From: ohland@charter.net   
      
   Shows what happens with cutting back on coffee. What follows is my   
   Non-Programmer's view of what would be good for development and testing.   
   YMWD [Your Mileage WILL differ]   
      
   Let's go back to the initial question: a 486 for NT kernel driver debug.   
      
   Add in a desire for a desktop.   
      
   I must admit having my consciousness warped by your struggles with the   
   7-6 and conflated that with needing to be able to bring up an RS/6000   
   adapter in this desktop.   
      
   Is the "NT kernel driver" for the NT system, or is it for an adapter?   
      
   My desire from the start has been to identify a system that is "stock   
   IBM", by that, we know where the ROMs will be loaded and what I/O   
   addresses will be used.   
      
   To make that unholy desire understandable, MAJ Tom has painfully probed   
   some systems, and noticed that the POST code does a "rough POST" that   
   goes right for the sweet spot - it looks at memory locations and I/O   
   that are used by IBM manufactured adapters and devices. This even edges   
   out POSID, a fact that was utterly alien to me.   
      
   So, if starting out with a bunch of unknowns, I would shy away from   
   non-IBM kit for developing the early versions. Bermuda, stock IBM.   
   Lacuna, S3 928 video [ever set up video under 9x and noticed the extra   
   I/O addresses? ] and IDE [what O/S expect to find IDE on MCA ?].   
      
   Further, later adapters and system devices use an 8K NVRAM. Think of   
   systems that can use a Corvette. Those systems have 8K. So no 70s or 80s.   
      
   9577 is relatively spacious. A 90, not so at all.   
      
   9577 Bermuda, max 32MB FPM, 90 can do 64MB [8x8MB] or up to 256MB if you   
   can findt the uncommon 32MB ECC SIMMs.   
      
   9577 Bermuda can swap out video, XGA, XGA-2, Short 1MB... 90, on-board   
   XGA, not the cleanest co-existence with other video. IMHO, much better   
   co-existence than with the S3 928, but... If you can fix the issue NT   
   has with vga256.dll and enable 800x600x64k on NT, then you have done well.   
      
   What would I think would be a REAL stock IBM system? A Model 95 with the   
   single serial / single parallel planar. No surprises there. Mix n match   
   video and SCSI, allows you to build the initial version, then swap up to   
   test the next version.   
      
   486 complex? Hmm. To test IML capability, a 486DX50 upgrade, with the   
   enhanced complex BIOS. Lorenzo might have some left. Keeping within the   
   Type 1, a 486DX2-66 upgrade [Flash], followed by a non-SOD K [IML], both   
   complexi with a DX4 / Turbochip.   
      
   In addition, the 95 has the slots cut into the case for RS/6000 sized   
   adapters, think of the Passplay. You can easily run 64MB of FPM with   
   8x8MB SIMMs.   
      
   I gave my last 8595 to Kevin a few years ago. Can't help you with one.   
      
      
      
   Ryan Alswede wrote:   
   > Looking for a PS/2 workstation that has a 486 so it can run NT for kernel   
   driver debug.   
   >   
   > What models should I be looking for?   If anybody has one in their basement   
   I don't mind paying shipping.   
   >   
   > Thanks.   
   >   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)