Well... The L2 cache has traces to the processor, so that's a good start. 😉

The sound chip isn't that bad, here is some reading:
https://www.karlsitretro.com/soundpro-ht1869v-review/

PD2JK wrote on 2023-08-23, 14:57:

Well... The L2 cache has traces to the processor, so that's a good start. 😉

That's definitely a win. 😆

I appreciate the link about the sound chip, there's some useful info in there.

I'll slap a CPU in it tonight and see if it even works. Then see if it can handle two 256 MB sticks of SDRAM! Not hopeful about that, but we'll see...

Vx pro. Kinda reminds me of the 430vx I wonder if it is a rebrand. If so, yeah 128mb is max

Here found some info:
https://www.anandtech.com/show/72/21

Looks like max addressable ram is 128mb

But unless you install a k6-3, k6-2+ or k6-3+ you should not install more than 64mb (if you will only use 64mb or less) 128 will still probably be faster than page file if you are actually needing that much.

If you want more than 64mb strongly consider those processors I suggested.

That integrated sound card is pretty good for DOS gaming.

The CMI8330 chip that it's based on is quite capable and has SBPro/SB16/WSS compatibility. Its OPL3 clone is spot on as well.

VX Pro II is apparently relabeled Utron U801x (which I've never heard of): https://hardwaresecrets.com/chipset-aliases-t … -vx-pro-and-co/

http://leoandfanny.bplaced.net/vintagecompute … C501/index.html
Above site says it doesn't support SDRAM. So I suggest you stick with a pair of 64MB 72-pin EDO SIMMs. EDO DIMMs were uncommon in PC-compatibles (but apparently common on the Mac side and Unix workstations etc.) so unlikely to be in your junk drawer. Using SIMMs also avoids any voltage concerns.

Also you might consider any cacheable limits.

The link above says it supports sd ram. But these early implementations were rather low performing

Suggest double sided 32, double sided 32 or double sided 64, double sided 64

About any pc100 ram stick you find for these will max out the timings the board is capable of

Unless you are indeed right about sd not being supported.

Thanks for digging up some of the tech details. So, this model is sounding pretty ideal to just stick 64 MB into and make it into a capable DOS/Win98 gaming box. I have a P233 MMX that would be a good fit here.

I also have a Soyo SY-5SSM (with SiS 530 chipset) on the way from eBay that looks like it would be much better for playing around with Windows Server. It's capable of handling up to 768 MB RAM. Server 2003 might even be reasonable on that. Not sure if this board has 512 KB or 1 MB of L2.

I’ve noticed on many of the late ss7 mobos while some can go as high as 1.5gb many are often happiest and most stable with single sided 384mb especially the via ones. (Yeah, single sided, weird, I know)

sound card chip might not be terrible, but this is pcchips so you will hear every interrupt in the system. Moving mouse, HDD reading, etc all generating clicks.

rasz_pl wrote on 2023-08-24, 02:48:

sound card chip might not be terrible, but this is pcchips so you will hear every interrupt in the system. Moving mouse, HDD reading, etc all generating clicks.

I have a PC Chips M571 motherboard and its integrated CMI8330 sound card is pretty much noise-free.

Of course, I can't speak for the OPs board, being a different model and all, but I wouldn't write it off simply because it was made by PC Chips.

rasz_pl wrote on 2023-08-24, 02:48:

sound card chip might not be terrible, but this is pcchips so you will hear every interrupt in the system. Moving mouse, HDD reading, etc all generating clicks.

Is it bad that that sounds really cool? I wanna hear that! Lol

UselessSoftware wrote on 2023-08-23, 20:28:

Thanks for digging up some of the tech details. So, this model is sounding pretty ideal to just stick 64 MB into and make it into a capable DOS/Win98 gaming box. I have a P233 MMX that would be a good fit here.

I also have a Soyo SY-5SSM (with SiS 530 chipset) on the way from eBay that looks like it would be much better for playing around with Windows Server. It's capable of handling up to 768 MB RAM. Server 2003 might even be reasonable on that. Not sure if this board has 512 KB or 1 MB of L2.

The SiS 530 datasheet suggests a cacheable memory region of 64MB with 512K cache and 128MB with 1MB cache and those are more realistic maximums. I can't tell if you get how extreme putting 768MB in a Super 7 platform is. It's unlikely the engineers that made the board could even test it with those large DIMMs not available yet. You have to anticipate running into low vs. high density issues or any other random reason it just won't work.

If you want to mess with Win2000 I think you will be happier with Pentium III, early Pentium 4, or Athlon/Athlon XP.