Minimum RAM for IBM PC 5150 / 5160 boot up
(I've tested it on PCE IBM PC emulator.)
1) IBM PC 5150 with 16KB RAM (Rev.A 16-64KB Mother Board, BIOS : 04/24/81 or 10/19/81)
IBM Basic C1.00 launched. (No DOS or Disk Based Operating System can be boot up. 32KB of higher RAM is needed to boot up from Floppy Drive.)
2) IBM PC 5150 with 16KB RAM (Rev.B 64-256KB Mother Board, BIOS : 10/27/82)
IBM Basic C1.10 launched. (No DOS or Disk Based Operating System can be boot up. 32KB of higher RAM is needed to boot up from Floppy Drive.)
But the error code of 1055 201 must be shown due to rack of RAM amount. Becuase mother board type is 64-256KB, minimum RAM must be 64KB.
3) IBM PC 5160 with 16KB RAM (64-256KB Mother Board, BIOS : 11/08/82)
IBM Basic C1.10 launched. (No DOS or Disk Based Operating System can be boot up. 32KB of higher RAM is needed to boot up from Floppy Drive.)
But the error code of 04000 FF 201 must be shown due to rack of RAM amount. Becuase mother board type is 64-256KB, minimum RAM must be 64KB.
4) IBM PC 5160 with 64KB RAM (256-640KB Mother Board, BIOS : 01/10/86)
(DOS or Disk Based Operating System can be boot up..)
But the error code of 10000 FF 201 must be shown due to rack of RAM amount under 80KB.
This mother board type is 256-640KB.
5) IBM PC 5160 with 64KB RAM (256-640KB Mother Board, BIOS : 05/09/86)
(DOS or Disk Based Operating System can be boot up..)
No error code is shown on 64KB RAM.
This mother board type is 256-640KB.
1) IBM PC 5150 with 16KB RAM (Rev.A 16-64KB Mother Board, BIOS : 04/24/81 or 10/19/81)
IBM Basic C1.00 launched. (No DOS or Disk Based Operating System can be boot up. 32KB of higher RAM is needed to boot up from Floppy Drive.)
2) IBM PC 5150 with 16KB RAM (Rev.B 64-256KB Mother Board, BIOS : 10/27/82)
IBM Basic C1.10 launched. (No DOS or Disk Based Operating System can be boot up. 32KB of higher RAM is needed to boot up from Floppy Drive.)
But the error code of 1055 201 must be shown due to rack of RAM amount. Becuase mother board type is 64-256KB, minimum RAM must be 64KB.
3) IBM PC 5160 with 16KB RAM (64-256KB Mother Board, BIOS : 11/08/82)
IBM Basic C1.10 launched. (No DOS or Disk Based Operating System can be boot up. 32KB of higher RAM is needed to boot up from Floppy Drive.)
But the error code of 04000 FF 201 must be shown due to rack of RAM amount. Becuase mother board type is 64-256KB, minimum RAM must be 64KB.
4) IBM PC 5160 with 64KB RAM (256-640KB Mother Board, BIOS : 01/10/86)
(DOS or Disk Based Operating System can be boot up..)
But the error code of 10000 FF 201 must be shown due to rack of RAM amount under 80KB.
This mother board type is 256-640KB.
5) IBM PC 5160 with 64KB RAM (256-640KB Mother Board, BIOS : 05/09/86)
(DOS or Disk Based Operating System can be boot up..)
No error code is shown on 64KB RAM.
This mother board type is 256-640KB.
Comments
I could have sworn the 5150 I gave away years ago had 640kb. Beefed it up with 2HHD and 2floppies. Wish I'd have kept it now.
@submix8c
This thread is for discuss "Minimum RAM for IBM PC 5150 / 5160 boot up"
I recommend to write it another thread.
I only mentioned it because you didn't state that 5150 also had MoBo's with 640kb, only 5160's, as you note above. Is this untrue? Appears so. Perhaps my MoBo was swapped? (and yes, I know what this thread is about.)
http://oldcomputers.net/ibm5150.html
@submix8c
Again!
This thread is for discuss "Minimum RAM for IBM PC 5150 / 5160 boot up"
In other word, this thread is Not for discussing non related subject.
Please write it on another thread!
I don't think what @submix8c said is unrelated. Submix8c is simply commenting on a statement you made in your post. AFAIK that is related to the topic.
@Erito17
This thread is for discussing "Minimum RAM for IBM PC 5150 / 5160 boot up"
So please do Not post random crap on this thread.
@SomeGuy
I want to lock (close) this thread due to random craps.
That's interesting to see a post about the requirements for MS-DOS, especially back in 1981. I'm guessing the RAM on the 5150 and 5160 used DIP memory for the RAM back then? Interesting topic nonetheless.
*16KB RAM with Rev.A BIOS(04/24/81)
1)CGA (80x25)
2)MDA (80x25)
Interesting to see stuff like this on here. Also, looks like the MDA is more readable than the CGA version (or maybe it's my eyesight).
MDA is higher resolution. CGA is lower resolution because it had to be the same resolution as composite televisions (emulators double the scan lines making it look blocky). But if people wanted glorious 4 color graphics they needed CGA.
Fun fact: You can plug an original NEC Multisync or similar in to an early revision IBM MDA card and get equally high resolution COLOR text.
Although BIOS won't boot a floppy with only 16k, in theory DOS 1.0 should just fit in that amount although it would not have any space left over to run any applications.