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  • Re: The XT that became a 486

    From kirkspragg@21:2/150 to hyjinx on Mon Sep 22 01:00:23 2025
    Is the processor on the piggyback board socketed or not? If it is I w you could replace it with......

    Yes, the CPU is socketed. I don't think there is much more performance to get, regardless of the CPU - this is because of the 8 bit bus on the IBM motherboard.

    I largely agree, though if you could use something with more internal cache that whatever the current CPU has, it could make up for the bus at least a little....... if it works with that board.... and the board supports whatever voltage it needs.... I doubt that this will make much difference though.

    Looks like you already understand the above issue. If I changed the DMA controller and other support chips on the IBM 5160 mainboard, I could likely get the ISA bust to at least 8MHz. I did so on my

    Oh seems your last sentence was cut off :(

    Upgrading all the chips on your 5160 sounds like quite the commitment! Are they mostly socketed or are we talking desoldering with a re-work soldering station here.

    ... Jesus Saves - and Dalglish scores from the next attack!

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2024/05/29 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbS>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (21:2/150)
  • From hyjinx@21:1/126 to kirkspragg on Thu Sep 25 16:02:52 2025
    likely get the ISA bust to at least 8MHz. I did so on my

    5162 (IBM XT/286)

    Oh seems your last sentence was cut off :(

    Upgrading all the chips on your 5160 sounds like quite the commitment! Are mostly socketed or are we talking desoldering with a re-work soldering sta here.

    Something like a PC-Sprint to up the speed of the support chips would be necessary. That would require desoldering.


    hyjinx // Alistair Ross
    Author of 'Back to the BBS' Documentary: https://bit.ly/3tRINeL (YouTube) alsgeeklab.com

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2024/05/29 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: Al's Geek Lab -=- bbs.alsgeeklab.com:2323 (21:1/126)
  • From RetroSwim@21:2/150 to hyjinx on Sat Nov 22 06:43:00 2025
    Yes, it is running with an upgrade card - an Intel Inboard/386 PC
    Yes, I rodded the hell out of that too, with a ParrotyError 4MB ram expansion piggyback board and an IODATA PK486 Blue Lightning 3
    (IBM/Cyrix) CPU which clocks in at 96MHz!

    Man I love stuff like that!! When the system architecture was so straightforward you could just brainslug a generations-ahead CPU on there and off it goes. Getting that Mac/Amiga Accelerator experience without any dedicated facility.

    Retro computing kicks ass.

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2024/05/29 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbS>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (21:2/150)