IBM PS/ValuePoint Maintenance Guide

IBM PS/ValuePoint 325T. (Image: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0)

The IBM PS/ValuePoint is IBM's ISA-bus desktop and tower range of 1992 to 1995. The first models, type 6384, were announced on 20 October 1992 and the last Performance Series models were withdrawn in August 1995. IBM serviced the range at field-replaceable-unit (FRU) level, and its Hardware Maintenance Manual is the reference for everything below.

Safety

The power supply runs from the mains. Unplug the power cord before removing the cover, and treat the supply's primary side as live until its reservoir capacitor has been measured and found discharged. Read IBM's safety information before servicing; it includes a caution that a wrongly replaced battery can explode.

Identifying the machine

The machine type and model (for example 6381-Fxx or 6384-W52) identify the system board, memory type and power supply. IBM's support notes for the 6384 place the serial number under the key lock on the metal casing and on the back of the unit.

PS/ValuePoint generations

Group	Available	Types	Processors	System memory	Supply
1992 models	Oct 1992 - Jul 1993	6384	325T (386SLC-25); 425SX, 433DX, 466DX2	325T: 2 MB soldered, two 72-pin sockets, 16 MB max. 486: eight 30-pin sockets in two banks of four, 32 MB max	145 W
Spring 1993 (/S, /D, /T)	Apr - Dec 1993	6382, 6384, 6387	425SX, 433SX, 433DX, 466DX2	four 72-pin, 70 ns, 64 MB max	/S 100 W; /D, /T 200 W
Si	Aug 1993 - Nov 1994	6381	425SX, 433DX, 466DX2	four 72-pin, 70 ns, 64 MB max; industry-standard parity only	100 W
Fall 1993 (/D, /T)	Oct 1993 - Dec 1994	6384, 6387	425SX, 433SX, 433DX, 450DX2, 466DX2	four 72-pin, 70 ns, 64 MB max	200 W
P60/D	Oct 1993 - Apr 1995	6384	Pentium 60	four 72-pin, 70 ns, fitted in matched pairs, 128 MB max	200 W
Performance Series	May 1994 - Aug 1995	6472, 6482, 6484, 6492, 6494	433SX to DX4-100	four 72-pin, 70 ns, 128 MB max	/S 100 W; /D 200 W; /T 250 W

Dates, processors, memory and supply ratings are from IBM's product reference. All PS/ValuePoint memory is parity memory. 6382 /S, 6384 /D and 6387 /T system boards come in a shorter Type 1 and a longer Type 2; IBM replaces Type 1 only with Type 1 and Type 2 only with Type 2. IBM's notes for the 6384 466DX2/D tell them apart by the SIMM sockets: with the ports facing away, Type 1 sockets run left to right and Type 2 sockets front to back.

Documentation

• PS/ValuePoint Hardware Maintenance Manual, S61G-1423-01 (September 1993) covers the 6381, 6382, 6384 (including the P60/D) and 6387.
• PS/ValuePoint Hardware Maintenance Manual, S61G-1423-02 (August 1996) adds the 64xx types and corrects the power supply assignments.
• PS/ValuePoint Type 6387 Supplement, S71G-1875-00 (May 1993) gives parts lists for the 6384, 6384 /D and 6387 /T.
• Personal Systems Reference: IBM ValuePoint, 1992 to 1995 – withdrawn lists every model.

Cover and cover lock

The top cover slides onto the base frame and is held by the cover-release latch or latches and the cover lock. Some 6384 systems were shipped without cover lock keys; IBM's fix was a new cover lock assembly. IBM also noted that some systems will not power on or off because the cover is not seated properly. Exploded views of each type are on pp. 70-73 of the 1993 manual.

Power supply and voltage checks

Every 63xx supply is universal with a manual voltage selector switch, and accepts 90-137 V AC on the low range and 180-265 V AC on the high range. IBM's 6384 notes say the switch is preset to 230 V and must be set to 115 V on 115 V mains. Check it before connecting a machine of unknown history.

If the power-on light is off or the supply fan is not running, IBM checks the power cord and the voltage-selector switch, then measures at the system board connector with the supply cables connected to the board:

System board power connector limits (IBM)

Output	Range
+5 V	+4.75 to +5.25 V
−5 V	−4.5 to −5.5 V
+12 V	+11.4 to +12.6 V
−12 V	−10.8 to −13.2 V
Power Good	+4.75 to +5.25 V

If a voltage is out of range and the cord is good, IBM replaces the supply. Supply ratings and FRU numbers are listed in the capacitor replacement guide. On the 1992 6384 the supply is 145 W with a maximum of 10 W per adapter slot.

Clock battery and Setup

The battery is a lithium coin cell, FRU 33F8354 (CR2032), in a holder at B1 (325T boards) or BT1; the 6384 P60/D uses FRU 71G6630. IBM's ValuePoint manual gives no replacement voltage. For the same FRU 33F8354 in the PS/2 Model 95, Ardent Tool gives 2.5 to 3.7 V, measured out of the holder with the power off, and replacement below 2.5 V.

Setup (the Configuration Utility) is in ROM and is entered by pressing F1 while the memory count runs at power-on. There is no reference or starter diskette. After a battery change, run Setup to restore the date, time and configuration.

The 1992 6384 425SX, 433DX and 466DX2 boards have a J2 external battery connector and a JP8 battery select jumper.

Removing a forgotten power-on password

IBM's procedures, from the 1993 manual:

• 6381 and 6384 P60/D: remove the battery for 10 minutes, refit it and power on.
• 6384 325T: move the J8 jumper to join the centre pin and the pin at the opposite end, then power on. Leave the jumper there until the password is next reset.
• 6384 425SX, 433DX and 466DX2: move JP8 to pins 2 and 3, short across capacitor C17 momentarily, return JP8 to pins 1 and 2, then power on holding both mouse buttons and release them when the cursor appears. Run the Configuration Utility afterwards.
• 6382 /S, 6384 /D and 6387 /T: move the jumper on J9 (Type 1 board) or J15 (Type 2 board) to join the centre pin and the pin at the opposite end, then power on.

Memory

Memory rules differ by generation (see the table above). On the 1992 486 models the SIMMs go in as groups of four identical 30-pin modules, so the only configurations are 4, 8, 16, 20 and 32 MB. The 325T accepts 1, 2, 4 and 8 MB 72-pin SIMMs in either socket and recognises no more than 16 MB. The P60/D needs matched pairs because of its 64-bit memory bus. The 6381 takes only industry-standard parity SIMMs, not IBM-type parity. IBM's Symptom-to-FRU Index lists error 225 as unsupported memory.

Cache

External (L2) cache depends on the board:

• 1992 6384: none on the 325T and 425SX; 128 KB soldered and not upgradeable on the 433DX and 466DX2.
• 6381: none on the 425SX/Si; 128 KB or 256 KB field upgrade on the DX and DX2 boards.
• 6382 /S and 6384 /D: 128 KB or 256 KB; standard on the 466DX2, a field upgrade on the others.
• 6387 /T: 128 KB standard on the 466DX2 /T, upgradeable to 256 KB; a field upgrade on the 433DX /T.
• 6384 P60/D: 256 KB standard.

Type 1 boards use write-through cache and Type 2 boards write-back; IBM's 256 KB upgrades are FRU 92F0398 (write-through) and 92F0400 (write-back). IBM's action for error 12904 is to run diagnostics, then replace the L2 cache adapter.

Drives

Standard hard disks are 3.5-inch Slimline AT (IDE) drives of 80 to 527 MB; IBM's drive table gives geometry and power for each. Jumper settings are on pp. 68-69 of the 1993 manual. Every model has a 3.5-inch 1.44 MB diskette drive. A 2.88 MB drive does not work in the 1992 6384; the P60/D supports one, and the 64xx types list it as an option. The Alps diskette drive fitted to some machines has a surface-mount electrolytic capacitor beside its power connector that can leak; see the IBM PS/ValuePoint Capacitor Replacement Guide and Floppy Drive Repair.

IBM's optional 8-bit SCSI adapter is the Future Domain TMC-850IBM, factory set to BIOS address CA00h with interrupts disabled.

BIOS updates

IBM's flash BIOS images:

• 6381 (486SX/Si): L8JT52A.EXE.
• 6382, 6384 (VP2) and 6387: L6JT70A.EXE, version 70, released May 1997.
• 6384 P60/D: VPP60FL6.EXE.

The .EXE file builds a bootable update diskette. IBM's instructions are to write-protect that diskette immediately, because Windows 95, 98 or NT may make it unusable, then boot from it with the machine powered off first. The Intel P24T-83 Pentium OverDrive on the 466DX2/D needs BIOS version 68 or later, with the processor jumpers (J10 and J11 on Type 1, J17 and J18 on Type 2) in the OD position, towards the rear of the board.

Cleaning

• Blow dust out of the supply vents, fan and board with low-pressure air, holding the fan still.
• Clean adapter edge connectors and the riser sockets with contact cleaner if cards are unreliable.
• Inspect the battery holder, the diskette drive board and the supply for leaked electrolyte at each service.

Related pages

• IBM PS/ValuePoint
• IBM PS/ValuePoint Troubleshooting Guide
• IBM PS/ValuePoint Capacitor Replacement Guide
• Recommended Tools