BackPack CD-ROM on Vendex 888 with Inboard/386 Trying to Benchmark

[chjmartin2]

Hi,

I have a backpack parallel port CD-ROM running on my Vendex. I used the built in motherboard port and also added an EPP/ECP card to try to make it work faster. It claims 2MB/S on the box. Anyway, I would like to test to see exactly what rate I am getting. Can anybody point me to a tool? (Or a game that does it as I seem to remember some games testing the CD-ROM speed during installation.) I appreciate any help in advance.

Thanks,

Chris

 

[Chuck(G)]

2MB/sec t would imply that you could read a full 600MB disk in 300 seconds, or 5 minutes. Are you getting that?

 

[krebizfan]

Only the units made in 1998 with 32x CDROMs have a chance to make it to 2 MB. The earlier models peak at an 8x drive or 1.2 MB/s maximum.

 

[chjmartin2]

2MB/sec t would imply that you could read a full 600MB disk in 300 seconds, or 5 minutes. Are you getting that?

No... I am not.

 

[chjmartin2]

Only the units made in 1998 with 32x CDROMs have a chance to make it to 2 MB. The earlier models peak at an 8x drive or 1.2 MB/s maximum.

I have a 32X CD-ROM and it is running, but sadly, all I am getting is 150 KB/s which I should be pleased with. I have an EPP 8-bit card but it doesn't work. I am using an inboard/386. My guess is that somehow the 8 bit bus just can't handle the EPP port. The CD-ROM will not connect using EPP at all.

 

[Caluser2000]

Just use a generic multi i/o card with the ide portion hanging out the back if you want faster lpt port performance. Winbond or whatever will do fine.

 

[Chuck(G)]

150KB/sec is about the limit of a non-DMA 8 bit parallel port. Actually, anything over 100KB/sec is gravy.

 

[krebizfan]

150KB/s would be rather necessary to play music. Micro Solutions always had good drivers.

 

[Plasma]

Digital audio yes, but CD playback in those days was almost always analog output directly to speakers or a sound card.

 

[Chuck(G)]

150KB/s would be rather necessary to play music. Micro Solutions always had good drivers.

Are you certain that you're not confusing bits/bytes per second? 150KB/sec = 1.2Mb/sec. My local classical music station doesn't stream that fast.

How Much Speed Do I Need to Stream Music?

The internet speed you need to stream music depends on the audio quality and service you use. Find out how much bandwidth you need for your music.

www.highspeedinternet.com

 

[krebizfan]

Are you certain that you're not confusing bits/bytes per second? 150KB/sec = 1.2Mb/sec. My local classical music station doesn't stream that fast.

How Much Speed Do I Need to Stream Music?

The internet speed you need to stream music depends on the audio quality and service you use. Find out how much bandwidth you need for your music.

www.highspeedinternet.com

Most of those formats are highly compressed compared to CD Audio so can get by with a lower bandwidth.

 

[chjmartin2]

Just use a generic multi i/o card with the ide portion hanging out the back if you want faster lpt port performance. Winbond or whatever will do fine.

I will try that too, but I have a specific LPT port that says it is EPP, but it will not connect in EPP mode. Not sure if that is the driver or the port itself or if it doesn't work fast like that in DOS mode. I got it all the way to 150 KB/s but then for some reason after changing some stuff (processor) now it went back to the 92 KB/s. Real bummer. I could try an I/O card but what I am wondering is if anybody has gotten an 8088 to successfully use an EPP port?