HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: nwickham@nyx.cs.du.edu (Neal Wickham)
Subject: Bunch of PC questions? 
X-Disclaimer: Nyx is a public access Unix system run by the University
	of Denver for the Denver community.  The University has neither
	control over nor responsibility for the opinions of users.
Reply-To: nwickham@nyx.UUCP (Neal Wickham)
Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix at U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
Date: Fri, 25 Dec 92 18:55:47 GMT


I think I am about to buy a PC.  I just read a book about the PS/2
series from IBM and that answered several questions but raised several
others.  So, I'm just going to throw a bunch of questions out here in
.hardware to see if anyone (just for the heck of it) will answer them.

Is the EISA bus and Microchannel the same thing?  They are both 32-bit
correct?  If not the same, which is better?

ISA is just the old AT 16-bit bus, right?  ...although I know there are
some enhancements in newer systems.

I just read some perfomance comparison between several 486 systems, some
with EISA and some with ISA but the "disk" rating or the "memory" rating
seemed to be unaffected by the fact that the system was ISA or EISA.
Why is that?  What does the EISA bus have a big effect on?  I thought
anything going down the EISA bus would go twice or more as fast? 
 
Are 386 systems usually socketed for the math co-processor?

How do you rate video card speed.  The resolution and # of colors is
simple enough but I understand that the gfx speed is very important to
overall performance?  How do you tell fast cards from slow ones?


Thanks,


                                   NCW

PS

Oh... and here's the one that's been bugging me for a long time.  I know
that the 386 is a 32-bit chip internally and externally and that the 386sx
is 32 internally and 16 externally, but if you stick them both on an ISA
16-bit bus, why is the 386 so much faster than the 386sx?
From: stud2@aifbmozart.aifb.uni-karlsruhe.de (Norbert Kuck)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Problems with clock
Date: 2 Jan 1993 16:24:54 GMT
Organization: AIFB, University of Karlsruhe (Baden / Germany)
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: nz11.rz.uni-karlsruhe.de
Keywords: clock

My clock behaves weird. Sometimes it is very accurate, but then it
seems to lose time rapidly. I couldn't see a pattern yet. 

Can anybody out there please tell me

   - how DOS time stuff works in general 
     (hardware clock vs. clock interrupt, what the 'time'-command does ...)

   - what could cause my problems

I have an old Olivetti 80286 with MSDOS 5.0

Please respond via Email, I don't regularly read this group.
Thanks in advance 

Norbert

Norbert Kuck
stud2@aifb.uni-karlsruhe.de
Xref: sparky comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware:33969 comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc:16085 comp.sys.amiga.misc:18970
From: marka@SSD.CSD.HARRIS.COM (Mark Ashley)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc,comp.sys.amiga.misc
Subject: Re: Amiga kicks PC butt - Xmas Truce.
Keywords: Peace Man!
Date: 22 Dec 92 17:04:32 GMT
Organization: Harris Computers Systems Division, Fort Lauderdale,FL
NNTP-Posting-Host: hcx1.ssd.csd.harris.com

In article <Bzns7o.FvE@newcastle.ac.uk> I.A.Inman@newcastle.ac.uk (I.A. Inman) writes:
>I wish I'd never started this.
>Look, let's just call it a day on this one, and say that Everyone buys a 
>computer to suit their own needs, and should not be slagged off by 
>another computer owning community because of it.   Different types of 
>computer are differently designed, thus it is unfair to compare an Amiga 
>to a PC, to a Mac, to an ST, to a Next, etc.

When I was deciding on what system to buy I considered the software
available that I needed, the initial cost of the system, the
ease of upgrading the system, and the amount of activity the
software developers & hardware manufacturers had as far as
advancing technology. The fact that one machine had more muscle
or looked better than another was a minor point.

>Let's call a truce, peace and goodwill to all men - it's christmas everybody.

Good move. 8-)


-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark Ashley                        |DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed
marka@gcx1.ssd.csd.harris.com      |here are my own; they do not
..!uunet!gcx1!marka               |reflect the opinion or policies
                                   |of Harris Corporation.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xref: sparky comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware:34498 comp.sys.ibm.pc:1051
From: rlink@acpub.duke.edu (Robert E. Link)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: modem help
Keywords: modem
Date: 31 Dec 92 05:59:33 GMT
Followup-To: poster


I need help trying to get a modem to work in this machine. I've tried
two so far. The first a no name that I'm not sure works, the second a
Haye 1200B Smartmodem internal that does work - just not for me!
I get the samme results with both modems.

Computer - Data General Dasher 286, MSDOS 5.0, mono monitor and card

Modem dials phone via Hayes commands (i.e. ATDTphonenumber) and gives 
correct action for things like ATM0 (turn off speaker) but will not
echo any commands to screen when ATE1 is typed. On the second modem
I've tried (a Hayes 1200B internal Smartmodem) the cursor will jump in
response to modem commands but no text.

Modem will connect with remote service but will not type any text to 
screen. On the Hayes modem the cursor will jump (and in print mode will
send spaces to the printer) but no text when remote service sends login
message.

Basically - no text to screen is the problem.
I'm using Procomm. Tried to use Smartcom II but everytime I try to load
it it reboots the computer.

Let me know if you have any ideas.
Thanks, Robbie
email preferred
rlink@acpub.duke.edu

-- 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Robbie Link                                    
-Double Bass is my home.
-rlink@acpub.duke.edu  or  rlink@unc.bitnet
From: matthias@nsr.hp.com (Matthias Kamm)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: What's the deal? My chip says "SX-25"; Norton says "SX-33"
Date: 30 Dec 1992 22:48:46 GMT
Organization: Hewlett Packard Santa Clara Site
NNTP-Posting-Host: hpmvd069.nsr.hp.com
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.2 PL7]

:  (Mike Berger) writes:
: Do you have any reason to believe this is really the case?  It would be
: very costly for Intel to test ALL chips.  Usually they're sampled from
: batches.  If one sample chip fails at the higher speed and passes at the
: lower speed, then the whole batch is designated for the lower speed.  So
: chances are good that some will function at faster clock speeds.

Intel is known for it's reliability, and believe me (I used to be in the biz)
ALL chips are tested to a certain extent.  They don't necessarily have to be
tested AT SPEED, however.  Certain other parameters might correlate very well
to maximum clock rate, like the propagation delay of some ac parameter.  

: 
: The usual route is exactly as Danny had stated: test every part at 33MHz.
: If it fails, test it at 25.  If it fails, keep going down until you are
: out of speed.

This is very possibly wrong.  If this were the case, then the cost of test for
the 16Mhz chip would be three times that of the 33Mhz chip (assuming 33,25,16
speed grades for their microprocessors).  Every chip test insertion
cost bucks, and the 25Mhz chip with two test insertions would cost Intel MORE
than the 33Mhz chip!  One thing we used to do (when I worked at a semi. co.)
was to test all chips to the highest speed grade, then mark the chips depending
on the demand.  This only works if there is extremely high yield at the highest
speed grade.  In Intel's case, they are probably yielding 100% at 33Mhz for the
486 (for working chips). 

Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: palane@iastate.edu (Paul A. Lane)
Subject: Re: Why memory costs doubled
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames IA
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 21:53:23 GMT

Apologies to all if they think this arguement has gotten too drawn out,
but it is interesting and of some relevence.

In <1992Dec30.191314.7537@mksol.dseg.ti.com> mccall@mksol.dseg.ti.com (fred j mccall 575-3539) writes:

>>IBM and Micron Technology, though there's been rumors of TI working on
>>high density chips. 

>IBM only makes DRAM for their own systems, so I wasn't counting them.
>TI, on the other hand, does sell DRAM (and is currently the largest
>domestic producer, I think -- I don't know, though; I do weapons, not
>chips). 

I had heard that IBM was planning on selling components to other computer
makers, including their SLC processors. If not the current densities, I'm
almost certain that they'll be selling 16MB chips. Economies of scale 
argue in favor of such an arrangement.

I wrote:

>>They [U.S. memory manufactuers]
      pulled up stakes and left the market before it became profitable again.
>>Short term smart. Long term stupid. That's why you can find no mass-market
>>consumer electronics made in the U.S. and only one domestic TV set (Zenith).

>A company can only sustain losses for so long.  For those folks who
>had DRAM as their major source of income, they quite simply went broke
>trying to compete with dumped product, with the government waiting too
>long to step in.  You can describe it is "pulled up stakes and left
>the market before it became profitable again" if you like, but there
>is a limit to the quantity of loss that ANY company can take.

True. This is an area in which narrowly focused domestic manufacturers
could not make it whereas Japanese conglomerates could. TI is a broadly
based corporation and Micron Technology is bankrolled by J.R. Simplott,
the potato king. (You wouldn't believe how much of Idaho business is con-
trolled by the man.)

American computer makers, with the exception of IBM, are not interested in
becoming vertically integrated (components to systems) and did not care
what source they used for memory. It is unfortunate that the smaller compa-
nies making memory were not aided. With gross margins being what they were
at the time, Compaq and Apple could have easily afforded it.

It is worth noting that American semiconductor companies are healthy. Mem-
ory became a commodity product and these companies moved into value-added
chips. At the moment, the companies being hurt by the S. Koreans are Jap-
anese. 

What bothers me more is theft of intellectual property, widely practiced
by Japan and China. It is common practice for a company to file a patent
application and wait ages for approval while their technology is copied.
Not to mention companies copying products and making slight changes to
void challenges (or even challenging the original patent owenr). 

Paul
From: dobbins@lan.ccit.arizona.edu (Gary Dobbins)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Opinions on best 200+MB IDE drive?
Date: 29 Dec 92 22:31:01 GMT
Distribution: usa,world
Organization: University of Arizona

I'm looking for a new IDE drive in the 200-250MB range (because I don't 
think I can afford anything near 300MB, price seems to jump drastically 
at that size), and am considering the Maxtor 7213 and the WD Caviar drives.

Does anyone have a suggestion of which drive is good in the $350-$450 price 
range, and the phone # of a good mail-order vendor?

(please reply via direct e-mail, I'll summarize to the net if interest 
is expressed)

Thanks in advance...
Gary Dobbins
Dobbins@Arizona.edu


        Gary L. Dobbins  *  University of Arizona  *  (602)621-6715
             dobbins@arizona.edu  *  dobbins@arizvms (bitnet)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: bell@nella3.cc.monash.edu.au (mr g.a. bell)
Subject: CD ROM - What and where to buy
Keywords: CD ROM
Organization: Monash University, Melb., Australia.
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 08:29:02 GMT


Hi Netters, 

  I am hoping someone can help me.  I am thinking of
buying a CD ROM player for my 486 and was wondering
what is available, how good they are, what they are worth and 
if SCSI is the way to go?

Thanks,

Gary.


-- 
``````````` bell@nellads.cc.monash.edu.au `````````````````````````````````````
| Gary Bell                                                                   |
| Department of Robotics and Digital Technology                               |
|Faculty of Computing, Caulfield Campus, Monash University, Australia         |
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: palane@iastate.edu (Paul A. Lane)
Subject: Re: *** HELP ME PICK A WINDOWS ACCELERATED CARD, PLEASE! ***
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames IA
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 23:02:01 GMT

In <BzoGAo.5Fv@rahul.net> bryanw@rahul.net (Bryan Woodworth) writes:

>I'm going to be buying a Windows accelerated card.  I've been considering
>the Diamond Stealth VRAM, but I hear it is slower than the Diamond
>Speedstar 24x?  Which one is faster in Windows?  How much faster is one in
>DOS than the other?

I might suggest you take a look at the current PC Magazine. There's a
comprehensive review of accelerator cards, including the Diamond Speedstar
but not the Stealth. The editors picked the ATI Graphics Ultra Plus, the
Metheus Premier 1280NI, and the NDI Volante A%600 Plus as their favorites.

They recommeneded the SpeedSTAR 24X as a good lower-cost alternative.

Paul
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: ntaib@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (Iskandar Taib)
Subject: Re: Is the amd 386 40Mhz by Cyrix, if so is it crap ?
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 18:08:16 GMT

>In article <1fvg8lINNj1v@nutmeg.csv.warwick.ac.uk> cstaddc@csv.warwick.ac.uk (Mr M A Stuart) writes:
>>	Hi, a little while ago I brought a Cyrix maths copro which blew
>>my current computer up.

Hmmm just what _do_ you mean, blew your computer up. Were pieces of the
case embedded in the ceiling when you showed up for work and the bomb
squad determined the 387 blew up, or did the machine just not boot up,
or did you experience crashes after installing it?

Is this a negative endorsement of the Cyrix 387's??

(I can't believe 387's were a hot topic for discussion just a year 
ago....)


-- 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iskandar Taib                          | The only thing worse than Peach ala
Internet: NTAIB@SILVER.UCS.INDIANA.EDU |    Frog is Frog ala Peach
Bitnet:   NTAIB@IUBACS                 !
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: kjl@world.std.com (Ken J Lebowitz)
Subject: Cache For Amstrad PC1386?
Reply-To: kjl@world.std.com
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 20:34:19 GMT

I've got a PC1386 (20 megahertz 386) from Amstrad.  It claims to be
capable of having a memory cache added to it if you strip it correctly
and populate the cache chip sockets.  Unfortunately, the manual
neglects to inform you of which chip type is required for the cache.

I wrote to the manufacturer and they were nice enough to send me a
photocopy of a page in their upgrade manual but the cache instructions
are scant at best.  It specifies (and I quote) '64Kx9 DRAMs 35ns' for
the memory cache.  Every chip supplier that I contact says that this
couldn't be the case.  Is there anyone out there who knows what I
should be using in this machine?  Perhaps there is someone out there
who has already enabled their cache and they could send me the part
number off of the chip itself?

Many thanks,


Ken Lebowitz
<kjl@world.std.com>

Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: ntaib@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (Iskandar Taib)
Subject: Tseng ET5000?
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 21:50:12 GMT

Hmmmmm...

Has anyone heard of anything Tseng is up to these days? I can't
believe they're not coming up with some super chipset - the ET4000
has been out for at least a year and a half. When is the ET5000
due?




-- 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iskandar Taib                          | The only thing worse than Peach ala
Internet: NTAIB@SILVER.UCS.INDIANA.EDU |    Frog is Frog ala Peach
Bitnet:   NTAIB@IUBACS                 !
From: tweten@wilbur.nas.nasa.gov (Dave Tweten)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: Just how fast is SCSI-II, really?
Date: 21 Dec 92 20:33:58 GMT
Organization: NAS Systems Division, NASA Ames

In article <BzMB0x.BGz@usenet.ucs.indiana.edu> ntaib@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (Iskandar Taib) writes:
>In article <yB8cVB1w165w@Fateepee.CAM.ORG> tommy@Fateepee.CAM.ORG (Tommy Petrogiannis) writes:
>
>>There are 3 (actually 4) flavors of SCSI-II peripherals.
>>	1) SCSI-II @ 5MB/sec (this is the 4th flavor but nobody should use it)
>>	2) SCSI-II @ 10MB/sec (the majority of SCSI-II peripherals)
>           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ I've heard this referred to as Fast-SCSI.
>>	3) Wide SCSI-II @ 20MB/sec (uses a 16 bit data path)
>>	4) Wide SCSI-II @ 40MB/sec (uses a 32 bit data path)
>           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Would this then be Fast Wide SCSI?

Both 3) and 4) are commonly called Fast Wide SCSI, and rarely implemented.
-- 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dave Tweten						tweten@nas.nasa.gov
NASA Ames Research Center, M/S 258-5			     (415) 604-4416
Moffett Field, CA  94035-1000				FAX: (415) 604-4377
From: setnan@nhl-1.nhl.sintef.no (Jan Setnan)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: Seeking video frame graber
Date: 28 Dec 92 09:47:52 GMT
Distribution: comp
Organization: NHL

I am trying to install the VideoBlaster card but have problems with the Base I/O-address setting.
How can I find a I/O-address that I can use ??
From: anthony@cibbs.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: ATI VESA driver supporting 24 BIT COLOR?
Date: Fri, 01 Jan 93 19:19:24 EST
Organization: DataSoft Consulting (Toronto, Ont. Canada)

bryanw@rahul.net (Bryan Woodworth) writes:

> I was very angry when I discovered the VESA driver that came with my ATI
> Graphics Ultra Plus only supports 8bit color!  how stupid..
> 
> Does anyone know if there is a VESA driver supporting 15bit or 24bit color?
> I find this VESA driver very underpowered..  It is inexcusable to pay $340
> for a SVGA card with acceleration, and then get this kind of driver
> support!
> 
> I must say though, the Windows drivers work fairly well..

I little understanding of what VESA will help you understand the "lack of
support". VESA is a standard by which SUPERVGA has been defined for methods of
accessing the extended resolutions. The VESA standard does not include
graphics co-processors and accelerators.

The ATI Graphics Ultra + is a Graphics Coprocessor card that incorporates VGA
and SuperVGA. The card only support 16bit and 24bit color through the Graphics
Coprocessor and not the SuperVGA section. So, no VESA driver for the product
is available.

Is there a VESA driver for 24 bit color? Could be. I haven't seen the most up
to date VESA specs, so they may have been updated. The last one set I looked
at did not include. It is definitely possible to accomplish it with a SuperVGA
card, but with the coprocessor to assist the graphics, it would be SLOOOWWWW!.

What DOS apps are you running that require 24 bit VESA support? For programs
like 3D Studio and AutoShade, ATI provides a rendering driver with the card.


---____  ____
  //     //     Anthony Quinn       Toronto, Ont., Canada
 //     //     anthony@cibbs.UUCP   "Take off to the Great White North..."
 ==== ====    uunorth!cibbs!anthony
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: lnz@lucid.com (Leonard N. Zubkoff)
Subject: Re: Ulrastore 34f Local bus controller
Organization: Lucid, Inc.
Date: Fri, 25 Dec 92 08:19:41 GMT

In article <78806@hydra.gatech.EDU> ccasted@prism.gatech.EDU (Edward Deering Boykin) writes:

   I just found out that Gateway 2000 is offering the Ultrastore 34F Local Bus
   SCSI controller for $215.00. Is this a good price? What are the specs on the
   card? Is it scsi-1 and scsi-2? I tried gateway but as usual their lines
   were real busy and I thought I'de ty here. Anyone with any info please e-mail
   me. Thanks ahead of time.

I just chatted with the folks at UltraStor a couple of days ago regarding their
products.  According to them, the 34F is a non-caching VL-BUS SCSI controller
that supports SCSI-1, SCSI-2, and Fast SCSI at up to 10mb/sec.
Xref: sparky comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware:34371 comp.os.ms-windows.misc:5767 comp.os.msdos.misc:6749
From: bhs@neuro.duke.edu (Brennan Stephens)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.os.ms-windows.misc,comp.os.msdos.misc
Subject: Gravis Ultra-Sound...Experience?
Keywords: soundboard
Date: 29 Dec 92 15:09:18 GMT
Followup-To: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Distribution: usa


   Anyone out there know anything about the Ultra-Sound sound card from Gravis?
It makes some pretty impressive claims for a $150 card.  Among them...

	* full soundblaster/adlib compatability
	* a reliable windows driver
	* 16 bit / 44 kHz record and playback
	* 256k onboard memory (exp. to 1mb)

This appears to be an impressive packege.  Especially for the price.  So I am
naturally suspicious.  Esp. regarding the windows driver and compatability
with SB/AdL.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks in advance.
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: lauusitalo@tnclus.tele.nokia.fi
Subject: OAK 077 SVGA-card drivers for Win 3.1 needed!!!
Organization: Nokia Telecommunications.
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1992 13:38:29 GMT

        
        Could someone tell me where I could get new Win 3.1 drivers
        for OAK 077 SVGA-card.

        Thank you,
        Lauri

-- 
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Lauri Uusitalo                 I          "Life is hard,          
lauri.uusitalo@ntc.nokia.com   I                then you die..."
From: jimc@hal.gnu.ai.mit.edu (James Carpenter)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Major problems with SCSI ST-01 Controller
Date: 27 Dec 92 02:38:41 GMT
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
NNTP-Posting-Host: hal.gnu.ai.mit.edu

I just got a SCSI Seagate ST-01 controller and a Quantum Prodrive ELS 85
megs. It isn't working to well. If I try running Disk Manager to format the 
new drive it just hangs and I have to reboot. (Disk Manager says the drive has
only 3 heads. Is this correct???) And after a while, even if I'm not doing
anything with the SCSI drive, the keyboard hangs. The computer doesn't, just
the keyboard, lights and all. Only way out is a cold reset.

I've tried all the different jumper settings on the controller. I've messed
with the BIOS settings. I've pulled the current MFM controller. Taking out
all of the unnecessary boards. And many other things I can't remember. I'm
also not sure if its a problem with DOS. I have the same problems under the
Linux operating system.

Has anyone every had a problem such as this?

-- 

	Jim Carpenter
	CARPENTER@Eisner.DECUS.Org
	jimc@gnu.ai.mit.edu
From: scr2275@hertz.njit.edu (Samuel C. Ramac)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Noisy disk drive after upgrade!
Date: 1 Jan 93 21:24:54 GMT
Organization: New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, N.J.
Originator: scr2275@hertz.njit.edu

Hi!

  I upgraded my 286 motherboard to a 486 sx board but now I am having 
some problems with my disk drives (two 1.2 MB).  They are noisy and I'm
getting errors whenever I write to them.  Does this mean that I need a new
controllers? 

  I will appreciate any comments.

-sam-

 
-Sam-  

  
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Samuel C. Ramac                       internet: scr2275@hertz.njit.edu
Dept. of Electrical Engineering                 ee65810@oak.njit.edu
Drexel Thin-Film Microelectronics Lab.     
New Jersey Institute of Technology         
Newark, NJ 07055
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Xref: sparky comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware:34526 comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc:16253