Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus (
More info?)
In article <64e817b9.0407212111.704e27d1@posting.google.com>,
0b3hks001@sneakemail.com wrote:
> nospam@needed.com (Paul) wrote in message
news:<nospam-2007042310220001@192.168.1.177>...
> > In article <64e817b9.0407201555.2bdb3569@posting.google.com>,
> > 0b3hks001@sneakemail.com wrote:
> >
> > I have placed my answers in-line...
> >
> > > nospam@needed.com (Paul) wrote in message
> > news:<nospam-2007040331120001@192.168.1.177>...
> > > > In article <64e817b9.0407192012.7a290131@posting.google.com>,
> > > > 0b3hks001@sneakemail.com wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > I was given the above MB. What kind of case and power supply do I
> > > > > need to build a PC around it?
> > > > >
> > > > > It also has a CPU on it. When I take off the fan on top of it, the
> > > > > top of CPU is covered with the white thermal grease(?). How do I find
> > > > > out what CPU I have on the MB?
> > > > >
> > > > > TIA
> > > >
> > > > Files for the motherboard are here:
> > > > .....
> > >
> > > Thanks for the links.
> > >
> > > > It looks like it takes an ATX power supply.
> > >
> > > What type of computer case do I need? Can I re-use the one I have for
> > > my old 486DX2 case?
> > >
> > > I assume I can't re-use the power supply from my 486DX2 computer.
> > > What is the basic difference -- voltage?
> >
> > Your 486DX2 could be using an AT power supply. It has two connectors,
> > called P8 and P9 to carry the voltages....
>
> Thanks. This and the thermal grease are informative.
>
> > > ....
>
> > > I wipe away the grease and the markings on the CPU are as follows:
> > >
> > > AMD - K2/500AFX
> > > 2.2v Core / 3.3v I/O
> > > A 9937 GPMW
> > > Copyright 1998
> >
> > This line from the elec.htm page seems to match.
> >
> > K6-2-500AFX 2.2V (2.1V~2.3V) 2.4V 3.3V (3.135V~3.6V) 3.6V
> > 12.5A 0.69A 12.45W 20.75W 65° C
> >
> > I end up here:
> >
> >
http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_1260_1217^1102,00.html
> >
> > K6-2 Datasheet (5.7MB)
> > ........
>
> The rest of the response is too technical for me.
That's OK. I write the post as I'm doing my research, so there
tends to be a lot of irrelevant info in there. My purpose for
including it, is to show what I've been reading.
>
> The markings on the ALI Aladdin V AGPset chip are as follows:
>
> M1541 A1
> 100 HMz
> 0004 TS07
> XD431790000G
> Taiwan
That is enough info right there. The letter "G" on the end of
the XD431790000G says you have a revision G Northbridge. You
got a good one! From the Asus FAQ045:
ALi V
ALI V - Revision Cache - Größe Cacheable Area
M1541/42 A1 / Rev. D 512kB oder 1MB 128MB
M1541/42 A1 / Rev. E 512kB oder 1MB 128MB
M1541/42 A1 / Rev. G 512kB 512MB <----------
M1541/42 A1 / Rev. G 1MB 4GB <----------
Chipsatzaufschrift (Northbridge)
P5A/P5A-VM
ALI
M1541 A1
100 MHz
xxxx xxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxG (bzw. D oder E) <------ Yours has "G" as well.
TAIWAN
What this means is, you can use at least 512MB of memory on the
motherboard, and it will be cacheable in the external cache RAM.
Apparently, the TAG ram inside the "G" Northbridge works, so the
TAG ram outside the Northbridge is not needed. The cache chip
external to the Northbridge is still used, and the size of
the chip (512KB or 1MB) determines whether 512MB or 4GB is
cacheable. If the memory wasn't all cacheable, you would notice
a slowdown. As it is, this motherboard should be quite usable
as an email/word processing machine.
>
> The markings on another ALI chip on the MB are as follows:
>
> M1543C A1
> 0001 TM05
> XBC65200000E
> Taiwan
>
> The markings on the Cache chip are as follows:
>
> TM TE CH [TM is double height; and "TE" is on top of "CH" next to TM]
> T35L646A-5Q
> TA16100 9952
>
> The MB is P5A, rev 1.06
>
> I was planning to build a PC around this P5A motherboard -- for backup
> purpose, when my main computer needs service -- since I got the MB for
> free, and I have extra HD, video cards, CD ROM, etc.; and all I need
> to buy is a case and power supply.
>
> Basically, if I have to use this backup PC, it would be for
> spreadsheet, word processing, email, web browsing.
>
> So the bottom line question is should I build a backup PC around this
> MB? Or should I move on to another MB?
>
> Thanks in advance.
Since I cannot find the T35L646A-5Q part, I don't know if it
is the TAG ram or the cache chip, or whether it is 512KB or 1MB.
But with at least 512MB of motherboard memory cacheable, you should
be able to put a usable amount of RAM on the board. I hope you
already own suitable RAM, because otherwise the price of the RAM
might make this project less worthwhile. Checking crucial.com, I
see they list some 256MB modules for P5A, so you could use two
like that to build a 512MB machine, which should go well with
Win98SE or even a later OS.
By the way, I'm surprised a cache expert didn't answer this
question for you. They must all be on vacation
🙂
Have fun,
Paul
>
>
> > I downloaded the K6-III datasheet, and it has integrated L2, meaning the
> > K5-III doesn't have the same cache issue. The K6-2 you've got relies
> > on the cache chip/tag ram on the motherboard (as it is likely the M1541
> > tag is busted, so the external tag is part of the solution). K6-2 has 32K
> > I-cache and 32K D-cache internally for L1.
> >
> > Here is the Asus Germany FAQ page, unique to them. Sprechen sie Deutsch ?
> > The "ALi V" section states the limits as a function of the Northbridge
> > version. Your board likely has a cacheable limit of 128MB of RAM, and
> > with that, an older OS with a smaller memory footprint will be required.
> > But, check the rev into anyway, you might get lucky.
> >
> >
http://www.asuscom.de/support/FAQ/faq.htm
> >
http://www.asuscom.de/support/FAQ/faq045_cacheable_area.htm (see ALi V)
> >
> > Even this info can be incorrect, and that is where the "cache
> > experts" come into play. They will know the situation with your
> > board, and perhaps if you post the info printed on the top of the
> > Northbridge, they can be more accurate with their prediction.
> > I'm sure they will correct me
🙂
> >
> > If you want to become an armchair expert, try "m1541 cache" as two
> > search terms in groups.google.com .
> >
> >
http://groups.google.com/groups?threadm=35E08E71.54BECA98%40pc.highway.ne.jp
> >
> > From this FAQ:
> >
http://groups.google.com/groups?threadm=7mo0gb%24ik1%245%40ra.ins.de
> >
> > "The Aladdin V possesses an internal 16Kx10 tag, which can apparent be
> > quite flexibly addressed. ALi indicates (without additional external
> > tags) a cacheable AREA of 512 MT for 512K Cache and 1 GB for 256 K
> > Cache, which suggests that that can be addressed day also as 8Kx20 -
> > with 256K Cache could be covered with it the entire physical address
> > area of 4 GB. With 1 MT Cache is necessary an external tag; with a
> > quantity 32Kx10 the cacheable AREA would cover likewise 4 GB.
> > Unfortunately internal tag RAM of the Aladdin V does not work at
> > present reliably (source: c't 15/98), so that an external tag is
> > necessary. At present. boards are equipped with this chip set with
> > 512K Cache and 8 bit tag, which leads cacheable AREA of 128 MT to.
> > Allegedly internal tag should be error free in the revision the F
> > of the chip set, which confirmed nobody in de.comp.sys.ibm PC
> > however still. So far also still boards with older revisions are
> > in the trade."
> >
> > >
> > > > CPU to use - socket7, K6 type popular:
> > > >
http://www.asus.com.tw/support/cpusupport/cpusupport.aspx
> > >
> > > Under this link, I find K2/500; but no K2/500AFX. What does AFX
> > > represent?
> > > Is the CPU 500 MHz?
> > >
> > > And what is K6-2/500 equivalent to in Intel -- PII, PIII, Celeron,
> > > etc.?
> > >
> > > From the Manual: Level 2 Cache is 512KB/1MB pipelined-burst SRAM/L2
> > > memory cache and integretated Tag Ram to make use of 100 MHz buss
> > > speed possible.
> > >
> > > How much is Level 1 Cache?
> > >
> > > Would appreciate any other comments on the Cache.
> > >
> > >
> > > > Comments:
> > > >
http://web.inter.nl.net/hcc/J.Steunebrink/k6plus.htm
> > >
> > > I assume that k6-2/500AFX is NOT K6plus; and therefore that is of no
> > > concern to me. If correct, you can ignore the balance of this post.
> > >
> > > IF K6plus DOES concern me, then
> > >
> > > Under this link, I find:
> > >
> > > "To be able to run these babies [K6-2+ and K6-III+] in your desktop,
> > > the motherboard should have the following features:
> > >
> > > Selection for 2.0V or 2.1V CPU Core Voltage
> > > 100MHz Front Side Bus"
> > >
> > > And
> > > "Due to a hardware problem, P5A Rev 1.05 and 1.06 will work extremely
> > > slow with a K6plus CPU."
> > >
> > > I have the P5A Rev 1.06. And the Core Voltage is 2.2v. Is 2.2v
> > > considered to be close enough to 2.0v or 2.1v? If not, what does it
> > > mean?
> > >
> > >
> > > > HTH,
> > > > Paul
> > >
> > > Thanks, Paul.
> >
> > Good luck,
> > Paul
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