4386-VC-HD - MAME machine

Motherboard:

4386-VC-HD © 199? First International Computer

This board was manufactured by First International Computer (FIC), one of the most prolific Taiwanese motherboard manufacturers of the time. It is a "Socket 1" board, a unique platform that officially supported the Intel 486 (and clones), yet it was often marketed as a high-performance "386-style" board because it could accommodate certain late-era 386-to-486 upgrade processors or serve as a low-cost, entry-level 486 platform.

TECHNICAL
Chipset: It is powered by the VIA VT82C495 ("Venus") chipset. This chipset was a mid-to-high-end logic solution that offered solid performance and stable memory management.

Socket: Intel Socket 1 (supports 486SX, DX, and DX2 processors).

Memory: Typically equipped with 8 SIMM slots (30-pin), allowing for a high degree of memory configuration flexibility for its time.

Expansion: Features a standard mix of ISA slots and sometimes VLB (VESA Local Bus) slots, depending on the specific board revision.

Form Factor: Baby AT.

TRIVIA
The "Hybrid" Identity: The name 4386 was a marketing designation intended to signify versatility. While it is technically a 486-era motherboard, its release coincided with the decline of the 386. Manufacturers often used this nomenclature to help customers transition from their 386 systems without feeling like they were abandoning their existing peripheral ecosystem.

Design Quality: Unlike the "fiddly" or budget-oriented boards we cataloged earlier, FIC boards from the early 90s were generally considered high-quality "white box" staples. They were robust and reliable, which is why a high number of these boards are still functional for retro-gaming builds today.

CONTRIBUTE
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