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Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd Path: sserve!manuel.anu.edu.au!munnari.oz.au!spool.mu.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!tamsun.tamu.edu!bcm!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!pipex!ibmpcug!adrian From: adrian@ibmpcug.co.uk (Superuser) Subject: Re: The ultimate 386BSD machine? (FAQ fodder) Organization: The IBM PC User Group, UK. Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 10:21:25 GMT Message-ID: <Bvsss4.9nz@ibmpcug.co.uk> Keywords: 386BSD References: <1992Oct8.072512.8700@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Lines: 92 In article <1992Oct8.072512.8700@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> earle@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov (Greg Earle - Gainfully Unemployed) writes: >- I have seen some benchmarks whereby a 486DX2/66 outperforms a 486DX/50. But > I saw a posting by Barry Shein that indicated that due to the bus speed on > the former being only 33 MHz, this would not be a good idea as doing things > like bitblts in X would be faster on a "native" 50 MHz system. This seemed > perfectly reasonable, so it seems that a 486DX/50 is the best idea. Right? > I have run 386BSD on both, albeit without X (I cant get the card and monitor with the correct resolution at the same time in the office). To be quite honest, there is not much difference between the two. I think in terms of 386BSD, when you get to these speeds, either will do. *I* would go for the DX50, since that has the faster bus system. and generally, disk speed has been my downfall. >- I saw a posting from Lynne Jolitz that I believe mentioned that a 32-bit > disk controller was the best idea. I have assumed from subsequent postings > that the Adaptec 1542B is the "controller of choice", no? OK, but that's > an EISA board, correct? But now I'm confused, I thought that 386BSD didn't > support "EISA machines". What's the deal? > > As an adjunct to this, I expect Julian to jump in with "But an Adaptec 1742A > is supported with my new SCSI subsystem ... ". Fine, but can one get the > system up first (with it installed) to get to the point where one can > recompile the kernel with the new SCSI subsystem? > Julians SCSI system works by setting th 1742B into 1542 mode, and then when the probe works out its a 1742, it shoves the card into enhanced mode itself. The question is - if this is the only EISA card in the machine, can we use 32 Megs :) >- Of course, all of this begs the more fundamental questions, like > "SCSI or IDE?" (to which I assume "SCSI" is the more correct answer ... ) and > what about these new VESA VL-bus systems that I'm seeing described in the > new Byte, and that I'm seeing advertised in the new Computer Shopper? Any > support for these? (I assume not ... ) > Good SCSI is better since it is faster. mediocre SCSI is about the same as IDE. I use one SCSI disk, and that clocks in at 50 K per second transfer rate, and is the slowest disk I use. >- External cache. I had assumed "the more the merrier", like 128K. But I've > seen people posting problems with external caches; either 64K or 128K was > causing problems. No problems if they turn the cache off, which I assume is > Not A Good Thing. What's the scoop on this? > I have been using a 486DX50 with 256K cache with no problems at all. I guess its just a "try it and see" >- Serial ports; more trivial, but can I assume nowadays that I don't have to > ask for NS16550AFN chips, and will get them by default? (I will want to run > PPP at 38400 baud over them ... ) Nope. Generally, you still have to buy them. >Given appropriate answers to the above, does anyone have any particular >recommendations on system packages? Can one get a system without having >MS-DROSS 5.0 and Windoze 3.1 thrown in? Is it better - assuming that if one >only wants to run 386BSD and not DOS - to buy "pick-a-part" fashion so that >one doesn't have to pay for DOS and Windows, or is it better to buy a complete >system from one of these gazillion system houses, and consider DOS and Windows >as (unwanted) freebies? If the latter, does anyone have any recommendations >on particular system houses/systems based on price and/or performance? >Etc., etc. > My system was put together peicemeal. There was a spare box, and a friend did a swap for a 486DX50 board. 8 Meg of RAM went in from a nother board, and a 330Meg ESDI drive was added that I literally had lying around. Other items I am hawking on since they are soon to be made redundant in my office. Assuming you cant do it that way, I would suggest it is probably easier to buy the configuration you want, and throw the packaged software out of the window. If you like wielding a screwdriver, then buying it piecemeal can work out cheaper (but not always!). The hard bit for you, unless you have a DOS/SUn/Next connected to the net is to get the TinyBSD disk on the floppy :) Adrian -- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adrian Hall Connect Systems Manager A.Hall@ibmpcug.co.uk The IBM PC User Group Tel: +44 81 863 1191 Harrow, London, UK