18/ 3) the absurd option which is that it somehow autodetects the CPU. This seems somewhat unlikely if not impossible for 1992. I don't know the pins of the 486 inside out, but I'm pretty sure there isn't one for signalling the native frequency.
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19/ Well 3) is the scenario that's looking most likely. There are very few jumpers on this board and all of them are in the manual. So there actually are no jumpers for setting the frequency, but it also doesn't mention this in the manual *at all*.
20/ Next problem is the cache, which is a fucking nightmare. It requires three 16k x 4 chips for the tag etc. except they need to be in a 22pin package with at least 20ns access time. This is a stupidly specific type of SRAM and I don't think I'll be able to find any easily. 🙄
22/ I think the main issue with playing with unconventional hardware is the unconventional obstacles. But there are also everyday obstacles, like the power supply for my EPROM programmer deciding to just stop working. Now I need to find a 5V supply capable of delivering 3A.
23/ The only obstacle to testing this board is programming the BIOS. How do we feel about using this to power my USB hub? Best case scenario, it works perfectly. Worst case it fries the hub and my '90s Toshiba laptop. Maybe I should test what it's outputting, and check for ripple.
24/ It's moot as the programmer has stopped working. 😭 So I think my only option now is to hot swap on another motherboard. I don't have any flash chips or EEPROMs of the right type, only EPROMs, so I can't use the network card trick AFAIK.
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