[comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware] Please help with memory expansion for 80286 machine

LC.YRS@forsythe.stanford.edu (Richard Stanton) (09/17/90)

I want to buy an extra 2MB of RAM for my (80286 based) Epson Equity
II+ computer, for as little as possible ($200 or less, if possible).
I want to use the extra memory as a RAM disk, cache, and sometimes
for applications that can use expanded or extended memory directly.

I've seen possible candidates by Boca ($249), AST (Rampage, 229.95
and Six Pack 286, 139.95 with 512K) and Everex (EMS card advertised
for $99.00). If anyone has any recommendations (among these or other
cards) or suggestions, I'd be very grateful.

What are things I should look out for? Would I be able to load TSRS
into the extra memory, or not. Would I need to use some of my
existing RAM, e.g. as a page of EMS memory? Do different boards vary
in this (for example, what are the practical differences, if any,
between a board that implements LIM EMS 4.0 in hardware vs one that
implements it via software?). Any suggestions for articles that
explain the boards available and describe the pros and cons of each
would also be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Richard Stanton
pstanton@gsb-what.stanford.edu

PS If anyone who has moved up to a 386 machine has a memory
expansion card lying around that they have no use for, I might be
interested in purchasing it.

thoger@solan19.solan.unit.no (Terje Th|gersen) (09/17/90)

In article <1990Sep17.002258.19941@morrow.stanford.edu>, LC.YRS@forsythe.stanford.edu (Richard Stanton) writes:
|> I want to buy an extra 2MB of RAM for my (80286 based) Epson Equity
|> II+ computer, for as little as possible ($200 or less, if possible).
|> I want to use the extra memory as a RAM disk, cache, and sometimes
|> for applications that can use expanded or extended memory directly.
|> 
|> I've seen possible candidates by Boca ($249), AST (Rampage, 229.95
|> and Six Pack 286, 139.95 with 512K) and Everex (EMS card advertised
|> for $99.00). If anyone has any recommendations (among these or other
|> cards) or suggestions, I'd be very grateful.

  [stuff deleted]

There are two BocaRam exPanded mem. boards, the 'AT' and the 'AT Plus'. 
I tried the 'AT' in a 10 Unisys PW300 AT compatible. This computer
has a *bus* speed of 10 MHz when running at 10 Mhz, and according to
a Unisys tech. rep., the bus signals are not very "clean". Anyway, this
proved too much for the BocaRam card, the machine refused to boot at
10 Mhz.

When pressed, the techie at the BocaRam importer admitted that these 
pressed bus-speeds were a problem for the 'AT'. He also said that the
'AT Plus' was "better", but could be expected to have "similar problems".

An AST Premium with 2 MB exPanded mem. works like a charm in the same
machine.

|> 
|> PS If anyone who has moved up to a 386 machine has a memory
|> expansion card lying around that they have no use for, I might be
|> interested in purchasing it.

I have a BocaRam AT with no mem installed for sale *very* cheaply.. :-)

  -Terje

guy@contact.uucp (Guy Lemieux) (09/20/90)

In <1990Sep17.002258.19941@morrow.stanford.edu> LC.YRS@forsythe.stanford.edu (Richard Stanton) writes:

>I've seen possible candidates by Boca ($249), AST (Rampage, 229.95
>and Six Pack 286, 139.95 with 512K) and Everex (EMS card advertised
>for $99.00). If anyone has any recommendations (among these or other
>cards) or suggestions, I'd be very grateful.

If you decide to get a BocaRAM card, then the sysop of this unix bbs would
be interested in selling his to you.  He has a 386 and the 16 bit memory is
just TOO slow for his general use.  He only used it about a week.

Email him at:    eisen@contact.uucp

>Richard Stanton
>pstanton@gsb-what.stanford.edu

>PS If anyone who has moved up to a 386 machine has a memory
>expansion card lying around that they have no use for, I might be
>interested in purchasing it.

--
Guy Lemieux            ENG SCI                            University of Toronto
guy@contact.uucp        9 T 2        Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering