CompuServe Thread

#Pentium 100 Problems

11 messages in this thread
#168752From: Andrew McClaryMay 8, 1995 12:07 AM
We just went through 6 different Pentium 100 systems. Every single one of them had problems locking up or other unpredictable results. The last three were on Micronics motherboards with Intel chip sets. When replaced with a P90 processor and the jumpers changed for the 90mhz they worked perfect. Has anyone else found these problems with P100s or is my VAR just running a streak of bad luck? Andrew McClary Graphic Alchemy Interactive, inc.
#169085From: Rich BarnettMay 9, 1995 8:36 AM
My Dell P120 is locking up. I'm a very sad guy.
#170496From: Nik Grant [adesk]May 17, 1995 9:17 AM
I've heard of one other 120 Mhz machine with problems, but it was not resolved. One thing I've heard – some Intel chipsets crash while rendering, at the point when the computer runs out of RAM and starts the swap file. Let's see if I can dig up the note. Oh, it's for a 90 Mhz machine. Here: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ An Intel tech has identified a timing problem running 3DS on a Plato 90 (Intel Pentium) machine. If the computer has 128 megs of RAM, 3DS will lock up, or reboot the machine, when paging to disk while caching is enabled. However, if the cache is disabled, it renders fine (but takes 17 times longer). The work around: During the boot up, access the CMOS setup with the F1 key. The Advanced Chipset option has a setting for the ISA BUS SPEED. Change the ISA Bus Speed from the default "Compatible" to "Enhanced". This seems to be a timing issue. The Intel tech said it would not slow rendering speed. – – – – – – – – – – – –
#170551From: Rich BarnettMay 17, 1995 12:55 PM
My 120 is working fine now that I disabled the power.exe file in the autoexec.bat. But, get this: Dell disabled any access to advanced CMOS setup features. They said people were screwing things up too much. I have no access to cache on/off or wait state settings.
#170988From: Nik Grant [adesk]May 19, 1995 5:34 PM
" Dell disabled any access to advanced CMOS setup features" Not a good sign! Thanks for the info though.
#169927From: Zac RymlandMay 13, 1995 1:59 PM
I changed the jumper on my Intel Plato P90 system to run and 100 Mhz with no problems. I have had it this way for over 6 month without a glitch. It is by far the most stable system I have ever worked on, not to mention the FASTEST. Let me know if you would like more info on my system configuration. Zac (AZ-TECH) Berkeley -Zac Rymland (AZ-TECH)
#170234From: James Coulter[Mindscape]May 16, 1995 3:18 AM
> We just went through 6 different Pentium 100 systems. Every single one of them had problems locking up or other unpredictable results. < Have you tried disabling either the internal or external cache? I remember someone solving lockup problems on a P100 that way. Just a thought. — James — Choreo Motion —
#170380From: Chris MartinMay 16, 1995 8:00 PM
James, I mentioned that a tech had me try disabling the cache – it didn't work! I bought a 100MHz ASUS Pentium MB with 2-8 meg simms – unpredictable crashes!! As it turns out, it was the type of simm. The original simm had two chip on either end with two small chips in the middle. I replaced those with a double sided simm with 8 or 9 chips per side. Blazes- never a crash. Take a look. Chris Martin CSM Consulting
#170458From: James Coulter[Mindscape]May 17, 1995 1:40 AM
> Blazes- never a crash. < Just the way it should be!! <g> — James — Choreo Motion —
#170603From: Geoff GranumMay 17, 1995 6:42 PM
My P90 is locking up, ALL the time! Everytime I go into the audio <CD player> and then close everything having to do with the audio it will lock-up…I'm getting really mad. It happens other times too. What did you do, just take your computers back? Also, could it be a software problem? My computer didn't lock up very often when I first got it, now I've used up about 1/4 of my hard drive space…? I don't know, but if you do please tell me. Thanks in advance, Geoff Granum -Geoff Granum
#172681From: Andrew McClaryMay 30, 1995 7:02 PM
Geoff I havent been on in a while. We moved things around in my studio and the modem was disconnected. We bought our systems from a local reputable dealer. I told him to get the ^%$^%$ things working. He did a good job of tracking down the problems. (The fact that I owed him more than half of the system cost still may have had some effect.) Sounds like your problem is IRQ conflicts. Go through every board in your system and write down what IRQs each board needs and uses. Look for conflics. Andrew