GA-486VS

System MAME Computer 0

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Description

Motherboard:

GA-486VS (c) 199? Gigabyte

The GA-486VS is a high-performance Socket 3 motherboard built around the SiS 85C471 chipset. Like the other premium boards of its time, it features a hybrid architecture, combining the high-bandwidth VESA Local Bus (VLB) for graphics and disk controllers with the standard 16-bit ISA bus for legacy peripherals. It was one of Gigabyte's first major forays into the global market, showcasing their commitment to robust PCB trace routing and "future-proof" CPU support for the then-emerging DX4 and 5x86 processors.

- TECHNICAL -

Chipset: SiS 85C471 (VLB-optimized).
CPU Support: Socket 3 (Intel 486SX/DX/DX2/DX4, AMD 486/5x86, Cyrix).
Expansion: 3x VLB slots, 5x 16-bit ISA slots.
Memory: 4x 72-pin SIMM sockets (supporting up to 128 MB).
Cache: Supports up to 256 KB of L2 cache (usually in a COAST module or discrete DIP/SRAM banks).

- TRIVIA -

The "V" Series Branding: In Gigabyte’s early 90s lineup, the "VS" suffix specifically identified their high-end VLB boards that included "Shadow RAM" and "Write-Back" cache support—two features that were standard in the late 90s but considered "pro-level" performance tweaks when this board was released.

Overclocker's Favorite: Because of its aggressive memory timing settings in the BIOS, the GA-486VS was legendary among early PC hardware tinkerers. It was one of the few boards that could handle a 50 MHz bus speed stable enough to push a 486DX2-66 to 100 MHz (50x2) without crashing the VLB IDE controller—a common failure point on lesser boards.

- CONTRIBUTE -

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