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Extended ReadMe or PCem Hardware Documentation Project

Posted: Thu 16 Jun, 2016 12:54 pm
by ENM23
Hi,
back in the old days I worked with the 286, 386, 486 and some others and I love that emulator. I think it's the best emulater simce the last 15 years.

But I can't remember much of the systemspecs (or some machines are unknown to me), and I guess many other peaople too. Even the information of HDDs [from that era] needed for emulation are hard to find.
So I thought about an extended ReadMe file or an seperate document (or documentation project if it's getting too big)were people can finde detailed informations abaut the computer, graphics cards, sound cards and the other stuff which is emulated. It should contain something like:
Amstrad PC2086
Year of Release: 1988
CPU: 8086 @ 8 MHz
Memory Included: 640K
Max Memory Supported: 640K
Floppy Drives: 1 or 2 3.5" 720K
Hard Drives: (optional 32MB RLL hard drive, compatible with XT-IDE)
Graphics Card Options: VGA (Paradise)
Monitor Options: 12" or 14" VGA mono or VGA colour
Keyboard: 102-key (proprietary interface)
Expansion Slots: 3 x full-length 8-bit ISA, 1 x half-length 8-bit ISA, socket for external 5.25" or 3.5" floppy drive (looks like a parallel port), 1 x parallel port, 1 x RS232 serial port
Bundled Software: MS-DOS 3.30, Windows 2.1
Models Available: PC2086/30

IBM EGA

Made by: IBM
Codename: EGA
Bus: ISA 8bit
Memory Size: 64kB
Max Memory Size: 256kB
Memory Type: DRAM
Year: 1984
Card Type: EGA
Manufacturer: IBM
Made in: Japan
Outputs: 9 pin D‐sub, RCA/CINCH
Price $: 982
Sold by: IBM
Maybe it's a little nerdy but I like to emulate it 100% accurate. ;)

Re: Extended ReadMe or PCem Hardware Documentation Project

Posted: Thu 16 Jun, 2016 2:47 pm
by Zup
In those computers (like that PC2086) that had only a (few) HDD model, I'd document the CHS settings.

Also, keep in mind that the RLL HDD is not compatible with XT-IDE (=the computer CMOS or motherboard must not have any HDD configured). I don't know if you mean to say that the computer can have an XT-IDE controller installed.

Re: Extended ReadMe or PCem Hardware Documentation Project

Posted: Thu 16 Jun, 2016 3:29 pm
by omarsis81
Good idea! I can write something like towards the end of the month (since I will have more time), but in case you missed it, some of the info you are looking is here: https://bitbucket.org/pcem_emulator/pcem

Re: Extended ReadMe or PCem Hardware Documentation Project

Posted: Sat 18 Jun, 2016 11:40 am
by ENM23
I will start collecting some information and post it here too.
And here is a list of different HDD types I found somewhere on the internet:
drives.zip
(11.5 KiB) Downloaded 513 times

Re: Extended ReadMe or PCem Hardware Documentation Project

Posted: Sat 18 Jun, 2016 10:01 pm
by leilei
That list is more for drives in 1988

Re: Extended ReadMe or PCem Hardware Documentation Project

Posted: Sun 19 Jun, 2016 12:33 pm
by ENM23
leilei wrote:That list is more for drives in 1988
Don't think so, the drive sizes goes up to 1GB. Probably early 90s. :oops:
(My first Pentium in 1995 had only 1GB.)

Re: Extended ReadMe or PCem Hardware Documentation Project

Posted: Sun 19 Jun, 2016 10:56 pm
by leilei
ENM23 wrote:
leilei wrote:That list is more for drives in 1988
Don't think so, the drive sizes goes up to 1GB. Probably early 90s. :oops:
The CDC Sabre 1.2GB existed in 1988 too and that's not even [url=lhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_3380#IBM_3380]the earliest[/url].

Re: Extended ReadMe or PCem Hardware Documentation Project

Posted: Mon 20 Jun, 2016 6:37 am
by Zup
This is my HDD list:

Code: Select all

Computers:
-------------------
Commodore PC30-III          ST225?
IBM 5160 (XT)               ST412 / ST225
IBM 5170 (AT)               CMI 6426S
Amstrad PPC640              --- / Conner CP3024? / Stratum Sprint?
Olivetti M24                Olivetti XM5220/2
Amstrad PC1640 HD30         WD95038?
Amstrad PC2386              ST277R

Hard disk:              Size:           C/H/S:          Type:
----------              -------         ------          -----
ST412                   10 Mb           306/4/17        1
ST225                   21 Mb           615/4/17        2
CMI 6426S               21 Mb           640/4/17
Olivetti XM5220/2       20 Mb           612/4/17        16
Conner CP3024           30 Mb           615/4/17        2
Conner CFS420A          420 Mb          826/16/63
Stratum Sprint          21 Mb           614/4/17
WD95038                 30 Mb           615/6/17        3
Conner CP3000           40 Mb           980/5/17        10
WD Caviar 280           85 Mb           980/10/17
Conner CFS210A          210 Mb          685/16/38
ST277R                  60 Mb           820/6/26
Conner CP30061G         60 Mb           762/4/39
Compaq Type 4           68 Mb           1024/8/17       4
The first part lists which computers used which disks (as stated on some technical docs found on internet). Note that there is an entry for Amstrad PC2386... I didn't found the HDD used on PC2086, but I guess they used the same HDD on every PC2000.

The second part lists the sizes, parameters and BIOS type of some that hard disks (and other popular models).

This is not (it was never intended to be) a complete list. I made it to help me making "historically accurate" configurations (as accurate as a Compaq Deskpro with XT-IDE can be), so it should be extended it anyone pretend to include it on any documentation.

Re: Extended ReadMe or PCem Hardware Documentation Project

Posted: Mon 20 Jun, 2016 12:01 pm
by ENM23
leilei wrote: The CDC Sabre 1.2GB existed in 1988 too and that's not even [url=lhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_3380#IBM_3380]the earliest[/url].
Well, your right, and thats the reason why I thought about and documentaion for PCem.

@Zup: Thanks for sharing.

Re: Extended ReadMe or PCem Hardware Documentation Project

Posted: Tue 28 Jun, 2016 6:30 am
by Zup
My almost complete list, with some notes:

Code: Select all

IBM 5150 PC
IBM PCjr
Tandy 1000
Tandy 1000HX
Tandy 1000SL/2
   There was no HD for this computers, can use 3rd party HDs (usually type 1/2/3)
   
Sinclair PC200 (a.k.a. Amstrad PC20)
   Amstrad offered no HD, but there were 3rd party HDs.
   
Schneider EuroPC
   A external HD20 (20 meg HDD) was sold.
   
Generic Turbo XT
AMI XT clone
DTK clone
Phoenix XT clone
Juko XT clone
   As clones, manufacturers could install any HD available (usually type 1/2/3)

IBM 5160 XT
   ST412 / ST225   

IBM AT
   CMI 6426S / ST-4026

Olivetti M24 (a.k.a. AT&T 6300)
   Olivetti XM5210 / Olivetti XM5220

Amstrad PC1512 (a.k.a. Sinclair PC500)
   PC1512HD10 - ???
   PC1512HD20 - ???

Amstrad PC1640 (a.k.a. Schneider PC1640, Amstrad PC6400?)
   PC1640HD20 - Alps DRMD20A12A (service manual states that Tandon drives were used too)
   PC1640HD30 - Western Digital 95038
   
VTech Laser Turbo XT
   ST225 - As seen in a picture from a brochure.
   30 and 40Mb HDDs were also offered.

VTech Laser XT3
   ???

Commodore PC30-III
   ST225?

Amstrad PC2086
   WD383R

Amstrad PC3086
   ???

Dell System 200
   ???

IBM PS/1 model 2011
   IBM Type 35 / IBM Type 38
   Service manual only shows these references. Fortunately, they give CHS parameteres for this drives.

Compaq Deskpro 386
   108058-001 - CDC 94208-51
   102932-001 - CDC 94155-86
   108080-001 - ???
   Service manual provides this spare numbers. It also lists CHS parameters for this drives.

IBM PS/1 model 2121
   95F4720 - ???
   92F9943 - Maxtor 7080AI
   129 Mb  - ???
   Service manual provides this FRU. No parameters are given.

Acermate 386SX/25N
   ???

Amstrad MegaPC
   40 Mb Seagate

AMI 286 clone
DTK 386SX clone
Phoenix 386 clone
AMI 386 clone
AMI 486 clone
AMI WinBIOS 486 clone
Award SiS 496/497
Intel Premiere/PCI
Intel Advanced/EV
Award 430VX PCI
   As clones, these computers were fitted with anything available.



Amstrad PPC640
   Stratum Sprint - This was a 3rd party HDD designed to fit into a floppy bay.

Amstrad PC2286
   WD 93044A

Amstrad PC2386
   ST277R


HDD model:          Size:       C/H/S:      Type:
----------          -----       ------      -----
Seagate ST412       10 Mb       306/4/17    1
Seagate ST225       21 Mb       615/4/17    2
CMI 6426S           21 Mb       640/4/17    2
Seagate ST4026      21 Mb       615/4/17    2
Olivetti XM5210     10 Mb       612/2/17
Olivetti XM5220/2   20 Mb       612/4/17    16
Alps DRMD20A12A     21 Mb       615/4/17
WD 95038            30 Mb       615/6/17    3
WD 383R             30 Mb       615/4/26
IBM Type 35         30 Mb       921/2/33    Used in IBM PS/1 2011
IBM Type 38         30 Mb       845/2/36    Used in IBM PS/1 2011
108058-001          40 Mb       980/5/17    17 (CDC 94208-51) - Used in Compaq Deskpro 386
102932-001          70 Mb       925/9/17    12 (CDC 94155-86) - Used in Compaq Deskpro 386
108080-001          130 Mb      966/8/34    35                - Used in Compaq Deskpro 386
92F9943             80 Mb       981/10/17   (Maxtor 7080AI) - Used in IBM PS/1 2121



Seagate ST506       5 Mb        153/4/17
Conner CP3024       30 Mb       615/4/17    2
Conner CFS420A      420 Mb      826/16/63
Stratum Sprint      21 Mb       614/4/17
Conner CP3000       40 Mb       980/5/17    10
WD Caviar 280       85 Mb       980/10/17
Conner CFS210A      210 Mb      685/16/38
Seagate ST277R      60 Mb       820/6/26
Conner CP30061G     60 Mb       762/4/39
Compaq Type 4       68 Mb       1024/8/17   4
WD 93044A           43 Mb       977/5/17
Note that I've included some computers not emulated in PCem (the story about Amstrad PC2386 and their ST277R was so juicy) after the official system list, and also I've included CHS parameters from other HDDs (to mimic real hard disk on those "clone" computers). I've put some blank lines between "official" computers and "additional" reference data.

Re: Extended ReadMe or PCem Hardware Documentation Project

Posted: Wed 29 Jun, 2016 8:20 am
by ENM23
This is what I have so far:
Collected from different sources. It is incomplete and might be incorrect (ugly too! :mrgreen: ). Everything is in html, cause I had a CHM file in mind.

Re: Extended ReadMe or PCem Hardware Documentation Project

Posted: Sat 23 Jul, 2016 10:48 am
by ENM23
I need more information about the XT, 286, 386, 486 clones. Would be nice if someone can help me find the missing stuff.

Re: Extended ReadMe or PCem Hardware Documentation Project

Posted: Mon 25 Jul, 2016 10:49 pm
by omarsis81
ENM23 wrote:I need more information about the XT, 286, 386, 486 clones. Would be nice if someone can help me find the missing stuff.
What information are you looking for?
I know the Award 286 uses the SCAT chipset,
the AMI 286 uses the NEAT chipset
the AMI 386 clone, the Headland
the AMI 486 clone, the ALI 1429 chipset
the AMI WinBIOS clone, also the ALI 1429

and I believe the devs are working on a UMC 8881F 486 WinBIOS with PCI slots

Re: Extended ReadMe or PCem Hardware Documentation Project

Posted: Sat 30 Jul, 2016 1:59 pm
by ENM23
Everything would be nice.

CPU, RAM, Expansion Slots, the whole stuff. Or general Information about 286, 386, 486.