joel@peora.ccur.com (Joel Upchurch) (02/10/90)
I'm looking to replace the 16 MHz 286 motherboard in my current system
with a 386sx motherboard. I want to run large-frame EMS to enhance the
performance of Windows among other reasons. From what I see it
appears that Windows would run better if it could re-map all of the
memory, not just the 64kb window. The NEAT chipset on my current
motherboard only seems to support small frame EMS. I would be
interested if anyone knows if this is a problem inherent in the NEAT
chipset or just in the AMI BIOS I'm using.
Anyway, I would like any first hand or even second hand information
about the 386sx motherboards being sold. Dozens of places seem to be
selling them and I don't have way to judge between them. The features
I'm interested in are:
- A well built board with a decent warranty.
- Be able to put at least 8MB of memory on the motherboard using 1
megabit DIP chips or 1 megabyte SIMMs.
- Baby AT form factor. I want it to fit in my existing case.
- No major software or hardware incompatibilities (Run Windows/386,
OS/2 etc.)
- Reasonable price. (less than $400 with 0kb)
Other plus factors:
- Comes with BIOS and/or drivers for shadow memory and large frame EMS
4.0 support.
- Memory interleaving support so I can run at 0 wait states with
cheaper RAMS.
- Good documentation.
If anyone knows a true 386 board that meet these criteria and is less
than $600 I would also be interested in hearing about it.
--
Joel Upchurch/Upchurch Computer Consulting/718 Galsworthy/Orlando, FL 32809
joel@peora.ccur.com {uiucuxc,hoptoad,petsd,ucf-cs}!peora!joel (407) 859-0982phil@pepsi.amd.com (Phil Ngai) (02/13/90)
In article <4087@peora.ccur.com> joel@peora.ccur.com (Joel Upchurch) writes: |memory, not just the 64kb window. The NEAT chipset on my current |motherboard only seems to support small frame EMS. I would be |interested if anyone knows if this is a problem inherent in the NEAT |chipset or just in the AMI BIOS I'm using. By itself, the NEAT chipset mets only the letter and not the spirit of EMS 4.0. There seem to be some 286 motherboards that do have full hardware support for EMS 4.0 but I don't think that will help you. If you have access to Infoworld, check out Steve Gibson's 386sx column. VERY good stuff in there. |- Comes with BIOS and/or drivers for shadow memory and large frame EMS | 4.0 support. I think you will want to get DESQView of 386^Max. -- Phil Ngai, phil@amd.com {uunet,decwrl,ucbvax}!amdcad!phil When guns are outlawed, only governments will have guns.