{"id":22960,"date":"2025-12-06T11:14:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-06T16:14:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/?page_id=22960"},"modified":"2026-06-22T14:42:30","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T18:42:30","slug":"vin179","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin179\/","title":{"rendered":"Raven 386-25 PC"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-5xl  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n            <div class=\"cu-textmedia flex flex-col lg:flex-row mx-auto gap-6 md:gap-10 my-6 md:my-12 first:mt-0 max-w-5xl\">\n        <div class=\"justify-start cu-textmedia-content cu-prose-first-last\" style=\"flex: 0 0 100%;\">\n            <header class=\"font-light prose-xl cu-pageheader md:prose-2xl cu-component-updated cu-prose-first-last\">\n                                    <h1 class=\"cu-prose-first-last font-semibold !mt-2 mb-4 md:mb-6 relative after:absolute after:h-px after:bottom-0 after:bg-cu-red after:left-px text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl lg:leading-[3.5rem] pb-5 after:w-10 text-cu-black-700 not-prose\">\n                        Raven 386-25 PC\n                    <\/h1>\n                \n                                \n                            <\/header>\n\n                    <\/div>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\">Vintage Computing Collection<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"raven-386-25-pc\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Raven 386-25 PC<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>[Vin179]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/B_Logo_V-RGBRedBlackonLight150_130821.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"160\" height=\"142\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/B_Logo_V-RGBRedBlackonLight150_130821-160x142.png\" alt=\"Carleton U Logo\" class=\"wp-image-20435\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/B_Logo_V-RGBRedBlackonLight150_130821-160x142.png 160w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/B_Logo_V-RGBRedBlackonLight150_130821-240x213.png 240w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/B_Logo_V-RGBRedBlackonLight150_130821-768x682.png 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/B_Logo_V-RGBRedBlackonLight150_130821-400x355.png 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/B_Logo_V-RGBRedBlackonLight150_130821-1536x1363.png 1536w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/B_Logo_V-RGBRedBlackonLight150_130821-2048x1818.png 2048w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/B_Logo_V-RGBRedBlackonLight150_130821-360x320.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 160px) 100vw, 160px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Raven desktop computer was a Carleton University branded PC clone from the 1980&#8217;s to 2000&#8217;s. They offered quality components and similar specs comparable to the original IBM computers. Purchasing components and assembling the computers onsite was a cost effective way to deploy computers at the university. The Raven 80386DX had a Ctrl+Alt+Ins ROM monitor for diagnostics and 386-era troubleshooting and OS transitions from MS-DOS to Windows\/386.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Manufacturer<\/strong>: Assembled at Carleton University<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Type<\/strong>: Desktop computer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Release Date<\/strong>: 1992<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cost at release<\/strong>: ~$5,000 (adjusted for inflation)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>MIPS<\/strong>: ~7<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"hardware-specifications\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hardware Specifications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>CPU<\/strong>: Intel 80386DX at 20\/25 MHz (configurable).\u200b<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Memory<\/strong>: Standard 1-2 MB onboard DRAM (removable); maximum 20-32 MB via 8 sockets (2 banks of 4).\u200b<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cache<\/strong>: 32-64 KB secondary cache (e.g., proto-COAST module on some boards).\u200b<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Expansion<\/strong>: Multiple ISA slots for peripherals; typical AT-compatible bus.\u200b<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Storage<\/strong>: Supported 3.5&#8243;\/5.25&#8243; floppy drives and IDE\/ATAPI hard drives (configuration-dependent).\u200b<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Video\/Ports<\/strong>: Integrated or VGA-compatible options; serial, parallel, and keyboard ports standard.\u200b<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Power<\/strong>: Custom AT-style connector; full AT desktop form factor.\u200b<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Weight<\/strong>: ~12-15 kg<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"operating-system-programming-languages\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW136206418 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW136206418 BCX0\">Operating System &amp; Programming Languages<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW136206418 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:0}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Operating System<\/strong>: MS-DOS (versions like 3.3 to 6.22), Windows 386\/3.1<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Supported Languages<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Compiled Languages: C\/C++, Pascal, Fortran, COBOL, BASIC (e.g., Microsoft QuickBASIC, PowerBASIC), leveraging MS-DOS compilers and 386 optimizations.\u200b<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Interpreted Languages: GW-BASIC, batch scripting; later Python via ports or emulators.\u200b<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Assembly: 80386 assembly with tools like MASM or TASM for low-level development.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"notables\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Notables<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The &#8216;Raven&#8217; brand computer was a Carleton University branded computer. It was a PC clone assembled at the university and configured to faculty or staff requirements.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>First Intel x86 CPU with full 32-bit internal\/external architecture (275,000 transistors, 1.5 \u00b5m process), enabling 4 GB physical\/64 TB virtual addressing.\u200b<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Introduced protected mode multitasking, paging MMU, and 3-stage pipeline for 7 MIPS at 25 MHz (vs. 4-5 MIPS at 20 MHz).\u200b<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Supported on-chip debugging, coprocessor interface (i387), and pipelined bus at 25 MHz\/5V<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Donated by<\/strong>: Carleton University ITS (formerly CCS)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\">Vintage Computing Collection<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Raven 386-25 PC [Vin179] The Raven desktop computer was a Carleton University branded PC clone from the 1980&#8217;s to 2000&#8217;s. They offered quality components and similar specs comparable to the original IBM computers. Purchasing components and assembling the computers onsite was a cost effective way to deploy computers at the university. The Raven 80386DX had [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":19704,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cu_dining_location_slug":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"cu_page_type":[127,90,123],"class_list":["post-22960","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","cu_page_type-pc","cu_page_type-vintage-computing","cu_page_type-vintage-inventory"],"acf":{"cu_post_thumbnail":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22960","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22960"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22960\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25118,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22960\/revisions\/25118"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19704"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22960"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"cu_page_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_page_type?post=22960"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}