486 dx/33 upgrade to 486 dx2/66 CPU

[jchoy]

Hello. I have a AMI (American Megatrend) motherboard AMI BIOS, AMI 486 dx/33 CPU, 256K cache and 32 MB RAM. I need to upgrade my 255 MB hard drive since I only has 2 connectors on the motherboard. I am running Windows95, NIC card and highspeed Shaw cable internet on it. It is slowish but I manage. I bought a 540 MB conners IDE drive and 840 MB also conners off ebay which I would try to swap my present 255 MB hard drive with. I need to find some disk software that allows me to map over the FAT limitation of 500 MB of the drive. That question later.

My main question now is. I was wondering do I need to shop for an identical AMI 486 dx2/66 cpu or can I just buy any Intel 486 dx2/66 cpu and adjust the AMI BIOS ? I know AMI 486 dx2/66 cpu will work since my motherboard manual said it will take 486 dx2/66 running 33 mhertz 3.3 Volts or 486 dx/50 running 25 mhertz 5.0 volts. I already tried 1 486 dx2/66 cpu with a heatsink on so I can't see if indeed it was a 486 dx2/66 and it continues beeping when I power on. I double-checked I align the right notch and careful not to get static on the chip. It costed me $10.00 so I already returned it. Ebay is cheaper.

Also tried to a mother board replacement with 486 dx4/100 but, I was told I need to re-install win95 on the HD. I think upgrade to 486 dx2/66 is the most logical step for me to do. And it should double my performance, right ?
I am looking for simple answers like whether I can just buy an intel 486 dx2/66 and adjust the AMI BIOs settings. Difficult to hunt down an exact AMI 486 dx2/66 for sure but if someone can sell me one, I think it should wok !

[Cricket]

Hi jchoy,

You should be able to use an Intel 486 DX2/66 on that motherboard as AMI was just the manufacturer making the CPU following Intel's i486 specifications. Early on, there were a lot of different manufacturers making the 486 processor (even AMD!) for Intel because Intel alone couldn't meet the demand for the hot new CPU at the time. So, as long as the motherboard supports the CPU (FSB 33MHz X multiplier of 2 = 66MHz) you should be able to use the Intel chip.

The beeping your heard was the BIOS Beep Code trying to tell you something is wrong with your setup. If you hear the beeps again, try to establish the sequence or pattern and go here: http://www.pcmech.com/show/troubleshoot/14/

Uh, about doubling the performance...that I'm not sure about (I haven't seen a 486 in action in about 6 years).

Cricket

[jchoy]

Thanks a lot for your quick response. Dawn, I lost an auction of an Intel 486/dx2/66 made by IBM with heat sink & fan by 0.25 cents for $2.25 last week ! I will bid for another one so by the time I receive it, it might be another 3 weeks. Will let you again if it doesn't work. My present 486 dx/33 256K cache, 32 MB ram Win95 can start up in 3 minutes and I am done with my email from Hotmail within 5 minutes not bad compared to my son's Pentium III which takes about the same time to start up and close.

[Greedo]

hey jchoy
i put a dx4-80 chip in my dads old 486 awhile ago
if i could dig up the 66 mhz chip i'd mail it to ya
if you're interested i could look for it when i get home this week
or....hmmm
if the 80 mhz would work i might be willing to pull that and swap back

or even better...
i bet if you asked around on the for sale forum
somebody would be willing to mail you a pentium board for just shipping cost
no guarantees, but it might be worth the effort