Epson Equity I Product Support Bulletin

Product Support Bulletin

Subject: Proper Method for Running Benchmark and Diagnostics Programs

EPSON

Date: 06/04/93
Page(s): 1 of 1

This bulletin describes the proper method for running any benchmark or diagnostics
programs. This applies to any computer system.

In most cases, the computer should be started using an MS-DOS boot diskette
that’s ‘clean’ ­The appropriate executable can then be run, either from diskette or hard drive.

There will be some exceptions to the above rule. In attempting to benchmark or
troubleshoot any add-on that requires a device driver (CD-ROM, local area network,

etc.), obviously the necessary device driver(s) must be loaded. Also, some

programs will require a minimum number of FILES or BUFFERS to be defined in
the CONFIG.SYS file. Such programs will usually display this requirement if they
are run without the necessary CONFIG.SYS file.

For the most consistent results, use the absolute minimal boot configuration that’s

allowed by the hardware being tested.

in other words, one with no CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT files.

PSB No: S-0158
Originator: MWT

Product Support Bulletin

Subject:
Date:

Page:
The purpose of this bulletin is to provide the 80386 Accelerator board test

results, conducted by the Computer Product Support Center, involving the
SOTA 386si from SOTA Technology, inc.

The Equity models tested were the Equity I, Equity II Equity I + and Equity le.
The Apex models tested were the Apex, Apex Plus and Apex 100. All were
tested with Norton Utilities and MS - DOS.

The table below shows compatibility and the Norton SI rating of the
various systems.

Model
Equity I

Equity I+

Equity/Apex Compatibility with the SOTA 386si

3/02/90

1 of 3

Norton SI

12.0

12.0/16.9

Compatibility
Functioned normally with Norton Utilities and

MS- DOS 2.11
Functioned normally with MS - DOS 3.3 and

Norton Utilities at both CPU speeds.

PSB No:

Originator:

S-0111

MS ;. CL5

Equity le

Equity II

Apex

Apex Plus

Apex 100

NA

14.3

15.9

11.5

12.0/16.9

Unable to boot at 10MHz. Performance
erratic at 4.77MHz

Functioned normally with MS - DOS 3.2 and
Norton Utilities. (Tested only at 7.16MHz.)

Unable to boot at 4.77MHz. Functioned
normally at 8MHz with MS - DOS 3.2 and
Norton Utilities.

Unable to boot at 9.54MHz. Functioned
normally at 4.77MHz with MS - DOS 3.2 and
Norton Utilities.

Functioned normally with MS - DOS 3.3 and
Norton Utilities.

PSB No: S-0111
Page: 2 of 3

Installation of the board in most of the units was quick and simple to do when
following the installation instructions accompanying the boards. Installation of
the SOTA 386si in the Equity I and the Equity II is rather difficult. Due to the

amount of disassembly required, we strongly recommend that only Authorized

Service Centers install the board in the Equity I and Equity II.

Installation Instructions

Equity I

1. Remove the following from the main unit:
a) upper case

b) rear panel
c) front panel
d) FDD/power supply block.

2. Follow instructions for a standard installation for the SOTA 386si in an
8088 - based system.

not to prevent reassembly.

folded.

Take care to fold the SOTA connector cable so as

The cable is sturdy and will tolerate being

3. Reassemble the main unit and go through the testing and initialization

procedure outlined in the SOTA manual.

Equity II

1. Remove the following from the main unit:
a) upper case
b) rear panel

c) front panel

d) FDD/power supply block.

2. Follow instructions for a standard installation for the SOTA 386si in an
8086 - based system.
not to prevent reassembly. This will necessitate routing the cable so that it

does not conflict with the power connection to the main system board.
The cable is sturdy and will tolerate being folded.

3. Reassemble the main unit and go through the testing and initialization
procedure outlined in the SOTA manual.

Take care to fold the SOTA connector cable so as

PSB No: S-0111
Page: 3 of 3

Our Computer Product Support Center receives numerous calls requesting
information and recommendations on 80386 Accelerator boards for use with the
Equity and Apex (8088-

We have found that the SOTA 386si may meet your requirements and are

competitively priced!

Although these boards were tested by qualified product support specialists,

Epson America makes no representations that these third party products are
compatible with all hardware configurations or software applications.

We recommend that you certify these products with your specific hardware and
software requirements and consult with the third party vendor to ensure reliable
operation.

SOTA Technology can be reached at:

SOTA Technology, Inc.
657 N. Pastoria Ave.
Sunnyvale, CA 94086

Phone: (408) 245 - 3366

and 8086 - based) personal computers.

Product Support Bulletin

Subject:

Date:
Page:

The purpose of this bulletin is to provide the results of compatibility testing
conducted by the Computer Product Support Center with the Sysgen
OmniBridge controller and Bridge - Filer external floppy disk drives.

Equity I

Equity II

Equity and Apex Series Compatibility with the Sysgen OmniBridge
Controller and BridgeFiler External Floppy Drives

04/11/90

1 of 3

PSB No:
Originator:

Comments

The Equity I was found compatible with the OmniBridge
controller. It was able to support one or two external
disk drives (daisychained) together. The external drives
could be used as high density (1.2M and 1.44M) or
normal (360K and 720K) disk drives.

The Equity II was found to be totally incompatible with
the OmniBridge controller.

S-0088B
KAS

60

Equity III

Equity I +

Equity le

The Equity III was found compatible with the OmniBridge
controller. It was able to support one or two external
disk drives (daisychained) together. The external drives
could be used as high density (1.2M and 1.44M) or
normal (360K and 720K) disk drives.

The Equity I + was found compatible with the
OmniBridge controller.
two external disk drives (daisychained) together. The
external drives could be used as high density (1.2M and

1.44M) or normal (360K and 720K) disk drives.

The Equity le was found compatible with the OmniBridge

controller. It was able to support only one external
floppy drive, unlike the other models tested. The drive
could be used as a high density (1.2Mb and 1.44Mb) or

normal (360K and 720K) disk drive.

It was able to support one or

PSB No: S-0088B

Page: 2 of 3

Equity II +

Equity lIe

Equity Ill +

Equity 386SX

The Equity II + was found compatible with the
OmniBridge controller.
two external disk drives (daisychained) together. The
external drives could be used as high density (1.2M and

1.44M) or normal (360K and 720K) disk drives.

The Equity Ile was found compatible with the
OmniBridge controller.
two external disk drives (daisychained) together. The
external drives could be used as high density (1.2M and

1.44M) or normal (360K and 720K) disk drives.

The Equity III + was found compatible with the
OmniBridge controller.
two external disk drives (daisychained) together. The
external drives could be used as high density (1.2M and

144M) or normal (360K and 720K) disk drives.

The Equity 386SX was found compatible with the
OmniBridge controller.
two external disk drives (daisychained) together. The
external drives could be used as high density (1.2M and

144M) or normal (360K and 720K) disk drives.

It was able to support one or

It was able to support one or

It was able to support one or

It was able to support one or

Equity 386/20

APEX

APEX +

The Equity 386/20 was found compatible with the
OmniBridge controller.
two external disk drives (daisychained) together. The
external drives could be used as high density (1.2M and

1.44M) or normal (360K and 720K) disk drives.

The Epson APEX was found compatible with the
OmniBridge controller.
two external disk drives (daisychained) together. The
external drives could be used as high density (1.2M and

1.44M) or normal (360K and 720K) disk drives.

The Epson APEX was found compatible with the
OmniBridge controller.
two external disk drives (daisychained) together. The
external drives could be used as high density (1.2M and

1.44M) or normal (360K and 720K) disk drives.

It was able to support one or

It was able to support one or

It was able to support one or

PSB No: S-008B
Page: 3 of 3

APEX 100

APEX 200

NOTE:

The Epson APEX 100 was found compatible with the

OmniBridge controller.
two external disk drives (daisychained) together. The

external drives could be used as high density (1.2M and

1.44M) or normal (360K and 720K) disk drives.

The Epson APEX 200 was found compatible with the

OmniBridge controller.
two external disk drives (daisychained) together. The

external drives could be used as high density (1.2M and

1.44M) or normal (360K and 720K) disk drives.

The recommended switch settings for the OmniBridge controller are
as follows:

1-1 DOWN 2-1 DOWN
1-2 DOWN 2-2 DOWN
1-3 DOWN
1-4 DOWN

2-3 UP
2-4 UP

It was able to support one or

It was able to support one or

These settings select NO ADDRESS for the OmniBridge BIOS and
allow it to coexist with the internal FDC of the computer in which it
is being installed.
FDC or connect any cables from the OmniBridge to internal floppy
drives. This was found to be a universal setting for all of the
computers listed above as compatible with the OmniBridge controller.

This way you do not need to disable the internal

Product Support Bulletin

Subject:

Date: 4/19/89
Page: 1 of 1

Apex / Apex Plus / Equity Series Keyboards

PSB No: S-0080
Originator: REM

AL

The purpose of this bulletin is to provide information on the various keyboards
used with the Apex, Apex Plus and Equity series computers and the part
numbers of the keyboard subassemblies used with these keyboards.

The Apex and Apex Plus computer keyboards are to be replaced as whole
units.

The Equity series keyboards are repaired to the subassembly level.

The

Equity III keyboard PCB assembly is the only one that comes with the key top

set attached.
Since some of the keyboards have the same model numbers, the difference

can be determined by the FCC ID number in those cases.
The chart below provides a quick reference to determine the part number of

the main keyboard PCB assembly, key top set, control logic subassembly, and
keyboard cable.

Apex / Apex Plus

Model

Apex
Apex Plus

Model

Model
E1160A -

Keyboard

Unit

A265091A

93553905410 Equity Ill

Code

Code

Equity I +, II +, Ill+, 386/20

FCC ID

FCC ID

C9S4D84701-201

Equity I, II, Ill

Model

Equity I/II

Keyboard Control
PCB Assy

Keyboard
PCB Assy

Y145501001 Y145501021
KAFLZ3AEPS1

Board

attached
attached Y127501022

none

Y171501017

Equity le

Keyboard Control
PCB Assy

Y163504007 Y171501017

Board

Key Top

set

attached KACCL060UCA

Key Top

set
Y127501022
Y127501022

Y127501022 Y163504006

Key Top

set

Y171501007

Keyboard

Cable

Y144305000

Keyboard

Cable

Y127501031
Y127501031
Y163502020

Keyboard

Cable

Y171501006

Product Support Bulletin

Subject:
Date:

Page:

Equity Series HDD Controllers Jumper Settings

6/12/89

1 of 8

This bulletin provides information on the jumper settings for the hard
disk controllers used in Epson Equity computers.

Please refer to the following pages for information regarding specific

hard disk controllers:

Model # Page #

WD1002A - WX1 . . . . . . . . . .

WD1002S - WX2 . . . . . . . . . .

WD1003 - WAH

. . . . . . . . .

PSB NO.: S-0070A
Originator: APA

2
3
4

ap’

WD1002 - WAH
WHDC

WD1006S - WAH . . . . .

ACB - 2320 . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . .

5
6

. 7

8

HDD Controller WD1002A-WX1 (8-bit)

Model number --------

-- Extra jumper

FACTORY SETTINGS

Jumper

W1

W2

W3

W4
W5
W6
W7
W8

* No jumper pins - 1 and 2 are connected by a PCB board etch.

Position

N/A
N/A
1 to 2
2 to 3
* hard-wired 1 to 2
2 to 3

* hard-wired 1 to 2
2 to 3

Description

Not used.
Not used.
BIOS ROM is enabled (on controller).
Device address 320H.
BIOS ROM size (32K or 64K).
Reduced write current (< = 8 heads).
IRQ 5.
Disk controller I. D. (set to be the first).

HDD Controller WD1002S-WX2 (8-bit)

Jl

I
I

FACTORY SETTINGS

Jumper

Model number--j

Position Description

0

‘--Extra jumper

W1
W-2
W3
W4
W5
W6
W7

* No jumper pins - 1 and 2 are connected by a PCB board etch.

1 to 2
1 to 2
1 to 2

2 to 3

* hard-wired 1 to 2

2 to 3

* hard-wired 1 to 2

Required for this configuration.
Required for this configuration.
BIOS ROM is enabled (on controller).
Device address 320H.
BIOS ROM size (32K or 64K).
Reduced write current (< = 8 heads).
IRQ 5.

HDD Controller WD1003-WAH (16-bit)

Model number

FACTORY SETTINGS

Jumper Position

W1
W2
W3

W4

W5

W6

* No jumper pins.

1 to 2
No jumper
* No jumper
2 to 3
2 to 3
2 to 3

Description

Status read is latched.
Primary address selected.
Required for this configuration.
Required for this configuration.
Standard configuration.
Standard configuration.

Connection of LED indicator cable :

Model

Equity III
Equity II +
Equity III +

Pin 1 of J6

Orange wire
Blue wire
Red wire

HDD Controller WD1002-WAH (16-bit)

FACTORY SETTINGS

Jumper

W1 1 to 2

W2

Position

Center to NL

Connection of LED indicator cable :

Description

Primary base address.

HDD activity LED only lights when the controller accesses the drive.

Model Pin 1 of J4

Equity III Orange wire
Equity II +
Equity III +

Blue wire
Red wire

Model number -~

j

HDD Controller WHDC (16-bit)

CN6

n

l

:

-4

0

FACTORY SETTINGS

Jumper

* JP1 (J1) *2 to 3 (B to C)
* JP2 (J2)
* JP3 (J3) * 1 to 2 (A to B)

JP4 to JP8

* “JP” may labeled as “J”,

Position

* 1 to 2 (A to B) Status read is non-latched (select = drive busy).

No jumper pins.

Description

Primary address selected.

WAH mode (dual HDD controller).
Hardwired to factory settings.

“1” as “A”, “2” as “B” and “3” as “C”.

Connection of LED indicator cable :

Model Pin 1 of CN6

Equity III
Equity I I +
Equity I I I + Red wire

Orange wire
Blue wire

HDD Controller WD1006S-WAH (16-bit)

Model number

FACTORY SETTINGS

Jumper

W1
W2
W3
W4
W5
W6

* No jumper pins.

Position

* 1 to 2

1 to 2

No jumper
* No jumper
* 1 to 2
* No jumper

Description

LED lights for drive selection (non- latched).
No reduced write current,
Enables cacheing.
Isolates mounting bracket from logic ground.
Primary controller port.
Non-latched mode.

Connection of LED indicator cable :

Model

Equity 386/20

Pin 1 of J1

Red wire

HDD Controller ACB-2320 (16-bit)

FACTORY SETTINGS

Jumper

J5
J6
J7
J8
J9, J10, J11
J12
J13

Position

No jumpers
No jumpers
No jumper
No jumpers

No jumpers

1 to 2
No jumper

Description

Used for hardware port addressing.
Manufacturing test points (DO NOT JUMPER).
Serial monitor output (DO NOT JUMPER).
Manufacturing test points (DO NOT JUMPER).

Not used.

Selects IRQ 14.

ACB-BIOS disabled (no ROM present in location U25).

Connection of LED

Model

Equity 386/20

indicator cable :

Pin 1 of J4

Red wire

EPSON AMERICA, INC.

SERVICE

PRODUCT SUPPORT BULLETIN

PSB NO. : S-0068 DATE:

SUBJECT: EQUITY I,

This bulletin describes the jumper locations and settings
on the Equity I MRS board and Equity
configuring the computers for third party keyboards and for
enabling an 8087 math coprocessor.
various releases of the Equity
that each version supported.

The Equity
change system configuration, are also provided.

Equity I MRS Board jumpers........................Page 2

Equity

III

main board dip switch settings, to set up or

II

MCY Board P/N Y1442071000 Rev. OO.......Page 3

1/25/89

II AND III MAIN BOARD JUMPER CONFIGURATIONS

ORIGINATOR: RE

II

MCY boards and the features

Index

II

MCY board used for

It also describes the

PAGE: 1 of 6

Equity
Equity
Equity
Equity
Equity

II

MCY Board P/N Y1442071000 Rev. O1.......Page 4

II

MCY Board P/N Y1442071000 Rev. O2.......Page 4

II

MCY Board P/N Y1442075000 . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Page 5

II

MCY Board P/N Y1442076000 . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Page 5

III

Main Board Dip-switch configuration....Page 6

EPSON AMERICA SERVICE, 23610 TEL0 AVENUE, TORRANCE, CALIF. 90505

EQUITY I MARS

u

BOARD

JUMPER

CONFIGURATIONS

MRS-MT BOARD

I

CN3

[ROM

BIOS]

I

CN1

i

8087 socket 3D

8OC88 CPU 4D

1

MARS BOARD

I I

CN2

1

8250

CN12 CN11

1

FDD(B) (A)

ml

CN10 CN9

PLEASE NOTE

Since setting the
jumpers requires
almost complete
disassembly of the
Equity I computer
it should be done
only by authorized
Epson Customer Care
Centers.

* NON-EPSON KEYBOARD SUPPORT -

position J3 (Early systems did not have this capability and do not
have these jumper positions installed.)

NOTE: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO USE THE EPSON KEYBOARD WITH THESE JUMPERS

INSTALLED AS DAMAGE WILL RESULT!
* 8087 SUPPORT - Remove the jumper from position J1.
* EGA MONITOR SUPPORT - Set dip switches 6 and 7 to the on position.

opt.
RAM Board
CN5

Reset Dip Switch

Install jumpers in positions J2 and

256KB

=p]

1

82C59

I

Keyboard

-----

Page 2 of 6

-----

1

A

EQUITY II MCY BOARD Y147201000 REV. 00 JUMPER CONFIGURATIONS

Reset Dip Switch

Vol.

Keyboard

JUMPER CONFIGURATIONS

* There are no jumpers on this version board. The board is hard-wired

to provide RAM refresh to the option slots.
* An 8087 coprocessor cannot be used.
* There is no provision for using alternate keyboards.

-----

Page 3 of 6

-----

EQUITY II MCY BOARD Y147201000 REV. 01 & 02 JUMPER CONFIGURATIONS

MCY board Y147201000
revision 01 and 02
differences.

Revision 02 MCY
boards have the
following improve-

ments over the 01

revision MCY board.

* Serial port works

over 1200 baud.

* Concurrent oper-

ation of 8087 &
optional Dynamic
RAM or EGA/VGA.

* Topview fix in-

corporated on
MCY (main) board.

Reset Dip Switch

JUMPER CONFIGURATIONS

* J1 and J2 should be in position 2 to enable DMA RAM refresh to the

option slots for expanded memory boards or EGA/VGA video boards.
An 8087 will function concurrently with dynamic RAM boards on
Rev. 02 boards with the jumpers in position 2.

* J1 and J2 should be in position 1 to disable DMA RAM refresh. The

V30 runs about 20% faster in this position.
Rev. 01 MCY board.

* J3 and J4 are not available on these versions of MCY board.

Non-Epson keyboards cannot be used.

8087-2 enabled on

Vol.

Keyboard

-----

Page 4 of 6

-----

EQUITY II MCY BOARD Y147205000 & Y147206000 JUMPER CONFIGURATIONS

MCY board Y147205000
and Y1472056000
differences.

MCY P/N Y147206000
boards have the

following improve­ments over the
Y147205000 board.

* Serial port works

over 1200 baud.

* Concurrent oper-

ation of 8087 &

optional Dynamic

RAM or EGA/VGA.

* Topview fix in-

corporated on
MCY (main) board.

On

Batt

Off

Reset Dip Switch

II

* J1 and J2 should be in position 2 to enable DMA RAM refresh to the

option slots for expanded memory boards or EGA/VGA video boards.
The 8087 will work in DMA refresh mode with the Y147206000 board.

* J1 and J2 should be in position 1 to disable DMA RAM refresh.

The V30 runs about 20% faster in this position. The jumpers must be

in position 1 to enable an 8087 with the Y147205000 MCY board
* J3 and J4 should be in position 1 to use an IBM compatible keyboard.
* J3 and J4 should be in position 2 (default) for the Equity

keyboard.

NOTE: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO USE THE EPSON KEYBOARD WITH JUMPERS J3 AND

J4

IN

POSITION 1 AS DAMAGE MAY RESULT!

JUMPER CONFIGURATIONS

Vol.

Keyboard

II

----- -----

Page 5 of 6

EQUITY Ill MAIN BOARD DIP-SWITCH SETTINGS

DIP SWITCH FUNCTIONS (*Factory settings)

Switch

Function

1-1 RAM size 640KB*

1-2

1-3 - 1-6

2-1

;I;

2-4

Monitor type Color
PROM size

Serial Port
Unused

Floppy Disk FDC
Parallel Port

-----

On

See Table 4-2 in User's Guide
Enable*
Enable*

Enable*

Page 6 of 6

Off

Disable
Monochrome*

Disable
Disable*
Disable
Disable

-----

Product Support Bulletin

Subject:

Date:
Page:

The purpose of this bulletin is to provide the 80286 Accelerator board test
results, conducted by the Computer Product Support Center, involving the

SOTA 286i from SOTA Technology, Inc. and the 286 Express from PC

Technologies, Inc.
The Equity models tested were the Equity I, Equity II and Equity I+. All three

were tested with Norton Utilities and Windows/286. (The memory of the Equity

I used in the test was upgraded to 512K in order to accommodate

Windows/286.)
The table below shows compatibility and the Norton SI rating of the

various combinations.

Model
Equity I

Equity Compatibility with the SOTA 286i and the PC Technologies
286 Express

7/12/89
1 of 3

Accelerator
286 Express

Norton SI

NA

Compatibility

access 80286.

PSB No:
Originator: KAS +@

Not able to load driver to

S-0066A

Equity I

Equity II

Equity II

Equity I +

Equity I+

SOTA 286i

286 Express

SOTA 286i

286 Express

SOTA 286i

11.5

NA

13.7

16.5

13.7

Functioned normally with
Windows/286, Notion Utilities
and MS-DOS 2.11.

Not able to load driver to
access 80286.

Functioned normally with
Windows/286, Norton Utilities
and MS- DOS 3.1 and 3.2.

Functioned normally with
Windows/286, Norton Utilities
and MS - DOS 3.2.

Functioned normally with
Windows/286, Norton Utilities
and MS - DOS 3.2.