UNDER clocking question

[Ext User(W7TI)]

Here's a question I'll bet you don't get every day.

I have an old DOS ham radio program I'd like to run, but it gives
runtime errors when run on a 500+ MHz computer. I could find an old
computer, but I'd rather have a nice new homebuilt one for it.

So the question is how do I underclock a motherboard? I see there are
several quartz crystals on the one I have, a K7S5A. Could I replace
just one or would I need to replace more than one?

I wouldn't mind buying a different motherboard if it were easier or
simpler than the one I have.

All comments appreciated.

--
Bill, W7TI

[Ext User(jeffc)]

"W7TI" <noway@nohow.com> wrote in message
news:vlcrov8qcn5dlnh1ou0hquiodq08vlqgem@4ax.com...
> Here's a question I'll bet you don't get every day.
>
> I have an old DOS ham radio program I'd like to run, but it gives
> runtime errors when run on a 500+ MHz computer. I could find an old
> computer, but I'd rather have a nice new homebuilt one for it.
>
> So the question is how do I underclock a motherboard?

If it is just the raw speed it is worrying about, rather than actually
checking the processor (which I doubt a DOS program is doing), you might be
better off looking for a "slowdown" program. This is not uncommon when
running older DOS programs - especially games that are ridiculously fast on
modern machines (their designers never planned for such fast processors.)

[Ext User(philo)]

"W7TI" <noway@nohow.com> wrote in message
news:vlcrov8qcn5dlnh1ou0hquiodq08vlqgem@4ax.com...
> Here's a question I'll bet you don't get every day.
>
> I have an old DOS ham radio program I'd like to run, but it gives
> runtime errors when run on a 500+ MHz computer. I could find an old
> computer, but I'd rather have a nice new homebuilt one for it.
>
> So the question is how do I underclock a motherboard? I see there are
> several quartz crystals on the one I have, a K7S5A. Could I replace
> just one or would I need to replace more than one?
>
> I wouldn't mind buying a different motherboard if it were easier or
> simpler than the one I have.
>
> All comments appreciated.
>
> --
> Bill, W7TI
>
>
>

there are generally jumpers on the motherboard that should allow you to set
the
speed...
clock and multiplier jumpers

on some motherboards, the setting can be done in the bios

i would not fool with changing crystals

[Ext User(W7TI)]

On Wed, 15 Oct 2003 19:10:35 -0400, "jeffc" <nobody@nowhere.com> wrote:

>you might be
>better off looking for a "slowdown" program.

__________________________________________________ _______

I've heard other hams talk about using "moslo" for this application, but
I would prefer to just slow the system down naturally, so to speak.

I'll go that route if nothing else works out.

Thanks!

--
Bill, W7TI

[Ext User(jeffc)]

"W7TI" <noway@nohow.com> wrote in message
news:jeqrov4jkp2dgk82b3f4pouu7lkdg5d2ks@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 15 Oct 2003 19:10:35 -0400, "jeffc" <nobody@nowhere.com> wrote:
>
> >you might be
> >better off looking for a "slowdown" program.
>
> __________________________________________________ _______
>
> I've heard other hams talk about using "moslo" for this application, but
> I would prefer to just slow the system down naturally, so to speak.
>
> I'll go that route if nothing else works out.

OK, but I'm skeptical if it's worth the time going that route. I don't
think you'll be able to slow any motherboard down to the extent you need
(relative to your needs, the range of settings is far too small usually),
and as far as changing crystals.... well, you're on your own :-)

[Ext User(JAD)]

try disabling the L2 cache from the bios it worked awhile back for me while messing around with a 51/4 drive and a centipede
game.....

"W7TI" <noway@nohow.com> wrote in message news:vlcrov8qcn5dlnh1ou0hquiodq08vlqgem@4ax.com...
> Here's a question I'll bet you don't get every day.
>
> I have an old DOS ham radio program I'd like to run, but it gives
> runtime errors when run on a 500+ MHz computer. I could find an old
> computer, but I'd rather have a nice new homebuilt one for it.
>
> So the question is how do I underclock a motherboard? I see there are
> several quartz crystals on the one I have, a K7S5A. Could I replace
> just one or would I need to replace more than one?
>
> I wouldn't mind buying a different motherboard if it were easier or
> simpler than the one I have.
>
> All comments appreciated.
>
> --
> Bill, W7TI
>
>
>

[Ext User(W7TI)]

On Thu, 16 Oct 2003 02:36:39 GMT, "JAD" <jdemma25@eartink.net> wrote:

>try disabling the L2 cache from the bios it worked awhile back for me while messing around with a 51/4 drive and a centipede
>game.....

__________________________________________________ _______

Good idea. I know when I run a memory test program with cache disabled
it is slow as molasses. Worth a try. Thanks!

--
Bill, W7TI

[Ext User(Conor Turton)]

In article <vlcrov8qcn5dlnh1ou0hquiodq08vlqgem@4ax.com>,
noway@nohow.com says...
> Here's a question I'll bet you don't get every day.
>
> I have an old DOS ham radio program I'd like to run, but it gives
> runtime errors when run on a 500+ MHz computer. I could find an old
> computer, but I'd rather have a nice new homebuilt one for it.
>
> So the question is how do I underclock a motherboard? I see there are
> several quartz crystals on the one I have, a K7S5A. Could I replace
> just one or would I need to replace more than one?
>
> I wouldn't mind buying a different motherboard if it were easier or
> simpler than the one I have.
>
THere actually used to be a plethora of freeware apps designed to slow
a PC down as there were some DOS games such as Wing Commander that
simply ran too fast on anything above a 486. These used to be on those
1000+ greatest Shareware Hits type CDs that came out in the mid 90's.
Basically what they do is run a loop to tie up processor time. THere
must still be some out there.

--
Conor

Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him.

[Ext User(Biff)]

Quiet computing sometimes involves underclocking. Try doing a search of
the forums at:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/


"W7TI" <noway@nohow.com> wrote in message
news:vlcrov8qcn5dlnh1ou0hquiodq08vlqgem@4ax.com...
> Here's a question I'll bet you don't get every day.
>
> I have an old DOS ham radio program I'd like to run, but it gives
> runtime errors when run on a 500+ MHz computer. I could find an old
> computer, but I'd rather have a nice new homebuilt one for it.
>
> So the question is how do I underclock a motherboard? I see there are
> several quartz crystals on the one I have, a K7S5A. Could I replace
> just one or would I need to replace more than one?
>
> I wouldn't mind buying a different motherboard if it were easier or
> simpler than the one I have.
>
> All comments appreciated.
>
> --
> Bill, W7TI
>
>
>

[Ext User(Thunder9)]

On Wed, 15 Oct 2003 13:55:32 -0700, W7TI <noway@nohow.com> wrote:

>Here's a question I'll bet you don't get every day.
>
>I have an old DOS ham radio program I'd like to run, but it gives
>runtime errors when run on a 500+ MHz computer. I could find an old
>computer, but I'd rather have a nice new homebuilt one for it.
>
>So the question is how do I underclock a motherboard? I see there are
>several quartz crystals on the one I have, a K7S5A. Could I replace
>just one or would I need to replace more than one?
>
>I wouldn't mind buying a different motherboard if it were easier or
>simpler than the one I have.
>
>All comments appreciated.
>

Why would you prefer a nice new fast homebuilt computer to underclock
just so its slow enough to run an old game? You could pick up an old
bugger from parts for cheap on the fly that's one or two fancy dinners
skipped.

Regards,
Thunder9

[Ext User(JAD)]

why would you need another machine....I doubt that he will be playn that game 24/7 and if the L2 thing works out, its just a reboot
away from being enabled

"Thunder9" <thunder9@nowhere.com> wrote in message news:3f8f4a32.2413017@netnews.comcast.net...
> On Wed, 15 Oct 2003 13:55:32 -0700, W7TI <noway@nohow.com> wrote:
>
> >Here's a question I'll bet you don't get every day.
> >
> >I have an old DOS ham radio program I'd like to run, but it gives
> >runtime errors when run on a 500+ MHz computer. I could find an old
> >computer, but I'd rather have a nice new homebuilt one for it.
> >
> >So the question is how do I underclock a motherboard? I see there are
> >several quartz crystals on the one I have, a K7S5A. Could I replace
> >just one or would I need to replace more than one?
> >
> >I wouldn't mind buying a different motherboard if it were easier or
> >simpler than the one I have.
> >
> >All comments appreciated.
> >
>
> Why would you prefer a nice new fast homebuilt computer to underclock
> just so its slow enough to run an old game? You could pick up an old
> bugger from parts for cheap on the fly that's one or two fancy dinners
> skipped.
>
> Regards,
> Thunder9
>

[Ext User(W7TI)]

On Fri, 17 Oct 2003 00:14:23 GMT, thunder9@nowhere.com (Thunder9) wrote:

>Why would you prefer a nice new fast homebuilt computer to underclock
>just so its slow enough to run an old game? You could pick up an old
>bugger from parts for cheap on the fly that's one or two fancy dinners
>skipped.
>
>Regards,
>Thunder9

__________________________________________________ _______

'Cause I want a new computer to run my old program on. Same reason I
prefer a new car to an old one, even they both will get me there.

--
Bill, W7TI

[Ext User(W7TI)]

On Fri, 17 Oct 2003 00:22:51 GMT, "JAD" <jdemma25@eartink.net> wrote:

>why would you need another machine

__________________________________________________ _______

The program I want to run requires a SoundBlaster 16 ISA card only.
Won't work on anything else. I want to buy a new mobo while ones with
ISA slots are still available. Probably in a few years they won't be.

But for my *real* computer, I want a *fancier* mobo; thus the need for
two machines.

--
Bill, W7TI

[Ext User(JAD)]

I was commenting to Thund...

You'll be hard pressed now finding an ISA slotted board....I have a P3V4x I've held unto because it has 1 ISA. There are some out
there but the options of what CPUs may be limited.

"W7TI" <noway@nohow.com> wrote in message news:rr40pvsjui7i98ulf4p487dknc8jusir09@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 17 Oct 2003 00:14:23 GMT, thunder9@nowhere.com (Thunder9) wrote:
>
> >Why would you prefer a nice new fast homebuilt computer to underclock
> >just so its slow enough to run an old game? You could pick up an old
> >bugger from parts for cheap on the fly that's one or two fancy dinners
> >skipped.
> >
> >Regards,
> >Thunder9
>
> __________________________________________________ _______
>
> 'Cause I want a new computer to run my old program on. Same reason I
> prefer a new car to an old one, even they both will get me there.
>
> --
> Bill, W7TI
>

[Ext User(W7TI)]

On Fri, 17 Oct 2003 16:15:22 GMT, "JAD" <jdemma25@eartink.net> wrote:

>You'll be hard pressed now finding an ISA slotted board....
>I have a P3V4x I've held unto because it has 1 ISA. There are some out
>there but the options of what CPUs may be limited.

__________________________________________________ _______

I know. What I *really* should do is learn to program so I could write
a program that would run on anything.

Don't hold your breath, anyone. :-)

--
Bill, W7TI