Inboard 386
Installation Instructions
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.
- Turn off the power switch on the computer and any attached equipment,
and unplug the computer's power cord from the outlet.
- Remove the computer's cover.
- Remove any boards installed between the 80286 socket and the slot where you're going to install the InBoard 386.
- 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.
- 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.
- Set the InBoard 386 switches 6 to 8 on the large switch block for the
amount of memory attached directly to the InBoard 386.
- 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).
- 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).
- Set switch 3 on the small switch block OFF.
- 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.
- 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.
- Find the 80286 microprocessor, put a mark by pin 1 of the socket,
then remove the 80286.
- Find the 80287 socket. If an 80287 is installed remove it.
- Insert the 80287 "dummy" plug into the 80287 socket.
- 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.
- Insert the InBoard into a full-length 16-bit slot that the cable can
reach.
- Replace any boards you removed from the computer.
- Connect the free end of the InBoard 386 cable to the InBoard 386.
- 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:
- 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.
- Set the jumper block so that it connects the two pins closest to the
back of the computer.
- 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.
- 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).
- Set InBoard 386 switch 1 on the small switch block OFF.
- Set InBoard 386 switch 2 on the small switch block OFF.
- Set InBoard 386 switch 3 on the small switch block ON.
- 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.
- 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.