#386SX Bridgeboard
15 messages in this thread
For 2286 owners interested in the ATOP 386sx/20mhz accelerator board, let
me just say that as an owner and user of this board for nearly five months
now, I have found it works with all the IBM software and hardware in my
system and has given me no problems at all.
I posted a very favorable initial review of the board several months ago
here, and my opinion of the board today hasn't changed; it allows the 2286
to perform as well as any 20mhz PC clone.
Multimedia Windows 3.0 runs just fine in both Standard and 386 Enhanced
modes. Its a bit sluggish in 386 Enhanced mode because of virtual memory
(and thus does lots of swapping to HD), so Standard mode is faster if you
plan to only run Windows apps and have lots of real memory.
Geoworks Ensemble 1.2 runs extremely well, and feels as slick as the
Amiga's 2.04 OS. I also recently got Monkey Island 2 and EOB II, after
having greatly enjoyed the first versions of both on the Amiga side.
I should add that before you decide to get this accelerator, you should
first get yourself a Super VGA board, more memory, and a sound board. You
should also have at least 60 megabytes of HD space reserved for the PC
side. You will probably need more space than you think. For example,
Multimedia Windows takes up nearly 10 megs of space, PC/GEOS 5 megs, EOB
II-4 megs, LSL V-7 megs, etc.
If you think all those boards would be expensive, its not really. I bought
two boards (ATI VGA Wonder+ and BOCA 4 meg ram w/serial & par. ports) for
only $100 used a year ago from a local PC user who was upgrading his
system.
If you haven't yet expanded your PC side with any VGA/mem/etc cards, and
don't have at least 60 megs or more to devote to the PC side, then I
wouldn't bother getting the accelerator.
ATOP sells the board for $450. Aox, the company that manufactures the
board sells it direct now, for only $350 (I believe). They have placed ads
in some PC magazines which has a toll-free number you can call to order the
board. They also have a 16-mhz version which sells for less.
-sun
I just bought the Multi-function card from ATOP also, and while the
documentation that came with it was in error in so far as setting two of
the Dip switches, now that I have it working I am MOST pleased with it. It
gives you S-VGA 1024x768x256 2 serial ports (however these are the small 9
pin serial ports not the standard 25 pin, but that just means a different
cable) 1 paralell port mouse bus with 3 button mouse included. IDE hard
drive controler dule floppy drive controller all with 1 meg of ram for the
vga card to use ALL on one card! For an A3000 owner with only 2 AT slots
qand the 286 BB taking up one of these, a card like this is JUST we we
need. I also am looking into getting the Jamco slot expander which is
suppose to give you 4 AT slots and a power supply in an external box. If
this should work, I will be able to add a Ram board and a sound card to my
system as well. This would give you a compleat 386SX cloan. I will also
get the dule floppy drive in a box from ATOP as well, it comes with a
power-supply and gives you both 3 1/2 and 5 1/4' external drive both high
density.
Should all of this work, the old BB will at last be a fully functial
system.
Alot of time and money tho just to get a 386SX cloan. Were it not for the
fact that I already had a 286 BB and VGA card/monitor I would have just
gotten a cloan.
Total price for all of the above is around $2000 for the extra slots/cards/
drives/ram etc.
Tim
Tim,
Sounds like you have a pretty nice BB setup there. However, $2000 sounds a
bit high to me. My entire PC side setup cost me about $1200.
This includes Super VGA/Mouse port w/mouse (ATI VGA Wonder+), 5 megs total
ram (BOCA 4meg ram which also provides serial & parallel ports), and sound
card (ProAudio Spectrum which also provides sound mixing capabilities and
SCSI port to connect CD-ROMs, SCSI HDs, etc), and 20mhz 386sx performance
(Aox accelerator).
Like you, I probably would've bought a clone if I didn't have the BB
already. But my total cost for the BB and cards wasn't much more than a PC
clone anyway, since I bought the 2286 and most of the cards used.
Its been fun showing off my MPC-compatible Amiga to friends with PC clones
that aren't yet MPC compliant (because they don't yet have a MPC sound card
w/CD-ROM drive & Multimedia Windows 3.0).
-sun
Well, when I got my 286 BB they were still $1000 so there went 1/2 of that
$2000 right there.
I was also using retail prices, one can't always find the used equipment
that one needs. For example, a used multi-function card as complex as mine
is no where to be found, so I shelled out $300 for one new. You also have
to buy the ATOP acc. new so add another $400 for it. By the time you find
a good size hard drive (im talking at least 100 megs) that you can get used
for around $200-$300, then there is the price for the sound board used
about $100 cost of the ram board once again about $50 used if you are
lucky. that $1,150 already and that still does not include the cost of the
BB at $300 used now we are at $1450.00, but the time you add a VGA or
multi-sync monitor, you are not at the price of a stand-alone 386 cloan.
Thus, unless the new 386-BB from CBM comes out, gives you ALOT and for
under $900.00 id say get a cloan if you don't already have a 286-BB.
Tim
Tim–
Is there a brand name on the multi-function card?
Jonathan
– via Whap!
Yep it's an STB systems inc. PowerGraph combo.
I belive you can order it from the computer shopper and for less then the
$299.00 that ATOP charges. I went ahead and ordered it from ATOP for the
bridgeboard configuration card that came with it, but that was really of no
help as they they did not tell you that you need to set jumper 7 up rather
then off in order to get a virtual drive to work.
So id get it from STB themselves if I were you 🙂
Tim
Hi Tim,
Can I quote you about the multi-function card in CROSSINGS?
Marion
CROSSINGS
Newsletter for Amiga/PC compatibility
sure if you like 😉
Tim
>Date: 25-Feb-92 12:49 CST
>From: DRI [76703,615]
>Subj: Int 25, 26 calls
Gayle- I had passed a request for info on to our Support Programmer here
about Int 25 and Int 26 calls that you had asked about. The only info he
gave back to me was that Int 21 f0hd should be used to restore the system
Programmer support. Hope that helps.
Steve..
———————————————————–
Sunny,
I got back a reply from DRSG on the possible interrupt problem with
jlink in creating virtual drives under DRDOS.
We may put together something and test it sometime next month. I'll
keep you posted.
Sincerely,
(Mr.) Gayle Lee Fairless
'Perfessor Fearless' from the
Rocket City!
– via Whap!
Sunny,
Are you using a VGA/SuperVGA card with the board? How's compatibility
compared to a clone?
Denny,
I've been using an ATI VGA Wonder+ Super VGA card with my 2286 for nearly a
year now with no problems. It also works fine with the 386sx accelerator
which I added to my 2286 about five months ago.
Since the BB is basically a clone-on-card, compatibility should be just the
same. All I can say is, I've never had a PC program whether
PD/SW/commercial -not- work, so my success rate is 100%.
I use MS-DOS 5.0 and Windows 3.0 w/Multimedia Extensions with my BB daily
with no problems.
Hi, Sunny,
Does the BB still crash after you exit Windows (standard mode)? I'm getting
conflicting reports.
Can I quote from your message in CROSSINGS?
Marion
CROSSINGS
Newsletter for PC/Amiga compatibility
Marion,
I don't have a problem with Windows crashing on exit in any mode (real,
standard, or 386 enhanced). It might be that the people who are
experiencing crashes may be low on memory. I have 5 megs of memory on the
PC side, which is fairly adequate for use with Windows. I wouldn't bother
running Windows with just the one meg of memory that comes with the 2286;
it's basically useless.
Quoting my previous message is fine with me.
I would like to add that ATOP doesn't make any of their own products; they
merely test out various PC products to find out which work well with the BB
and sell it themselves.
For instance, their 386sx accelerator is actually made by AOX, and you can
get the accelerator for $100 less if you get it from AOX instead of thru
ATOP. Also, ATOP's multifunction card is actually made by STB, which you
could probably get cheaper if you ordered it thru a PC mail order company.
Sunny…
You may be right about the memory–most people who say they have no
problems have lots of PC memory.
Thanks,
Marion
CROSSINGS
Newsletter for Amiga/PC compatibility