    AST RESEARCH, INC.        TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 1684          03/18/97

    TITLE:  CPU Upgrade & Advantage! Pro/Adventure

    ISSUE

       The Advantage! Pro/Adventure series computers use a Socket 2,
       238-pin, 5 volt, LIF (Low Insertion Force) socket for CPU
       (Central  Processing Unit) installation. Not all CPU chips in
       this format will work as upgrades.

       This issue affects the following systems: 501243, 501244, 501245,
       501246, 501275, 501276, 501415, 501416, 501417, 501418, 501419,
       and 501445.

    BACKGROUND

       N/A

    ACTION

       AST Technical Support tested several commercially available
       processor upgrade kits. The following two seem compatible:

       Evergreen Technologies produces an upgrade kit as part number
       248. Kingston Technology produces an upgrade kit as model
       TC5x86/133.

       These processor upgrade kits come with complete  documentation
       and provide a moderate (40% to 50%) performance increase based on
       upgrading from an Intel 486DX2/66 processor. You may obtain
       product information and a list of authorized dealers from each
       company's Web site at the following addresses:

           www.evertech.com

           www.kingston.com

       Each of the upgrade kits include an AMD 5x86-133 processor
       mounted to a small circuit board. This circuit board supplies the
       proper CPU voltage and allows the CPU's clock to be properly
       configured.

       To physically install these processor upgrades, refer to the
       documentation included with the upgrades.

       After the processor circuit board is properly configured and
       installed, verify/set the system board jumpers. The following
       chart indicates working jumper settings for the upgrade kits
       tested:

       Jumper  Status

       E9      OFF

       E10     ON

       E11     ON

       E13     ON

       E14     2-3

       E15     1-2

       E16     2-3

       E17     OFF

    NOTES

       Please note that some third-party diagnostics may not report the
       new processor correctly. This is normal and often occurs when a
       user installs CPU upgrades in any system.

       Bench marking will reveal that performance has increased and the
       utilities included with the upgrade should provide accurate
       processor information.
          ---------------------------------------------------------
       Although the above mentioned components functioned properly in a
       controlled testing environment, AST can make no guarantees of
       suitability or compatibility for any specific configuration. The
       upgrade products mentioned in this bulletin are only examples of
       third-party products which are currently available to the
       consumer, and should not be taken as an endorsement of these or
       any particular brand.

       The consumer should verify return policies with any vendor prior
       to upgrade purchase.
       ---------------------------------------------------------

       Intel has determined that their PODP5Vx3 processors are not
       compatible with these systems.

    TAN TPR 353PE
    CK/GK
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