Hardware
GCT MediaGX Boards
Introduction
GCT makes many different Cyrix MediaGX integrated motherboards. Their
product offerings tend to lag behind Cyrix's current product by
roughly six to eight months. Their low power consumption and compact
integration of just about every PC component make them extremely handy
boards for single-board computer projects. The 266 MHz version of
this board is also available in the Micro-ATX form factor -- this
practically eliminates the ribbon cable clutter characteristic of
baby-AT systems.
Integrated Hardware
Cyrix MediaGX systems are great for all-in-one-piece projects. The
CPU is always sold with the motherboard because it must be matched
with the appropriate companion chip which is a permanently mounted BGA
package. The CPU and companion supply the system with PCI video and
ISA audio along with the EIDE and other peripherals. Cyrix is
reportedly planning to integrate the system even further to a one-chip
solution. Currently, GCT tends to supplant the built-in MGX audio
with C-Media sound chipsets which makes them a better value than the
other MGX boards on the market since the MediaGX sound is very long in
the tooth. The 233 MHz version uses the Cx5520 companion which gives
regular EIDE, no USB, and no TV-OUT. Newer boards use the Cx5530
companion which gives you PCI audio and busmastering UDMA/33, USB, and
TV-OUT.
Identification
I have so far dealt with the GCT 7520 (ST-MGXm) board which is a 233
MHz MMX system with the Cx5520 companion and a CM8330A sound chipset.
It has a blank space where an EISA card slot would go and has other
spaces for missing components. The newer boards with the Cx5530
companion have much better features.
Comments and Experiences
This board has a single ISA slot and two PCI slots. You can add two
PCI cards fairly simply but there just isn't much room for expansion
if you have to add an ISA card with another PCI card. The fact that
the CM8330A forces you to have both a SB16 and a Windows Sound System
device severely limits your IRQ selections since those IRQ's cannot be
shared. This is similar to the CM8330 on the TXPRO II but without the
3D Audio and Wavetable features. See my description of the PCChips
TXPRO II system elsewhere on this site for more details on this family
of integrated audio chipsets.
This board is now being sold for about $90 with the CPU. It's a good
simple system -- especially as a Unix server or a place to park all
your old storage peripherals. The 266 MHz and upcoming 300 MHz boards
with the Cx5530 and higher companion chips will make this system even
better. Ensure your dealer sells the CPU and the motherboard as
one unit.
Be sure to install the video and sound drivers on this board! Like
many other video cards, the video subsystem absolutely requires the
special MediaGX accelerated drivers. The "standard VGA" emulation is
unworkable. If you plan to use this system with operating systems
other than Windows make sure you can find accelerated drivers for
MediaGX or you will be sorely disappointed in its default video
performance. The same could be said of the audio system.
URLs
Wikipedia articles (includes my contributions):
Wikipedia: MediaGX
Wikipedia:
Geode (Processor)
Wikipedia: Cyrix
GCT Tech: http://www.gcttech.com
Computer Parts Only: http://cponly.com/
Disclaimer
This information is constantly being updated. Please check back often
or contribute your own comments at the contact link at the
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