ITX-Llama FAQs

What do I need in addition to the ITX-Llama board?

You'll need:

  • The Vortex86EX system-on-module (SOM).

  • An ATX-compatible Power Supply Unit (PSU).

  • An AGP graphics card.

  • A microSD card, USB flash drive, or SATA SSD or hard drive.

When do you expect to ship this batch?

We are expecting to start shipping to customers in February 2025. Buyers will be informed of any delays.

Are deposits refundable?

Unfortunately, deposits are not refundable. If you have paid in full and you would like to cancel your order, 33% (the deposit portion) of it will not be refundable.

When do I have to pay the remainder of the total amount?

The remainder of the payment will be processed automatically by November 15, 2024. This date is subject to change if we face delays during the sample testing phases. We will keep everyone informed about any changes.

Can we return the board?

Unless there is a clear manufacturing defect in the board, we will not be accepting any returns. Please read more about this in our Refund Policy.

What's the performance of this system like?

  • CPU Clock Speed: 60-500 MHz.

  • Cache: L1 and L2 caches can be enabled or disabled.

  • Performance:

    • At 500 MHz with caches enabled, comparable to an Intel Pentium 233 MMX.

    • At 60 MHz with caches disabled, similar to a 386.

Can I use an AGP riser to mount AGP graphics cards into modern compact ITX cases?

At this time, it is recommended that risers and 90-degree adapters be avoided until further testing is done. AGP has strict timing tolerances, which likely means most adapters won't work reliably. Plan to use low-profile AGP cards if small cases are desired.

Does the ITX-Llama support adding a PicoGUS (or other ISA peripherals)?

Unfortunately, no. The Vortex86EX has a stripped-down ISA interface with only a single DMA channel, which is used by the Crystal sound chip.

Can I connect an optical drive?

Yes. You can either use a SATA optical drive connected to the onboard SATA port or an IDE to SATA adapter paired with an IDE optical drive. IDE optical drives typically have audio output, which can be connected to the onboard Crystal sound card.

What kind of PSU should I use?

Any kind will work! The board and CPU use very little power, only a few watts. The AGP card may draw more, but the overall system power consumption will still be comfortably lower than what every modern PSU can deliver. PicoPSUs can be used to save space.

Should the SOM be actively cooled?

It likely won't need active cooling if you have some airflow through the case. However, if you plan to overclock the CPU or have limited airflow, a fan can be mounted above the SOM using the four holes around the SOM pin headers on the motherboard. There are also three independently controllable fan pin headers (via the BIOS settings menu) on the board. These follow the standard 4-pin PWM fan specification and can be set to provide 5V or 12V using jumpers.

What kind of Ethernet controller is used?

The Vortex86EX has a built-in RDC R6040 Fast Ethernet (10/100Mbit) controller. This controller has drivers for both DOS and Windows 98.

What kind of USB standard is supported?

  • Standard Ports: The two connectors below the Ethernet port are USB 2.0. Flash drives plugged in can either act as fixed disks or removable storage, configurable in the BIOS.

  • HID Ports: Two USB HID-only ports for connecting modern USB keyboards and mice. The HID protocol is translated into PS/2 using an RP2040 chip on the motherboard, making the devices appear as regular PS/2 input devices to the operating system.

What kind of serial communication does the board offer?

  • COM1: Standard DE-9M connector with a high-voltage (+/- 12V) RS-232 transceiver, supporting speeds of at least 115200 baud. All 8 signal lines are available.

  • COM2: TTL logic-level (5V) UART connected to the ESP8266 module and an internal pin header, capable of speeds up to 3 Mbps.

What's the deal with the ESP8266 module?

This module offers an emulated Hayes-compatible modem (on COM2) that connects to your WiFi network. This allows you to:

  • Connect to BBSes on telnet (there are still many out there!) the old-school way.

  • Access the internet on Windows 98 using dial-up networking.

How do I connect a keyboard and mouse?

You can use either real PS/2 keyboards/mice or modern USB variants. Configuration is done using jumpers.

What's the sound card on this board?

The sound card is the Crystal Semi / Cirrus Logic CS4237B, which is Sound Blaster Pro 2 and Windows Sound System compatible. Features include:

  • Built-in Adlib/OPL3 FM synth.

  • A powerful mixer for various input sources.

  • Analog line-level and digital (S/PDIF) audio output via a TOSLink optical transmitter.

What's the point of the internal OPL3 header receptacle?

While the CS4237B's emulated OPL3 synth is respectable, it isn't a perfect 1:1 implementation of the Yamaha YMF262 (OPL3). By plugging in an OPL3 module, you get authentic OPL3 hardware using real Yamaha chips. This provides subtle but noticeable sound quality improvements.

What are my options for audio input/output?

  • Outputs: Analog (line-level) and digital (S/PDIF) audio.

  • Inputs: Microphone (with a built-in pre-amp), line-in, and analogue CD audio.

    • Line-in can be set (using jumpers) to either the external 3.5mm jack or internal sources such as a wavetable plugin card or a software-based MT-32/MIDI synth on a Raspberry Pi.

What kind of internal synthesizers can I use?

  • Wavetable Connector: 26-pin connector for MIDI wavetable cards (e.g., X2, X2GS, X16, X16GS from Serdashop).

  • Raspberry Pi Connector: Two 40-pin connectors for Raspberry Pi boards. Options include:

    • Pi 3 or 4: Connected via a 40-pin ribbon cable.

    • Pi Zero 2: Directly plugged into the female connector.

    • Software options include mt32-pi for MT-32 emulation and General MIDI or nuked-sc55 on a Pi 4 for Roland SC-55 emulation.

What about the game port connector?

The game port connector supports joystick/gamepad input through the Crystal sound card and MIDI input/output for external synths (e.g., Roland MT-32 or SC-55) using a standard gameport-to-MIDI breakout cable.

What's the AGP compatibility of the ITX-Llama?

  • Connector: 3.3V-keyed, compatible with AGP cards with the 3.3V-notch or universal cards with two notches. 1.5V-only cards are not compatible.

  • Protocol: AGP 1x, converted from PCI Express x1 (gen 1) to PCI at 66 MHz using an onboard PI7C9X118 chip.

  • Tested Cards: Radeon 9200/9250 and Voodoo3, both excellent matches.

Does the board have front panel connectors?

Yes, it includes connectors for a power button, reset button, power LED, and SD card activity LED.

Does the board have a PC speaker?

Yes, it includes:

  • An internal speaker with two volume settings (configured by jumper).

  • A pin header for an external speaker.

Which operating systems are supported?

MS-DOS, FreeDOS, and early Windows (3.1, 95, 98).

Which storage devices can be booted from and run an operating system?

All supported storage devices, including microSD, USB, and SATA.

Is the game <INSERT GAME> supported?

This is a real 486/Pentium class system with well-supported hardware options and features. Each game is different, and may require some tweaks and patience, just like it did on hardware of the era. Feel free to reach out in Discord if you have specific questions.

My question isn't listed here. Where can I learn more?

Try asking in the ITX-Llama thread on the Vogons forum or join the Discord server.