Date: Thu, 14 Dec 1995 18:03:08 -0800 (PST) From: Donald Burr <d_burr@ix.netcom.com> To: "Alan D. Trombla" <alan@trickler.uu.silcom.com> Cc: questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Upgrade - CPU, clock? Message-ID: <Pine.BSF.3.91.951214175812.13959A-100000@ncc-1701-d> In-Reply-To: <199512141837.KAA00512@trickler.uu.silcom.com>
next in thread | previous in thread | raw e-mail | index | archive | help
On Thu, 14 Dec 1995, Alan D. Trombla wrote: > 1. What is the fastest chip I can plop into my ZIF socket with no other > changes? You can put in a 486DX4/100, since this chip *really* is a DX3/99 (but Intel thought that DX4/100 sounded nicer), and that means the outside interface to the bus runs at 33MHz, which is what your system is running at now. The DX4/100's are **nice** CPU's -- I have one in my machine. Great performance under FreeBSD and other OS's (DOS/Windows/etc.). And you don't have to go Intel either. The AMD DX4/100 sitting in my machine is very nice, and works beautifully with FreeBSD. > 2. Can I just change the crystal to get a 50MHz system? If so, will > my ATI GUP handle the faster bus? (There are no other VLB boards.) > Is my memory (assuming it *is* 70ns) fast enough? This *may* or *may not* work. I tend to lean toward the *may not* side. Overclocking Intel CPU's is spotty, and sometimes they seem to work, only to crap out on you when your system's been running for X minutes/hours. If you try, a heat sink and/or CPU fan is **DEFINITELY REQUIRED**. I once overclocked my DX2/66 to 40 MHz (making it a DX2/80) but the system wouldn't work because my memory wasn't fast enough (for a 40 MHz bus, you need 60ns SIMMs... I had 70ns). > 3. Does it make more sense to get a PCI mother board? This is up to you. If you do, mind you, you'll have to reinvest a lot of money in peripherals (SCSI and/or IDE controllers, video, etc.). I have seen some weird PCI/VLB hybrids, but they are usually quite rare and quite expensive. If you want to leave your upgrade path open to a Pentium later, though, I would recommend it. Donald Burr [d_burr@ix.netcom.com], PO Box 91212, Santa Barbara CA 93190-1212 TEL (805)564-1871 / FAX 564-2315 / WWW http://www.geopages.com/WallStreet/2072 PGP Public Key available by request (send e-mail) or on Public Key Servers. ** Uphold your right to privacy - Use PGP. **
Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?Pine.BSF.3.91.951214175812.13959A-100000>