24 Jan
2012
24 Jan
'12
7:31 p.m.
On Tue, Jan 24, 2012 at 12:11 PM, Chuck Guzis <cclist at sydex.com> wrote:
I have an XT-IDE that I need to build. That plus an IDE-CF adapter
(which I also have) would fit the bill.
> If I set
up an XT now, I'm not sure what I'd do with it beyond demo
> 8-bit games. ?I don't think I have the patience to noodle around on
> a DOS box under a 386-DX/25 anymore...
Fit it with a solid-state hard drive and it's not too bad. ?There a few bits of equipment that I own (e.g. PROM
programmers...)
that require the slow speeds of these CPUs owing to
their CPU timing loops. ?So I keep a couple of clones in good
operating condition.
I have a B&C Microsystems UP600A programmer that matches that
description. I have it attached to a Compaq 286/SLT - the proprietary
parallel card is in the docking station (along with a 10Mbps Ethernet
card that I use with DOS Kermit). It works with a 10-ish MHz 286. It
does not work on a 25-ish MHz 386. ISTR the "AT Bus" on a 25MHz 386
is clocked at 8.333MHz (clock/3), *not* 8.0MHz. It could be related
to that, even with the Turbo button off (which should help the issue
of CPU timing loops). I didn't dig very far into the incompatibility.
It was easier just to use an older machine, and the 286/SLT has the
advantage of being self-contained and portable.
-ethan