#Cheap 486 Upgrade
5 messages in this thread
For anyone looking for a cheap way to get 486 level performance out of their
A2386 BridgeBoard, Tiger Software ( 1-800-888-4437 ) is advertising a Evergreen
Rev to 486 SX 25/50 upgrade board for $99.90 ! This is based on the TI 486SXL
chip with an 8K L1 cache, similar Norton SI to the Cyrix unit but better
graphic scores due to the larger cache and at about half the price of the Cyrix
upgrade. I run an Evergreen 25/75 on my system, their quality is great.
Gary,
Thanks for the tip. BTW, how does the upgrade board install? The
processor on my 386BB is surface mounted.
-Jim
MOS via Autopilot & Amiga
It clips over the existing processor by means of a mounting structure similar
to an inverted plcc socket. Works real well.
Thanks for the info. My 2386 is surface mounted also. Do you have
to specify that you need the inverted PLCC adapter or did all of the
2386s come surface mounted. Is it necessary to use the Config.Sys
files you cited for use with the IBM BL 75Mhz on the TI 50Mhz
upgrade? Is Tiger the source for your IBM BL 75Mhz chip, and if so
what is the approx cost and Catalog No.? I have seen prices for
Evergreen 25/75Mhz triplers from $320 ACI (800) 652-7876 to $478
World Tech (800) 632-6792. The $478 price states that it is an IBM BL
75MHz chip. Are the instructions that come with the chip sufficient
enough for a person with reasonable mechanical and
electrical/computer skills to install? Specifically, are there any
peculiarities involved in installing it on an Amiga 2386 that are
different from IBM and it's clones?
Thanks for the help. Mike
Michael,
If you specify that you are ordering an upgrade for a 386SX
you will get the proper item ( as far as I know all SX's were surface
mounted chips ). The config.sys file I uploaded will work with
anything ( plain Bridgeboard, Cyrix upgraded, TI upgraded or
Evergreen upgraded ). It is only a necessity with the Evergreen
products ( and possible the TI CPU upgrades from what I have been
hearing recently ). I got my Evergreen model 300 from Computability
for $369 – It is an IBM Blue Lightning based unit. So far I am aware
of 5 such upgrades, all are working fine. The Evergren installation
manual is brief and to the point, it really is a rather easy upgrade
to do mechanically. Only thing to watch for on the Bridgeboard
installation is clearance around the chip mounting socket and DO use
the supplied chip mounting bracket. Work slowly and carefully and
it's a snap to do.