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--- blog:286_pc [2021/02/18 10:02] – [VGA Performance] john
+++ blog:286_pc [2021/06/15 09:29] (current) – [So What Did I End Up With?] john
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-====== 286 PC - History and Repairs ======
+====== 286 PC Adventures ======
 The 286 PC was my first ever IBM compatible. I had owned Spectrums, a VIC 20 as well as various consoles and video game systems, but around 1991/92 I sold most of my toys (I was only about 13 at the time) and a lot of my video games to buy my first proper PC.
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    * {{ :blog:bios.zip |}}, 64kbyte, M27C512 EPROM. BIOS date 04/07/93
+----
+=== Multi-IO ===
+I am using one of the two 16-bit Multi-IO ISA cards in my collection:
+{{:blog:img20210119093926.jpg?400|}}
+----
+=== XTIDE / Networking ===
+Using an XTIDE BIOS ROM on a 3Com network card gives you ethernet networking and LBA hard drive support, so it's a no-brainer:
+{{:blog:img20210119094409.jpg?400|}}
+----
+=== Sound ===
+{{:blog:img20210119093958.jpg?400|}}
+I'm using a basic Creative SB16 for (OPL3) Adlib/FM music and digital effects.
+{{:blog:img20210124174108.jpg?300|}} {{:blog:img20210124174022.jpg?300|}}
+MIDI out is handled by a genuine Roland MPU-IPC-T ISA card and breakout box.
 ----
@@ Line 237: / Line 265: @@
 One more thing was getting mouse support - I knew that lots of games I wanted to play on this would be mouse driven; adventures, strategy games etc. Using a serial mouse is not an option, as whatever system I set up, it has to be compatible with a VGA+PS/2 KVM switch - that's just the way it has to be, as I don't have space for multiple keyboards, mice or monitors all over the place.
+{{:blog:img_1880.jpg?400|}}
 Fortunately, in the last couple of years, some ingenious folks have created a range of Serial to PS/2 mouse adapters, one even being built into a [[https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=67488|neat little 8bit ISA card]].
@@ Line 244: / Line 274: @@
 === Motherboard ===
-This is the main factor in the performance of such an old system, so we'll have to try and source a few likely speedy 286 mothers, do a bit of research and quite a bit of testing here....
+This is the main factor in the performance of such an old system, so we'll have to try and source a few likely speedy 286 motherboards, do a bit of research and quite a bit of testing here....
 ===== Next Steps - 286 Motherboard Shootout! =====
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 ==== Landmark Synthetic IBM/AT Performance ====
-{{:blog:286_landmark.png?600|}}
+{{:blog:286_landmark.png?700|}}
 Landmark is a synthetic rating of the system as if it were an IBM/AT. The figures it produces in MHz are what it would take an original AT to run at to match the current system.
@@ Line 318: / Line 348: @@
 Take these results with a pinch-of-salt. The HT12/A board from Eurosoft shows massive scores in all categories (and it //is// fast, no doubt), but the VLSI board is not slow as the benchmarks suggest. I think this is one of those scenarios where the benchmark data does not quite match real life.
-{{:blog:286_vga.png?600|}}
+{{:blog:286_vga.png?700|}}
 ===== Conclusion =====
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    * **Runner up**: Eurosoft HT12/A - 24MHz
+Both boards are on the limit with the available memory at these speeds, and it's likely that the chipset on the HT12/A is //also// right on the edge - it simply won't POST at 25MHz unless you reset the CMOS data and set 1-wait state mode. In reality you probably wouldn't want to run either board at this speed unless you are able to find absolute top quality SIMMs and additional cooling (for the //RAM// - CPU and FPU are absolutely fine).
 === Fastest FPU Frequency ===
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 There are some __odd__ benchmark results in video performance - mainly around BIOS and low-level routines from CheckIT, Landmark and CompTest; these show the HT12/A board with substantially quicker synthetic results (and it //is// quick, no doubt about it), but when it comes to games, the all-round improvement of the VLSI VL82C201 has it ahead in every single test.
+===== So What Did I End Up With? =====
+{{:blog:286:img20210615102218.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:286:img20210615102226.jpg?500|}}
+   * VLSI VL82C200 Motherboard
+   * 25MHz Harris 286 CPU (currently clocked at 20MHz)
+   * Intel 287XL FPU
+   * 4MB 60ns RAM
+   * Generic Multi-IO card
+   * Tseng Labs ET4000AX VGA
+   * Soundblaster 16 CT2770
+   * Midiman MM401 MPU401 card
+   * 3Com 3C509B NIC / XTIDE BIOS host
+   * Everex EV178 8MB EMS card
+   * Internal MT32-Pi MIDI module
+   * RS232 to PS/2 mouse adapter dongle
+   * 3.5" 1.44MB FDD
+   * 8GB CF card