VLB, not ISA

kingcake wrote on 2024-03-29, 22:28:

VLB, not ISA

Is it any good / can you tell me anything about it.

Tried searching for it and can't really find anything useful online.

Is this a card I would want to use?

It is a 2MB DRAM model, I have one such too and it works very well in both DOS but especially in Windows due to hardware acceleration for GDI. It doesn't have the compatibility of S3 or cirrus cards with some EGA games but it is definitely among the faster cards in DOS and has better image quality than most other VLB cards.

Tiido wrote on 2024-03-30, 08:21:

It is a 2MB DRAM model, I have one such too and it works very well in both DOS but especially in Windows due to hardware acceleration for GDI. It doesn't have the compatibility of S3 or cirrus cards with some EGA games but it is definitely among the faster cards in DOS and has better image quality than most other VLB cards.

Cool, I wonder why I can't find anything about it, do you know what the card is called, or is it just a "Mach64 VLB"

The other Mach64's I see online can be expanded to 4mb so I wonder why this one is different.

I guess I will have to plug it in and test out if it's 2MB or 4MB

ATI Graphics Xpression
Part Number 109-30300-00
FCC ID EXM301

https://www.vogonswiki.com/index.php/ATI#Mach_64

The DRAM Graphics Xpression was ATI's last VLB card and was a reduced cost model because VLB was nearly obsolete at the time. Judging by the markings on the chips, it looks like a 2MB card and isn't expandable. It's still a highly desirable card, hard to find, expensive to buy.

Compared to the VRAM based Graphics Pro Turbo (109-26900-30) , it has lower capabilities in high resolution/high refresh rate modes in windows, but is a little faster in frame buffer type applications, a.k.a. DOS games. Graphics Pro Turbo also had sockets for a memory expansion daughter board.

There was an earlier version of the DRAM based Graphics Xpression that was part number 109-27800-10. Similar card, but more complicated layout. Re: Modifying an ATI Mach64 VLB 2 MB into 4 MB card without a memory card

douglar wrote on 2024-03-30, 14:38:

ATI Graphics Xpression Part Number 109-30300-00 FCC ID EXM301 […]
Show full quote

ATI Graphics Xpression
Part Number 109-30300-00
FCC ID EXM301

https://www.vogonswiki.com/index.php/ATI#Mach_64

The DRAM Graphics Xpression was ATI's last VLB card and was a reduced cost model because VLB was nearly obsolete at the time. Judging by the markings on the chips, it looks like a 2MB card and isn't expandable. It's still a highly desirable card, hard to find, expensive to buy.

Compared to the VRAM based Graphics Pro Turbo (109-26900-30) , it has lower capabilities in high resolution/high refresh rate modes in windows, but is a little faster in frame buffer type applications, a.k.a. DOS games. Graphics Pro Turbo also had sockets for a memory expansion daughter board.

There was an earlier version of the DRAM based Graphics Xpression that was part number 109-27800-10. Similar card, but more complicated layout. Re: Modifying an ATI Mach64 VLB 2 MB into 4 MB card without a memory card

Cool, thanks for this info I really appreciate it.

I guess I will try to get it up and running then, seems like it's worth it.

bten wrote on 2024-03-30, 15:43:

douglar wrote on 2024-03-30, 14:38:

ATI Graphics Xpression Part Number 109-30300-00 FCC ID EXM301 […]
Show full quote

ATI Graphics Xpression
Part Number 109-30300-00
FCC ID EXM301

https://www.vogonswiki.com/index.php/ATI#Mach_64

The DRAM Graphics Xpression was ATI's last VLB card and was a reduced cost model because VLB was nearly obsolete at the time. Judging by the markings on the chips, it looks like a 2MB card and isn't expandable. It's still a highly desirable card, hard to find, expensive to buy.

Compared to the VRAM based Graphics Pro Turbo (109-26900-30) , it has lower capabilities in high resolution/high refresh rate modes in windows, but is a little faster in frame buffer type applications, a.k.a. DOS games. Graphics Pro Turbo also had sockets for a memory expansion daughter board.

There was an earlier version of the DRAM based Graphics Xpression that was part number 109-27800-10. Similar card, but more complicated layout. Re: Modifying an ATI Mach64 VLB 2 MB into 4 MB card without a memory card

Cool, thanks for this info I really appreciate it.

I guess I will try to get it up and running then, seems like it's worth it.

If you don't know the difference between ISA and VLB, you will have hard time to get it running.
And please, there are no GPUs, call it graphics card.
GPU was a word invented by Nvidia, ~ 10 years later.

Sorry, could not resist.

CoffeeOne wrote on 2024-03-30, 16:11:

If you don't know the difference between ISA and VLB, you will have hard time to get it running. And please, there are no GPUs, […]
Show full quote

bten wrote on 2024-03-30, 15:43:

douglar wrote on 2024-03-30, 14:38:

ATI Graphics Xpression Part Number 109-30300-00 FCC ID EXM301 […]
Show full quote

ATI Graphics Xpression
Part Number 109-30300-00
FCC ID EXM301

https://www.vogonswiki.com/index.php/ATI#Mach_64

The DRAM Graphics Xpression was ATI's last VLB card and was a reduced cost model because VLB was nearly obsolete at the time. Judging by the markings on the chips, it looks like a 2MB card and isn't expandable. It's still a highly desirable card, hard to find, expensive to buy.

Compared to the VRAM based Graphics Pro Turbo (109-26900-30) , it has lower capabilities in high resolution/high refresh rate modes in windows, but is a little faster in frame buffer type applications, a.k.a. DOS games. Graphics Pro Turbo also had sockets for a memory expansion daughter board.

There was an earlier version of the DRAM based Graphics Xpression that was part number 109-27800-10. Similar card, but more complicated layout. Re: Modifying an ATI Mach64 VLB 2 MB into 4 MB card without a memory card

Cool, thanks for this info I really appreciate it.

I guess I will try to get it up and running then, seems like it's worth it.

If you don't know the difference between ISA and VLB, you will have hard time to get it running.
And please, there are no GPUs, call it graphics card.
GPU was a word invented by Nvidia, ~ 10 years later.

Sorry, could not resist.

Haha don't worry about it, appreciate the correction. I've not touched anything before 99' really.

This graphics card was actually already in a pc that just fell into my hands (has ISA and VLB slots).
Gonna just see if I can get a picture out of it for now. (Not sure if this PSU even works and I don't have an AT keyboard).

Pretty much everything is disconnected tho so I'll just tinker away and see what I can get going.