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Mustek 486 motherboard settings help

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First post, by jasa1063

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I just picked up a Socket 2 486 motherboard and I am trying to find the manual and or jumper settings for it. It appears to be a Mustek 486 board. Some of the stuff is labeled on the board, but it would be nice to all the jumper settings documented. It has an Award BIOS. The BIOS string is 02/16/96-SiS-496-497/A/B-2A4IBM89C-00 and BIOS ID is 2A4IBM89.

https://1drv.ms/u/s!Ar6NijzQIpZIjQDiwLj9kJ2U-L8h?e=71mV3V

Reply 1 of 21, by Horun

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Sorry I can barely read anything in your picture and that BIOS string gave me no search results. No offense but this is 2020 and the best image you could give us is 481x641 resolution ? You can directly upload photos up to 1Mb in size attached to your post here. You do not need external linking. Pleas post a better picture, thanks !

Hate posting a reply and then have to edit it because it made no sense 😁 First computer was an IBM 3270 workstation with CGA monitor. Stuff: https://archive.org/details/@horun

Reply 2 of 21, by jasa1063

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Horun wrote on 2020-08-27, 01:32:

Sorry I can barely read anything in your picture and that BIOS string gave me no search results. No offense but this is 2020 and the best image you could give us is 481x641 resolution ? You can directly upload photos up to 1Mb in size attached to your post here. You do not need external linking. Pleas post a better picture, thanks !

The linked picture is 4032x3024 and is 4.36 MB in size. You can double click the picture once it loads in the browser and then scroll around by dragging the mouse for greater detail. There should also be an option along the top to download the picture locally. Anyway here is an attached file reduced to 517KB.

One more thing on the BIOS screen it says LAZER-TRON VER.B if that helps.

Reply 3 of 21, by Horun

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Great thanks but still cannot properly read the print between 2nd and 3rd PCI slots (whether I double -click and DL from one drive or in your attached image). It appears to be B887/??? AI right above the Made in Taiwan. Those would be the best to search for, sorry I should have been more clear as to what I was looking for...

Hate posting a reply and then have to edit it because it made no sense 😁 First computer was an IBM 3270 workstation with CGA monitor. Stuff: https://archive.org/details/@horun

Reply 4 of 21, by jasa1063

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Here are 3 more images to see that helps.

Reply 5 of 21, by Horun

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jasa1063 wrote on 2020-08-27, 02:39:

Here are 3 more images to see that helps.

Wow great ! Those should help ID the board. Thank you ! Have old man chores to do but will do some searching and see what comes up.

Hate posting a reply and then have to edit it because it made no sense 😁 First computer was an IBM 3270 workstation with CGA monitor. Stuff: https://archive.org/details/@horun

Reply 7 of 21, by jakethompson1

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It appears LAZER-TRON made arcade or slot machines. Any interesting story about how you came across this board? I wonder if it did come out of such an embedded device.

Reply 8 of 21, by jasa1063

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jakethompson1 wrote on 2020-08-27, 04:22:

It appears LAZER-TRON made arcade or slot machines. Any interesting story about how you came across this board? I wonder if it did come out of such an embedded device.

No, just got it off of eBay. I got it booting with a Pentium Overdrive PODP5V83 CPU and 2GB Compact Flash card. Seems to be working Ok. I figured out most of the Front Panel connectors, except the HD LED, but that is no big deal. Luckily the jumper settings are printed on the board itself. I will keep digging on my end, but there are no listings for a Mecer B887 on stason.org or TH99 that I can find. It may very well be an embedded motherboard, but at least I have it working. Here is link I got if from on eBay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ST-486-Motherboard-B … 872.m2749.l2649

The seller's name is arcadepcbs, so I think that nails the case that it came out of an arcade machine. Thanks for helping me figure a good bit of this out!

Reply 9 of 21, by jasa1063

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I originally got this board to use with a Pentium Overdrive 83MHz. Since this came out of an arcade machine and there is no documentation on the jumper settings for the CPU, I just decided to put the board aside for awhile. I ended up getting a LS-486E Rev C1 motherboard for the Pentium Overdrive 83MHz. I have been waiting to find a decent AT computer case at a reasonable price so I could make use of the board. I finally found one on eBay for $25 with a CD-ROM and 3.5" floppy drive included. I swapped the Cyrix 486DX2/66 for a Cyrix 486DX2/80. I installed 32MB of 60ns FPM, 2GB CF card with a CF to IDE adapter, SB 16 sound card, 3Com Etherlink III network card, and 2.25MB ET6000 PCI video card. I am using DOS 6.22 with Windows 3.11. It's been running solid for a few days. Initial builds don't always work out for what you originally intended. I am just glad to finally be able to put it to good use the 2nd time around.

Reply 10 of 21, by byte_76

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jasa1063 wrote on 2021-03-23, 00:19:

I originally got this board to use with a Pentium Overdrive 83MHz. Since this came out of an arcade machine and there is no documentation on the jumper settings for the CPU, I just decided to put the board aside for awhile. I ended up getting a LS-486E Rev C1 motherboard for the Pentium Overdrive 83MHz. I have been waiting to find a decent AT computer case at a reasonable price so I could make use of the board. I finally found one on eBay for $25 with a CD-ROM and 3.5" floppy drive included. I swapped the Cyrix 486DX2/66 for a Cyrix 486DX2/80. I installed 32MB of 60ns FPM, 2GB CF card with a CF to IDE adapter, SB 16 sound card, 3Com Etherlink III network card, and 2.25MB ET6000 PCI video card. I am using DOS 6.22 with Windows 3.11. It's been running solid for a few days. Initial builds don't always work out for what you originally intended. I am just glad to finally be able to put it to good use the 2nd time around.

Hi @Jasa1063

I have recently acquired the Mustek B887 as well.

As I understand from the notes on The Retro Web, there are two versions, one that has the SMC FDC37C665 IO controller and another that has a PRIME 3C IO controller.
If the wrong BIOS for the IO controller is flashed, apparently the board becomes inoperable.

My board won't POST.
The board is physically in excellent condition so I'm leaning towards someone having flashed an incorrect BIOS at some point.
Can you assist me with a BIOS image please?

Also, did you ever manage to find the jumper settings? I can see the voltage and bus speed on the board but there is a block of jumpers just below the CPU with a lot of jumpers on it and I cannot find anything about them printed on the board.

Reply 11 of 21, by jasa1063

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byte_76 wrote on 2025-03-14, 15:28:
Hi @Jasa1063 […]
Show full quote
jasa1063 wrote on 2021-03-23, 00:19:

I originally got this board to use with a Pentium Overdrive 83MHz. Since this came out of an arcade machine and there is no documentation on the jumper settings for the CPU, I just decided to put the board aside for awhile. I ended up getting a LS-486E Rev C1 motherboard for the Pentium Overdrive 83MHz. I have been waiting to find a decent AT computer case at a reasonable price so I could make use of the board. I finally found one on eBay for $25 with a CD-ROM and 3.5" floppy drive included. I swapped the Cyrix 486DX2/66 for a Cyrix 486DX2/80. I installed 32MB of 60ns FPM, 2GB CF card with a CF to IDE adapter, SB 16 sound card, 3Com Etherlink III network card, and 2.25MB ET6000 PCI video card. I am using DOS 6.22 with Windows 3.11. It's been running solid for a few days. Initial builds don't always work out for what you originally intended. I am just glad to finally be able to put it to good use the 2nd time around.

Hi @Jasa1063

I have recently acquired the Mustek B887 as well.

As I understand from the notes on The Retro Web, there are two versions, one that has the SMC FDC37C665 IO controller and another that has a PRIME 3C IO controller.
If the wrong BIOS for the IO controller is flashed, apparently the board becomes inoperable.

My board won't POST.
The board is physically in excellent condition so I'm leaning towards someone having flashed an incorrect BIOS at some point.
Can you assist me with a BIOS image please?

Also, did you ever manage to find the jumper settings? I can see the voltage and bus speed on the board but there is a block of jumpers just below the CPU with a lot of jumpers on it and I cannot find anything about them printed on the board.

No, I never found the jumper settings and ended up giving the motherboard to a friend in exchange for some repair work a couple of years ago.

Reply 12 of 21, by byte_76

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jasa1063 wrote on 2025-03-15, 00:51:
byte_76 wrote on 2025-03-14, 15:28:
Hi @Jasa1063 […]
Show full quote
jasa1063 wrote on 2021-03-23, 00:19:

I originally got this board to use with a Pentium Overdrive 83MHz. Since this came out of an arcade machine and there is no documentation on the jumper settings for the CPU, I just decided to put the board aside for awhile. I ended up getting a LS-486E Rev C1 motherboard for the Pentium Overdrive 83MHz. I have been waiting to find a decent AT computer case at a reasonable price so I could make use of the board. I finally found one on eBay for $25 with a CD-ROM and 3.5" floppy drive included. I swapped the Cyrix 486DX2/66 for a Cyrix 486DX2/80. I installed 32MB of 60ns FPM, 2GB CF card with a CF to IDE adapter, SB 16 sound card, 3Com Etherlink III network card, and 2.25MB ET6000 PCI video card. I am using DOS 6.22 with Windows 3.11. It's been running solid for a few days. Initial builds don't always work out for what you originally intended. I am just glad to finally be able to put it to good use the 2nd time around.

Hi @Jasa1063

I have recently acquired the Mustek B887 as well.

As I understand from the notes on The Retro Web, there are two versions, one that has the SMC FDC37C665 IO controller and another that has a PRIME 3C IO controller.
If the wrong BIOS for the IO controller is flashed, apparently the board becomes inoperable.

My board won't POST.
The board is physically in excellent condition so I'm leaning towards someone having flashed an incorrect BIOS at some point.
Can you assist me with a BIOS image please?

Also, did you ever manage to find the jumper settings? I can see the voltage and bus speed on the board but there is a block of jumpers just below the CPU with a lot of jumpers on it and I cannot find anything about them printed on the board.

No, I never found the jumper settings and ended up giving the motherboard to a friend in exchange for some repair work a couple of years ago.

Any possibility that you could ask him to share a backup of the BIOS?

Reply 13 of 21, by jasa1063

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byte_76 wrote on 2025-03-15, 05:23:
jasa1063 wrote on 2025-03-15, 00:51:
byte_76 wrote on 2025-03-14, 15:28:
Hi @Jasa1063 […]
Show full quote

Hi @Jasa1063

I have recently acquired the Mustek B887 as well.

As I understand from the notes on The Retro Web, there are two versions, one that has the SMC FDC37C665 IO controller and another that has a PRIME 3C IO controller.
If the wrong BIOS for the IO controller is flashed, apparently the board becomes inoperable.

My board won't POST.
The board is physically in excellent condition so I'm leaning towards someone having flashed an incorrect BIOS at some point.
Can you assist me with a BIOS image please?

Also, did you ever manage to find the jumper settings? I can see the voltage and bus speed on the board but there is a block of jumpers just below the CPU with a lot of jumpers on it and I cannot find anything about them printed on the board.

No, I never found the jumper settings and ended up giving the motherboard to a friend in exchange for some repair work a couple of years ago.

Any possibility that you could ask him to share a backup of the BIOS?

I don't know if he has the motherboard anymore, I will have to ask him.

Reply 14 of 21, by jasa1063

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byte_76 wrote on 2025-03-15, 05:23:
jasa1063 wrote on 2025-03-15, 00:51:
byte_76 wrote on 2025-03-14, 15:28:
Hi @Jasa1063 […]
Show full quote

Hi @Jasa1063

I have recently acquired the Mustek B887 as well.

As I understand from the notes on The Retro Web, there are two versions, one that has the SMC FDC37C665 IO controller and another that has a PRIME 3C IO controller.
If the wrong BIOS for the IO controller is flashed, apparently the board becomes inoperable.

My board won't POST.
The board is physically in excellent condition so I'm leaning towards someone having flashed an incorrect BIOS at some point.
Can you assist me with a BIOS image please?

Also, did you ever manage to find the jumper settings? I can see the voltage and bus speed on the board but there is a block of jumpers just below the CPU with a lot of jumpers on it and I cannot find anything about them printed on the board.

No, I never found the jumper settings and ended up giving the motherboard to a friend in exchange for some repair work a couple of years ago.

Any possibility that you could ask him to share a backup of the BIOS?

He just got back to me and he does have it and will put it on his list to dump the BIOS. I will reply back with the BIOS dump when he has done it.

Reply 15 of 21, by byte_76

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jasa1063 wrote on 2025-03-15, 14:45:
byte_76 wrote on 2025-03-15, 05:23:
jasa1063 wrote on 2025-03-15, 00:51:

No, I never found the jumper settings and ended up giving the motherboard to a friend in exchange for some repair work a couple of years ago.

Any possibility that you could ask him to share a backup of the BIOS?

He just got back to me and he does have it and will put it on his list to dump the BIOS. I will reply back with the BIOS dump when he has done it.

Thank you very much, I'm very grateful and looking forward to it.

Spent hours searching this past weekend and had no luck at all in finding a download link for the ROM. He might be my last hope at reviving this board.

Reply 16 of 21, by SteveHere

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Hi byte_76 and Jasa1063. I finally got this machine out of storage and dumped the BIOS. My BIOS was stored on an SST 29EE010 chip, contents here...
https://archive.org/details/sst-29-ee-010_202503
I hope this helps!

Reply 17 of 21, by byte_76

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SteveHere wrote on 2025-03-28, 21:42:

Hi byte_76 and Jasa1063. I finally got this machine out of storage and dumped the BIOS. My BIOS was stored on an SST 29EE010 chip, contents here...
https://archive.org/details/sst-29-ee-010_202503
I hope this helps!

This is incredible, I’m so grateful. Thank you!

I'm sure it must have been quite a bit of work but this was my last resort and it may just be the thing that saves my board.
My thanks and appreciation @SteveHere

Last edited by byte_76 on 2025-04-01, 05:56. Edited 2 times in total.

Reply 18 of 21, by Horun

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Make sure you save your current bios as it is rev D. The one SteveHere provided is a rev B.
"Award Modular BIOS v4.51PG.
Copyright (C) 1984-95, Award Software, Inc.
LAZER-TRON VER.B
Award 02/16/96-SiS-496-497/A/B-2A4IBM89C-00"

Hate posting a reply and then have to edit it because it made no sense 😁 First computer was an IBM 3270 workstation with CGA monitor. Stuff: https://archive.org/details/@horun

Reply 19 of 21, by byte_76

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Horun wrote on 2025-03-29, 16:12:
Make sure you save your current bios as it is rev D. The one SteveHere provided is a rev B. "Award Modular BIOS v4.51PG. Copyr […]
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Make sure you save your current bios as it is rev D. The one SteveHere provided is a rev B.
"Award Modular BIOS v4.51PG.
Copyright (C) 1984-95, Award Software, Inc.
LAZER-TRON VER.B
Award 02/16/96-SiS-496-497/A/B-2A4IBM89C-00"

I’ll certainly attempt to dump the BIOS.
Not sure if it will be the correct image though. There’s a possibility that a previous owner flashed the wrong image. Otherwise maybe it’s Bit rot?

I still haven’t determined if my board is dead because of a faulty BIOS or something else.

I’ve ordered a couple of replacement eprom chips so I can write the rev B image to another chip and test without affecting the original rom chip.

What application did you use to view those details of the rom image?