                             EPSON AMERICA, INC.
                           Product Support Bulletin


                Subject: Equity 386/20 Questions and Answers


Date: 6/12/89                                           PSB No: S - 0086
Page: 1 of 8                                            Originator: PNM


Q1.  What microprocessor does the Equity 386/20 use?

A.   The Equity 386/20 utilizes an Intel 80386 microprocessor running at 20
     megahertz. Use of this chip allows for a high powered, high speed 32
     bit machine.


Q2.  What is "Shadow Ram"? What does it do and how does it work?

A.   Shadow RAM, activated through the setup program, is used to copy
     information from the system ROM BIOS and the video ROM into RAM.
     This provides for faster access of BIOS information by the Equity 386/20
     resulting in enhanced system performance.


Q3.  What RAM chips should be used when upgrading the memory?

A.   Use the Epson 80 nSec - 9 bit SIMM module kits to expand the
     system memory. Epson supplies two memory upgrade kits, a 1
     megabyte kit (4-256K SIMM modules ) and a 2 megabyte kit (2-1MB
     SIMM modules). You can expand the memory up to 16 Megabytes
     directly on the 32-bit memory card. Should you need to use third party
     SIMM modules we recommend the following:

          TOSHIBA                       1 Mbit x 9 80 nsec
          MATSUSHITA                    1 Mbit x 9 80 nsec
          CDC Enterprises               1 Mbit x 9 80 nsec

     The following SlMM's do not work in with the Equity 386/20:

          IBM
          COMPAO
          PANASONIC



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Q4.  What is page interleave memory architecture?

A.   Page/interleave memory architecture is a method for increasing memory
     access time. Memory that is interleaved provides faster retrieval during
     sequential memory access. Interleaved architecture requires at least two
     banks of memory. Even memory addresses are in the first bank, Gdd
     memory in the second. While the processor is accessing memory in the
     first bank, memory in the second bank is being prepared for immediate
     access. In order to utilize the interleaving capabilities of the Equity
     386/20, at least 2MB of memory are required when using 256K SIMMs,
     and 8MB when using 1MB SIMMs.

     Page mode divides the memory into blocks called pages. When working
     within any page, memory access is fast. Access speed is slightly
     diminished when pages are switched, after which memory is again
     accessed at maximum speed.

     Combining these two methods provides a greater "hit ratio", that is, a
     greater percentage of memory that is accessed at 0 wait states. Not
     accessing within a page or not sequentially results in 2-3 wait states.
     however, since this does not happen very often, overall performance of
     the system memory is generally less than 1 wait state.


Q5.  How many wait states does the Equity 386/20 have?

A.   The wait states on the Equity 386/20 depend on the hit ratio: 0 wait
     states on a hit and 2- 3 wait states on a miss. With its page/interleave
     memory architecture, the Equity 386/20 provides fast memory access
     at a lower cost than other memory architectures.


Q6.  What are the EMS software capabilities of the Equity 386/20?

A.   The Epson EMS software supports LIM 4.0 standards. It provides
     expanded memory capability for such applications as Lotus 123, Reflex,
     Autocad and Framework II. EMS allows an application to have more
     memory available for data storage. The application itself must reside in
     the 640k RAM accessible by MS-DOS, but it can use expanded
     memory capabilities to build larger spreadsheets, databases, etc.




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     Before the 80386 microprocessor existed, computer systems required
     special hardware to support expanded memory. With EMS software,
     80386 machines can emulate expanded memory through the addition of
     memory chips; extra hardware or a special board are not required.


Q7.  What is the Auto Speed function?

A.   The Equity 386/20 is capable of operating at 20 MHZ or 8 MHZ. Some
     copy-protected applications require the computer to run at 8 MHZ
     while accessing the program diskette. By enabling the Auto speed
     function the computer automatically switches to 8 MHZ when accessing
     the diskette drive. It then switches back to 20 MHZ for optimal
     performance. Auto speed is accessed through the setup program under
     the Auto speed option.


Q8.  What types of floppy disk drives will work on the Equity 386/20?

A.   The Equity 386/20 will support a 5.25" 1.2 Mb half height drive
     (standard) as well as the 360 Kb floppy disk drive. To provide industry
     wide compatibility, the support of both 1.44 Mb and 720 Kb 3.5" floppy
     disks drives is also incorporated into the new ROM BIOS.


Q9.  What size hard disk drives will be available for the Equity 386/20?

A.   Two Hard disk drives will be available. The first is a 90 Mb ESDI drive
     with a 1:1 interleave and an average access time of 18 mSec. The
     second is a 40 Mb. 1:1 interleave ST-506 MFM drive that has an
     average access time of 28 mSec.


Q10. What are the drive types of the Epson Hard Drive options? 

A.   The Epson 90 Mb ESDI drive is a type 42 and the Epson 40 Mb drive
     is a type 17.


Q11. What is hard disk cache? 

A.   The Epson disk cache program improves the access time for program
     operation on the fixed disk by copying the most recently accessed data
     as well as data anticipated to be accessed next, into RAM.




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     Epson's hard disk cache program allows the user to define the amount
     of RAM reserved for cache data. If no size is specffied, the system
     automatically allocates 64K of memory. The larger the disk cache, the
     better the system performance.

     Epson utilizes a full track disk cache, which can further reduce the data
     access time of programs that read information one sector at a time, by
     retrieving the entire track of data when a single sector is requested.
     When the application then requests the next sector, it is retrieved from
     RAM, thus saving disk access time. This application is particularly useful
     with database programs.


Q12. What extended hard drive support is available in the new ROM BIOS 
     drive tables that come in the Equity 386/20?

A.   The Seiko-Epson BIOS will directly support hard drives that range in
     size from 10 Mb up to 153 Mb. Larger size drives can be used by
     using a supplementary BIOS for the hard disk controller that is installed
     in the machine. There is direct support for the Seagate ST- 251 and the
     ST-4096 hard disks as well as several ESDI drives. SCSI drives have
     their own controllers attached to the drive and should work correctly
     when attached to the bus with a host adaptor.


Q13. The service manual has a listing of the ROM BIOS drive support table
     that is different than the drive table listed in the Product Support Guide.
     Which of the tables is correct?

A.   The ROM BIOS table in the Epson Product Support Guide is correct.
     The ROM BIOS supports disk drives up to type 58. The correct data
     for types 56-58 are listed below:

                                       Landing
     TYPE    TYPE   CYL  HDS  Sectors   Zone      MB
      56      ESDI  967   5     34       967     80.3
      57      ESDI  967   7     34       967     112.4
      58      ESDI  967   9     34       967     144.5



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Q14. What hard drive controllers can be used in the Equity 386/20?

A.   Tested hard drive controllers for the Equity 386/20 include:

        Western Digital         ESDI
        Western Digital         WD-1007
        Western Digital         WD-1006S-WAH
        Western Digital         WD-1006V-MM1
        Adaptec                 ACB2320


Q15. Does the Equity 386/20 have cache memory? 

A.   No. The Equity 386/20 provides high speed (80ns) memory in a page
     interleave architecture operating at up to 0 wait states. This type of
     architecture allows a more affordable machine than one that uses cache
     memory.


Q16. What math co-processor should be used? Is the Weitek 3167 math 
     co - processor supported?

A.   You should use the Intel 80387-20 MHZ numeric co-processor for
     best results. The Weitek 3167 math co-processor is not supported.


     Q17. Can 3 floppy drives be installed to support the different media types
     available?

A.   No. The BIOS only supports 2 floppy disk drives.


Q18. Can the floppy drive controller be disabled in the Equity 386/20? 

A.   Yes. It can be disabled on the SPFG board by switching jumpers J1
     and J2 to position BC. The jumpers come set from the factory in
     position AC, indicating the FDD controller is enabled.


Q19. Can the parallel port be disabled on the Equity 386/20? 

A.   Yes. To disable the parallel port on the SPFG board, jumpers J3 and
     J4 should be set to position BC. From the factory jumpers J3 and J4
     are set to position AC, enabling the parallel port.




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Q20. How many expansion slots are available?

A.   There are a total of 9 expansion slots available, 6-16 bit slots, 2-8
     bit slots and 1 reserved 8 bit slot for the SPFG board.


Q21. Can the Equity + keyboards be used on this machine?

A.   The Equity + keyboards are the same as the keyboard used on the
     Equity 386/20 and are thus interchangesble.


Q22. What type of video cards can be used in the Equity 386/20?

A.   The following cards have been tested:

     MRS- Mono Board                    Epson
     IBM Display Adaptor                IBM
     IBM Mono/Printer card              IBM
     Hercules Graphics + Adaptor        Hercules Computer Tech
     MRS - Color Board                  Epson
     Multi - Mode Graphics Adaptor      Epson
     IBM Color Graphics Adaptor         IBM
     Modular Graphic Card               Western Digital Paradise
     Enhanced Graphics Adaptor          IBM
     Autoswitch EGA                     Western Digital Paradise
     Vega EGA Board                     Video 7
     VGA Plus Adaptor                   Western Digital Paradise
     VGA Plus 16 Adaptor                Western Digital Paradise
     ATI VGA Wonder 16                  ATI Corp.
     Sota VGA 16                        Sota Technology
     Fastwrite VGA                      Video 7


Q23. What display option in the setup program should be used if a VGA or 
     a EGA card is installed in the system?

A.   Use the "Special Options choice to avoid seeing a "162 OPTIONS NOT
     SET" error message.



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Q24. What mouse products are recommended for use on the Equity 386/20? 

A.   Both the serial mouse and the bus mouse by Microsoft have been
     approved for use on the new computer.


Q25. Are there any tested internal modems? 

A.   So far only the Hayes 2400 baud internal modem has been approved.


Q26. Is the Equity 386/20 a desktop or a floor standing machine? 

A.   The Equity 386/20 is a high powered desktop computer. Epson has
     taken into account that some users may not have adequate desk space
     for a machine the size of the Equity 386/20. therefore, a floor stand is
     available for the Equity 386/20 which allows the unit to be mounted on
     its side or on the floor.


Q27. Does Epson provide a version of DOS 4.01 for use with the Equity 
     386/20?

A.   No. The current version of DOS that is supported on the Equity 386/20
     is Epson DOS 3.30.


Q28. What terminal emulation boards are compatible w/ the Equity 386/20? 

A.   The following items have been tested an approved.

        3278/79 Emulation Adaptor       IBM
        IBM 5250 Board                  IBM
        IRMA/2                          DCA Inc.


Q29. I want to back up my hard disk. What tape backup system can I use? 

A.   The following units have been tested for use on the Equity 386/20:

        Archive VP150i (Novell CertHied)
        Mountain Series 4000 Filesafe
        Tecmar QT-60e
        Tallgrass TG - 4060 +



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Q30. Will it support Unix and/or Xenix? Which versions?

A.   The Equity 386/20 has been tested w/ Santa Cruz Operations Xenix
     Rel. 2.1 and IBM PC Xenix Vers. 1.


031. What Local Area Networks have been tested on the Equity 386/20?

A.   The following networking sof~ware and environments have been tested:


                Soflware                            Card                MFG.

        3COM 3Plus, 3COM                        Etherlink II            3COM
                                                Etherlink Plus          3COM

        PC Network Program, Ver. 1.O,IBM        Token-Ring Adaptor      IBM
                                                PC Network Adaptor      IBM

        Token-Ring Network PC Adap.,Ver1.0      Token-Ring Adaptor      IBM

        Token-Ring Starter Kit, Ver.1.1, lBM    Token-Ring Adaptorll    IBM

        PC LAN Program, Ver. 1.2, IBM           Token-Ring Adaptor      IBM
                                                PC Network Adaptorll    IBM

        PC Network Protocol Driver, Ver.l.O,lBM PC Network Adaptor      IBM

        SFT Netware Level lI,Ver.,2.1,Novell    Token-Ring Adaptor      IBM
                                                PC Broadband Adaptor    IBM
                                                Broadband Adaptorll     IBM
                                                Ethernet Card, NE 1000  Novell
