From: mtichy@fraser.sfu.ca (Martin Tichy)
Subject: Micronics VL-BUS, ATI Mach32, Ultrastor 34F!
Organization: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada
Date: Sun, 4 Oct 1992 19:50:38 GMT

I just placed my order for a VESA Local Bus computer.  Here 
are the specs:
 
Micronics 80486 VL-BUS System Board
===================================
 
Processor Support:
 
        486sx-20 to 486DX2-66
 
Processor enhancement socket for Intel Overdrive processor 
upgrade
 
Expansion:
        6 16-bit ISA slots
        2 VL-bus/ISA slots
 
Memory:
        4 SIMM sockets for 70 pin 1Mx36 or 4Mx36 SIMMS
 
Caching:
        8K internal cache
        Second level cache support, optional 64K or 256K cache 
support
 
Bus Mastering:
        Supports add-on cards that can assume control of the bus
        Multi I/O:
 
        2 Serial, 1 Parallel, Floppy Drive interface, 2.88 
        support
        Unique IDE local bus design
        Software Compatibility:
        os2, unix, xenix, novell, ms windows, ms dos
 
Form factor:
        baby-at mechanical compatibility
        All mounting locations available
 
Rom Based Setup Features:
 
        Select between fast and slow speeds, 
        activation/deactivation of both 
        internal and external cache, and relocation of video 
        and system BIOS to RAM
 
Testing:
        48 hour burn in
        All mounting locations available
 
        Full functional burn in under dos, unix and os2.
        Documentation
        Complete user/installation manual
 
Pretty amazing huh?  So much built right into the system board!
 
I'm also getting the Ultra 34F SCSI 2 bus mastering VL-BUS 
host adapter.
 
Here's the specs:
 
- Complete SCSI peripheral mixing - Up to 66MB's bursting over 
  the VL-BUS
- Full compatibility 
  with standard OS and utilities and popular third
  party SCSI software
- supports SCSI drives over 1GB in 
  capactity under DOS and
  Windows
- Operates in VL-BUS 32bit mode in a standard VL bus 
  slot 
- Supports Fast SCSI-2 Hard drives for up to 10MB/s 
  bursting over the SCSI bus
- multi-threaded command support provides
  optimum and efficient I/O in multi-tasking Operating systems 
- Complete SCSI peripheral mixing
- Disconnect/Reconnect 
  optimizes the SCSI bus for multiple device support
- ability to co-reside with any other HD 
  controller, including
  IDE, ST-506 ESDI and SCSI
- Multiple Ultrasor controllers 
  can co-reside under MS DOS,
  novell, sco unix, and os/2
- suppports duplexing under novell
- provides a scsi 2 high density connector for attaching
  external scsi peripherals
 
Sounds good eh? But to take adavantage of the FAST SCSI-2's 
10MB/s bursting will I have to have a HD that will support 
FAST SCSI 2?  The drive I ordered was a Quantum 240 LPS Pro 
Drive SCSI with 256K Cache.
 
 I'm not sure but does the 66MB/s bursting over the VL-BUS 
mean I can get a max rate of 66MB/s transferring from the 
controller to the cpu or is that to memory?
 
And the 10mb/s is the max rate I can transfer from the drive 
to the controller?
 
Well, anyways I also committed suicide by getting the 
MVC8000LB video card.  To me the specs suggest that it is a 
32bit local bus version of the ATI Graphics Ultra Pro:
 
Micronics' MVC8000LB is a high end graphics card for VL-BUS 
system boards.  The card offers professional quality graphics 
output, yet is 100% VGA compatible.  The MVC8000LB's 
accelerated linear frame buffer and VL-Bus interface combine 
to deliver unsurpassed speed...
 
Dramatic performance: Experience more than 25 Million Winmarks
 
ATI Mach 32: at the core is the 68800 Mach 32.  ATI's newest 
and most powerful graphics chip.  Using hardware acceleartion 
and a linear frame buffer, the 68800 achievces extremely fast 
image processing
 
- VLBUS - up to 16.7 million colours at 800x600 72Hz, 65,000 
at 1024x768 76Hz, or 256 colours at 1280 x 1024 74Hz
 
-ATI crystal fonts: anti-aliased and scaled by ATI on the fly, 
ATM, PS, and true type, no need to store anti-aliased font 
formats
 
-ATI flexdisk: Handy control panel permits Windows users to 
configure colour, resolution and the font environment without 
having to install new drivers


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