Pentium Pro 200 - 256k cache vs 512k & 1MB cache

I recently picked up a circa 1996 all SCSI Micron Millennia Pro Plus
in like new condition for $40. It was supposed to be a dual PPro 200
but when I got it home and opened it I was disappointed to find it
only had a single PPro 200 256k processor installed, 32MB of memory
and a Bus Logic SCSI card. It has a Micronics W6-LI mobo that uses up
to 512MB of weird EDO ECC DIMMs.

Hey the ATX full tower case with a 300w PS is worth the $40!

I want to use it as an NT4 or Linux limited access web server.

I picked up a second matching PPro 200 256k, more memory, 2 more SCSI
HDDs and an Adaptec AHA 2940U2W on Ebay for $80 delivered.

I see a lot of matched pairs of PPro 200 512k and 1M CPUs on Ebay for
$15-$100.

Do the PPro 200s with 512k or 1M cache offer much in the way of
performance advantage over the 256k CPUs.

Please no comments about getting a more modern system. I have PCs all
over the house. This is sort of like rebuilding an old car.

Chas.

 

Chas> I recently picked up a circa 1996 all SCSI Micron Millennia Pro
Chas> Plus in like new condition for $40. It was supposed to be a
Chas> dual PPro 200 but when I got it home and opened it I was
Chas> disappointed to find it only had a single PPro 200 256k
Chas> processor installed, 32MB of memory and a Bus Logic SCSI card.
Chas> It has a Micronics W6-LI mobo that uses up to 512MB of weird
Chas> EDO ECC DIMMs.

Note you can use EDO or FPM DIMMs. However, you cannot mix dimms in
the same bank, and dimms must be 3.3v buffered.

Chas> Hey the ATX full tower case with a 300w PS is worth the $40!

Chas> I want to use it as an NT4 or Linux limited access web server.

Linux is much faster than NT on this motherboard. I once used NT until
I finally switched to Linux. For the record support for bugs from M$
may not be coming in the future for NT. For the record Windows 2000
won't run on this motherboard with two cpus. You can search google for
details. Never tried XP.

Chas> I picked up a second matching PPro 200 256k, more memory, 2
Chas> more SCSI HDDs and an Adaptec AHA 2940U2W on Ebay for $80
Chas> delivered.

Chas> I see a lot of matched pairs of PPro 200 512k and 1M CPUs on
Chas> Ebay for $15-$100.

Chas> Do the PPro 200s with 512k or 1M cache offer much in the way of
Chas> performance advantage over the 256k CPUs.

The maximum supported cache size for the ppro is 512k for the W6-Li
motherboard. So the 1M cache is not an option. Just took a quick look
at the manual. You probably would not notice a real difference with
increased cache size for a web server.

Chas> Please no comments about getting a more modern system. I have
Chas> PCs all over the house. This is sort of like rebuilding an old
Chas> car.

Really I thought I was the only one like that ).

Alan

 

I bought some additional memory on Ebay. The first 128MB stick came in
today and I'm running Memtest on it right now. The manual has some
conflicting info on memory. 50ns EDO, ECC 168 Pin DIMMs are the memory
of choice for this board.

These early DIMMs and others that fit these mobos have slightly
different notch locations on the pin row and in the DIMM sockets from
later 168 Pin DIMMs. I'm probably going to load it up with 512MB of
memory - as they say in hot rodding -there's no substitute for cubic
inches! ;-)

Thanks for the heads up on W2K. It will be a cold day before I even
look at XP....

The box came with Win98 First Edition. I'm really suprised at how well
it runs with only 32MB of memory! I installed the 2 new HDDs and what
a difference between Ultra Wide 40MB/sec and Ultra SCSI 20MB/sec
performance.

I tried to load Mandrake 9.1 several times but the installation
stalled. I have Corel Linux ver 1 on one the drives. It took forever
to install with only 32MB of memory. I'm going to do a clean
multi-distro setup once I get the other CPU and additional memory.

That's too bad. The onboard PS can't handle the current draw or is it
a BIOS issue? I may pick up an Intel or other later dual PPro mobo.
I've seen them go for under $50 with components on Ebay. I've never
played with SMP before....

Chas.

 

Our CAD guys have an old PPro box that they keep around as a back up
when one of their P4s blows a video card or what ever. It still keeps
up considering the age of the system!

 

Heh, I know what you mean- I searched long and hard for a dual Tyan PPro
board and some 1mb chips, then found eight 128mb SIMMs to stuff in there
to max it out. Haven't found time to get it going yet, but it'll run
gentoo for sure. The P6 was/is an underrated chip.

I believe it's generally accepted that you feed webservers clock speed
and DB servers cache. All relative to the age of your chip, anyway.

Good luck with the project, it sounds like fun. Make sure and check to
see if you need an additional VRM- those can sometimes cost more than
the old CPU.
J.

 

the more cache will make it feel more snappy, and help most applications to
some degree.

However, if you really want to get jiggy with this, try to locate the PII-OD
chips. 333Mhz on the 66Mhz bus, with 512K fullspeed cache. It performs like
a PII-450 (in my opinon), and works in most systems that are dual
compatable.

I upgraded my ALR Evolution Dual 6 workstation (my webserver), and its fine.
It serves up the sites i need like a bat outta hell, and I put an ALR 3drive
Raid cage in there, and an Ultra SCSI Array controller (40MB/s) with 32M
cache...

Its a screamer, and will be for sale soon...

NuTs

 

<snip>

Here's a site on ALR Dual PPRos that might of interest to you:

http://www.rockhounding.net/projects/alr7200/

I found some info on Amperage requirements for VRMs for the various
PPro 200 CPUs. It may not be completely acurate but its a start.

Some one from Tyan reported that the 1Mb PPro draws 2.5 more amps than
the 256/512K PPros, and would require a higher capacity VRM.

256K should work with 11.2 Amp VRMs
512k should work with 12.4 Amp VRMs
1 MB should work with 15.5 Amp VRMs

Some VRM Specs for PPro CPUs

VXI VRM 073-20674-07 11.2amp
VXI VRM 073-20713-01 12.4amp 5VIN
VXI VRM 073-20714-01 ?
VXI VRM 073-20715-01 14.5amp 5/12VIN 1.8/3.5VOUT
VXI VRM 073-20674-07X 12.4amp
VXI VRM 073-20740-01 16.0amp
Raytheon RCB001 12.4amp
Raytheon RCB006 15.5amp
Canary 225529-001 ?
Corsair SPX560KM ?

Chas.

 

I found some info on Amperage requirements for VRMs for the various
PPro 200 CPUs. It may not be completely acurate but its a start.

Some one from Tyan reported that the 1Mb PPro draws 2.5 more amps than
the 256/512K PPros, and would require a higher capacity VRM.

256K should work with 11.2 Amp VRMs
512k should work with 12.4 Amp VRMs
1 MB should work with 15.5 Amp VRMs

Some VRM Specs for PPro CPUs

VXI VRM 073-20674-07 11.2amp
VXI VRM 073-20713-01 12.4amp 5VIN
VXI VRM 073-20714-01 ?
VXI VRM 073-20715-01 14.5amp 5/12VIN 1.8/3.5VOUT
VXI VRM 073-20674-07X 12.4amp
VXI VRM 073-20740-01 16.0amp
Raytheon RCB001 12.4amp
Raytheon RCB006 15.5amp
Canary 225529-001 ?
Corsair SPX560KM ?

The onboard voltage regulator on your board may not be able to support
the 1MB PPros.

Chas.

 

Great info, I actually have no idea what capacity my VRMs are- I suspect
they're the RCB001's, though, so I'll have to get that straightened out.
I do know Tyan said the board could be used with the 1mb chips, but
that's obviously dependent on the proper hardware.

Thanks for that post.
J.

 

<snip>

I put in the second CPU tonight. Installed the VRM, changed the
"undocumented"
jumper and booted it up. Started right up but didn't detect the 2nd
CPU. Rebooted and bingo, "Second CPU Initialized".

It's a Hemi 6 Pack!

The heatsink that came with the CPU had a bad fan. I pulled a big one
off of an old Athlon Slot A heatsink and fixed the problem.

I also put in an extra 64MB of memory for 224MB total. I found 512MB
for a good price on Ebay and I also picked up 2 matched PPro 200 512k
CPUs for $12! This motherboard uses 1 onboard voltage regulator and 1
VRM. The onboard VR probably can't take the current draw of a PPro 200
1Mb CPU.

Chas.

 

I put in the second CPU tonight. Installed the VRM, changed the
"undocumented"
jumper and booted it up. Started right up but didn't detect the 2nd
CPU. Rebooted and bingo, "Second CPU Initialized".

It's a Hemi 6 Pack!

The heatsink that came with the CPU had a bad fan. I pulled a big one
off of an old Athlon Slot A heatsink and fixed the problem.

I also put in an extra 64MB of memory for 224MB total. I found 512MB
for a good price on Ebay and I also picked up 2 matched PPro 200 512k
CPUs for $12! This motherboard uses 1 onboard voltage regulator and 1
VRM. The onboard VR probably can't take the current draw of a PPro 200
1Mb CPU.

Chas.