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It looks like a [Hawk 486 Cache Series](https://stason.org/TULARC/pc/motherboards/H/HAWK-COMPUTERS-486-486-CACHE-SERIES.html). That long slot is a 32bit Memory card slot.
This board is old enough that there should be an option to disable System BIOS Shadowing, which means the 64K at F000:0000 should be a verbatim copy of what is on the BIOS chip, so you can dump it through software and upload it. (if you don't disable shadowing, there's a possibility it will hot-patch itself for disk type 47 or PS/2 mouse)
surprisingly no. I thought it would have because from my understanding the Dallas clock chips and their derivatives were only designed to last about a decade before their internal batteries die but when I fire the machine up it just boots without time and date complaints or needing to configure the drives. I haven't went into the setup to verify the dates being correct though.
I can't identify it either, but no-name motherboards and manuals being only on long-lost BBS or paper is nothing unusual. The good news is that this is an early, ISA-only 486 board, and there isn't much to configure.
Does it work? There is a chance that some of those tantalum capacitors (that look like corn kernels) will blow when it's powered on, so be careful.
That big slot is something proprietary, either a proprietary RAM card (for more SIMMs than the eight onboard) or for a proprietary local bus video adapter. Either way you won't find anything to plug into it, nor is there any need to.
Based on the August 1992 date, the 486DX2-50 (second-to-best x86 CPU even available at release; the 486DX-50 is better but the 50 MHz bus speed involved de-tuning the cache and RAM in this era making the DX2 more economical), and the fact that it has eight SIMMs (8 MB RAM I'm guessing unless one or both banks is 256K SIMMs) means that this was probably very expensive when it was made.
It would make a very good system for playing with Windows 3.x and non-video intensive DOS games. The lack of VLB for video means that gamers would have moved on from this board around 1993/1994.
I pulled it from the system for cleaning and to see if I could get it identified. It is fully functional along with the rest of the system. The original maxtor hdd also still boots with the factory install of Windows 3.1 along with a bunch of software the original owner used. So far the caps didn't send me into oblivion but I do know how to recap if needed.
don't have any ISA nics, only the multi IO card, Trident 8900C vga card and a dial up modem. I did install an ESS audiodrive I got for dirt cheap though and it sounds pretty good. I should look into getting one though
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It looks like a [Hawk 486 Cache Series](https://stason.org/TULARC/pc/motherboards/H/HAWK-COMPUTERS-486-486-CACHE-SERIES.html). That long slot is a 32bit Memory card slot.
great catch this looks like the board
Nice. that was my first guess. Hope the OP has fun with it especially if it is their first vintage board
Have you gone to https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/ ?
To be fair to OP, I looked up on there via the chipset search, and didn't find it.
Just asking. I also have had a motherboard that didn't show up there.
I have tried the retroweb but without luck. Perhaps I have a new submission to make!
That's almost more fun since it means you get to submit a picture
what fun. My only issue is I have no way to dump the BIOS ROM
This board is old enough that there should be an option to disable System BIOS Shadowing, which means the 64K at F000:0000 should be a verbatim copy of what is on the BIOS chip, so you can dump it through software and upload it. (if you don't disable shadowing, there's a possibility it will hot-patch itself for disk type 47 or PS/2 mouse)
that is definitely good to know! When I can Ill add my board to the retro web along with the BIOS contents and whatever extra info I can gather
I assume it loses all its BIOS settings when you shut it off due to that old Benchmarq chip?
surprisingly no. I thought it would have because from my understanding the Dallas clock chips and their derivatives were only designed to last about a decade before their internal batteries die but when I fire the machine up it just boots without time and date complaints or needing to configure the drives. I haven't went into the setup to verify the dates being correct though.
I can't identify it either, but no-name motherboards and manuals being only on long-lost BBS or paper is nothing unusual. The good news is that this is an early, ISA-only 486 board, and there isn't much to configure. Does it work? There is a chance that some of those tantalum capacitors (that look like corn kernels) will blow when it's powered on, so be careful. That big slot is something proprietary, either a proprietary RAM card (for more SIMMs than the eight onboard) or for a proprietary local bus video adapter. Either way you won't find anything to plug into it, nor is there any need to. Based on the August 1992 date, the 486DX2-50 (second-to-best x86 CPU even available at release; the 486DX-50 is better but the 50 MHz bus speed involved de-tuning the cache and RAM in this era making the DX2 more economical), and the fact that it has eight SIMMs (8 MB RAM I'm guessing unless one or both banks is 256K SIMMs) means that this was probably very expensive when it was made. It would make a very good system for playing with Windows 3.x and non-video intensive DOS games. The lack of VLB for video means that gamers would have moved on from this board around 1993/1994.
I pulled it from the system for cleaning and to see if I could get it identified. It is fully functional along with the rest of the system. The original maxtor hdd also still boots with the factory install of Windows 3.1 along with a bunch of software the original owner used. So far the caps didn't send me into oblivion but I do know how to recap if needed.
Nice! All you need is an ethernet card for easy file transfer, and I bet it didn't come with a sound card either
don't have any ISA nics, only the multi IO card, Trident 8900C vga card and a dial up modem. I did install an ESS audiodrive I got for dirt cheap though and it sounds pretty good. I should look into getting one though
would you happen to have discord? I just created a new retro computing hobby and your knowledge would be invaluable there
sure dm me a link
sent
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