Strange L2 cache configuration on Dell 486 \ VOGONS

Strange L2 cache configuration on Dell 486

Topic actions

First post, by kataniel

Posted on 2014-12-21, 19:04

kataniel Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 32
Joined: 2012-03-14, 18:13
Location: Germany

The photo attached is from a Dell Optiplex 466LE with 128KB Cache.
The description near the different chips tells about DATA, TAG and BUFFER.

The attachment 128k.JPG is no longer available

Can anybody tell what I need to do to upgrade the cache configuration to 256K? And what's the special thing about the BUFFER chips?

Reply 1 of 5, by Maeslin

Posted on 2014-12-21, 21:24

Maeslin Offline

Rank Member

Rank: Member
Posts: 158
Joined: 2013-11-05, 01:55

The BUFFER chips are logical buffers, allowing to control the direction of signaling (say, same bus for read and writes) and chances are they're not connected to the cache in any way.

Reply 2 of 5, by kataniel

Posted on 2014-12-22, 17:08

kataniel Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 32
Joined: 2012-03-14, 18:13
Location: Germany

Ok, thanks for the information.
Concerning the other issue, I'll try to find some 64k x8 chips to replace the 32k x8 chips.

Reply 3 of 5, by RacoonRider

Posted on 2014-12-22, 17:14

RacoonRider Offline

Rank Oldbie

Rank: Oldbie
Posts: 1868
Joined: 2012-03-20, 15:36
Location: Siberia

kataniel wrote:
Ok, thanks for the information.
Concerning the other issue, I'll try to find some 64k x8 chips to replace the 32k x8 chips.

Don't waste time, they are incompatible. 32K modules are DIP28 and 64K modules are DIP32 (longer). Your board has only short DIP28 sockets.

Here's a picture of DIP28 cache modules in DIP32 sockets:
http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g330/rjhe … zpsf1c2543e.jpg

Reply 4 of 5, by Cloudschatze

Posted on 2014-12-22, 17:37

Cloudschatze Offline

Rank Oldbie

Rank: Oldbie
Posts: 1433
Joined: 2005-06-16, 14:32

Likewise, 128KB cache is the only mentioned configuration for your system:

https://web.archive.org/web/19970617044719/ht … XLE/default.htm

Reply 5 of 5, by kataniel

Posted on 2014-12-25, 14:08

kataniel Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 32
Joined: 2012-03-14, 18:13
Location: Germany

Seems, as I had to stick with 128kb.
Thanks for the advice.
Nice to see that dell homepage again in wbm as the original one went offline last year or so.

Go to top of page Go to top of page

Back to General Old Hardware