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GBU.TXT
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1994-04-24
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What is GBU?
────
It is no secret that many people have had less than wonderful
experiences getting OS/2 to work with sub-standard computer hardware.
This document is an attempt to minimize these problems in the future.
It can be used as a shopping list, or to compare against your machine to
find if other people using the same hardware have had similar problems.
As is the case with any document of this type, it can only be helpful if
it is supported by the potential users. This means that enough people
must send in enough messages that a representative sample of the
available hardware gets listed. New versions will be posted as additions
are made to the list.
Changes made to the document will be highlighted like this for one
issue. If this highlighting is a problem for any colourblind people, please
send me a message, and we can experiment with other highlighting
formats.
Feel free to upload this document to any ftp site, BBS, or online service
that does not already have it, or that has an older version of it.
════
80 column marker - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
════
Usenet Announcement
────
Since many of the problems people have had with OS/2 stem from
semi-compatible PC hardware, I will maintain a live document of
computer hardware with respect to its performance with OS/2. I will
make this document available by uploading it to BBSs,
ftp-os2.cdrom.com, and including it with the newsletter for my local
users group. It will be distributed both as a viewable INF file and as
clear text.
The working name of the file is "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly".
"GBU" for short.
Please send me messages about any hardware experiences you want to
share. In particular I am looking for information on motherboards, video
cards, multi-I/O cards, SCSI controllers, floppy drives, hard drives,
CD-ROM drives, printers, modems, mice, track balls, graphics tablets,
multi-serial port cards, and any other hardware you have had good,
bad, or ugly experiences with.
The definitions I am using are:
GOOD
hardware that caused no known problems, software drivers were
available in shrink wrap either with OS/2 or with the hardware, or
drivers were freely available on BBSs.
BAD
hardware that has proved to be incompatible with OS/2 due to
excessive numbers of trap messages, or OS/2 drivers do not exist.
The hardware might still work in DOS or Windows sessions with
appropriate drivers.
UGLY
hardware that has had problems which could be corrected only after
some serious work (changing jumpers doesn't qualify as serious), the
available drivers take advantage of only some of the features of the
hardware, only beta level (or worse) drivers exist, or the hardware
works only in a "compatibility mode". If there are several messages
with conflicting votes for a piece of hardware, it will automatically be
placed in this category.
The specific information I need includes: type of hardware (mother
board, video card, etc.), the manufacturer, model number, chip set, serial
number range (if it matters), and a vote on Good, Bad, or Ugly, with a
specific problem report or glowing recommendation, and any caveats
regarding the GBU vote.
I may change the GBU designation based on the comments or caveats if
they point to a different designation using the guidelines above.
If you wish to refute a previous category for a piece of hardware,
please provide adequate documentation that the hardware should change
from one category to another. It is almost impossible to promote
something from Bad to Good directly without said hardware spending at
least one release of GBU in Ugly. Likewise for the opposite (less likely)
demotion.
I do not intend to be a clearing house for debates on the relative merits
of hardware. I know enough people who think that ATI is God's gift to
OS/2 since their cards work with the drivers included in the shrink wrap,
and others who will never purchase another thing from ATI since the
best drivers only use 8514a compatibility mode. Similarly I refuse to get
involved with any Diamond video driver debates (I don't subscribe to
c.o.o.a for good reason). The debate on these two manufacturers places
some of their products firmly in the Ugly section.
Due to the level of debate that may ensue, I will include email addresses
and GBU votes with the entries for the hardware. People who wish to
debate the relative merits of the hardware can send messages directly
to each other.
Please send messages directly to me via Internet or the networked IBM
BBS based in Canada. I will NOT be scanning news groups or message
forums for anything relating to this hardware list, so make sure any
messages are to my attention or sent via email.
On the (Canada) IBM BBS, send messages to John Altstadt. Private
messages may be sent via the Ibm.Bbsmsg forum or uploaded as files
with a note to the sysop to forward the file to me.
On Internet, send messages to altstadt@mprgate.mpr.ca.
I prefer that messages are sent to me in IPF format, as I can just cut &
paste them into the source files, and then bang out a new version
quickly. If this is a problem for you, then send them in ASCII format and
I will do the appropriate conversion. These panels show example text
that you would be replacing highlighted this way. If this highlighting is a
problem for any colourblind people, please send me a message, and we
can experiment with other highlighting formats. When inserting an
ampersand (&) in an IPF format message, please use the string "&.".
Not all fields will make sense for all hardware categories.
The examples given are for hardware that does not exist.
════
IPF Source Format Example
────
Category: CD-ROM drive
GBU rating: good
:dl break=all tsize=3.
:dt.:hp2.Type:ehp2.
:dd.SCSI-2 interface, octuple speed
:dt.:hp2.Manufacturer:ehp2.
:dd.Toshisonic
:dt.:hp2.Model Number:ehp2.
:dd.XJ-9/4000
:dt.:hp2.Chip Set:ehp2.
:dd.Fish &. Chips
:dt.:hp2.Comments:ehp2.
:dd.Driver included with OS/2. Uses 25 disk
cartridges.
:dt.:hp2.Caveats:ehp2.
:dd.The drive will overheat and melt the CD-ROM
after 50 milliseconds if the liquid helium
coolant hose is disconnected.
:dt.:hp2.Rated by:ehp2.
:dd.altstadt@mprgate.mpr.ca - good
:edl.
════
ASCII Source Format Example
────
Category: CD-ROM drive
GBU rating: good
Type
SCSI-2 interface, octuple speed
Manufacturer
Toshisonic
Model Number
XJ-9/4000
Chip Set
Fish &. Chips
Comments
Driver included with OS/2. Uses 25 disk
cartridges.
Caveats
The drive will overheat and melt the CD-ROM
after 50 milliseconds if the liquid helium
coolant hose is disconnected.
Rated by
altstadt@mprgate.mpr.ca - good
════
Good Motherboards
────
Manufacturer
generic Taiwan clone, Intel 486DX33
Model Number
Rev D2 486SC-P, June 1991, ISA bus
Chip Set
Symphony, AMI BIOS, 07/07/91, 128 K external cache
Comments
The system has been extremely stable.
Caveats
Not tested with more than 8 Meg of RAM.
Rated by
altstadt@mprgate.mpr.ca - good
────
Model Number
EISA486P, ME009
Chip Set
HiNT, AMI BIOS, EISA/VLB
Rated by
RSMITH@PEARL.TUFTS.EDU - good
────
Model Number
G486HVL
Chip Set
HiNT Caesar, AMI BIOS, "Super ISA"/VLB
Caveats
"Super ISA" is a subset of EISA; most EISA boards work, but not all.
Rated by
RSMITH@PEARL.TUFTS.EDU - good
────
Manufacturer
Silicon Star, Intel 486DX33
Model Number
AV433, ISA/VL bus
Chip Set
SIS, AMI BIOS, 06/06/92, 256 K external cache
Comments
One known problem (the Pentium APAR) corrected in CSD 2.11.
Caveats
Not tested with more than 16 Meg of RAM.
Rated by
jim.royer@nmebbs.org - good
════
Ugly Motherboards
────
Manufacturer
Diamond
Model Number
FastBus VLB, Flash EPROM revision 1.2I
Chip Set
Chips & Technologies with Diamond-modified C&T BIOS
Comments
Problems with speed of QIC-80 backup unit when UltraStor SCSI
controller installed. Also some bugs in BIOS.
Rated by
RSMITH@PEARL.TUFTS.EDU - ugly
════
Bad Motherboards
────
Nothing supplied in this category.
════
Good Video cards
────
Manufacturer
Cardinal
Model Number
VGA700, 1991, ISA BUS
Chip Set
Tseng ET4000, 1 Meg RAM
Comments
Completely supported by drivers supplied with OS/2, need to use the
supplied DOS support tools to set up refresh rates before running
SVGA ON.
Caveats
quite slow
Rated by
altstadt@mprgate.mpr.ca - good
────
Manufacturer
"Color Designer" (generic)
Model Number
?? VL-bus
Chip Set
Tseng ET4000, 1 Meg RAM
Comments
Completely supported by drivers supplied with OS/2, need to use the
supplied DOS support tools to set up refresh rates before running
SVGA ON.
Rated by
RSMITH@PEARL.TUFTS.EDU - good
────
Manufacturer
Cirrus Logic
Model Number
CL5426
Chip Set
Cirrus Logic 5426
Comments
Drivers come with OS/2, but more recent and faster drivers are
available by ftp and from BBSes.
Caveats
More recent drivers give some people installation problems. Had to
re-install old seamless Windows drivers to get them to work on this
system.
Rated by
RSMITH@PEARL.TUFTS.EDU - good
────
Manufacturer
Orchid
Model Number
Fahrenheit 1280/VLB
Chip Set
S3-805 (?)
Comments
Drivers come with some recent OS/2 package; are available from usual
sources for other packages.
Caveats
Beta-level S3 drivers from IBM crashed one machine when installing;
final S3_16M drivers gave no problems.
Rated by
RSMITH@PEARL.TUFTS.EDU - good
────
Manufacturer
STB
Model Number
Evolution, 1991, ISA BUS
Chip Set
Cirrus Logic GD-5428, 1 Meg RAM
Comments
Requires 3rd party drivers for use under OS/2 2.1. Directly supported
under OS/2 2.11.
Caveats
quite slow
Rated by
jim.royer@nmebbs.org - good
════
Ugly Video cards
────
Nothing supplied in this category.
════
Bad Video cards
────
Nothing supplied in this category.
════
Good Multi I/O cards
────
Manufacturer
GoldStar
Model Number
IDE Plus-V3, December 1991, ISA BUS
Chip Set
GoldStar
Comments
jumper selections for primary, secondary, and disabled floppy and hard
drives, jumper selection to disable game port, jumper selections to put
COM ports at 1/3 and 2/4, jumper selections to put PRT port at 1/2,
jumper selections to put COM and PRT ports at IRQ3, 4, 5, 7, 9, jumper
selections to disable COM and PRT ports
Caveats
ASIC emulates a 16450 and cannot be replaced by 16550
Rated by
altstadt@mprgate.mpr.ca - good
────
Type
VLBus
Manufacturer
AIR
Model Number
Q-Access
Chip Set
Adaptec
Comments
Supports 2 IDE, 2 Floppy (up to 1.44 MB), SCSI-II, 2 ser, 1 LPT.
Included disk contains required drivers (replacements for OS/2's
AHA154x.ADD). With ver 1.0 BIOS, COM ports will not work under OS/2.
Problem fixed with V1.01 BIOS.
Caveats
ASIC emulates a 16450 and cannot be replaced by 16550
Rated by
jim.royer@nmebbs.org - good
════
Ugly Multi I/O cards
────
Nothing supplied in this category.
════
Bad Multi I/O cards
────
Nothing supplied in this category.
════
Good SCSI Controller cards
────
Manufacturer
Adaptec
Model Number
1542C, ISA BUS
Chip Set
Adaptec
Comments
Very reliable with OS/2 drivers, but not as fast as most VLB or EISA
controllers.
Rated by
RSMITH@PEARL.TUFTS.EDU - good
────
Manufacturer
UltraStor
Model Number
34F, VLB
Chip Set
Adaptec
Comments
Reliable and fast. OS/2 drivers come with card, but may be old;
newer drivers available from the usual sources. Does NOT include a
floppy port.
Caveats
Older cards have an outdated EPROM that causes OS/2 to crash
sporadically. This ROM has a sticker with a number ending in -005,
and should be replaced with a -006 EPROM. UltraStor will ship a new
EPROM free of charge if needed. If installing OS/2 from a SCSI-based
CD-ROM, will need to modify the OS/2 installation disks to include the
UltraStor driver.
Rated by
RSMITH@PEARL.TUFTS.EDU - good
════
Ugly SCSI Controller cards
────
Nothing supplied in this category.
════
Bad SCSI Controller cards
────
Nothing supplied in this category.
════
Good Keyboards
────
Manufacturer
Fujitsu
Model Number
FKB4700
Comments
full use of grey keys
Caveats
keyboard driver would trap in version 2.0 GA + SP
Rated by
altstadt@mprgate.mpr.ca - good
────
Manufacturer
Focus
Model Number
FK6000
Rated by
RSMITH@PEARL.TUFTS.EDU - good
────
Manufacturer
Monterey
Model Number
K104
Rated by
RSMITH@PEARL.TUFTS.EDU - good
────
Manufacturer
Keytronics
Model Number
E03601Q
Comments
full use of grey keys
Rated by
jim.royer@nmebbs.org - good
════
Ugly Keyboards
────
Nothing supplied in this category.
════
Bad Keyboards
────
Nothing supplied in this category.
════
Good Rodents
────
Type
mouse
Manufacturer
Logitech
Model Number
MouseMan, Serial-MousePort, M-CJ13-9F
Comments
the serial pointing device drivers supplied with OS/2 recognize that it
is a 3 button mouse
Rated by
altstadt@mprgate.mpr.ca - good
────
Type
mouse
Manufacturer
Z-Nix
Model Number
Serial 2-button mouse
Comments
OS/2 recognizes the mouse out of the box.
Rated by
RSMITH@PEARL.TUFTS.EDU - good
────
Type
mouse
Manufacturer
CompuDyne (CompUSA house brand)
Model Number
Serial 3-button mouse
Comments
OS/2 doesn't automatically identify the mouse type when set to
3-button mode, and it's inactive until installation is complete, but it IS
supported by OS/2's drivers.
Rated by
RSMITH@PEARL.TUFTS.EDU - good
────
Type
trackball
Manufacturer
Mouse Systems
Model Number
Trackball II, GK-T321
Comments
Full support in OS/2 2.1
Rated by
jim.royer@nmebbs.org - good
════
Ugly Rodents
────
Nothing supplied in this category.
════
Bad Rodents
────
Nothing supplied in this category.
════
Good Modems
────
Type
external
Manufacturer
AT&T Paradyne
Model Number
Dataport
Chip set
AT&T
Comments
Flawless operation with both ZOC and Fax/PM
Caveats
Does not come with OS/2 software.
Rated by
RSMITH@PEARL.TUFTS.EDU - good
────
Type
external
Manufacturer
ZyXEL
Model Number
U-1496E
Chip set
68000 cpu & TI DSPs
Comments
Flawless operation with many DOS, Windows, and OS/2 programs
Caveats
Some versions of ZyXEL's Z-Fax DOS software don't run under OS/2;
does not come with OS/2 software.
Rated by
RSMITH@PEARL.TUFTS.EDU - good
════
Ugly Modems
────
Nothing supplied in this category.
════
Bad Modems
────
Nothing supplied in this category.
════
Good Printers
────
Nothing supplied in this category.
════
Ugly Printers
────
Manufacturer
Epson
Model Number
Stylus 800
Comments
excellent resolution in printing words
Caveats
OS/2 driver does not support high resolution (360x360dpi) graphics
modes. Use a MSWindows or DOS based program with appropriate
drivers to print complex graphics or high resolution CAD art.
Rated by
mhinkle@NMSU.Edu - good
════
Bad Printers
────
Nothing supplied in this category.
════
Good I/O cards
────
Type
serial/parallel/game port
Manufacturer
Kentech
Chip Set
74LS series parts
Comments
jumper selections for COM ports at 1/3 and 2/4, jumper selections to
put PRT at 1/2, one UART is socketed
Rated by
altstadt@mprgate.mpr.ca - good
════
Ugly I/O cards
────
Nothing supplied in this category.
════
Bad I/O cards
────
Nothing supplied in this category.
════
Good Audio cards
────
Manufacturer
MediaVision
Model Number
Pro Audio Spectrum-16 Basic
Comments
Requires 3rd party drivers for OS/2 2.1GA. Readily available.
Rated by
jim.royer@nmebbs.org - good
════
Ugly Audio cards
────
Nothing supplied in this category.
════
Bad Audio cards
────
Nothing supplied in this category.
════
Good CD-ROM drives
────
Type
proprietary interface
Manufacturer
Mitsumi
Model Number
LU005
Comments
Driver available from the usual sources. Caddyless.
Caveats
Can't install OS/2 from CD-ROM unless you've modified the OS/2
installation disks to include the driver.
Rated by
RSMITH@PEARL.TUFTS.EDU - good
────
Type
SCSI interface
Manufacturer
Toshiba
Model Number
3401
Comments
Driver included with OS/2. Uses caddies.
Rated by
RSMITH@PEARL.TUFTS.EDU - good
────
Type
proprietary interface
Manufacturer
Reveal (Panasonic)
Model Number
CD-620 (Panasonic CR-563b)
Comments
Requires SBCD2.ADD or SBCD2PAN.ADD drivers to operate in OS/2 2.1
GA. Fully supported under OS/2 2.11.
Rated by
jim.royer@nmebbs.org - good
════
Ugly CD-ROM drives
────
Nothing supplied in this category.
════
Bad CD-ROM drives
────
Nothing supplied in this category.
════
Good Tape drives
────
Type
QIC-80, floppy interface
Manufacturer
Conner
Model Number
TapeStor 250
Comments
Previously sold as Archive XL-80. QIC-80 tape format. BackMaster
works with it quite well on four tested machines.
Caveats
Does not come with OS/2 backup software.
Rated by
RSMITH@PEARL.TUFTS.EDU - good
════
Ugly Tape drives
────
Nothing supplied in this category.
════
Bad Tape drives
────
Nothing supplied in this category.
════
Good Scanners
────
Nothing supplied in this category.
════
Ugly Scanners
────
Nothing supplied in this category.
════
Bad Scanners
────
Type
hand
Manufacturer
Reveal (Mustek)
Model Number
HS150, 400 DPI Grayscale
Comments
Not directly supported by OS/2. Works well in OS2 DOS or Win session.
Uses it's own interface adapter which requires an IRQ. (5-12
supported)
Rated by
jim.royer@nmebbs.org
════
Good Magneto Optical drives
────
Nothing supplied in this category.
════
Ugly Magneto Optical drives
────
Nothing supplied in this category.
════
Bad Magneto Optical drives
────
Type
3.5", SCSI Interface
Manufacturer
Fujitsu
Model Number
M2511A
Comments
OS/2 recognizes it's there, but thinks it's a 2.88MB floppy drive. I've
been unable to get it to work better, but haven't tried too hard,
either.
Rated by
RSMITH@PEARL.TUFTS.EDU - bad
════
Publication History
────
The numbers in the .INF and .TXT columns are the sizes of the published files.
┌────┬────────┬─────┬─────┐
│Ver │Date │.INF │.TXT │
├────┼────────┼─────┼─────┤
│1.00│94/04/25│27984│21514│
└────┴────────┴─────┴─────┘