ASUS P55T2P4 - COASt and TAG SRAM Upgrade
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- Опубликовано: 11 сен 2024
- In part three of this series about the ASUS P55T2P4, I will upgrade the onboard 256KB L2 cache to a total of 512KB using a COASt module. Furthermore, the motherboard has a main memory cache limitation of 64MB. With a TAG SRAM module, this limit can be increased to 512MB. A few gaming and productivity benchmarks show the performance increase that one can expect from those upgrades.
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You need 15ns TAG-RAM, I also used 20ns TAG-RAM and found the system was acting slower because I used 20ns instead of 15ns, it REALLY does make a difference in performance.
Interesting, if I can, I will try 15ns TAG and see if I can see a difference. Not even sure if I have a 15ns TAG
I was a pre-teen and teen in the 90s. I wonder how many people had no concept of cache upgrades back then. I've been collecting retro PCs and hardware for ~12 years now and didn't learn about some of these cache upgrades until then.
I remember when a friend offered me to upgrade my cache - he sold me one of those COASt modules for around 10 USD back in the 90s. Never noticed a difference with a Pentium 200 (non MMX).
@@bitsundbolts wow that was an incredible bargain back then. Actually it's still an incredible bargain today, especially. I'm sure that the cache really only would have been noticed in 3D accelerated games with a fast card like a Voodoo 2 or better. The difference probably would have only been a few FPS at that.
I think my friend wasn't sure if it actually worked - and I admit it was in the late 90s - Pentium-II and maybe even AMD K7 were out already. I only had a Voodoo 1 back then - and that was (unfortunately) my only 3Dfx product ever - until now ;)
What a beautiful YT channel! I subbed!
The subject of L2 Cache, cacheable areas, fake caches (Ct’cm) and so on was a thriller in the early to mid 90ies indeed.
I even managed to upgrade my childhood PCs cache recently, because back then the modules were extremely expensive (200$ for one async COAST module in 1995)
Wow, I did not know they were that expensive! I assumed that the module a friend sold me was dead as I did not feel a difference. Probably I was "doing it wrong". Thanks for the sub!
The introduction on memory types reminded me of a video I recently watched on Minuteman D-17b computer (by Alexander the ok).
It actually used the rotating magnetic media (basically, a hard drive) not just as a main memory, but even as some of CPU registers.
First computer I bought with my own money was a bunch of parts that result in a Am5x86 133MHz - overclocked to the bones. Hahaha. The mobo was UMC no cache stick. I remember when I installed a good one the gain in performance was naked eyes noticeble. For instance, playing a mp3 file and doing something else in Win98 or Slackware 3.6. Wonderful video!
Interesting and informative
I checked 320mb ram on my mb it works perfect and cached
I just sold one of these bad boys on eBay. I opened a box of RAM, and was sorting through all the EDO, and came across 6 strange looking modules. They were all brand new, had 1995 labels on the cards, had no idea what they were. Figured it out with some googling. Interesting pieces of tech.
90's hardware is fun to play with. I think I also have a bunch of those somewhere in a box
@@bitsundbolts I knew nothing about them, didn't even know they existed. All the S7 PC's I had never had one. So I researched and found out they come in different sizes (128k, 256k etc) and some have a tag RAM, and whatnot. Very interesting.
Some guy from America bought one from me, and another guy from Germany. I'm hanging on to a few just in case I ever come across a board that I can use one with. But the only SS7 build I have (that I actually use) has an ASUS P5A board with AGP, and a K6-III 450. Used primarily for Quake 1 and Diablo Hellfire. Maybe some Screamer 2 from time to time! The older S7 machines are just stored and, far as I can recall, none of them had a COAST slot.
I have a few S7 boards that have the COASt slot. I want to use them in future videos, but they are limited in the choice of CPU (only Pentium non-MMX due to voltage). I remember getting a COASt module for a Pentium 200 and couldn't tell the difference in performance. But I also didn't know what I was looking for.
Can you re-upload the CACHE-INFO? I can´t find to download.
This Andreas Stiller made some several awesome software at that time.
You have 20ns tag ram. 1000/20 = 50mhz. Is it ok ?
I couldn't find a faster Tag module at that time (e.g. 15ns). However, the 20ns worked and I didn't notice any issues while using it.
Is there any point of the tag module if you’re only using 32mb of ram?
The tag module is required for total memory size larger than 64MB. Best is to consult the motherboard manual for different models as the specifications may differ.
Celab: no.
I have a ASUS P55TP4XE that I use with a P100 only for dos and Win3.11and mostly for games. The manual states that the cache can be on DIP RAM (that is 256k 15ns socketed) or on COASt module, but not both at the same time.
It is worth trying to upgrade the cache? Also the TAG SRAM seems to be 256k as well, the same IC like the cache (there are 9 UM61m256k-15 ICs on the cache area)
I think you already have 256K of L2 cache from the DIP SRAM chips. No need to upgrade to 512K in my opinion. It will cost money and you probably won't feel a difference.
using amd k6-2+ cpu will add another level of cache
I had one of those in my Compaq as an almost teenager, it was my own first home computer that I was permitted to use. Yes, my parents were strict. 😂 Otherwise, I could only use the ones at school.
I somehow burned up a motherboard a few years ago with a COASt module...I'm not sure if I did something wrong or there was an issue w/ the module or motherboard. Sucks though, as these retro boards are getting expensive :(
I am sorry to hear that. And yes, retro hardware gets more expensive!
Good video! Channel subbed! I have an P55T2P4 too and just upgraded ist with a coast module. You have a cache tool from Andreas Stiller from the C'T magazine. Can you please support me with a link to download it somewhere?
Hi, check the video description. I added a link where you can download the tool I used in this video. Unfortunately, the original FTP servers don't seem to work anymore.
@@bitsundbolts Thanks a lot!! 🙂
1ms != 1000ns ;] it's 1.000.000 ns ;]
"Penzium" XD
GOD BLESS DONALD TRUMP