Setting the Shadow RAM

Your computer can access RAM (random access memory) faster than ROM (read-only memory). The Shadow RAM feature enables the Equity 386SX/16 PLUS to copy the contents of its system BIOS and/or video ROM into RAM so it can perform certain operations faster.

The SETUP Shadow RAM option lets you choose what to place in the shadow RAM area:

Ll System

0 Video

Ll System and video

D None.

Select System+Video unless you have installed a memory card or video card that provides its own shadow RAM (in which case you can select just System or just Video). Select None if you do not want to use the Shadow RAM function.

Note

Shadow RAM uses 128KB of the RAM available between 640KB and 1MB in your system (384KB). If you use the shadow RAM feature, 256KB of this memory is available for use as extended or expanded memory. If you do not use shadow RAM, you can use all of the 384KB of RAM as extended memory, but only 256KB of it as expanded memory, See “Using Expanded Memory Above 640KB” in Chapter 4 for more information.

2-10 Running the Setup Program