OldComp.cz

If the results are "close enough" for two identical boards, then it should be ok. I have to wait some more time before my (different!) 486DLC board will be in my hands again so I can test it for comparison. If other benchmark results are in appropriate range too, you may just have software issues.

I have a mixed 386/486 board and a lot of cpus, including popd. It will be great to make testing on different 3/4/586 cpus on the same platform and same frequency, for comparison pure cpus power.
Upd: popd switches to 1.0 multiplier if it's fan was removed or stopped, so it can be used on 40 MHz fsb and internal clock.

I have similar with OPTI and VLB, need download BIOS for Groza 386.

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Please try to download here(found by using Google search, I not related to the site)
http://chukaev.ru54.com/bios_cs_en.htm
Direct link to mrbios:
http://chukaev.ru54.com/bios/3opr001.zip

Upd, another link:
https://www.vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.p ... enustate=0

My target is BIOS with 486 instruction set with 486DLC CPU. If faster (need test) then no 386 support.
As this (PCB support 386 not include but 486 BIOS):

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Alexandru Groza 386, Diablo playing)




System:

Bonus:

Project completed.

Nicely done! Now with math coprocessor installed you can test Quake 1 (for example from philscomputerlab dos test suite). My 386sx 33MHz without any cache can produce astonishing 0.5 FPS . I am quite curious how many FPS can produce 40 MHz 486DLC with plenty of cache etc. I would recommend to install at least 16 MB RAM however as Quake require minimum of 8 MB to run under DOS. Less than 2 FPS would be disappointing

Unfortunately, I currently have 1Mb simm modules only. But I waiting for 4Mb modules pcbs, possibly after that it will be possible to execute Quake and Heroes III.

My first try with 4Mb simm modules pcb. They are unusable, due the too thick boards.


Upd: it's working on 8Mb!

Result, 1.8fps only:


Additional FPU related tests.

I have similar, slightly worse, result in QUAKE timedemo (PhilsComputerLab DOS Benchmark Pack)
969 frames 544.0 seconds 1.8 fps

Chris's Bench Score of 15.2, that is 9.1 fps

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It is not so bad. My 386SX is only able to squeeze Score of 7,1 which is 4,2 FPS (if you use test No. 3) - less than 50% of 40MHz DLC. My attempt to use faster oscillator (80MHz) and OC the board to 40 MHz failed, my cheap board doesn't like OC.

On youtube you can find score of approx. 2,2 FPS for 486DLC CPUs with Quake 1 so there is still some space left for fine-tuning of your boards . Main problem here might be small amount of RAM, 8MB is minimal required size and at least 16MB RAM will most probably give you better results.

I have 16MB of RAM, but I do not hunt for performance, I have much faster computers available, if need it I am after reliability. I would like to get Sound Blaster 16/AWE64 and floppy work reliably.

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Of course. By comparison with my "basic level PC" 12MHz 286 even 386SX is still racing car. 486DLC is much faster then 386SX, then 486 DX2 is much faster then 486DLC, any Pentium is much faster than 486... there is no ending to this race for power and with more powerful computers available it is quite useless.

On the other hand, tweaking old things is fun and you can see the difference. Why not take it if it is still stable. But the biggest impact has amount of RAM and fast hard drive - even slow CF card is light years faster than any hard drive from that time. For example 1,6GB HDD I use has 12-22ms access time. CF card up to 0,8 ms and data transfer rate is limited purely by ISA throughput, not by CF card itself... With such hard drive it is joy to play.

I have mixed feelings about my 386DX boards. First board is able to run 486DLC, but with no onboard cache eabled. Cache enabled = end of game already in POST. Probably damaged/fake cache board. And without cache the results are shitty, even with "486." Second board is finally working again, it has even 256 kB L2 cache installed and working. But it accept only on-board 386DX 40 MHz. I tried to put 486 DLC to the second CPU socket, but board doesn't start at all and on-board CPU is going HOT FAST. So there might be some compatibility problem and I don't want to damage/destroy my only reliable working 386 board with testing. In the end with 386DX used I was able to get 14084 DOOM ticks (high settings), around 5,3 FPS. LOW settings can produce around 14 FPS which is semi-acceptable for testing. Quake is running with astonishing 1,6 FPS, but on pure 386DX+IIT387 I consider it appropriate .

Looks the issue with l1 cache is not so simple. I found a following page with explanation a matter of the issue.



Seems we need to cross an additional signals to 486dlc, for correct l1 functioning.