Packard Bell, PB 770 System Types

You are viewing a page from Ray's Packard Bell Web Site Almost Everything You Need to Know About Your Packard Bell Computer



		Packard Bell 770 System Type What Packard Bell does and does not tell you.			This site made with this PB Updated August 29, 1998

The information on this page was received via email, I don't know about the accuracy of this info since I have not seen any PB documentation about this system. If you know some thing about the 770 please let me know and anyplace I am wrong please contact me.

Click here to go to Ray's Packard Bell Site

What does this sytem look like?	Can I upgrade a 770 motherboard?	Sound	L2 Cache
What does the motherboard look like?	Why not?	Video	RAM
What models have the PB 770 motherboard?	How to open the case?	BIOS	Battery
Why did Packard Bell not give me an manual?	CPU	Chipset	Riser card

Ray's recommendation - if you are planning on buying one of these system, think twice. It is more of a disposable computer and you can not upgrade it. Some people may like it, I like the looks, but I do not like the fact that it can not be upgraded. Plus the 14 inch monitor that comes with it is too small for today's applications. If you do not plan to upgrade your sytem, then this may be the model for you. The price is right for this type of system. Otherwise check out the other Packard Bell models, they have a lot of good new systems.

What does this sytem look like?

The computers in the 770 System type come in the B2 case, which is not a traditional PB case. This case is even smaller then the 3X3 and can be seen below on the right. The B2 case has only 2 bays, for CD ROm and the 3.5 floppy. As you can see the PB and the Compaq look very much alike. In there competion one of these two companies is following what the other has done. The Compaq has it's speekers in the case, where as the PB has them in on the monitor. The PB computers speakers come with the monitor, not with the computer. To get the speakers you must buy the special PB monitor that come with it, that is only a 14 inch.


Compaq	Packard Bell

What else can I say, these two computer (though lacking upgradability) appar to be a great value if you add up the cost of parts. However I have no data showing the performance of them and if they lack the L2 cache then they may be slower then the average computer. I would buy one of these sytems only if I did not intend to upgrade it in the future.

What does the motherboard look like?

here is one persons description of this board:

"This is an 'all in one' motherboard - video, hard drive cont., etc are on the motherboard. The unfortunate part is that this thing has NO, and I am still stunned, NO expansion slots.The motherboard looks sort of like the 680 picture (actually it kind of resmbles serveral of them), but the 2 SIMM slots are where the CPU is, and the CPU is to the right. The 770 doesn't have the riser slot, or video in ports." - Craig

What models have the PB 770 motherboard? (I am guessing that all B2 case types have the 770 motherboard, please tell me if I am wrong). Read more about them, at the PB site, by clicking on links.

Multimedia L191

Multimedia L197

Multimedia L197+

D1000

Why did Packard Bell not give me a manual?

I don't know, ask them. I guess they would rather you did not know anything about your system. I think they should have given you a manual, even if it says that you can not upgrade. That is why I created this web page, to make up for Packard Bell lack of customer support. There is no known .mvb file for this system, if you want info Packard Bell is the only source I know of.

Can I upgrade a 770 motherboard?

NO, this system was designed by Packard Bell to be non upgradable. Every page of the PB docs reads:

"NOTE This system is not recommended to be upgraded."

Opining the case will void the warranty and can be dangerous due to an exposed power supply.

Why not?

Packard Bell has designed this computer to be as non upgradable as possible.

First, the power supply is compleately open inside, this makes it dangerous when the machine is open.
In order to replace the hard drive or CD rom or floppy the whole assembly must be taken apart. Not an easy job and should not be tried by the user.
No free RAM slots.
Most system are shipped without a riser card.

How to open the case?

You are not supposed to open the case.

I was told the following:

" NOTE: There are no user upgradeable parts in this system except the BIOS. Anyone, other than Packard Bell authorized technicains, opening the case will void the warranty!"

I know you want to anyway. I will tell you, but remember it is dangerous in the case with all that ESD and open power supply. I have warned you and I am not responsible if you decide to open your case.

Packard Bell has turned away from the standard screws and has added an allen screw to throw you off. They really want to keep you out of this thing, next they will probably weld them shut. But for now the only special tool required is an Allen wrench. Take out the one Allen screw, and thenthe 2 phillips screws and its open. Then you just have to wiggle the front free.

Sound

An Aztech AZT2320 (R2) Super Intergrated Audio Chip (onbord SND4) is on the motherboard.

Video

The video is an ATI-264vt Graphics Controller. I was told that the PB770 can be upgraded to 2MB of Video memory by a 1 MB DRAM Memory Expansion Module. The video memory upgrade is inserted in sockets U2J1 and U3J1. Pin 1 is at the front right corner of the socket. To install the chip, insert it into the socket and push until the chip snaps into place.

Maximum Capabilities: 1024 x 768, 256 colors with 1MB

1280 x 1024, 256 colors with 2MB

Note: Some of the PB770 models have variations that can not be upgraded.

BIOS

BIOS Made By
System BIOS	Video BIOS	Audio BIOS
Phoenix	ATI	Aztech

BIOS Upgrade Information - The PB770 uses an IBM XT/AT compatible Phoenix ROM BIOS which is stored in the Intel E28F002BX-T80 2M bit Flash EPROM. The flash EPROMs can be erased and reprogrammed using normal voltages available inside a PC. For this reason, the BIOS can be easily upgraded using the BIOS update program (FMUP.EXE). BIOS identification, which include the revision code, is displayed during POST. Future BIOS upgrades may be available from Packard Bell Electronics, Inc.

In addition to the the Flash EPROM contains Power-On Self Test (POST), BIOS recovery code, video BIOS, and the PCI auto-configuration utility. BIOS Upgrade Utility: The Flash Memory Update Program

(FMUP) provides three utilities.

1.The BIOS can be updated from a file.

2.The current BIOS code can be copied from the Flash EPROM to a disk file as a backup. 3.The current BIOS can be compared with a file on the disk.

BIOS Upgrade Procedure: The Flash Memory Update Program (FMUP) performs the following steps.

1.Boot the system with the BIOS upgrade diskette in the A: drive.

2.This message will appear on the screen:

PB770PC release 3.00.d 08-02-95 Phoenix BIOS ver 4.05.2 will be Up/Dn graded. INTEL PnP BIOS Extensions-Rel 1.1u NJS ID: 99J-123-208 Press CTRL-C to cancel BIOS change.

3.Press any key to continue.

4.This Menu will appear on the screen:

Performing the following function:

®Load initialization file (PLATFORM.BIN)

Backup System BIOS ROM

®Load BIOS ROM image file (A50OK002.ROM)

Identify flash memory type

Flash Memory block:

Save block

Restore block

Zero Out block

Erase block

Program block

Verify block

Flash programming complete

A status bar will also appear on the bottom of the screen, showing percentage complete.

5.When the procedure is complete a message box will appear:

"Phoenix Flash Status

Flash memory has been successfully programmed

PRESS ANY KEY TO REBOOT THE SYSTEM"

6.Remove the diskette from drive A: and press ant key to reboot.

7.The process is now complete.

BIOS Recovery: It is unlikely that anything will interrupt the flash upgrade process. However, if an interruption occurs that prevents continuing with the upgrade, it is possible the BIOS may be left in an unusable state.

The following steps show how to recover from this situation.

1. Locate and move the "Flash Normal/Flash Recovery" jumper block at JP10 from pins 1-2 to pins 2-3.

2. Insert the BIOS upgrade diskette and reboot the system. Note that no video is available during this procedure.

3. The system beeps once and will start copying the recovery code into the CMOS Flash memory. The system will beep twice as the recovery completes.

4. Shut off the system and move the jumper block on JP10 from pins 2-3 back to pins 1-2.

5. Leave the BIOS upgrade diskette in the floppy drive, continue with the original upgrade following the procedure described in the preceding BIOS Upgrades section.

Chipset

Intel®82437VX Triton System Controller

Intel®82438VX(TDX) Triton Data Path

Intel®82371SB PCI/ISA Bridge

Aztech®AZT2320 (R2) Super Integrated Audio Chip

I/O Controller is a SMC FDC37C93X Super I/O Controller

L2 Cache

The motherboard comes with:

16KB L1 (Internal} write-back cache (integrated in the CPU) (The L1 always comes in the CPU)

256KB L2 (External) write-through with write buffers cache soldered on the motherboard Not upgradeable.

Note: Some motherboards may also come with no L2 cache and are also not upgradeable. I would not buy a system without the L2 cache. If the system does not say on it that it comes with L2 cache then it probably does not have it.

RAM

Standard RAM is 8 or 16 MB factory installed, but the system is capable of having 64 MB of memory. There are no free RAM slots so you will need to take out the original two SIMMs and add two new ones that have more total MB of RAM. Standard 4/8/16/32 MB 72-pin SIMMs can be installed running at 60 or 70 ns, both EDO and Fast Paged RAM. It Supports only non-parity DRAM

SIMM Type (Amount) (Socket 0)	SIMM Type (Amount) (Socket 1)	Total System Memory
1M X 32 (4 MB)	1M X 32 (4 MB)	8 MB
2M X 32 (8 MB)	2M X 32 (8 MB)	16 MB
4M X 32 (16 MB)	4M X 32 (16 MB)	32 MB
8M X 32 (32 MB)	8M X 32 (32 MB)	64 MB
NOTE: Any memory upgrades must consist of two identical SIMMs. Mismatched SIMMs, or using only one SIMM can result in memory failure and may damage the SIMMs.

Battery

Yet another feature of the non upgradable computer. The Lithium battery is soldered onto the motherboard, so you better hope it does not go bad. The battery is a 3V Lithium.

Riser card

This system type can have a riser card, most system (I have been told) are shipped with out one. You can expect to pay around $90 for one if it is not included. These risers may have one pci or 1 isa slot. I was told that the pci slot is not advertised and stores are told not to tell people that it exists. Remember, these systems are not supposed to be upgradable.

CPU

321-pin Type 7 Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) CPU Socket. Disable cache to slow down the system (Who would want to slow their system down?).

The 770 Motherboard can accommodate the following CPUs:
Intel Pentium 75 MHz	Intel Pentium 90 MHz
Intel Pentium 100 MHz	Intel Pentium 120 MHz
Intel Pentium 133 MHz	Intel Pentium 150 MHz
Intel Pentium 166 MHz	Intel Pentium 200 MHz

CPU Speed Jumper Settings:

JP8	JP7	Clock Frequency	JP5	JP4	Clock Frequency Multiplyer
Off	Off	55 MHz	1-2	1-2	X1.5
Off	On	60 MHz	2-3	1-2	X2.0
On	Off	66.6 MHz	2-3	2-3	X2.5
On	On	50 MHz	1-2	2-3	X3.0
The Processor voltage can be changed with the JP6 jumper 1-2 gives VR (3.3) and 2-3 gives VRE (3.5V)

So what does all that mean, the actual speeds that the 770 motherboard are capable of range from 75 MHz to 200 MHz and anyplace in between. Different clock frequencies can be obtained by changing the above jumpers to the desired settings, however if you are thinking about overclocking, remember that these sytems are not meant to be opened.

I have no data of a PowerLeap adapter or overdrives being used on this system.

Other Jumpers

Flash	JP10		Open Normal	Closed Record
Password Clear	JP12		Open Save	Closed Clear

This is one of the newer PB motherboards and we know little about it so far. This page is everything I know about the 770, I do not own one myself so this information is limited to email I receive and looking at them at the local computer stores.. Thanks Chuck, Unforgiven, Craig and Aaron for supplying information. If you know more please contact me the info to post so I can share it with others.