ASUS ISA-386C PQ
works so far.
Tried to use a ITT FPU , booting fine but e.g. landmark will freeze
I have a sneaky suspicion I may be off a year with this unit - it could be from ‘99 - but I do have good memories using it and until I find something from 97-98, it’ll do.
the_patchelor wrote on 2021-08-29, 13:13:ASUS ISA-386C PQ […]
ASUS ISA-386C PQ
works so far.
Tried to use a ITT FPU , booting fine but e.g. landmark will freezeIMG_8789.jpgIMG_8806.jpg
Think you need to find out about U46 there, it looks populated on other photos of the board I can dig up (But not good enough photos to tell what it is)
Unicorn herding operations are proceeding, but all the totes of hens teeth and barrels of rocking horse poop give them plenty of hiding spots.
BitWrangler wrote on 2021-08-29, 13:41:the_patchelor wrote on 2021-08-29, 13:13:ASUS ISA-386C PQ […]
ASUS ISA-386C PQ
works so far.
Tried to use a ITT FPU , booting fine but e.g. landmark will freezeIMG_8789.jpgIMG_8806.jpg
Think you need to find out about U46 there, it looks populated on other photos of the board I can dig up (But not good enough photos to tell what it is)
Here's a good photo... Unfortunatelly chips with stickers like this usually mean some custom PAL - it may be cache related (depending on amount of cache installed different PAL populated - one on the photo has 64k written on it). Just a suspicion, but this board does have 64kB of cache installed.
I would try disabling it to see if it still hangs up.
New items (October/November 2022) -> My Items for Sale
HanJammer wrote on 2021-08-29, 14:30:BitWrangler wrote on 2021-08-29, 13:41:the_patchelor wrote on 2021-08-29, 13:13:ASUS ISA-386C PQ […]
ASUS ISA-386C PQ
works so far.
Tried to use a ITT FPU , booting fine but e.g. landmark will freezeIMG_8789.jpgIMG_8806.jpg
Think you need to find out about U46 there, it looks populated on other photos of the board I can dig up (But not good enough photos to tell what it is)
Here's a good photo... Unfortunatelly chips with stickers like this usually mean some custom PAL - it may be cache related (depending on amount of cache installed different PAL populated - one on the photo has 64k written on it). Just a suspicion, but this board does have 64kB of cache installed.
I would try disabling it to see if it still hangs up.
Good call HanJammer ! The ISA-386C rev 1.1 also has PAL with 64k-### stickers (but two of them, not one)...
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
I like to buy whole systems from offers that don't show exactly what the system contains. The photo shows only that the keyboard is a DIN (Mitsumi) and a case minitower, probably a baby AT. Linux system, so at least the first Pentium?
At worst, there might have been some PCChips trash inside, at best a decent bit of socket (super) 7. I averaged slot one. For $30, you could take a chance.
It turned out great, inside a fully working Gigabyte GA-5AA with a K6-2 500, with a Vanta and no sound, but in a usable case with a working AT PSU. Decent SS7 basis, which I was looking for. All you need to do is replace the electrolytes, two are already bulging.
Other pieces from another offer were functional Zida 5SVA, SuperGrace IHI-LX, some coolers for s.7, sound and Sparkle graphics for DOS rig. Another $30...
When removing SIMM modules, I was in for a surprise - a screw between the module and the slot. Luckily, he didn't short anything..
I was able to find a NIB Logitech Momo PC racing wheel to add to my collection. I did some research to find out what the best racing wheel from the Windows 98 era was (I wasn't into racing games at the time) and the consensus said this. Cost me a little bit but I'm a sucker for the NIB stuff. The box is a little bit war torn, but mama always said it's what's on the inside that counts!
Nice. I still have my Logitech Momo from back then. (bought at CompUSA) Mine had all red buttons though, with some red anodizing on the wheel. It's definitely going to be one of the best steering wheels of that era.
I've got one three, keep us updated on games that play well with it etc, I might wanna dig mine out and have a thrash around some digital roads.
Unicorn herding operations are proceeding, but all the totes of hens teeth and barrels of rocking horse poop give them plenty of hiding spots.
HanJammer wrote on 2021-08-29, 14:30:BitWrangler wrote on 2021-08-29, 13:41:the_patchelor wrote on 2021-08-29, 13:13:ASUS ISA-386C PQ […]
ASUS ISA-386C PQ
works so far.
Tried to use a ITT FPU , booting fine but e.g. landmark will freezeIMG_8789.jpgIMG_8806.jpg
Think you need to find out about U46 there, it looks populated on other photos of the board I can dig up (But not good enough photos to tell what it is)
Here's a good photo... Unfortunatelly chips with stickers like this usually mean some custom PAL - it may be cache related (depending on amount of cache installed different PAL populated - one on the photo has 64k written on it). Just a suspicion, but this board does have 64kB of cache installed.
I would try disabling it to see if it still hangs up.
some one told me it's cache related to enable Write-back, a 8K SRAM has to be installed
BUT I got no picture to proof it...
If PAL then may FPU related.
BTW: If I keep the FPU in and disable in Bios (absent) then it still freeze. If I pull the FPU again then all good.
Ydee wrote on 2021-08-29, 15:06:I like to buy whole systems from offers that don't show exactly what the system contains. The photo shows only that the keyboard […]
I like to buy whole systems from offers that don't show exactly what the system contains. The photo shows only that the keyboard is a DIN (Mitsumi) and a case minitower, probably a baby AT. Linux system, so at least the first Pentium?
At worst, there might have been some PCChips trash inside, at best a decent bit of socket (super) 7. I averaged slot one. For $30, you could take a chance.
It turned out great, inside a fully working Gigabyte GA-5AA with a K6-2 500, with a Vanta and no sound, but in a usable case with a working AT PSU. Decent SS7 basis, which I was looking for. All you need to do is replace the electrolytes, two are already bulging.
Other pieces from another offer were functional Zida 5SVA, SuperGrace IHI-LX, some coolers for s.7, sound and Sparkle graphics for DOS rig. Another $30...When removing SIMM modules, I was in for a surprise - a screw between the module and the slot. Luckily, he didn't short anything..
definitely worth that $30 gamble!
Brawndo wrote on 2021-08-29, 15:34:I was able to find a NIB Logitech Momo PC racing wheel to add to my collection. I did some research to find out what the best ra […]
I was able to find a NIB Logitech Momo PC racing wheel to add to my collection. I did some research to find out what the best racing wheel from the Windows 98 era was (I wasn't into racing games at the time) and the consensus said this. Cost me a little bit but I'm a sucker for the NIB stuff. The box is a little bit war torn, but mama always said it's what's on the inside that counts!
I still have one of these. Very sweet setup. However, the plastic inside that holds some stuff together gets brittle and will break. I have already repair mine once and use custom cut / bent pieces of aluminium to try to reinforce it. It worked for quite a while but then broke again.
I haven't tried to repair it again.
I bought this low-profile IBM 300GL 6282-66U for $100 shipped. It arrived in great shape with only a couple of scratches/scuffs on the top cover of the case. I bought the case to use as an open-air test bench for LPX-style motherboards, but I’m glad the purchase included a fully functional Pentium 200 MMX, 64MB of SDRAM, a 16x Hitachi CD-ROM drive, working floppy drive, and a Netgear PCI network card.
It worked pretty well as soon as I got it, but I needed to remove and spray contact cleaner on the integrated graphics card’s memory chips to resolve an intermittent BIOS configuration error (it would falsely report 1MB of memory every other boot). Unfortunately, I still get a keyboard error every time I cold start the machine. I figure it’s because I’m using an aftermarket PS/2 keyboard.
I’m also a bit disappointed that the BIOS uses LBA for drives, but won’t recognize more than 8GB of storage. 8GB is plenty for most programs I could run on it, but I wish it could use more. The BIOS does recognize my DVD/CD-RW drive and an IDE-to-SATA adapter, so that’s something. I’m going to use an IDE-to-SD adapter with it since my SATA SSD’s would be a bit of a waste.
I’ve already tricked it out with some turn of the millennium goodness: the DVD/CD-RW drive, an OPTI ISA sound card/wavetable, a Matrox G200 video card, and my DXR3 multimedia accelerator card to watch some DVD’s. I haven’t used the DRX3 in nearly 20 years. Ah, the good old days…
the_patchelor wrote on 2021-08-29, 17:28:some one told me it's cache related to enable Write-back, a 8K SRAM has to be installed BUT I got no picture to proof it... […]
some one told me it's cache related to enable Write-back, a 8K SRAM has to be installed
BUT I got no picture to proof it...If PAL then may FPU related.
BTW: If I keep the FPU in and disable in Bios (absent) then it still freeze. If I pull the FPU again then all good.
I'm pretty sure It's not FPU related. My bet is it's cache related - so if possible try disabling the cache and re-test. Also if it's SRAM then you are good - pretty much any SRAM of this size should work. On the other hand if it's PAL - then you would have to copy it from another exact chip - and it may be very hard as PALs may have IP (encryption) enabled.
New items (October/November 2022) -> My Items for Sale
gerry wrote on 2021-08-29, 17:54:Ydee wrote on 2021-08-29, 15:06:I like to buy whole systems
definitely worth that $30 gamble!
Yes, I was lucky. Similar to another offer where the seller stated that the computer hummed when turned on, nothing more - he had no monitor. But all three of the LEDs were on in the photography, so I assumed the HDD was working and pc showed signs of life. For $30 it was worth a try, I offered 50 if it packed well and sent.
And yes, inside was 486DX2-66, 3xVLB Shuttle, SB32, just Trident 9400, but at least a VLB and VLB I/O controller. The interesting case may have something to do with the designer Colani, who's already been around, at least the push-button design sounds familiar. Plus period speakers and keyboards. I didn't just take the laptop.
pixelatedscraps wrote on 2021-08-28, 04:07:Matrox G200 AGP, unfortunately this only has DVI output which wasn’t visible in the eBay ad.
It did only cost me $5.
Isn't DVI to VGA a pretty straight-forward adapter?
If it's dual it's kind of cool ... 😎
--- GA586DX --- P2B-DS --- BP6 ---
Please use the "quote" option if asking questions to what I write - it will really up the chances of me noticing 😀
Got this system at an e-waste recycling center last week for NT$890 (US$32): Asus A7V133-C w/ CPU (see below), Asus V7100 Pro (GeForce2 MX 400) 64M, 256 MB SDRAM, 40 GB 7200rpm IBM HDD, BTC BDV-212B DVD-ROM, a FDD, and an old-styled 250W PSU with monitor pass-through power outlet.
Northern Taiwan is known for its high humidity; most screws and exposed surfaces of connectors would lose their shiny finish in a year or two, but this computer seemed to have stayed in an air-conditioned room for two decades.
CPU cooler, other fans, and all PCB were free of dust.
The POST screen said the CPU was Athlon 900 MHz, but the BIOS has "100 x 9 = 900" and "133 x 9 = 1200" options. After removing the heat sink and thermal paste, it turned out to be an A1200AMS3C, an 1.2 GHz Thunderbird!
However, despite of being clean and shiny, the system is far from trouble-free: screws on MB and HDD were not fastened, video card was not properly inserted, the HDD had WinME, and the single 256 MB SDRAM was very unstable. I'm still working on its on-board sound card, although I wouldn't mind if it's not functional.
dormcat wrote on 2021-08-30, 13:18:Got this system at an e-waste recycling center last week for NT$890 (US$32): Asus A7V133-C w/ CPU (see below), Asus V7100 Pro (GeForce2 MX 400) 64M, 256 MB SDRAM, 40 GB 7200rpm IBM HDD, BTC BDV-212B DVD-ROM, a FDD, and an old-styled 250W PSU with monitor pass-through power outlet.
I have a machine of very similar configuration that has yet to be dug out from it's retirement resting spot and gone through. Ran well on XP. Site here with many resources for all A7V models... http://www.a7vtroubleshooting.com/
Unicorn herding operations are proceeding, but all the totes of hens teeth and barrels of rocking horse poop give them plenty of hiding spots.
That's a nice find with that socket A system and a great price too. Definitely worth investing the time into it and getting up and running
Apex Data PCMCIA Sound Card
"Audio Express" - p/n 87g9027
Includes 'Dongle' and patch cable
and original disk for dos windows and OS
€5
