AST RESEARCH, INC.        TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 0930                   5-10-94



            POWEREXEC 4/25 SLOWING DOWN TO 23 MHz WHILE RUNNING
                  NORTON’S SYSTEM INFORMATION DIAGNOSTICS

PROBLEM:        When the Modify Refresh Rate setting in CMOS Setup is set to
                DISABLE, the system processor speed seems to slow down to
                23Mhz.  This is verified by diagnostic programs such as
                Norton’s System Information.

CAUSE:          AST 2.22 BIOS introduced the Modify Refresh Rate option to
                enhance compatibility with older software programs.  Disabling
                the Modify Refresh Rate may diminish the performance of the
                system by approximately 8%.

SYSTEMS
AFFECTED:       All PowerExec 4/25 notebook computers with AST BIOS 2.22 or
                higher.

SOLUTION:       ENABLE the default CMOS setting for Modify Refresh Rate.  When
                enabled, diagnostic programs will report that the system speed
                is running at 25 Mhz.