Upgrade 80386 in MP32

[drawho]

Has anyone upgraded the 80386 chip and the 387 co-processor
with the Cyrix Cx486DRx2 (1992 Fadal)? It is reported to be 5 times faster
and is pin compatable with the 386. You have to use software to enable
the cache. This was a common upgrade and the Cyrix chips may still
be found.

Next what does this do for you. Right now I do not use the MP32 Dos
computer. My hopes are that because it has a greater memory capacity
is that I can run my programs right from the MP32 computer.
I have DNC'd but do not like how it ties up my computer, my post processor
does not do subroutines ( does anyone have one for mastercam that does?)
and the most I can get in is 471K. Time is also lost loading at 9600 baud.

I would be nice if I could fill up an 1.4 Mb floppy and tranfer files or even better put an old SCSI Card in the compter and tansfer with an old Syquest Cartridge drive.

Anyway do you have any comments or suggestions?

[nervis1]

I don't know about the chip transplant, but...I have a 32 mp, has a celeron 1 gig processor, 80 gig HDD, added a cd burner that can transfer files to the controller at 115000 baud over the 422 port. I can dnc from the HDD as well.

You should be able to replace the entire motherboard, and processor if you want just get a motherboard with a 422 port, add whatever you want in terms of drives, usb ports etc. That route would be just as cheap if you buy from a big computer parts house. The new mini case motherboards would fit with room to spare.

As long as you have that penguin program you should be able to transfer files from the controller to the pc and vice versa.

No reason to run dos, load up windows 98 or XP.

[drawho]

I found one board for $1,500 on Kmac 400mhz,9.5G HD, Do you think
that this has a 422 port or do I need a card?

[nervis1]

Jeeze....check out Fry's electronics or some other big chain. I'd expect to pay no more than 4-5oo bucks for a new mother board and CPU, like P4 2-3 gig. HDD maybe 40-60 gig for under 100 bucks. Look around.

As far as the 422 port goes, some have it as part of the board, if not you can add it in a card, really cheap.


Let me look around a bit...see what I can find for you.

[nervis1]

http://www.compwarehouse.com/product15.html

Check here

http://www.serial-cards.co.uk/brainb...port-cards.htm

and here.

This would be a hot setup. Again you need that penguin program, 422 driver that is on your HDD now, just make a copy of that from the hdd and load it into the new computer along with the usb>422 box.

You will need to mount the thing, and I'll guess that the stock motherboard has a different hole pattern.

Another alternative is getting a replacement from Fadal for 2500 bucks.

Ouch.

I'd also look into the new mini motherboards as they will be a lot more willing to be fit in that pendant. If you go to a local computer warehouse or COMP USA, ask the guy to show you a mini desktop PC motherboard with RS 422.

http://www.microflextech.com/products/desktop/mini/

Like this.

[drawho]

Nervis,

Thank you,

"This would be a hot setup. Again you need that penguin program, 422 driver that is on your HDD now, just make a copy of that from the hdd and load it into the new computer along with the usb>422 box."

With the Intel GA-8I845GV ( I think this is the hot setup you are referring to). will I be able to break the 9600 baud barriier that I am now working under?

Please explain your hot set up features as what I will be able to do with the new motherboard when I get it.

I look at the hard drive and it is a 120 mb. which is has the old Gibbs software on it. Now with the new Windows 2000 I can not Norton Ghost the contents over to the new hard drive. I could just copy if the software is not
protected. I read on other posts that Ghosting the drive is a better way.

Is the penguin program on the present HD? What is this program?

I notice that some of the 422 boards you suggest have 1 RS232 port and one RS422/485 Seriial port, would both ports be preferred?

Finally the slim tower site you suggested means that I take the HD and Motherboard out of these setups, right?

Thanks again

[DEAN]

Hi there Guys.
Please educate me a little bit on the FADAL control. I have never used one before.
The 32MP control you are talking is just a PC? The machine is controlled via DOS?
The 32MP is totally different than the CNC88 control?
You can simply upgrade the computer/board in the control to something modern and run multi applications like your CAD/CAM program, network, email, etc?
So if you can put a massive harddrive in there than actually onboard memory really isn't a problem?
Thanks in advance for the education

Regards
DJ

[drawho]

DJ
I am just learning about it mayself. Nervis is helping.
I think it is just a stand alone Computer. Just like one you but
in a case, except the case is the 32MP. Now I am not sure if it
has any other connections than the Keyboard, Floppy, and Monitor.
I hope it does something more than just be a computer. Hopefully by
letting me run programs from it other than DNC, or 9600 buading
from it as I am doing now.
Maybe there are cheap add ons that will make it do tricks.

Just ran my keyboard PC board thru a wave solder machine to get
it to work. Otherwise you could press on some keys and get nothing.

CYA

[nervis1]

Well the point is that any mother board with RS422 or the addition of a 422 card will work fine. The problem will be finding one that fits without too much work. Thst's why I suggested a mini case board.

The pengiun program is just that, it's on the desktop there (you are running windows 95 right?), has a picture of a penguin as the icon it is called the "fadal universal memory manager" or something like that... find that program on the HDD and copy it to your disk drive, then just load it on the new HDD. OR...just take out the HDD and transfer it to the new motherboard assuming they are compatable.

The 32 MP is like an 88 with an on board PC that can transfer and store files.
I added wireless internet, so sometimes I juste-mail my file to myself from my home PC. And I can surf the web while a part is running....uber cool but not really very useful.

With it you can have USB, add disk drives, burners etc, pretty cheap.

Oh and yes you want RS 232 for the DNC if you use that, and 422 for transfering files direct to the controller.

I don't know why you are limited to 9600 baud? I can transfer a file from the HDD to the controller at 115000, same with my disk drive.

As far as getting that Gibbs software over there you can take the HDD to a PC shop and they will ghost it for you onto a new HDD for a small fee. I have never done that so I don't know 100% that it will work.

Another thing to consider...you can probably add a CD drive burner right now if you want and ghost the hdd your self.

[drawho]

My controller board is the 1992 vintage.
Question is if the RS422 connection from the new motherboard to the old
controller will go 115000. When I read the manual, they say that 9600
is the limit unless you get the 104/d. But convention says that if I have a RS422 on my old controller it has to go 115000, otherwise it would not be a
RS422. Well that is not true, I rememeber SCSI using the db25 connector
having different speeds.
If that is the case, why can I not put a RS422 Card in my Workstation and
go directly to the old controller

[nervis1]

Probably could as long as it uses the same protocol as the controller, load the Fadal memory manager onto the workstation and try to upload something. I don't see why it has to physically be in the pendant

There is only one connection from the computer to the controller I've seen and thats the 422 port.

[drawho]

Is the controller the PC board right behind the keyboard in the 32MP
or is it in the main cabinate where the XYZ axis controllers are.