) … still dead.
Disconnected drives ... still dead.
Pulled memory … BEEP CODES FOR BAD MEMORY (yay, it IS still alive, kind of (thank $deity for that).
Put memory back in … dead (many bad words).
Seen similar symptoms before and each time it was down to a dead display. Feel free to disagree, I’m open to other suggestions.
Fumbled about trying to work out how to disable the bloody on-board graphics without a reference guide. After a bit of messing about swapping jumpers around (you know, switch one.. nope not it.. put it back and try the next one (yes I KNOW it’s a bad idea to do that)) I did manage to get an external card to work but the machine is now moaning about a bad fixed disk controller. So, I assume I’ve caused a conflict between components thus allowing the external VGA to function but, as I say, without a reference as to what jumper does what your guess is as good as mine.
Seeing how I had a semi-working system I ran every diagnostic software tool at my disposal on it and they all say everything is good?!?