Mylex MT1386 Operating instructions

MT1386 System Board
Installation and Operations Guide
Version 2.0
P/N: 771008

Preface Mylex
MT1386 lnstdletion end Operation Guide
PREFACE
Thank you for your choice of a Mylex 386 system board product. With
proper installation and care, your Mylex system board will operate for
years without any service requirement. This user’s manual will guide
you in the installation process. The information contained herein is
subject to change without notice.
Mylex Corporation shall not be held liable for technical or editorial
omissions or errors made herein, or for incidental or consequential
damages resulting from the furnishing, performance, or use of this
material.
This document contains proprietary information protected by copyright.
All rights are reserved. No part of this document may be photocopied
or reproduced by mechanical, electronic, or other means, in any form,
without prior written permission of Mylex Corporation, except as per-
missible by the United States Copyright Act of 1976 as amended.
CopyrIght@ 1001
by
Yylex Corpomtlon
34551 Ardenwood Boulevud
P.O. Box !503!i
Framont, Callfornla 945556035
Rovlolon 2.0
4m
P/N: 771008
Copyright Notice:
This manual is copyrighted by Mylex Corporation. It may not, in whole
or in part, be copied, reproduced, photocopied, translated on paper,
electronic media or computer-readable-form or be used to make a
derivative work, without written permission from Mylex Corporation,
ii
Rev. 2.0 Copyright0 1991 Mylex
Corporakn

Mylex MT1366 lnstnllation and Operolion Gude
Preface
except as permitted by the United Slates Copyright Act of 1976, as
amended.
FCC Notice:
This device has been tested and found to comply within the limits of a
Class B device, pursuant to Part 15 of FCC regulations. Operation is
subfect to the following two conditions:
1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and
2) this device must accept any interference received, includ-
ing interference that may cause undesired operation.
This equipment has been designed to provide reasonable protection
against harmful interference in a residential area. This equipment
generates. uses and can radiate radio frequency energy. This device,
if not installed and used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instruc-
tions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. There
is no guarantee, however, interference will not occur in a particular
installation. Should it be determined that this equipment is causing
interference to radio or television reception, the following suggested
actions may be taken:
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. Increase the distance
between the antenna and the computer. Plug the computer into a
different AC outlet so that the two conflicting devices are using a
different branch circuit. Contact the dealer that sold this equipment
and/or a reputable radio/television service technician for additional
suggestions.
Trademarks:
Mylex’” and MT1386rM are registered trademarks of Mylex Corpora-
tion. All other products and companies are trademarks of their respec-
tive owners and licensees.
Mylex Warranty - Customer Service Policy
One Year Limited Warranty
This product is guaranteed to be free from manufacturing or material
defects for a period, of 1 (one) year after the date of purchase. Should
the product fail during this period Mylex will repair or replace (at Mylex’s
option) the product free of charge with the following provisions:
copyrIght@ 1991 Mylex cuporetkm Rev. 2.0
iii

Pfd_
Mylex MT1386 Instdlation and Operalion Guide
1) Proof of purchase must be provided.
2) The product must have been properly installed in accord-
ance to the documentation provided.
3) The product must not have been modtfted by any party
except by Mylex or an authorized agent.
4) The product must be free of damage.
Any software, including firmware, is provided “asks” without warranty
of any kind, expressed or implied. The purchaser bears complete risk
of the performance and qua@ of the software. Mylex’s sole respon-
srbilrty. and the purchaser’s only remedy to any defect in workmanship,
shall be replacement of the defective medrum (diskette or ROM).
All expressed or implied warranties for the MT1386, including, but not
limited to, warranties of merchantability and fitness for a partrcular
purpose, are restricted to the duration of the warranty period. Under
no circumstances shall Mylex be held liable, in any way, to the pur-
chaser for damages, including any lost profits, lost savings, or other
incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use of, or
inability to use this product. Some states do not allow warranty or
liability restrictions or limitations, so the preceding limitations may not
apply to you.
Returned Merchandise Authorization (RMA)
All products returned to Mylex for warranty service or for other reasons,
must be assigned an RMA number before shipment to Mylex. The
RMAnumber may be obtained by contacting Mylex’s Technical Support
Department. Any product received without an RMA number will be
returned to the shipper unopened.
Important Note: Only the company (or individual) that purchased the
product directly from Mylex may obtain an RMA number. If the Mylex
product was purchased from a reseller or distributor, you must contact
that company for service.
The following rules/procedures apply to all RMAs:
1) The product must be returned in original packaging or
other suitable materials.
iv
Rev. 2.0 Copyright0 1991 Mylex Corporalion

Mylex MT1366 InsIdelion end Operalion Guide Preface
2) Each returned unit will be inspected for damage or other
irregularities. If a unit is shown to be modified, the cus-
tomer will be notified before any action is taken.
3) RMA # should be visible outside the box.
4) Mylex will not be responsible for non-Mylex products
shipped with an RMA unit. This includes memory, math
coprocessors and other internal and external peripherals.
Products must be shipped to Mylex with freight paid. Upon
completion of service, Mylex will ship the product back
UPS Ground or similar service, at no charge, unless prior
arrangements have been made.
Customer Service
Mylex Technical Support is available 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. pacific
standard time, Monday through Friday except holidays. They can be
reached at [phone] or by FAX at [phone]. End Users
are required to contact their suppliers before contacting Mylex for
technical assistance.
copyrighl@ 1991 Mylex catpomtii
Rev. 2.0 V

Table of Contentc
Introduction
Overview
........................
Package Contents
.................
Handling Precautions
..............
If Troubles are Encountered
.........
What You Will Need
...............
..................
l-l
.................. I-1
.................. l-2
..................
l-2
..................
l-3
. *
. . .
. . .
Chaoter 1: Installation
Planning the System
...............
Installing Memory
..............
................. l-2
................. l-2
. . .
* . ..
. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . *I -I,
. . . 1-5
. . . l-5
. . . 1-6
. . . l-6
. . . l-7
. . . l-7
. . . l-7
‘rr&~lirr~ ^a Ibi& ?xrpm%rsJI
.
80387 Installation . . . . . . . . . .
Setting The Jumpers . . . . . . . . ..
..
* .
., . . . . . . . .
Chassis Installation . . , . . 1 . .
Connecting Cables . . . . . . . .
. . ..
.
. . . ..* *...
Finishing Hardware Installation .
Upgrading The Cache Memory.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Configuring The BIOS . . . . . . . .
. .
Chapter 2: Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-l
Appendix A: Technical Reference
Specifications ..............
Benchmarks ...............
I/O Port Connections.
........
................. A-l
.................
A-3
.................
A-3
. . . . .
Appendix B: System Planning Worksheet
System Planning Worksheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-l
copy~1991Mylexcaporatkm
Rev. 2.0 VK

Figures and Tables
Figures
Figure l-l: MTI System Board
..............................
.1-l
Figure l-2: Inserting a SIMM Module
..........................
l-3
Figure l-3: Math Co-Processor Installation
.....................
l-4
Figure l-4: 367 Installation
..................................
l-5
Figure l-5: Control Panel Connections
........................
l-6
Figure l-6: Installing Cache Memory Chips
.....................
l-7
Tables:
Table l-l: SIMM Memory Configuration
........................
l-3
Table A- 1: General System Specifications
.....................
A- 1
Table A-2: Memory Specifications
............................
A-l
Table A-3: I/O Specifications
...............................
A-2
Table A-4: BIOS Specifications
.............................
A-2
Table A-5: Operating Environment Specifications
...............
A-2
Table A-6: Physical Specifications
............................
A-3
Table A-7: I/O Port Connections.
............................
A-3
Table A-6: External Connections
............................
A-4
i
Rev. 2.0
CopyrighlQ 1991 Mylex Corporalion

Introduction
Thank you for making the decision to purchase the Mylex
MTl386. With proper installation and maintenance, the MT1386
will provide years of trouble-free operation.
Overview
This manual is broken down into 4 major sections.
The following is a description of each section.
Chapter 1: Installation - This describes the major
steps for installing the MT1386 into a chassis and
making all necessary hardware connections including
I/O cables.
Chapter 2: Troubleshooting -This section provides
hints on resolving technical problems with the MT1386
system board.
Appendix A: Technical Reference - This section
covers some of the major aspects of the MTl386’s
design, as well as pin assignments and compatibility
and benchmark information.
Appendix B: System Planning Worksheet - Use
this form to help plan the system configuration.
Package Contents
- MT1386 System Board
9 Cable Kit (2 serial cables and 1 parallel cable)
Mylex 386 ISA BIOS manual
- This manual
- Warranty Card
copyfightQ1991Mylexcqoratkwl Ftev.2.0
I-1

lnlroducllon
Mylex MT1366 lnelalletion end Opemlion
. Any pertinent release notes available at the time
of shipment.
- System Problem Report Form
STATIC
WARNING
Handling Precautions
The MT1386 contains electronic components that are highly
sensitive to electrostatic discharge. Use extra cautron when
handling the MT1386 to ensure there is adequate grounding
around the work area the board is being installed. ALWAYS
wear a ground strap or ground your body by touching a
grounded object such as an unpainted metal device con-
nected to power ground.
In addition, the MT1386 has delicate crystal oscillators that can
break if subjected to sudden shock such as being tossed on a
table. Use care when moving the MT1386 from point to point.
If Troubles are Encountered
If, during the course of installation or operation of the MTl386,
the board displays improper operation, first consult this manual
as well as the BIOS manual. Then contact your dealer or
distributor for additional information. Should problems still
exist, you may contact Mylex Technical Support Department at
[phone]. Be sure to have the enclosed System Prob-
lem Report completely filled out.
l-2
Rev. 2.0 Copyright@ 1991 Mylex Corporation

Mylex MT1386 lnstalletion and Operalim
Introduction
What You Will Need
Before you begin to install the MT1386 in a chassis, the follow-
ing tools will be required: A Phillips and flat blade screwdriver,
plastic stand-offs (these are normally supplied with the chas-
sis) and assorted screws.
A good working knowledge of computers is highly recom-
mended for installing a system board. It is not advised that a
novice attempt installation of the MT1386.
cowrigtm 1991 Mylax corporatkm Rev. 2.0 l-3

Introbdkn
Mylex MT1366 lneldlslii md Operalii
This page intentionally leff blank.
l-4
Rev. 2.0 C+yrighl@
1991 Mylax Caporation

Chapter 1: Installation
la?moMo
MllsRv
C~NNECTCH CONNECTION
FLOPPY

There are 5 easy steps for installing the MT1386 system board
into a chassis.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Planning the system configuration.
Installing SlMMs and a math coprocessor (if
required).
Changing any of the hardware jumpers if the
system configuration requires them to be
changed.
Installing the board into the chassis.
Powering-up the system and setting the CMOS
configuration information.
Planning the System
Using the simple form located in Appendix A, the resources
available can be planned and any problems such as hardware
conflicts can be avoided ahead of time.
Installing Memory
The MT1386 supports 80ns “page mode” SIMM memory.
SlMMs are available in three common sizes, all of which are
supported: 256K x 9, 1MB x 9, and 4MB x 9. These SlMMs
should be available from your system supplier.
The MT1386 uses a 32.bit address bus for the memory. As a
result, four or eight SlMMs must always be used in the system.
The MT1386 supports nine dift erent memory configurations: 1,
2, 4, 5, 8. 16. 17, 20 and 32MB. SIMM sizes can not be mixed
in the same Bank.
Orient the SlMMs so that the RAM chips face toward the
expansion slots. Make sure the SlMMs are firmly in place and
even with each other. Review the figure on the next page for
proper SIMM installation and table for proper configuration.
1-2
Rev. 2.0 copyri$Jhlcl lW1 Mylex cclfpotatia\

Mylex MT1386 tnsldlelii ad Oporelion Guide
Inslnllation
L
Figure 1-2: Inserting a SIMM Module
Table l-l : SIMM Memory Configuration
1MB
4 x 256K
---__
2MB 4 x 256K 4 x 256K
4MB
I
4xlMB
I
_____
5MB*
I
4xlMB
I
4 x 256K
-
l Note: Bank 0 and Bank 1 can be swapped.
Copyright0 1991 Mylex Corpomtkm Rev. 2.0
l-3

Installing a Math Coprocessor
The MT1386 supports two different types of math coproces-
sors: 1) An Intel 80387 or plug compatible or, 2) The WeitekTM
3167. The speed of the
math coprocessor must
be matched to that of
the CPU.
A 33-Mhz system board
will require a 33-MHz
co- processor.
1
PRESS DOWN
EVENLY AND FIRMLY
1
St+*=
CAUTION: Improper
inste//etion of the
math coprocessor
can cause permanent
damage to the oys-
tern board.
Figure l-3: Math Co-Processor
Installation
Locate the socket for the math coprocessor on the bottom of
the board adjacent to the CPU. Using Figure 8 as a guide,
ensure all the pins are perfectly lined up before pressing the
chip down into the socket.
Then press down with firm and even pressure until the chip will
no longer move. Normally this will leave less than l/10’
clearance between the chip and the socket.
l-4
F&v. 2.0 Copyright@ 1991 Mylex cofpofation

Mylex MT1306 lnstalletlon end Operetion Guide
lnstrdlalion
80387 Installation
The socket for the math co-
processor is a “dual purpose”
socket that supports the
larger Weitek 3167 and the
smaller 80387. Because of
this, the 80387 must be in-
stalled within the interior ring
of pin sockets leaving 1 row of
pins exposed. Review Figure
l-4. Note: Orient the chip
such that the notch is toward
Pin 1 of the socket, which is
identified by the thick line on
the corner of the socket.
Setting The Jumpers
Figure 14: 357 lnstsllatior-
The MT1386 has only two user selectable and 3 factory set
jumpers. Refer to their locations on figure i- 1.
Jumper JPl selects the video display type. If a color video
adapter such as CGA, EGA or VGA is installed, this jumper
should be moved to cover Pins 1 and 2. If a monochrome
board is installed, the jumper should be moved to the “MONO”
position (Pins 2 and 3).
Jumper JP2 selects the interrupt line for the parallel port.
Note: Jumper JPZ does not need to be changed unless
another parallel port is installed in the system as LPTl. If a
second parallel port is installed and ‘assigned as LPTl, the
jumper should be moved to Pins 2 and 3.
Jumper JP4 is used to enable or disable all of the I/O
peripherals. The factory default is for pins 1 and 2 which enable
the I/O. To disable all of the I/O, move the jumper to pins 2 and
3.
Jumpers JP5 is used to select the Cache memory size.
Factory default is for position 2-3 which supports 32K or 64K
of Cache. The jumper to position l-2 will enable addressing for
copyright0 1991 Mylex caporatkm Rev. 2.0 1-5

Inslddion
Mylex MT1386 lncldldon and Operation Guide
32Kx8 SRAMs, if the board is upgraded for 128K of Cache, see
section xxx.
Jumper JP3 is a factory jumper for “Pipe-Line-Mode” on the
CPU and should not be altered.
Chassis Installation
Use caution when sliding the MT1386 into the chassis so as not
to scrape the bottom of the board against any rough edges.
Use as many plastic stand-offs as possible to better support
the board. Use a minimum of two screws (preferably in oppos-
ing corners) to lock the board in place.
Figure l-5: Control Panel Connections
Connectirw Cables
Connect the power cables from the power supply to the system
board. Then install any ribbon cables from the internal
peripheral controllers to the disk drive(s) and l/O port connec-
tors. Be sure the red or blue stripe along the edge of the ribbon
cable is connected to Pin 1.
l-6
Rev. 2.0 Copyright@ 1991 Mylex Corporation

Mylex MT1386 lnslellttlion end Operation Guide
lnstallalion
Note: Pin 1 for 8/l the I/O interfsces is merked by both the
number 1 8nd 8 white tri8ngle loccrted in the corner of the
connector.
Connect all the control panel cables, for Keylock. Speaker,
Turbo LED and HD LED.
Refer to Figure l-5 for their locations
on the MTl386.
Finishing Hardware Installation
Once the system board has been mounted and screwed in
place, install the video adapter and any other peripheral
boards into the board. Check each of the cables to ensure they
are properly installed.
Upgrading The Cache Memory
To upgrade Cache memory, four new 32K x 8 25ns SRAM’s
must be installed in place of the eight 8K x 8 SRAM’s.
Locate the static memory
(SRAM’s), on the lower right
hand section of the board.
The four new chips should be
installed in locations U36.
U38, U46, and U48. Refer to
figure l-6 for their placement.
IMPORTANT: Make sure
the nor& for pin I on e8Ch
of rhe chip8 i8 correctly
oriented towerd the top of
-igure 1-6: Instelling C8Che
the system boerd.
Memory Chips
Configuring The BIOS
Mg& The Mylex BIOS he8 its own msnusl thst w8# in-
cluded with rhis boerd. There is only minimel inform&ion
provided within this m8nu8l8nd the Mytex 386 ISA BIOS
Users Menuel should be consulted for more informetion.
CQpyrlghlQa 1991 Mylex carporatiari
Rev. 2.0 1-7

lnslalIabon
~ylex MT1386 InslaJlatlon and Operation Guda
The Mylex BIOS that is installed on the MT1386 has a built-in
CMOS setup program like many other BIOS’s available. To
access the setup screen, press the F2 function key at any time
during the POST (Power On Self Test).
Use the setup screen to configure the floppy dnves, hard
drives, video display type, and I/O options. For cursor move-
ment and other commands, follow the on-screen prompts.
l-8
Rev. 2.0 CopyrighlO 1991 Mylex Corporation

Chapter 2: Troubleshooting
This section contains a brief series of problems and solutions
that comprise the most common questions posed during the
troubleshooting of an ISA bus system board. Please review
these questions before contacting your supplier’s technical
support. In addition to this section, please review the BIOS
Users Guide for additional information on BIOS generated
error messages.
P. -
s. -
P. -
s. -
P. -
s. -
P. -
s. -
P. -
s. -
P. -
s. -
No video and a series of beeps.
Check the BIOS manual to identify the beep codes and
follow the procedures identified; check the video card
in a different slot and/or different computer.
Floppy light is always on.
The floppy cable was installed backwards. Reverse the
cable.
System will not boot from floppy.
Confirm the setting within the CMOS table is correct;
make sure the cable is good; make sure there is a
terminating resistor on the floppy drive.
The IDE hard disk will not spin up.
Check the power cable and IDE cable.
The HD Led on the system board does not operate.
Some IDE disk drives do not support the LED function
on the IDE cable. Rather they provide an LED on the
disk drive itself or, an LED connection on the disk drive.
Connect the control panel LED to the disk drive.
The system’s I/O ports do not work.
Confirm the CMOS setup has been correctly configured;
check the ribbon cable installation.
Copyright0 1991 Mylex Carpore&m
Rev. 2.0
2-1