Ardent Tool of Capitalism

IBM PC730/750 & IBM PC Server 310

n2mt28a.exe Reference Disk for PCI/MCA models v1.20 (zipped image)
687686DG.EXE Diagnostic Disk for 6876/6886 (zipped image)
6886R_J.EXE Reference Disk v1.20 (same files as above + readme) (zipped image)
6886D_J.EXE Diagnostic Disk (same files as above) (zipped image)
6886J.zip Reference & Diagnostic Disks (contains the *_J.EXE files above)
t3gt03a.exe Enhanced Diagnostics Diskette for 62xx, 65xx, 68xx incl. 6876 & 6886
n2jt48a.exe Flash Update v48a (readme) (changes)
n2jt50a.exe Flash Update v50a (readme)
n2jt52a.exe Flash Update v52a (readme) (zipped image)
n72t00a.exe S3 864/868 Video for Windows 3.1 6875, 6876, 6885, 6886
z01t37a.exe S3 864/868 Video for OS/2 6575, 6585, 6875, 6885, 6876, 6886 - 1/2 (readme)
z01237a.exe S3 864/868 Video for OS/2 6575, 6585, 6875, 6885, 6876, 6886 - 2/2
z08t02a.exe S3 864/868 driver Windows NT 4.0 6875, 6885, 6876, 6886 (readme)
700aud.exe Crystal Audio Drivers OS/2 Warp 6875, 6885, 6876, 6886 (uninstall notes)
750QA523.EXE QaPlusPro Diag for 68xx v5.23
700QA542.EXE QaPlusPro Diag for PC300/700 series v5.42B

IBM Personal Computer HMM, 300 Series, 700 Series, IntelliStation (Jun 1998)
IBM Personal Computer HMM, 300 Series, 700 Series, IntelliStation (Mar 1999)

68xx Parts Catalog (EPRM)
PC-730/750 (6875 6876 6885 6886) System Board Locations (EPRM)
PC 100-300/700 Series - Server 310/315-RISER Card Layout (EPRM)

Official Product Page and Software and Drivers (both dead)

IBM PC730 6876 6886 (by Sander Fransen; archived)
IBM PC Server 310 Questions (VCF Forums)

PC720/750 PCI/Micro Channel Product Page (6860-J4G/J0x/JZG, 6886-J04)
PC750 PCI/ISA Product Page (6885-JOM)
PC750 PCI/ISA Product Page (6885-JGM)
PC750 PCI/ISA Product & Specs Page (6883-J0P/J8P/J0M)
PC330/350/750 Product Page (6577-JBx/J2x, 6587-JUx, 6887-JSx/J8x/JHE)
PC330/720/750 PCI/ISA Product Page (6873, 6863, 6883-JFx/JAP/JTN, 6887-JSx/J8x)
PC330/350/365/750 Product & Specs Page (6577-JBx/J2x, 6587-JP6/JUx, 6589-12J, 6887-JHE)
   Official Japanese product pages (archived).

US5765008 Personal computer with riser card PCI and micro channel interface (Google Patents)

PC730/750 & PC Server 310 Planar
Jumper Settings
Memory
L2 Cache
Video
CPU Upgrade
VLSI SuperCore PCI Chipset
VLSI Wildcat PCI Chipset
Riser Cards
IDE Controller and Win95
BIOS may not recognize HD > 4.2GB
What to do if wrong BIOS Flash applied
Unplug Power Before Removing the HDD Cage

Content created by Tatsuo Sunagawa and Tomáš Slavotínek.

PC730/750 & PC Server 310 Planar Pentium 75/90/100/120/133 MHz

PC730/750 PCI/MCA 100 MHz: FRU P/N 40H4759, P/N 40H4755, 06H9588 (Wildcat - FPM/EDO, Vision868)
?: FRU P/N 11H5545
?: FRU P/N 12H1954 (SuperCore - FPM, Vision864)
?: FRU P/N 88G4270 (?, Vision864)

U28,30-36 Cache SRAM sockets - take 28-pin AS7C3256-12JC, UM61256S-15, IDT 71V256SA15Y, or compatible 32Kx8 SRAM; or ?-pin 64Kx8 SRAM; or 32-pin 128Kx8 SRAM
U29 Video accelerator - either S3 Vision864 86C864-P "GAEG2" or Vision868 86C868-P "IAAE3"
U40,41 TAG SRAM sockets - take 28-pin IDT 71B74S15Y or compatible 8Kx8 TAG SRAM; U40 populated for 256 KB cache, U40 & U41 for 512 KB or 1 MB cache

The planar is built around the VLSI SuperCore (FPM only) and Wildcat (FPM and EDO) PCI Chipsets.

Jumper Settings

* default setting

CPU Bus Speed Setting

* undocumented setting (thx Christian Holzapfel)

CPU Bus/Core Ratio Setting

* The J30 pin header is missing on all known boards, so only 1/2 and 2/3 ratios are possible out of the box. The header can be easily populated or permanently shorted with a piece of wire to allow for 1/3 and 2/5 ratios.

Cache Jumper Settings

* TAG RAM: Socket U41 should be populated with another TAG SRAM for 512 KB and 1 MB cache configurations.

Originally 8 cache chips are installed in the cache SRAM sockets. Each cache chip should be installed as illustrated in the picture.

Memory

The board is compatible with parity and non-parity SIMMs. Boards equpped with the Wildcat chipset support EDO memory.

Watch the SIMM socket layout. BANK 1 sockets are the two in the middle (J4,5).

Source: "IBM PC and PS/2 Pocket Reference Manual" S41G5086-03. (thx Tim O'Connor)

L2 Cache

Source: "IBM PC and PS/2 Pocket Reference Manual" S41G5086-03. (thx Tim O'Connor)

Video

Onboard video chip is S3 Vision 868. Video Disable jumper is not ready on the planar. If you want to use a PCI video card under Windows 95, disable S3 video under Device Manager section of the Control Panel.

PCI Video card known to be usable on this machine:
   S3 Virge DX4 based card
   Matrox Mystique
   Matrox Millenium
   Matrox Millenium II

CPU Upgrade

The Planar itself supports Classic Pentium CPUs rated up to 133 MHz. VRM socket is not ready on the Planar. In order to use CPU rated higher than 133 MHz, you need an interposer. For MMX CPU, you need an interposer with a voltage regulator. K6-II/III-400 can be used with an appropriate interposer. PowerLeap interposer is my favorite one. Connect the power connectors firmly or your interposer (and your K6 CPU) will get toasted (Ed. really?).

I've tested following CPUs and all of them worked nicely on an PowerLeap Interposer (PL-ProMMX Plus):

• MMX166 and 233
• K6-300
• K6-II/400
• K6-III/366 and 400

K6-III series require PL K6-III, PL-ProMMX Plus doesn't work (for me).

AMDK6UPD.EXE is required to use K6-2/350 or faster on Windows 95B/95C (OSR2/2.1/2.5). Japanese explanation is HERE.
Also refer to Knowledge Base Q-235249 if you use MS Backup.

For Japanese readers:
   PKK6.ZIP IO DATA PK-K6H series support software Ver. 1.02
   HK6_2.EXE BUFFALO (known as Melco) HK6 series cache utility diskette (1.44MB)

VLSI SuperCore PCI Chipset

Aka VLSI SuperCore 590.

Components

• VL82C591 Pentium System Controller.
• VL82C592 Pentium Processor Data Buffer (2x)
• VL82C593 PCI/ISA Bridge

Features

• Bridges the host and PCI buses
• Bridges the PCI and ISA buses
• Integrated L2 lookaside, direct mapped, write-through cache
• Integrated system DRAM controller
• Integrated PCI bus arbiter
• Provision of posted-memory write buffers in both bridges
• Supports Pentium processor's pipelined bus cycles
• Self-configuring system DRAM banks
• Shadow RAM support
• SMM support
• Decoupled DRAM refresh
• Supports synchronized or asynchronous processor and PCI clocks
• Supports optional posting of I/O writes
• Optional support for memory prefetching
• PCI master reads from system DRAM memory can be serviced from processor's L2 cache or system memory
• PCI master writes to system DRAM memory are absorbed by the bridge's posted-write buffer
• Supports multiple-data phase PCI burst transactions

The VLSI VL82C59x chipset provides the core logic necessary to design a Pentium-based system that incorporates both the PCI and ISA buses. It supports all 5 V and 3.3 V Pentium processors with host bus speeds of up to 66 MHz. This includes the P5, P54C, P54CM and P54CT. It also supports dual P54C processors.

Sources

• Overview of VLSI Technology VL82C59x SuperCore PCI Chipset
  (PCI system architecture, 3rd Edition by by Tom Shanley and Don Anderson, 1995, ISBN 0-201-40993-3)
• Opti, VLSI to Support 3.3-volt Pentium Chips (InfoWorld, 14 Mar 1994)

VLSI Wildcat PCI Chipset

VLSI Wildcat 586-Class PCI Chipset aka VLSI SuperCore 594. A pin-compatible evolution of the SuperCore chipset.

Components

• VL82C594 System Controller
• VL82C595 Data Buffer (2x)
• VL82C596 (single CPU) or VL82C597 (APIC) ISA Bridge

Features

• Supports P5, P54C, P54CS, P55C, K5, and M1 CPUs
• Dual processor option supporting Intel CPUs
• Supports up to eight SIMM sockets of FPM or EDO DRAM
• Integrated L2 cache supports async, sync, or PBSRAM
• Power management features support "Green PC" operation

Wildcat is a 586-class PCI chipset comprised of the VL82C594 System Controller, two VL82C595 Data Buffers, and the VL82C596/VL82C597 ISA Bridge. The VL82C596 is for single processor systems using a P5, P54C, P54CS, P55C, K5, or M1 CPU. The VL82C597 includes the Intel IO APIC for use in Intel-based dual processor systems. The VL82C594 supports up to 1G of fast page mode or EDO DRAM. It also supports up to 1M of async, sync, or PBSRAM. The VL82C595 data buffers work with the VL82C594 to provide "smart" write buffering to yield exceptional performance with or without an L2 cache. The VL82C596/597 acts as a PCI-ISA bridge and incorporates advanced power management features and a Real-Time Clock with integrated write protection.

Sources

• VLSI Products (mirror by Jovan G. Brankov, Illinois Institute of Technology)
• VLSI Ships Pentium-class chip set, samples set for portables (InfoWorld, 20 Mar 1995)

Riser Cards

See also: EPRM - Riser Card Layout

PCI/MCA Riser

Two different MCA risers:

• PC730 (6876) riser, 2x PCI & 3x 32-bit MCA (two shared), FRU P/N 06H4018
• PC750 (6886) riser, 2x PCI & 5x 32-bit MCA (two shared), FRU P/N 06H4023, P/N 06H8183

PC750 PCI/MCA Riser Front

BH1 Pads for battery holder. Not used - the NVRAM SRAM on the riser is backed up by the CR2032 battery on the planar (routed through the riser interface). The Japanese PC720 model uses the alternative two battery arrangement.

U35 06H5425 PCI-MCA bridge? Also used on the PC 720 riser and PC Server 720 planar.

PC750 PCI/MCA Riser Back

J1 PSU connector (3.3 V)
J8 2-pin C2 case-intrusion switch header
J12 32-bit MCA slot

PCI/ISA Riser

Two different ISA risers:

• PC730 (6875) riser, 2x PCI & 3x 16-bit ISA (two shared), FRU P/N 06H4003, P/N 06H8008
• PC750 (6885) riser, 2x PCI & 5x 16-bit ISA (two shared), FRU P/N 06H4008

The PCI/ISA-only PC730 (6877) and PC750 (6887) machines use different risers. These come with three PCI slots and are physically (and probably electrically) incompatible.

PC730 PCI/ISA Riser Front

PC730 PCI/ISA Riser Back

J1 PSU connector (3.3 V)
J8 2-pin C2 case-intrusion switch header

BH1 Pads for battery holder. Not used - the NVRAM SRAM on the riser is backed up by the CR2032 battery on the planar (routed through the riser interface). The Japanese PC720 model uses the alternative two battery arrangement.

IDE Controller and Win95

The OPTI Dual PCI IDE Controller may not get properly recognized under Win95. This symptom observed on some 6885 and 6886 (not on every machine). To solve this problem you need to rewrite Win95 system registry by following steps. This instruction was once available in OPTI's web site.

1. From Windows 95 click Start
2. Click Run
3. Type in "regedit"
4. Click OK
5. Double Click HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
6. Double Click System
7. Double Click CurrentControlSet
8. Double Click Services
9. Double Click VxD
10. Double Click IOS
11. Double Click NoIDE 01
12. Change the value to 00
13. Close regedit
14. Restart the system 1) From Start > Run execute with file name

If you get into the trouble at the final stage of installation and Win95 breaks into blue screen and the system can not go further to complete installation. then choose safe mode operation to do above modification. Hit F8 key to get boot menu so that you can select Safe Mode operation. Once the system get booted in safe mode, you can apply above mentioned steps. In some case Win95 may be installed properly without above error. Don't know why.

BIOS may not recognize HD > 4.2GB

If the drive is larger than 4.2GB and it's a 16 Heads logical drive, BIOS can't recognize it properly. EZDRIVE may help you...

If the drive is a 15 Heads logical drive, then you can use 6GB drive (I suppose 8 .4G is it's limit but these days there are no such 8G drives with 15 heads). I've used a Seagate 6.4G drive without Seagate Disk Wizard utility.

What to do if Wrong BIOS Flash Applied

I myself have not examined but it was reported to the news group 2 or 3 years ago.

If you applied wrong BIOS version for 6885 PCI/ISA system on your 6886/6876, you need a BUS Riser card for 6885. Install PCI/ISA BUS Riser on your 6886 and once configure it as a PCI/ISA system. Then apply CORRECT BIOS FLASH program (N2JT50A). Pull out the PCI/ISA Riser and change it to original PCI/MCA riser card.

Ed. Tom: When installing a replacement planar from an PCI/ISA machine to my PCI/MCA PC750, the machine would not POST with the MCA riser installed until I applied the correct BIOS update. The flash update utility didn't want to proceed, complaining about missing $IMAGEV.USF file. So I copied all the $IMAGEM.* files to $IMAGEV.* and the utility let me proceed. It also prompted me to enter the machine model/type and serial number (if I wanted to change this information).

Unplug Power Before Removing the HDD Cage

Important: Unplug the AC power cable from AC inlet connector before removing the HD structure from the box! The system board and the Riser card are "alive" even if the main power is "OFF" and the AC power plug is connected to the wall outlet (I mean DC current is supplied always even though the main power SW pushed off). If the metal structure touches the solder side of the riser card, the riser will get damaged very easily. So again, Please Take my Advice. I fried 2 riser cards already (6885 PCI/ISA). After that I affixed a sheet of vinyl onto side wall of HD structure facing to the solder side of the riser.