[comp.sys.ibm.pc] Speeding up a PC/XT

kim@msn034.misemi (Kim Letkeman) (10/26/88)

Hi,

First posting.

I have only recently become aware of the net and so I have missed
out on a lot of information that would be of interest.

I would like a bit of information with respect to increasing the 
performance of a bland 4.77 mhz PC/XT clone. I realize that the
ultimate method is to buy an accelerator board, but I don't have 
the cash on hand for a $600 - $1000 purchase.

All I am really interested in is a slight speed increase, perhaps
double. I know that the NEC V20 chip is available, and that there
are aftermarket methods for juicing up the clock and so on ...

What I would like is a concise summary of all of the cheap methods
for getting a little bit of improvement from someone who has been
watching the news roll by for the last while.

Thanks,

Kim

boettche@gumby.cs.wisc.edu (Michael Boettcher) (10/29/88)

****************************  From  ******************************************
Subject: Speeding Up a PC/XT

(...deleted )

I would like a bit of information with respect to increasing the 
performance of a bland 4.77 mhz PC/XT clone. I realize that the
ultimate method is to buy an accelerator board, but I don't have 
the cash on hand for a $600 - $1000 purchase.

All I am really interested in is a slight speed increase, perhaps
double. I know that the NEC V20 chip is available, and that there
are aftermarket methods for juicing up the clock and so on ...
**************************************************************************

From the computer shopper, I have come to the conclusion that it is cheaper to
replace the mother board.  You can get a new board for a low of $50 to a high
of around $150 for a 12 MHz board with a few added featurs.  The speed up 
boards I have seen cost around $90 to $130 depending if you have a generic 
clone, or a "not quite" compatible like a Leading Edge, Tandy 1200 etc.

I you want to really want to improve your performance, you could get an AT
mother board.  They sell for around $300 to $450.  They generally run at 
10 or 12 MHz.

One of the drawbacks of a new mother board is if you have a system that 
built in capabilities.  This includes such things as video, floppy drive
controller, clock, etc.  If your system has these, if you get a mother board
you need to get one that also has these, or else buy new plug in boards.  
Like I said befor, if you give some more information, I could help some more.

I am posting this here because I couldn't mail it.  Whats you full net 
address?

Michael Boettcher
Student, UW Madison
Applied Math, Engr. and Physics