Support Home Contents Search Contact Us Intel Home Intel(r)
resources spacer graphic
Software & Drivers
spacer graphic
Installation & Use
spacer graphic
Troubleshooting
spacer graphic
Year 2000
spacer graphic
spacer graphic
spacer light bulb Intel Support
spacer graphic
spacer graphic Inboard 386
Installation Instructions
spacer graphic


Contents: Identify The Inboard 386

The InBoard 386 is a full length expansion board. Mounted on the board is a 386 microprocessor, a socket for a 387 math coprocessor, control circutry, sockets for 1M of memory, and connectors for adding a memory piggyback board. Any memory added to the InBoard 386 will be accessed as fast, 32 bit memory and can be used as Conventional and Extended memory, or just Extended memory.

The cable is a special construction and designed specially for the InBoard 386.

Adding Memory

You can install 1M byte of memory in the sockets on the InBoard 386. If these sockets are empty on your InBoard 386, you can fill them using the chips listed in FaxBack document number 2012. You must fill all four columns at once. It takes 36 chips to fill the InBoard 386. Use only 256K-bit chips rated for speeds of 120ns or faster.

            +--+--+--+--+---------------------------+
            |  |  |  |  |                           |
            |  |  |  |  |                           |
            |  |  |  |  |                           |
            |  |  |  |  |                           |
            |  |  |  |  |                           |
            |  |  |  |  |                           |
            +--+--+--+--+--------+     ++         ++|
              4  3  2  1         +-----++---------+++
Extended Memory Addresses

When installing extended memory in an IBM PC AT or compatible computer, you must configure extended memory addresses correctly. Extended memory always starts at 1.0M bytes, regardless of which board supplies it. The system board's extended memory (if any) will start at 1.0M bytes. The InBoard 386's extended memory will be next, followed by the extended memory on any other extended memory boards in the computer.

Here are two possible system setups ("Amount" is the amount of extended memory installed on each board):

                   +-----------------------+----------------------+
                   |       Setup 1         |        Setup 2       |
                   +---------+-------------+----------+-----------+
                   |  Amount |   Address   |  Amount  |  Address  |
  +----------------+---------+-------------+----------+-----------+
  | System board   |   0K    |             |   512K   | 1.0M-1.5M |
  | InBoard 386    |   1M    |  1.0M-2.0M  |    1M    | 1.5M-2.5M |
  | Memory Board 1 |   2M    |  2.0M-4.0M  |    2M    | 2.5M-4.5M |
  | Memory Board 2 |   1M    |  4.0M-5.0M  |    1M    | 4.5M-5.5M |
  +----------------+---------+-------------+----------+-----------+
Setting Switches
 
                     ON +-----------------+
                        | X X X X X X X X |
                        | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 |
  Total                 +-+-------+-+---+-+
  Extended                +---+---+ +-+-+
  Memory    +-----------------+-----+ +------------+-+-+-+----------+
  in System |                       |              |.|.|.| 0M bytes |
  +-+-+-+-+-+-----------+ +-+-+-+-+-+------------+ +-+-+-+----------+
  |.|.|.|.|.|   0M bytes| |.|^|^|^|^|  7.5M bytes| |^|.|.| 1M bytes |
  +-+-+-+-+-+-----------+ +-+-+-+-+-+------------+ +-+-+-+----------+
  |.|.|.|.|^|  .5M bytes| |^|.|.|.|.|  8.0M bytes| |^|^|.| 2M bytes |
  +-+-+-+-+-+-----------+ +-+-+-+-+-+------------+ +-+-+-+----------+
  |.|.|.|^|.| 1.0M bytes| |^|.|.|.|^|  8.5M bytes| |^|^|^| 3M bytes |
  +-+-+-+-+-+-----------+ +-+-+-+-+-+------------+ +-+-+-+----------+
  |.|.|.|^|^| 1.5M bytes| |^|.|.|^|.|  9.0M bytes|      Memory
  +-+-+-+-+-+-----------+ +-+-+-+-+-+------------+      Installed
  |.|.|^|.|.| 2.0M bytes| |^|.|.|^|^|  9.5M bytes|      on InBoard
  +-+-+-+-+-+-----------+ +-+-+-+-+-+------------+
  |.|.|^|.|^| 2.5M bytes| |^|.|^|.|.| 10.0M bytes|
  +-+-+-+-+-+-----------+ +-+-+-+-+-+------------+
  |.|.|^|^|.| 3.0M bytes| |^|.|^|.|^| 10.5M bytes|
  +-+-+-+-+-+-----------+ +-+-+-+-+-+------------+
  |.|.|^|^|^| 3.5M bytes| |^|.|^|^|.| 11.0M bytes|
  +-+-+-+-+-+-----------+ +-+-+-+-+-+------------+
  |.|^|.|.|.| 4.0M bytes| |^|.|^|^|^| 11.5M bytes|
  +-+-+-+-+-+-----------+ +-+-+-+-+-+------------+
  |.|^|.|.|^| 4.5M bytes| |^|^|.|.|.| 12.0M bytes|
  +-+-+-+-+-+-----------+ +-+-+-+-+-+------------+
  |.|^|.|^|.| 5.0M bytes| |^|^|.|.|^| 12.5M bytes|
  +-+-+-+-+-+-----------+ +-+-+-+-+-+------------+
  |.|^|.|^|^| 5.5M bytes| |^|^|.|^|.| 13.0M bytes|
  +-+-+-+-+-+-----------+ +-+-+-+-+-+------------+
  |.|^|^|.|.| 6.0M bytes| |^|^|.|^|^| 13.5M bytes|
  +-+-+-+-+-+-----------+ +-+-+-+-+-+------------+
  |.|^|^|.|^| 6.5M bytes| |^|^|^|.|.| 14.0M bytes|
  +-+-+-+-+-+-----------+ +-+-+-+-+-+------------+
  |.|^|^|^|.| 7.0M bytes|
  +-+-+-+-+-+-----------+

                      ON +---------+
                         | X X X X |
                         | 1 2 3 4 |
                         +-+-+-+-+-+
  Extended    +-+----------+ | | +-+-----+80387
  Memory on   |.|  0M bytes| | | |^| Yes |Present
  System Board+-+----------+ | | +-+-----+
              |^| .5M bytes| | | |.| No  |
              +-+----------+ | | +-+-----+
                             | |
   Conventional+-+-----------+ +-+------------+Conventional
   Memory in   |^| 512K bytes| |^| 384K bytes |Memory from
   Computer    +-+-----------+ +-+------------+InBoard 386
              ++.| 640K bytes| |.|   0K bytes |
              |+-+-----------+ +-+------------+
              |
              +|You must disable system board to
               |256K and set switch 2 OFF if you intend
               |to set switch 3 ON. This setting also
               |reduces InBoard extended memory by 512K.
Installing The Board

Before installing the InBoard 386, verify that your computer is operating correctly. Fix any existing problems before adding the InBoard 386. Once you know the computer is operating correctly, follow these steps to install the InBoard 386.

  1. Turn off the power switch on the computer and any attached equipment, and unplug the computer's power cord from the outlet.
  2. Remove the computer's cover.

  3. Remove any boards installed between the 80286 socket and the slot where you're going to install the InBoard 386.

  4. Set the computer's system board switches to specify one of the following configurations:

    Total system board memory Amount used as conventional Amount used as extended
    (bytes) (bytes) (bytes)
    512K 512K none
    640K 640K none
    1M 512K* 512K

    *Some 1M-byte system boards don't have this option. In this case, configure the system board as 640K bytes conventional and 0K bytes extended memory.

  5. Set the InBoard 386 switches 1 to 5 on the large switch block for the total amount of extended memory on all memory boards in your computer, including the InBoard 386.

  6. Set the InBoard 386 switches 6 to 8 on the large switch block for the amount of memory attached directly to the InBoard 386.

  7. Set switch 1 on the small switch block according to the amount of extended memory on the system board (amount must be either 512K or 0K).

  8. Set switch 2 on the small switch block according to the total amount of conventional memory supplied by the system board and any add-in board (amount must be either 640K or 512K).

  9. Set switch 3 on the small switch block OFF.

  10. Set switch 4 on the small switch block OFF unless you have installed an 80387 math coprocessor, in which case switch 4 is set ON.

  11. If you have a 6-MHz IBM PC AT, replace the 12-MHz crystal with the 16-MHz crystal provided in the InBoard 386 Installation kit.

  12. Find the 80286 microprocessor, put a mark by pin 1 of the socket, then remove the 80286.

  13. Find the 80287 socket. If an 80287 is installed remove it.

  14. Insert the 80287 "dummy" plug into the 80287 socket.

  15. Plug one end of the InBoard 386 cable into the 80286 socket.

    NOTE: There are three different types of 80286 chips. The PGA chip has two rows of pins around the BOTTOM of the chip. The PLCC chip sits inside a square socket and requires a special puller (provided with the installation kit) to remove it. The LCC chip is held in place by a metal clamp. Make sure you have the correct installation kit for your 80286 socket.

  16. Insert the InBoard into a full-length 16-bit slot that the cable can reach.

  17. Replace any boards you removed from the computer.

  18. Connect the free end of the InBoard 386 cable to the InBoard 386.
  19. Replace the computer's cover, connect any cables you disconnected, and plug the power cord into the outlet.
Your Computer's Setup Program

After installing the InBoard 386, you MUST run your computer's SETUP program. When prompted, enter the correct amount of conventional (also called "base") memory and extended (also called "expansion") memory. If you've set the InBoard switches correctly, switches 1 to 5 on the large switch block will indicate the amount of extended memory and switch 2 on the small switch block will indicate the amount of conventional memory. Consult you computer's User's Guide for instructions on how to run SETUP.

Installing The Software

Installing the InBoard 386 software is a two step process: copying the software to the root directory and setting up the software (by adding commands to the CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files).

If you can't find the InBoard 386 software, you can download the latest versions from the Intel Bulletin Board System or from CompuServe.

Before you can use the InBoard 386 software, you must copy it to your hard disk's root directory or your system diskette. Copy only the software you need. Here is short description of the software:

INBRDAT.SYS controls extended memory and speed control keys

ISTATAT.EXE displays the status of the INBRDAT.SYS settings

ICACHE.COM controls the InBoard 386's cache

ILIM386.SYS turns extended memory into expanded memory

ILIM386.COM displays the status of all memory in the computer

ISPEEDAT.COM changes systems speed from the DOS prompt or a batch file

Hardware Installation For OS/2

If you intend to use the OS/2 operating system, you may need to configure the InBoard 386 switches differently than you would for DOS. OS/2 requires 640K of conventional (plus some extended) memory to boot up. If you have an IBM AT or similar computer that has only 512K of conventional memory before loading the InBoard 386 software, set the InBoard 386 switches as follows:

  1. Find the three-pin jumper marked J18 on the system board. It is at the front edge of the system board right next to the hard drive. You'll probably have to remove the drive controller board to get to it.

  2. Set the jumper block so that it connects the two pins closest to the back of the computer.

  3. Set the InBoard 386 switches 1 to 5 on the large switch block for the appropriate amount of extended memory. Find this amount by adding .5M byte to the amount of extended memory on any memory boards (not including InBoard 386) in the computer.

  4. Set InBoard 386 switches 6 to 8 on the large switch block to the amount of memory attached directly to the InBoard 386 (including any memory on a Piggyback memory board).

  5. Set InBoard 386 switch 1 on the small switch block OFF.

  6. Set InBoard 386 switch 2 on the small switch block OFF.

  7. Set InBoard 386 switch 3 on the small switch block ON.

  8. Set InBoard 386 switch 4 on the small switch block OFF unless you have installed an 80387 math coprocessor, in which case switch 4 is set ON.

  9. Follow the instructions starting at step 11) of the previous section to install the InBoard 386.
INBRDAT.SYS

Add the following command to the CONFIG.SYS file:

       DEVICE = INBRDAT.SYS [SPEED=n] [EGACACHE] [NOPAUSE]
                           [EGASIZE=n] [EGAINIT] [NOINT15]

The parameters in brackets are optional. Don't type the brackets. The following table describes these parameters.

Optional INBRDAT.SYS Parameters

Parameter Meaning
SPEED=n Set InBoard 386 initial operating speed to n. Valid settings are 1, 2, 3, and 4.
EGACACHE Download EGA ROM BIOS instruction to 32-bit RAM
NOPAUSE Don't pause after InBoard 386 driver loads.
EGASIZE=n Initialize EGA board and set EGA video RAM size to n. Valid settings are 64, 128, 192, and 256.
EGAINIT Re-execute EGA Power-On-Self-Test. Do not use with EGASIZE parameter.
NOINT15 Disable InBoard 386 32-bit extended memory and use the computer's slower 16-bit extended memory.
ILIM386.SYS

If you want to use 640K bytes of InBoard 386 memory for conventional and convert the remaining extended memory to expanded memory, add the following command to the CONFIG.SYS file:

       DEVICE = ILIM386.SYS [SWAP=n] [EMS=n or EXT=n] [FRAME=x]

The parameters in brackets are optional. Don't type the brackets. The following table describes these parameters.

NOTE: If you plan to use Microsoft Windows 386, don't use the DEVICE = ILIM386.SYS command. Windows 386 won't run if ILIM386.SYS is in memory.

Optional ILIM386.SYS Parameters

Parameter Meaning
SWAP=n Convert n amount of system board memory to extended and use 640K bytes of InBoard 386 memory as conventional.
EMS=n Set the amount of expanded memory to n. All remaining InBoard 386 memory remains as extended.
EXT=n Set the amount of extended memory to n. All remaining InBoard 386 memory is converted to expanded.
FRAME=x Set the EMS page frame starting address to x. Valid values are: E000, DC00, D800, D400, D000, CC00, C800, C400, C000.
ICACHE.COM

Use the ICACHE program to create a disk cache that speeds up your hard drive. ICACHE will use all available extended memory up to 1024K bytes unless you set a size using the optional parameters.

Add the following command to the AUTOEXEC.BAT file:

       ICACHE [/S:n] [/B-] [/T-] [/-x]

The parameters in brackets are optional. Don't type the brackets. The following table describes these parameters.

Optional ICACHE.COM Parameters

Parameter Meaning
/S:n Set the size of the cache in K bytes to n. Valid values are 48 to 1024.
/B- Disable batch copy of sectors to and from the cache. Use only if experiencing high-speed data communications problems.
/T- Disable whole-track reads. ICACHE reads only requested sectors, not the entire track.
/-x Disable caching on drive x. If drive x is a partition, no partition of that drive will be cached.


ISPEEDAT.EXE

Use the following command to change the InBoard 386 operating speed.

  ISPEEDAT n

Valid values for n are 1, 2, 3, and 4. Speed 1 is very slow, and Speed 4 is very fast.

NOTE: You can also change between speeds 1 and 4 by simultaneously pressing the Ctrl key, Alt key, left-shift key, and 1 or 4 key. The computer will beep to indicate that the selected speed is active (1 beep = speed 1, 4 beeps = speed 4).

ISTATAT.EXE

Type ISTATAT at the DOS prompt and press Enter to view the current operating status of your InBoard 386.

ILIM386.COM

Type ILIM386 at the DOS prompt and press Enter to view the status of all the memory in the computer, including memory on the InBoard 386. ILIM386.SYS must already be loaded in the CONFIG.SYS file.

KEYBRDAT.EXE

Type KEYBRDAT at the DOS prompt and press Enter to reinstall the dynamic speed switching software.