> Using the PIC is not easy, but it will give you accurate time
 > on ALL machines.
 > BTW  counter 0 is the system timer
 >      counter 1 is for the DRAM refresh
 >      counter 2 is tied to the PC speaker.
 > if you want to speed up you computer a little you can lower the
 > DRAM
 > refresh rate.. Works  for me, I get about 5% increase...  just lower it
 > until you computer starts to crash then bring it back up a bit.
Your msg reminded me of some old old code I used to run on my 286 XT.  It 
fiddled with the DRAM refresh rate.  (I ended up incorporating the code in a 
more flexible utility, TOAD8254, and distributed it via SIMTEL20 (AKA SimTel) 
as public domain, .ASM source.)
So I fired up good old TOAD8254 and tried fiddling the refresh rates on this 
trusty old 486DX-33, trying various rates .. and discovered absolutely no 
difference in system speeds whatsoever.  How very odd .. obviously things are 
being done differently these days.
Donno _what_ is different, but poking the old 8254 doesn't seem to work any 
more.
---
---------------