My Test Systems

Last revision of this page: February 1, 2025

Abbreviations

OPS: Operating System
MBD: Mainboard
TUR: Turbo Switch (yes/no)
WST: Wait State
BIO: BIOS
RAM: Random Access Memory
EXP: Memory Expansion Adapter
CPU: Central Processing Unit
FPU: Floating Point Unit
VID: Graphics Adapter
MON: Monitor
NET: Network
HDC: Hard Disk Controller
FDC: Floppy Disk Controller
OPT: Optional
HDD: Hard Disk Drive
FDD: Floppy Disk Drive
CDR: CD-ROM
PSU: Power Supply Unit

All my DOS PC's can access my FTP server (old: Synology DS211j; new DS223j) with TCP/IP for up- and downloading. I backup all my DOS PC's - on my iMac - running the DOS FTP server „FTPServ“ (mTCP package by M. Brutman, 10/20/2024). Works fine!

Furthermore I can connect a Backpack CD-ROM drive from MicroSolutions to all DOS computers (LPT). Simply burn all DOS files to a CD and copy everything in one go to the DOS PC. A 650 MB CD can hold a lot of DOS programs and files. On a digital full format camera, a single RAW image can be more than 50 MB in size! Times are changing!

1st Generation Processors - 8088

IBM PC 5150 (16-64KB)

Cabinet: Original IBM

OPS: MS-DOS 6.22
MBD: 16-64KB system board
BIO: Super PC/Turbo XT BIOS 3.1
RAM: 64KB, 4 x 16KB (Mostek, MK4116N)
EXP: 640KB, 10 x 64KB (Lo-tech 1MB memory board)
CPU: Intel D-8088
FPU: none
VID: IBM Monochrom Display (MDA)
MON: BenQ FP93GS with Monotech EternalCRT Converter
NET: Xircom PE3-10BT
FDC: ISA Floppy Disk and Serial Controller
FDD: (A:)TEAC FD-55GV (1.2M)
FDD: (B:)GoTek Floppy Emulator, Flash Floppy)
PSU: 110 V (with new silent fan) + voltage converter (Bronson++ TI 800)

IBM PC 5150 (64-256KB)

Cabinet: Original IBM

OPS: PC-DOS 3.30
MBD: 64KB-256KB CPU
BIO: 1501476-U33, dated 10/27/82
BIO: or Super PC/Turbo XT BIOS 3.1
RAM: 256 KB, 4 x 8+1 (MK4564N-15)
EXP: IBM 256KB MEMORY CARD
CPU: NEC V20
VID: IBM Monochrom Display (MDA)
# VID: Hercules Graphics Card (GB101)
MON: IBM 5151
MON: BenQ FP93GS with Monotech EternalCRT Converter
NET: Xircom PE3-10BT
FDC: IBM 1501484
OPT: Radio Shack CTR-111 (cassette recorder)
OPT: BabyBlue II (Microlog) CP/M card
FDD: Tandon TM100-2A (360K, 2x)
# FDD: (A:)TEAC FD-55BV (360K)
# FDD: (B:)TEAC FD-55B (360K)
FDD: IBM 4865 (3.5", extern)
PSU: 110 V / 3A + voltage converter (now changed)

(# another equipment variant)

IBM XT 5160 (64-256KB)

Case: Original IBM

OPS: PC-DOS 3.30
MBD: 64-256KB system board
BIO: 1501512-U18/6359116-U19 dated 11/08/82
RAM: 256 KB, 4 x 8+1 (TMS4164-15NL)
EXP: Quadram (Short), 384 KB
CPU: Intel D-8088
FPU: Intel C8087-1
VID: Hercules Graphics Card (GB102)
MON: BenQ FP93GS with Monotech EternalCRT Converter
NET: Xircom PE3-10BT
FDC: IBM 1501484
OPT: Applied Reasoning (PC-elevATor)
OPT: Radio Shack CTR-111 (cassette recorder)
HDC: IBM 62X0775
HDD: IBM WD25 (20M, MFM)
FDD: Y-E DATA YD-580 (360K, 2x)

IBM XT 5160 (256-640KB)

Case: NoName medium (open) tower

OPS: PC-DOS 3.30
MBD: 256-640 KB SYSTEM BOARD
BIO: 62X0851-U18/62X0854-U19 dated 01/10/86
RAM: 640 KB: M5M4256AP-15 / M3764A-12
CPU: NEC V20
FPU: Intel D8087
VID: NoName Hercules Graphics Card
MON: BenQ FP93GS with Monotech EternalCRT Converter
NET: Xircom PE3-10BT
FDC: CompatiCard IV
OPT: OptionBoard Deluxe
HDD: XT-CF-Light Version 4.1 with XTIDE Unisersal BIOS
FDD: Floppy Teststation
FDD: Megamate 2.8
# FDD: (A:)ALPS DCF222B02A (360K)
# FDD: (B:)Gotek drive (1.44M)

(# another equipment variant)

IBM PC 5160 testsystem — IBM PC 5160 (256-640KB / 640KB)

2nd Generation Processors - 80286

Unidentified 80286 VLSI

Last tests, optimisations or backups:

08/22/2023 - fixing minor error in 22DISK/diskette.cfg; backup C: and D: with FTPSRV by M. Brutman; Norton SD and DT on C: and D:.
09/05/2023 - replaced CC I with CC IV and WD1006V-MM2 with MM1
11/16/2024 - replaced CC IV with QuadFlop by texELEC; replaced both ST-225 MFM hard disks with MFM Emulator by David Gesswein with two ST-251 images (42 MB)

AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS (both are old and not updated)

Case: NoName - big tower

OPS: MS-DOS 6.22
MBD: Unidentified 80286 VLSI
TUR: yes (12/6 MHz)
WST: 0
BIO: AMI, Date 04/09/90, 2x type 27256
RAM: 1 MB (DIL, 4x9 Siemens HYB41256-10
CPU: Intel N80286-12
FPU: IIT 2C87-12
NET: 3Com III 3C509B
VID: Hercules Graphics Card (GB102)
EXP: Rampage 286
HDC: WD1006V-MM1 with MFM emulator
# EMU: (C:) Seagate ST251 (MFM)
# EMU: (D:) Seagate ST251 (MFM)
FDC: QuadFlop
# FDD: (A:) NEC FD1165-FD or Y-E DATA YD-180-1601 or Shugart SA800 or Shugart SA850 or M2896-63
FDD: (A:) TEAC FD-55GFV (5.25", 1.2M)
FDD: (B:) TEAC FD-235HF (3.5", 1.44M/720K)
# FDD: (E:) Mitsubishi M2896-63 (8")
# FDD: (F:) Mitsubishi M2896-63 (8") with UniForm PC
CDR: ... MicroSolutions Backpack 162550 (2x)

(# another equipment variant)

286 VLSI — UNIDENTIFIED 80286-12, VLSI chipset

IBM XT Model 286 (XT/286) 5162 (512+128KB)

Case: Original IBM

OPS: MS-DOS 6.22
MBD: 83X1511 A43507 V0011
WST: 0
MHZ: 8 -> Overclocking to 8 MHz
BIO: 286-BIOS (c)1989 AMI
RAM: 512+128 = 640 KB
EXP: Intel Above Board Plus (2 MB)
CPU: Siemens SAB 80286-A (8 MHz)
FPU: Intel 80287-6 (6 MHz)
OPT: IBM Serial/Parallel Adapter
VID: MDA, Monochrom Display Adapter
NET: 3Com EtherLink III, 3C509B
HDC/FDC: IBM Fixed Disk and Diskette Drive Adapter (62X1132)
HDD: Seagate ST225
FDD: (A:) Y-E DATA YD-380 (1.2 MB, type 1711, 1987-48, B* white)
FDD: (B:) Y-E DATA YD-580 (360 KB, type 1355, 1986-06, B♣ green)

IBM 5162 (IBM XT Model 286) with original BIOS

3rd Generation Processors - 80386

Case: Big Tower

OPS: MS-DOS 6.22 (1994)
OPS: Windows 3.1 (1992)
MBD: DTK PEM-2035 VSLI
TUR: yes (20/8 MHz)
WST: 1 (default 2)
BIO: DTK, Date 01/17/90
RAM: 4 MB (SIPP, 4x9 Siemens HYB511000BJ-70)
EXP: 12 MB DTK PEI-306 (SIMM, 12x9 Samsung KM41C1000BJ-8)
CPU: Intel A80386DX-20
FPU: Intel A80387DX-20
VID: VGA, ET4000AX (256 KB), VG-5200 REV. 0
NET: 3Com III 3C509B
HDC/FDC: LCS-6623 REV. N1 (WD37C65CJM)
FDC(2) CompatiCard IV
OPT: OptionBoard Deluxe
HDD: (C:)Seagate ST3144A (130 MB, IDE)
FDD: (A:)TEAC FD-55GFR, (B:)TEAC FD-55BR, (D:)YE-DATA YD-480
FDD: MegaMate 2.8, (E:)TEAC FD-235HJ
CDR: (F:)MicroSolutions Backpack, 165550 (6x)

Note: So that the BIOS of the PEM-2035 can recognize the additional RAM of the PEI-306, the DIP switches SW1/1-4 (PEM-2035) must be set to OFF!

The YE-DATA YD480 is a DSQD floppy disk drive with 96 tpi (80 tracks) and 720 KByte. Not to be confused with the YD380 (DSHD, 1.2M) and the YD580 (DSDD, 360K) drives.

5th Generation Processors - Pentium

Over the last seven years I have had many DOS test systems for my floppies (8", 5.25", 3.5" - DOS, CP/M - FM, MFM). But this one is the best. This is mainly due to the Super I/O floppy controller (National Semiconductor - PC87306). This FDC can really read and write any format even FM with 128 bytes/sector. The IC is fully integrated into the mainboard. In practice, this mainboard can use CPUs up to 266 MHz. But I don't need that. A Pentium with 75 MHz is perfectly adequate for DOS. You can use ISA and PCI boards (four each).

Case: Open Test Bench, Lian LI PC-T80

OPS: MS-DOS 6.22
MBD: DTK PAM-0055I-EO

Intel 82439HX (Intel 82430HX System Controller)
Intel 82371SB (PCI ISA IDE Xcelerator)
NS PC87306 (Super I/O Controller)

MHZ: 75 MHz
BIO: WinBIOS (c)1995 AMI
RAM: 32 MB
CPU: P54C, Intel Pentium (75 MHz)
VID: ATI mach64 GX, 2MB PCI, 210888GX00
NET: 3Com EtherLink III, 3C509B
FDC: National Semiconductor - PC87306
HDC: Intel 82371SB (PCI ISA IDE Xcelerator)
HDD: Seagate ST320410A (6 partitions 2 GB each)
FDD: (A:) Mitsubishi 4854-342M (5.25", 1.2 MB)
FDD: (A:) YE-DATA YD180-1601 (8", 1.2 MB)
FDD: (A:) Teac FD235HF (3.5", 1.44 MB)
FDD: (B:) Teac FD55-BR (360 KB)

Floppy Stations

top

3.5 / 5.25 inch

Floppy teststation — TEAC: FD-55GFR, FD-55F, FD-55E, FD-55A, 2x FD-55B

Currently (Apr 2020) I am using the floppy station with my IBM XT 5160 (open medium tower). With this test station I can actually read, write and copy nearly any DOS or CP/M 5.25" and 3.5" floppy format. As floppy disk controller I use a CompatiCard IV.

As drive A: I always use the FD-55B (360K). As drive B: I use the one that is currently needed. I always use a Megamate 2.8 as drive D: (720K, 1.4MB or 2.8MB; drive not shown above).

8 inch

I can connect the 8 inch floppy test station to both the 286AT and the 386DX-AT with the FDADAP interface from DBIT or my own interface.

I have had or have the following 8" drives (14) since 2018:

2x Mitsubishi M2896-63 (in stock)
3x NEC FD1165-FQ (one is missing the PCB, in stock)
1x Shugart SA860 (My first 8", destroyed by me because I had not yet marked my 5V and 24V cables at the time. Stupidity will be punished.)
1x Shugart SA860 (sold)
1x Tandon TM848-02 (sold)
2x Tandon TM848-02 (in stock)
1x Tandon TM848E (in stock)
1x Y-E DATA YD-180-1601 (in stock, identical with the QumeTrak 242)
1x Shugart SA800/801
1x Shugart SA850/851 (a bargain: 130 EUR, NOS)
1x Shugart SA850/851 (sold)

Fluxteen, Greaseweazle, Kryoflux

New Version (since 01/2023)

All three drives are housed in a modern drive enclosure with its own power supply. The connection to the respective FLUX adapter is made with the so-called Shugart-BUS also called daisy chaining. In other words, the cable has no cable twister. Access is via the DRIVE SELECT selection, which is set on the respective drive. This also means that all three drives always rotate when accessed, because there is no separate MOTOR ON signal.