I think I may have a complete working 486 and a 386 lying somewhere. It was working when i put them there last. Still find it weird why that technician wants specifically a DX2. A DX 33 is not much different.
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D4N
Expert Member
Maybe he wants to play Leisure Suit Larry
Stokstert
Executive Member
PM Toilet_Duck, he might consider parting with his 486 for something new. Just look at his sig in this thread, isn't that what you are looking for?
howardb
Expert Member
I'm sure I have a complete 486 in the garage, will check for you when I get home - where you based in JHB seedat?
EDIT: Just checked quickly - have the following:
EDIT: Just checked quickly - have the following:
Last edited:
seedat77
Senior Member
I'm sure I have a complete 486 in the garage, will check for you when I get home - where you based in JHB seedat?
EDIT: Just checked quickly - have the following:
That looks like what we need, the slots look the same. I'm based in Lenasia, whereabout are you based?
The_Unbeliever
Honorary Master
Guys
In my experience the OP is justified in asking for an original 486 motherboard.
Here is why :
When I started my career in computers, I started at a Point of Sales software company.
This was when the 286 was getting kicked off, the 386 was in its heyday, and the 486 was coming in.
The software was programmed to use serial port accessories, such as slip printers and turrets (customer display units).
When the PentiumII came in, we ran into funny issues with serial ports not working. Keep in mind this software ran on DOS, 100% genuine DOS program.
The only solution (in some of the cases) was to get an extra ISA serial port card, and this worked as a workaround.
And also, one of the clients (doctor's rooms) we also did, had the same issue. Doctor had some expensive machinery (which operated via a serial port) and this worked quite well with a Pentium1 75MHz (the huge CPU's). When we swapped the board out for a faster CPU, the machinery stopped working.
Seems that in some rare cases the pinouts on the serial ports is not the same voltage or such, can't exactly remember. Put the original motherboard in, worked fine.
Hoping the OP is able to resolve his problem
AND not just leave it there, actively start looking for a solution to the problem before the same thing happen again... 
In my experience the OP is justified in asking for an original 486 motherboard.
Here is why :
When I started my career in computers, I started at a Point of Sales software company.
This was when the 286 was getting kicked off, the 386 was in its heyday, and the 486 was coming in.
The software was programmed to use serial port accessories, such as slip printers and turrets (customer display units).
When the PentiumII came in, we ran into funny issues with serial ports not working. Keep in mind this software ran on DOS, 100% genuine DOS program.
The only solution (in some of the cases) was to get an extra ISA serial port card, and this worked as a workaround.
And also, one of the clients (doctor's rooms) we also did, had the same issue. Doctor had some expensive machinery (which operated via a serial port) and this worked quite well with a Pentium1 75MHz (the huge CPU's). When we swapped the board out for a faster CPU, the machinery stopped working.
Seems that in some rare cases the pinouts on the serial ports is not the same voltage or such, can't exactly remember. Put the original motherboard in, worked fine.
Hoping the OP is able to resolve his problem
AND not just leave it there, actively start looking for a solution to the problem before the same thing happen again... The_Unbeliever
Honorary Master
I'm sure I have a complete 486 in the garage, will check for you when I get home - where you based in JHB seedat?
EDIT: Just checked quickly - have the following:
Vintage! Love it!
Those motherboards are more durable than today's piffly motherboards...
I'm sure I have a complete 486 in the garage, will check for you when I get home - where you based in JHB seedat?
EDIT: Just checked quickly - have the following:
Wot, no maths co-processor?? Gotta luv those huge RAM chips too.
OP, please answer some of the questions posed......
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seedat77
Senior Member
Thanks guys for all the help, we're getting somewhere here. I knew I could rely on MYBB for help. To answer some of the questions:
Does the PC run specialised machinery?
Yes it does. Basically the PC is doing the function of a PLC, and it tells the machine what to do. We're planning on doing a conversion to get a more recent PLC system, but we need to get the machine running immediately.
Maybe because of the ISA slots?
Definitely, it must have ISA slots
What software and interface cards is thing running?
The software runs on DOS, and it has interface cards for inputs (keyboard etc), and outputs (monitor etc)
I'm going to upload some pics now.
Does the PC run specialised machinery?
Yes it does. Basically the PC is doing the function of a PLC, and it tells the machine what to do. We're planning on doing a conversion to get a more recent PLC system, but we need to get the machine running immediately.
Maybe because of the ISA slots?
Definitely, it must have ISA slots
What software and interface cards is thing running?
The software runs on DOS, and it has interface cards for inputs (keyboard etc), and outputs (monitor etc)
I'm going to upload some pics now.
The_Unbeliever
Honorary Master
@OP - maybe change your sig to include i486SX fanboi? 
Just as an aside - SX means "little one" and DX means "big one"
The 486SX required a maths coprocessor. Early boards made provision for an i387 to be slotted in - but with later boards you can just buy a i486DX and slot it in.
Note that you can still run normal software on the SX, it just will be a bit slower when doing maths-intensive operations. The co-processor actually speeded things up a lot.
Just as an aside - SX means "little one" and DX means "big one"
The 486SX required a maths coprocessor. Early boards made provision for an i387 to be slotted in - but with later boards you can just buy a i486DX and slot it in.
Note that you can still run normal software on the SX, it just will be a bit slower when doing maths-intensive operations. The co-processor actually speeded things up a lot.
seedat77
Senior Member
Basically, what's happening is that when we start up, it's giving an error "cmos battery low" and "keyboard not found". Pressing F1, or "delete" supposed to get you into the setup. A few time, while playing around with the wires the keyboard works and we managed to get into the bios setup, but after about 30 seconds it stops responding. In the bios setup, it doesn't pick up the hard drive, or stiffy drive. It shows that the RAM is okay.
Here's a link to some pictures, hope it helps.
Here's a link to some pictures, hope it helps.
The_Unbeliever
Honorary Master
The CMOS battery can be replaced - either by unsoldering it from the motherboard and replacing that with a new one - or by adding a battery pack.
But if it stops responding after 30 sec then the motherboard might be shot.
What I would do is I would swop the boards, get the unit up and running.
Then take a shufty at replacing the CMOS battery & testing the motherboard - and if working 100%, keep it as a spare.
But if it stops responding after 30 sec then the motherboard might be shot.
What I would do is I would swop the boards, get the unit up and running.
Then take a shufty at replacing the CMOS battery & testing the motherboard - and if working 100%, keep it as a spare.
BouncyNinja
Executive Member
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my old man does plc conversions for a living, if you need someone, will pass on his number