UNDER clocking question

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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.
 
W7TI said:
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?
Click to expand...

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.)
 
W7TI said:
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.
Click to expand...

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
 
you might be
better off looking for a "slowdown" program.
Click to expand...

_________________________________________________________

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!
 
W7TI said:
_________________________________________________________

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.
Click to expand...

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 :-)
 
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.....
 
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.....
Click to expand...

_________________________________________________________

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

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
 
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
 
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
Click to expand...

_________________________________________________________

'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.
 
why would you need another machine
Click to expand...

_________________________________________________________

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.
 
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.
 
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.
Click to expand...

_________________________________________________________

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. :-)
 
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