HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: olson@mydual.uucp (Kirtland H. Olson)
Subject: Re: XT power supply pinouts?
Keywords: XT power supply
Reply-To: olson%mydual.uucp@alliant.com
Organization: The Harvard Group, 01451-0667
Date: Fri, 25 Dec 1992 07:39:34 GMT

In article <Bzo1K4.JE9@news.cso.uiuc.edu> dang@mrcnext.cso.uiuc.edu (Daniel Gentry) writes:
>
>... wanted to make sure the the power supply connections are 'standard' with
>most clone-makers' power supply connectors...  Will I smoke the 286 board
>if I use the standard power supply, or should it run fine?

Most are standard, but once I learned that some are not, I took to
testing them as follows:

Use an Ohmmeter to measure from the power pins on the 8-bit slots (or
the 8-bit section of the connector) to the power pins.  Measure with
both lead polarities so you don't get faked out.  Since the bus slots
are sta
ndard, any funny business with the power connector shows right up.

Here are the bus connections:

           Rear Panel
           B        A
           1 GND
           2 
           3 +5
           4
           5 -5
           6
           7 -12
           8
           9 +12
          10 GND

The standard sequence of power pins is as follows:

         +5
         +5         IBM P9
         +5         
         -5
         GND
         GND _______IBM connector split here
         GND
         GND
         -12        IBM P8
         +12
         KEY (no lead on IBM PS, NO pin on some MB's)
         PWR GOOD

On the power connector, front and rear vary among boards, but standard
sequence is the same for many.




-- 
Kirtland H. Olson                     olson%mydual.uucp@alliant.com
From: eck@infopls.chi.il.us (John Eckert)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Monitor Tube Aging Question
Date: Fri, 25 Dec 92 10:51:44 CST
Organization: INFOPLUS support, Wheeling, IL

Does a monitor which is always displaying pictures 
"wear-out" more quickly than a monitor which is 
displaying no picture, assuming that both monitors 
are always powered-up, and the pictures are constantly 
in motion to prevent burn-in? 
 
In other words,
 
When the monitor is idle, is a screen-BLANKing program 
more "healthy" for the monitor than a program which 
bounces images of toasters about the screen?

Will the tube "run out of gauss?"

eck@infopls.chi.il.us (John Eckert)


--
eck@infopls.chi.il.us (John Eckert)
Infoplus BBS, +1 708 537 0247, v32bis. Home of Infoplus.
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: klopfens@andy.bgsu.edu (Bruce Klopfenstein)
Subject: Packard Bell Experiences?
Keywords: 386 486 Packard Bell
Organization: Bowling Green State University B.G., Oh.
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1992 18:29:24 GMT

I'm looking for an IBM clone and am interested in your experiences.
Any recommendations on Packard Bell in particular?

Also, what are the minimal requirements of any PC-compatible to
run current and future applications.  I'm assuming the 486 is the
way to go at this point.  What else is necessary for all applications
(including CD-ROM and animation)?

If there's an FAQ somewhere that addresses these issues, I'd be happy
to check it out if someone can pass along some directions.

Thanks!


-- 
Bruce C. Klopfenstein             |  klopfens@andy.bgsu.edu
Department of Telecommunications  |  klopfenstein@bgsuopie.bitnet
Bowling Green State University    |  (419) 372-2138; 372-2224 
Bowling Green, OH  43403-0235     |  fax (419) 372-8600
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: jre@zeos.com (Jim Erickson)
Subject: Re: Diamond Speedstar 24X vs. Stealth VRAM
Organization: Zeos International, Ltd
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 16:35:29 GMT

In article <1992Dec20.212014.1@vms.ucc.okstate.edu> v923137@vms.ucc.okstate.edu writes:
>In article <1992Dec18.023210.9407@csar.encore.com>, mthompso@csar.encore.com (Mark Thompson) writes:
>> mrbill@leland.Stanford.EDU (William Bowen) writes:
>> 
>>>Which is the faster card, the Stealth VRAM or the Speedstar 24X? Does
>>>anyone have benchmarks for these cards, preferably run on the same machine?
>> 
>>>Thanks for any info.
>> 
>>>Bill
>> 
>>>mrbill@leland.stanford.edu
>> 
>> I just installed a SpeedStar 24X in my 486DX/50 MHz 256kb cache 8MB ram
>> system. WinBench reports 12,691,779 WinMarks in 800x600x256 mode. Sorry, I
>> don't have any numbers on the Stealth. Maybe someone else with a similiar
>> system can post them.
>
>The Diamond Stealth VRAM 1MB accelerator card runs about 8.4 Million WinMarks.
>I had a Stealth, and just bought a 24X.  The 24X is faster.  Period. 
                                                              ^^^^^^
Not "Period". The 24X is definitely faster in standard DOS text and VGA 
applications but the Windows
performance of the two cards is very similar. One advantage the Stealth has is
that it has line draw fuctions in hardware, the 24X does not. This means, given
the correct drivers, that even some DOS based apps (i.e. CAD) may have better
performance with the Stealth. 
I personally would pick the 24X, but the issue is not cut and dry. 


---JRE---
>
>> 
>> I really enjoy my new SpeedStar.
>
>Likewise.
>
>-Jason 


-- 
Jim Erickson             ZZZZ EEEE  OO   SSSS   ZEOS International, Ltd.  
support@zeos.com   INET     Z E    O  O S       Technical Support Dept.
uunet!zeos!support UUCP    Z  EE   O  O  SSS    1301 Industrial Blvd. N.E.
Any opinions expressed    Z   E    O  O     S   Minneapolis, MN 55413
From: x90farleigh1@gw.wmich.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Extern SCSI on Model 95's ...
Date: 30 Dec 92 19:52:00 EST
Organization: Western Michigan University

I have  several IBM model 95's, each with a SCSI bus mastering controller.

These also have the Adaptec 1640 host adapters -

Each of these controllers have a different external "high density" type of
 connector- kinda like a miniaturized centronics ...


My question is - What are these? Is one of these defined in the SCSI-II
standard???

On that note - where can a person get a hold of this ANSI spec stuff - I am
individual with very shallow pockets... not some mega-corp that gets these
things as free-bies for attending so and so conference ...

Thanks!

Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: david@datamark.co.nz (David Rowland)
Subject: Re: Compaq vs Dell vs Gateway
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 04:45:31 GMT
Organization: Datamark International Ltd.

In article <1992Dec21.221059.29951@boingo.med.jhu.edu> pconnor@ishtar.med.jhu.edu (Paul Connor x5-8318) writes:
>Our department will be buying 4-6 ibm pc clones within a month.
>I am interested in the following system lines:
>	- Compaq Deskpro /M 
>	- Dell 486DE
>	- Gateway 4DX**V 
>We are concerned with reliability more so than price/performance.
>That is, for our situation, we would rather pay $1000 more per machine
>if we were confident that we would have fewer system problems.
>
>Does anyone have experience with these systems?
>

I have had heaps of experience with Compaqs.  These are the most
reliable computers I have used.  (NB - I havn't used either a Dell or
a Gateway).

With their recent price drop, this makes them more attractive then
others.

These computers come with their own strain of Dos called Compaq Dos.
Microsoft writes it but Compaq include their own device drivers for
memory management etc.

I have heard that the Compaq support staff is almost non-existant,
however, having never had the need to call them, I cant comment.

I have had Compaqs running continuously with out it crashing (except
for my programming errors) for months on end.

Do you need anymore info.

Dave.
--
+---------------------+--------------------------------------------------+
| David Rowland       | The British are using New Zealanders.  They must |
| Datamark Intl Ltd   | really mean business !                           |
| Wellington          |      -  General Rommel During Northern African   |
| NEW ZEALAND         |         Campaign WWII.                           |
+---------------------+--------------------------------------------------+
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.sys.ibm.pc.programmer
From: ianst@qdpii.comp.qdpi.oz.au (Ian Staples)
Subject: POST/BIOS Error 601
Followup-To: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Summary: What does the "601" error mean?
Organization: Qld Dept Primary Industries
Date: Sat, 2 Jan 1993 08:10:19 GMT

Hi, I hope this is an appropriate group for this post.  Please help if you can.

My LOGI 88-XT has lost its floppy disk drives:

On bootup, I simply get the cryptic message "601" after the POST memory test.
The machine then politely requests "Press F1 to continue".  When you press F1
it continues to boot from drive C:, but there is no sign of "testing" the
floppy drives as part of the boot process.  The drives remain dead.  If you
try to read a directory or otherwise use one of them, you get the message
"Drive not ready...".  There is no indication that the machine attempted to
access the drive in question - i.e. no noise and no drive light on.

Does anyone know what the error "601" indicates?  I assume it is a BIOS
error message of some sort, relating to the failed FDDs.  Is it telling me
anything useful, or is it just some sort of general statement of failure?

The system is an XT using the NEC V20 chip.
BIOS is Award ("Licensed")  [What other sort do they sell? :)]
640k memory
Multi-I/O Card for FDDs, clock, parallel printer port, etc.
HDD	Miniscribe Model 8425 with RLL controller to give 30 meg drive
FDDs	A: is 5 1/4" 360k
	D: is 3 1/2" 720k (configured as an external drive to get 720k)
       [B: is physically the 3 1/2" drive, but machine thinks it is 360k].
EGA Monitor
XT/AT Keyboard [which occasionally gives problems too - error "301"]

Any help gratefully received.  Thank you, and Happy New Year.

Ian S.

-- 
Ian Staples                       | Internet : ianst@qdpii.comp.qdpi.oz.au
c/- P.O. Box 1054,                | Fax      : +61 (0)70 923 593
MAREEBA  Queensland  4880         | Voice    : +61 (0)70 921 555
Australia.                        | Home     : +61 (0)70 924 847
From: sheldon@iastate.edu (Steve Sheldon)
Subject: Re: Am I getting ripped off?
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames IA
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 16:07:21 GMT

In <rohrernl.78@helix.nih.gov> rohrernl@helix.nih.gov (Nathan Rohrer) writes:

>In article <rohrernl.76@helix.nih.gov> rohrernl@helix.nih.gov (Nathan Rohrer) writes:

>>I've got a Sony CD-ROM drive in for repair and the technician tells me that 
>>the "logic board" is out.  He says it will cost about $450. to repair.
>>Does this sound right?  Is there such a thing in an External CD-ROM? The 
>>CD-ROM drive could only read CDs about 1/4 of the time.  Any help would be 
>>appreciated.

 There is such thing as an External CD-ROM, sure...

 $450 sounds like it's more than the drive would cost new.

 I don't know if this is a valid number, as I don't have any experience with
Sony repair part's pricing.

 However, consider this:  We bought one of those stupid Brother word
processing machines about two years back.  1 month after the warranty
expired the monitor on the thing quit working.

 Took it into 4 different repair shops, and were quoted prices from $350 on
up to $425 to repair it.  (It cost $375 new)

 Finally I asked one of the service techs why it was so expensive and he
showed me the Brother price list for parts.  The monitor was listed as
costing $315 for the part only.

 I'm willing to guess that on your CD-ROM there are only two "pieces", the
"Optical mechanism" and the "logic board".  Buying either one of these main
parts from Sony repair probably costs as much as a new drive.


P.S. The moral of the story is never buy anything from Brother.  Not
typewriter's, not word processors, nothing...  They were very rude to us
when we asked if we could get them to cover this under some kind of
warranty, as something like this should not have failed, or cost that much.

Anybody want to buy a large cumbersome typewriter?

-- 
sheldon@iastate.edu                Steve Sheldon
Project Vincent                    ICSS Resource Unit
SCO ODT, Arc/Info, Atlas GIS       2142 Agronomy Hall
                                   Iowa State University
From: john.ohrt@synapse.org (John Ohrt) 
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: 386SX-16 succeeds in high-speed download
Date: 27 Dec 92 11:15:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: SYNAPSE BBS - GATINEAU, QUEBEC - 819-561-4321
Reply-To: john.ohrt@synapse.org (John Ohrt) 

From: john.ohrt@synapse.org

RO>Showing total disregard for conventional net.wisdom, on this date a
RO>lowly 386SX-16 clone has successfully completed a 500KB data transfer
RO>at 9600 bps using a Digicom Scout Plus internal modem and the Windows
RO>Terminal program.  The transfer completed with ZERO retries using the
RO>XMODEM-CRC protocol with 1K blocksize.  Measured average throughput
RO>was 744 cps, or 77% of the theoretical limit of the async channel.
RO>(The channel imposes a 2-bit overhead on each byte, so the useful
RO>bandwidth is 7680 bps or 960 cps.)

You shouldn't be astonished.  I routinely exceed 1100 cps using a 286/12
with an ATI 9600 etc/e running in v.32/v.42bis on 1+ Mbyte files, with 0
retries. And that's on .zip files. On .txt, you can exceed 2000 cps. And
bi-directionally 1050 cps *each* way on .zip.

Get HSLink.  It really works. Full-duplex and 4Kbyte block size and 32
bit CRC were used to obtain above figures.  You don't need a 16550 with
HSLink, but the 286/12 will ocassionally drop characters in terminal
mode if you don't have 16550 buffering. I lived without it for a year.

Note v.42bis forces synchronous transfer transparently to HSLink to
achieve a bandwidth of 9600 bps ( for v.32 ) less overhead *each* way.
It also is smart enough to compress data only when advantageous.

Real computers can exceed 1135 cps routinely.

Real >= 386DX-25, IMHO.

If you lack co-operative sources with HSLink, the v.32/v.42bis stunt
will also work with any other protocols that I have tried.

Please don't tell me how fast v.32bis/v.42bis is...I'm trying to save
for a real computer!

John Ohrt            Internet: john.ohrt@synapse.org
engineer             Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Hobbies: image processing, lunar/planetary astronomy
From: mulvey@blurt.oswego.edu (Allen Mulvey, SUNY, Oswego, NY)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: Keyboard problems!
Date: 24 Dec 92 00:55:47 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: SUNY College at Oswego, Oswego, NY

In article <BznGt2.H1A@ucunix.san.uc.edu>, simst@ucunix.san.uc.edu (Todd Sims) writes:
> I have a true blue IBM pc (8088). I installed a 386 motherboard into this pc.  
> I had no problems, except that I couldn't get the keyboard from the pc to work 
> with the 386 board.  I subsituted a keyboard from another 386 computer and
> it worked fine.  I wanted to know if anyone has a solution to my problem or an
> explanation as to why my true blue pc's keyboard isn't compatible with the
> 386 motherboard. 

The XT (8088) keyboard is not compatible with the AT (80286 or higher). 
Most third party keyboards have a switch on the bottom to select XT or AT 
mode but original IBM keyboards do not. Get a new keyboard.

			Allen Mulvey
			mulvey@blurt.oswego.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: tclark@news.weeg.uiowa.edu (Terry Clark)
Subject: Re:DX@/66 benchmarks for Gateway, Dell, Zeos
Organization: University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 03:51:39 GMT

>From: Brandon.Vanevery@launchpad.unc.edu (Brandon Vanevery)
>Subject: DX2/66 benchmarks for Gateway, Zeos, Dell?

>I'd like some hard numbers on the performance of these 3 machines, such as
>from PC Benchmarks 7.0 (6.0 would do).

   In the Hands-On Systems review of 486/66 MHz computer
systems in the premier edition (Feb.) of Windows Sources they checked the
Gateway, a Dell DE/2, a Dell SE/2 and 11 others.  THe Gateway put out 20
MegaWinMarks (pixels/sec) to the video and 470K bytes/sec to the hard drive.
The Dells di8 and 4 MegaWinMarks anrespectively and 380K bytes/sec. each.  
No ZEOS machines. 
   This got me to thinking that there needs to be a method of indicating the
value of one system in comparison to another.  In these times of tight 
finances it is usually money that is the final factor in determining which 
system a user buys.  To this end why not tabulate
a Winmark/$ figure for these tests to give an idea of how much
performance your dollar will buy from the various vendors.

 I did some quick figuring and came up with:
>(from data presented in the article, you will have to read it for 
   full details, divided by the systems cost)

          Graphics Winmarks/$    Harddisk Winmarks/$
Ares              3758                 60.4
Compaq            2160                 36.6
Compudyne         3691                 91.2
Dell DE           1003                 46.9
Dell SE            520                 40.3
Edge              2739                 28.5
ExpoTech          2984                137.1
Gateway           6156                142.5 *
HP                1378                 64.0
IBM Mod 77        1418                 53.9
Insight           2420                 78.5 *
Swan              1987                 54.4
Tristar           3818                 67.8 *
Zenith            1662                 52.9

* Editors Choices


    Now admittedly this sort of comparison suffers from all the other
problems any comparison study has, including no 2 systems are exactly
the same.  But all else being reasonably similar it does suggest where a
reader might get the most for their money.

_______________________________________________________________________
  Terry Clark P.A.-C.                           tclark@weeg.uiowa.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: rnichols@cbnewsg.cb.att.com (robert.k.nichols)
Subject: Re: What's the deal? My chip says "SX-25"; Norton says "SX-33"
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 00:55:17 GMT

In article <1992Dec30.000820.3526@athena.mit.edu> jfc@athena.mit.edu (John F Carr) writes:
...
>I thought yields for recent microprocessors were well under 100% (and
>probably under 50%).  If this is the case, every chip must be tested.
...

Every one gets a 100% *functional* test.  The degree of A.C. parametric
testing and full-speed testing done would be a closely guarded secret,
but is probably a small sample for consumer-market devices from a
mature process line.

Bob Nichols
AT&T Bell Laboratories
rnichols@ihlpm.ih.att.com
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 18:02:57 GMT

In article <1992Dec25.150228.15902@cs.brown.edu> wcn@cs.brown.edu (Wen-Chun Ni) writes:
   In article <1992Dec25.081941.15205@lucid.com> lnz@lucid.com (Leonard N. Zubkoff) writes:
   >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.

   Isn't Ultrastore 14F claiming to be 10mb/s? I saw Hard Driver
   International's ads about this. So what's the difference between the ISA
   version and the VL-bus version?

All of their SCSI controllers (14F - ISA, 24F - EISA, 34F - VL-BUS) are
bus-mastering non-caching SCSI-1, SCSI-2, and Fast SCSI at 10mb/sec except for
the (14N - ISA), which is non bus-mastering and only 8mb/sec.  These are the
transfer rates to the *disk*; they are not the transfer rates to memory, which
is limited by the speed of the individual buses.

		Leonard
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: choo@cs.yale.edu (Young-il Choo)
Subject: NEC 3FGx screen quality
Organization: Yale Univ Computics
Distribution: comp
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 23:50:36 GMT

I would appreciate comments on the quality I should expect from the NEC 3FGx
monitor that I just purchased.

Compared to the screen quality on the Sun SPARC 19" mono monitor or the color
monitor on a Mac Classic, I am disappointed by the picture quality.

More specifically,

 (a) there seems to be an unevennes in the white -- there are regions of
     redish hue and other regions of bluish hue, and especillay in the upper
     right edge there is a distinct redish coloration in a region of 2 or 3
     inches diameter.

 (b) the screen is not quite rectangular -- the top is narrower than the
     bottom (by about .25" it seems, like a trapezoid), and the sides are not
     straight (they curve in and out, not by much, but still enough to
     notice, despite the pin-cushion controls).

So, is this how they all are, or is this a defective or at least a not very
well adjusted monitor?  Any experiences will be appreciated.

-- Young-il
From: bobk@gibdo.engr.washington.edu (Bob)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: IBM Technical Support
Date: 2 Jan 93 02:12:31 GMT
Article-I.D.: gibdo.1993Jan02.020849.4188
Organization: University of Washington
NNTP-Posting-Host: gibdo.engr.washington.edu


  Does anyone know the phone number (hopefully an 800-number) for
  IBM Technical Support?  If you do, please email i to me.

  Thanks,
  Bob                                      Seattle, Washington
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: fdeck@bashful.helios.nd.edu (francis deck)
Subject: "screen burn" on laptops?
Organization: OUC, University of Notre Dame
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 21:48:50 GMT

A friend has an old Zenith laptop, which he bought used.  There
is a fair amount of "burn" on the LCD screen, sort of like the
screen burn effect you see on CRT displays.  Anyway, my question
is:  Has this problem been solved?  How many hours of operation
on a typical LCD before it shows this effect?  Is it less of a
problem on expensive machines, or machines with active matrix
LCD, e.g. PowerBook?

f.deck

Xref: sparky comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware:33953 comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc:16073 comp.sys.amiga.misc:18955
From: I.A.Inman@newcastle.ac.uk (I.A. Inman)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc,comp.sys.amiga.misc
Subject: Amiga kicks PC butt - Xmas Truce.
Keywords: Peace Man!
Date: 22 Dec 92 11:35:48 GMT
Organization: University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, NE1 7RU
Originator: n08dp@tuda


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.

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

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

								Ian A. Inman.
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware