Re: Image quality fix for Voodoo1 and 2 cards

Posted on 2024-02-06, 14:39

by

by kaputnik

in Marvin \ Video

in Marvin \ Video

Yours probably have a peaking low-pass filters, that's what the CLC things do normally. They will boost things at a specific resolution but are detrimental to everything else (except EMC stuff). In any case bypassing these will improve higher resolutions a lot, I get rid of them on every card I …

---

Re: Image quality fix for Voodoo1 and 2 cards

Posted on 2024-02-06, 11:33

by

by kaputnik

in Marvin \ Video

in Marvin \ Video

Excellent ~ Yeah, I'm very happy with the results, thanks for the inspiration :) Might try bypassing the output filters tonight and see if that improves the picture further. Sometimes I wonder if they're there only to meet EMI regulations rather than improving the output quality, wouldn't be the …

---

Re: Image quality fix for Voodoo1 and 2 cards

Posted on 2024-02-05, 22:56

by

by kaputnik

in Marvin \ Video

in Marvin \ Video

Finally got around to attempt this fix on my Voodoo 1 card :) Ordered 10 bus switches, both to keep as spares for future fixes, and as a safeguard in case of the screwups I was certain I'd do. Those things are small and my eyesight isn't getting better with age... Began with replacing the original …

---

Re: What is the fastest practical DOS build?

Posted on 2024-02-05, 09:03

by

by kaputnik

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

If you ask me, a DOS build needs ISA, there's really no way around it. Also found that builds around exotic stuff like industrial mobos etc from the time when ISA was really obsoleted seldom are worth the trouble, there's just too much that doesn't work, or demands insane amounts of tinkering to …

---

Re: What is the fastest practical DOS build?

Posted on 2024-02-04, 08:56

by

by kaputnik

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

If you ask me, a DOS build needs ISA, there's really no way around it. Also found that builds around exotic stuff like industrial mobos etc from the time when ISA was really obsoleted seldom are worth the trouble, there's just too much that doesn't work, or demands insane amounts of tinkering to get …

---

Re: Dead 486! Anyone able to repair what I can't?

Posted on 2024-02-01, 12:11

by

by kaputnik

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

I don't have experience with these POST cards so I maybe have a stupid question...is the last displayed code (07) the one trying to be tested (the card displays it at the beginning of the test), or the last one successfully tested (the card displays it at the end of the test)? I wonder if the …

---

Re: Dead 486! Anyone able to repair what I can't?

Posted on 2024-02-01, 09:23

by

by kaputnik

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

I tried it in the ISA slot, and we have some information! All but the Reset light is on (due to the reset jumper not being active, obviously) and I'm given the code "07 06". No, there's no beep; and that's after attaching the speaker wires. If previous footage/photos/memory of mine is anything to …

---

Re: Dead 486! Anyone able to repair what I can't?

Posted on 2024-01-31, 09:54

by

by kaputnik

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Remove any cards or peripherals that you don't need (sound, drive controllers etc), pare it down to just PSU/MB/CPU/RAM/Video. Reseat everything, including ram, cpu etc. Check all jumper settings. Start there. In addition to the quoted suggestions, try using the POST card with an ISA port instead. …

---

Re: 40 pin 80 wire IDE cable materials

Posted on 2024-01-27, 22:08

by

by kaputnik

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

majinga wrote on 2024-01-27, 21:34: Also beware. Crimp this type of cable by hand is a pain in the ass. It's not that bad if you're careful. Done it numerous times with just a watchmaker's vise, no special tools at all 😀

---

Re: 40 pin 80 wire IDE cable materials

Posted on 2024-01-27, 21:21

by

by kaputnik

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Keep in mind the 80 pin PATA cable is solid conductor, hence the stiff, bendy. Cheers, I have a few multi strand examples in my collection. They are nice and bendy Yep, seen both variants too. The single strand ones are considerably more common though. The question I’ve always had is electrically …

---

Re: 40 pin 80 wire IDE cable materials

Posted on 2024-01-27, 13:44

by

by kaputnik

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

I think the pitch may be 1.27mm core center to core center I'm sorry. I used to think that I recently researched into obtaining those connectors and found some, but my mind failed on me. The (discarded) idea was to use pre-made 80-conductor IDE cables for a different purpose, because of their cheap …

---

40 pin 80 wire IDE cable materials

Posted on 2024-01-27, 07:15

by

by kaputnik

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Trying to source materials to press my own 40 pin 80 wire "UDMA IDE cables". Having a hard time finding anything but regular 40 pin IDC connectors, without the common ground connection for every other wire. Does anyone here happen to know the correct name/designation of the connectors used for 40 …

---

Re: Cool ATX Case Design Recommendation?

Posted on 2024-01-18, 10:56

by

by kaputnik

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

The old Powermac G5 cheese grater case is a personal favorite. It can easily be modded to house ATX stuff. I also love the Jonsbo U4. They have other great looking cases aswell. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/Power_Mac_G5_hero_left.jpg https://datatronic.fi/975915-large_default/ …

---

Re: I recently found this hardware, AKA the Dumpster find thread.

Posted on 2024-01-16, 20:17

by

by kaputnik

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Not very retro, but did my best dumpster find ever a while ago :D A Thinkcentre M720q tiny form factor system, with a Core i5-9500T CPU, 8GB RAM, 500GB NVMe HDD, etc. Lenovo's support page states that it even has a few months of warranty left. Found it in pieces, but nothing was missing, and it …

---

Re: Mystery MR. BIOS EPROM I got on eBay

Posted on 2023-12-28, 21:57

by

by kaputnik

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

My TL866-II couldn't detect the chip properly, but my GQ-3X detected it as an AMD AM27C256 and I dumped it as that. I can take another look at it tonight, but I'm really reluctant to pull off the sticker to find out. It just looks so damn nice lol. But as a MR. BIOS enjoyer I also want every …

---

Re: Scroll wheel support in Windows 98 SE?

Posted on 2023-12-28, 04:22

by

by kaputnik

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

There's no KVM switch or something like that between mouse and computer? Sometimes old PS/2 switches can't handle scroll wheels.

---

Re: Fan size for old retro case

Posted on 2023-12-28, 04:19

by

by kaputnik

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

The standard mounting hole C/C for 80mm fans is 71.5 mm, so I'd suspect a measurement error, but that's close enough even if your measurement is correct. You can always use M3 screws and nuts if the hole pattern is too tight for fan/M4 screws 😀

---

Re: Award Modular BIOS v4.51PGM chip

Posted on 2023-12-03, 20:17

by

by kaputnik

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Sure, here it is https://theretroweb.com/motherboard/image/sy-4saw-6307822fb9576539738561.jpg The battery drain isn't necessarily related to it, but it at least looks like the diode D2 right below the battery in your pic has been teared off. If I'm to guess its an 1N4148 or similar signal diode. …

---

Re: Switching on old computers after long period of being switched off

Posted on 2023-12-01, 09:51

by

by kaputnik

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

I'm usually starting with a visual inspection inside the device, looking for swollen caps, leaking batteries, discolored/burnt PCB laminate, physical damage, foreign objects, etc, and general cleaning. If there are fans, I'm making sure they rotate freely. Then it's time for the capacitor reforming …

---

Re: Creating 80186 Based System

Posted on 2023-11-29, 11:07

by

by kaputnik

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Another obscure 80186 based system is the 80s Swedish school computer Compis. It's very much a product of its time. The politicians and state, led by the social democrats more or less uninterrupted since 40 years back then, of course knew best what the kids needed for their education, and ordered …

---