Most certainly I’m aware of the conflicting information on the 7496 – but you’ve done quite well in showing the different points. Personally, I don’t even believe that IBM did the initial design of the 8086-based Model 30. Unless there comes a point where insiders are revealing valid details it would be impossible to know, but we’re doing a deeper dive into all the information we can find – and the more discoveries are happening.

Just within the last month we have figured out that the 8086-based Model 25 BIOS supports a Real-Time Clock! There is a second System Descriptor Table that reports an RTC and code that checks for its presence to return the correct table entry. This was a forgotten detail with the 7690 “Clinical Workstation” being based on a Model 25 planar, but substituting a Model 30 BIOS to run the RTC chip on an added riser – and that is what happens on these “Manufactured for IBM” systems too.

Thanks for that clarification, I’ll revise the post when I get a chance, and also link to Ardent Tool. As you’re well aware, there’s some conflicting information out there about the 7496.

Both Roman (‘Epictronics’) and I appreciate links to our channels/videos too – Thank You!