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Xref: sserve comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware:32332 comp.unix.bsd:5808 Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.unix.bsd Path: sserve!manuel!munnari.oz.au!sgiblab!spool.mu.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!eff!world!hd From: hd@world.std.com (HD Associates) Subject: VESA VL bus motherboard and hardware for 386BSD Message-ID: <BvCKIx.xu@world.std.com> Followup-To: comp.unix.bsd Keywords: VESA-VL, 386BSD Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 16:01:44 GMT Lines: 54 I want to convert some NEC APC IVs to something suitable for running 386BSD by replacing the motherboard and using these parts scavenged from some SONY NEWS 16Mhz 68020 (NWS-841) workstations: Seagate WREN-? (maybe 4; Sony HD286) 286 MB SCSI drives, SONY NWP-513 1280x1024 non interlaced fixed frequency monitors (Horizontal scan: 63.82 kHz; Vertical scan: 60.43 Hz) SONY QIC tape drive SONY 1.44 MB SCSI floppy. (Probably not worth it) I am looking for a motherboard with: 486DX-50 or 486DX2-66 ISA motherboard; 256K+ cache; 64MB+ memory; VESA VL local bus with more than one slot. On board SCSI or e-net would be a plus. Initially I'll get things working using another SONY as an X-Terminal and then when things are looking promising I'll be interested in getting a VL bus graphics board capable of 1280x1024 8-bit 60.43 Hz non-interlaced graphics and supportable by Xfree86. I am considering purchasing the Micronics "80486 VL-Bus System Board" with 16 MB of memory (expandable to 64), 256K cache, 2 VL slots and the 486DX2-66. I will round out this test system with a 3com 3C503 and Adaptec 1542B. Now for my questions: 1. Questions, comments, criticisms? 2. Does the VL bus have 32 bit addressing? 3. Can anyone name names and model numbers for candidate mother boards? 4. Does anyone have this Micronics motherboard? Are you happy with it? Are you running 386BSD? What is your configuration? 5. Are any VL bus SCSI host adapters available now? Is enough documentation available to write a driver for Julian's SCSI system? 6. Can I use these fixed frequency monitors as long as I only use them for X (that is, get the board set up for 1280x1024 60.43 Hz during system boot time)? Is there a graphics VL board that supports 1280x1024 60.43 Hz 8+ bits available now? Peter Dufault HD Associates