Not exactly retro in itself but I got this PCI riser to test an idea for a little project...

Snatched also @ebay a beautiful Yamaha CX5MII/128, its an uncommon MSX from the line of Yamaha music computers.

It was fairly complete lacking only the box.

Plus an yamaha keyboard for the CX5 and floppy drive for the msx standard.

@ last from the same seller a composite monochrome monitor

At first I was hesitant on keeping the monitor, but its looks have grown on me.... its a keeper now.

assasincz wrote on 2021-05-13, 16:38:

Not exactly retro in itself but I got this PCI riser to test an idea for a little project...

20210513_110823.jpg

Vertical mount GPU on a glass windowed case ???

Xicor wrote on 2021-05-13, 16:45:

assasincz wrote on 2021-05-13, 16:38:

Not exactly retro in itself but I got this PCI riser to test an idea for a little project...

20210513_110823.jpg

Vertical mount GPU on a glass windowed case ???

You, sir, can read me like a book...

assasincz wrote on 2021-05-13, 16:55:

Xicor wrote on 2021-05-13, 16:45:

assasincz wrote on 2021-05-13, 16:38:

Not exactly retro in itself but I got this PCI riser to test an idea for a little project...

20210513_110823.jpg

Vertical mount GPU on a glass windowed case ???

You, sir, can read me like a book...

Just make sure to give that card some cooling.

About nvidia FX series and passive coolers of that era....

Randomly ordered this passively cooled FX 5700 AGP for 15 euros (Gainward "Ultra/980 SilentFX Professional").

Did not notice anything special about it from the sellers pictures, but... when package arrived, it was so surprisingly heavy that I assumed he must have sent me a different item or something. But when opening the package, it suddenly dawned on me what a beast I actually had bought....
(I am familiar with Zalman passive coolers, but this thing was out of this world heavy for such a small card)

different angle, from web review:
https://img.hexus.net/v2/graphics_cards/other … in/heatpipe.jpg

So, this is a real FX 5700 and not an LE, but sadly not actually an 'Ultra'.
(only 425mhz gpu/550mhz memory).

That is a chunky heatsink. How are the temps with it?

Did only test basic functionality so far, i.e. POST and restart a few times, as well as going into bios.... (no hdd/OS currently attached to the test station)

But I DID actually try to gauge heat build-up by touching it, and the whole thing, even the heat pipes were cold(!) during this time....
I suppose once you start up some 3D-applications it will be a totally different matter, but.. maybe will do that later.

Bought an odd sound card.

Seller's photos:

Adlib gold clone?

Looks like it. I searched for the FCC ID and came across this thread Adlib Gold clone - 2THEMAX SoundMedia Multimedia Board?. I'm not sure how much it's worth, but $80 + S&H and MI sales tax isn't bad at all.

Xicor wrote on 2021-05-13, 16:43:

Snatched also @ebay a beautiful Yamaha CX5MII/128, its an uncommon MSX from the line of Yamaha music computers. […]
Show full quote

Snatched also @ebay a beautiful Yamaha CX5MII/128, its an uncommon MSX from the line of Yamaha music computers.

CX5MII_01.jpg

It was fairly complete lacking only the box.

msx_cart.png

Plus an yamaha keyboard for the CX5 and floppy drive for the msx standard.

CX5MII_04.jpg

Jealous! Hoping for a CX5 barn find one day.

bjwil1991 wrote on 2021-05-14, 00:12:

Bought an odd sound card. […]
Show full quote

Bought an odd sound card.

Seller's photos:

1 Sound-card-top-view.jpg

2 Sound-card-bottom-view.jpg

3 Sound-card-port-view.jpg

I was checking out that listing. The Voyetra branding had me researching whether it was one of their rare MPU-401 compatible cards (it's not - they're smaller and older). Adlib clone didn't even occur to me. Nice pickup.

Earlier today I managed to find these less than pretty Roland MA-8 speakers, and I was more than happy to have something that better suits my SC-55.

I need to but a screwdriver that can actually get down to the screws on the right speaker so that I can fix the volume pot being scratchy as all hell, but for now, I am happy that I have working Roland speakers.

You just need a black keyboard to complete that beautiful Darth Vader retro setup.

Or like The Rolling Stones, Paint it black.

Just Joshing.

Pierre32 wrote on 2021-05-14, 08:55:

You just need a black keyboard to complete that beautiful Darth Vader retro setup.

I am actually on the lookout for a keyboard that feels good, uses PS/2, and is black.

bjwil1991 wrote on 2021-05-14, 10:17:

Or like The Rolling Stones, Paint it black.

Just Joshing.

I do want to see the Dell blotted out from the sky.

BetaC wrote on 2021-05-14, 17:07:

...
I am actually on the lookout for a keyboard that feels good, uses PS/2, and is black.

Probably too expensive, but I got myself this little beauty as a PS2 investment for the future.
One of the last mech keyboards that still has PS2 and is otherwise satisfying to use (MX brown for me):
https://www.amazon.com/Filco-Majestouch-2-Key … B004VKUSG6?th=1
https://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/uk-filco- … on-keyboard.asp
Granted, I am still using the Majestouch-1 model, but I assume model 2 hasnt changed any aspect of it to the worse.
https://deskthority.net/wiki/Filco_Majestouch

Only problem is that the printing on the original caps (in particular the mostly used letters, do get quite worn off/unreadable after a few (5ish) years of heavy use.
So I went and ordered the double shot key caps set :
https://www.keyboardco.com/product/double-sho … y-uk-keyset.asp

Or... you could just buy a 'Ninja' from the get go... 😅
https://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/uk-filco- … on-keyboard.asp

- Now, I am not saying these are the best mech keyboards available in general, and are probably overpriced for what you get.
BUT.... if you need PS2-compatability, this is one of the very very few.

You also have the Unicomp (PS2) models, which are cheaper, but none(?) are entirely black:
https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/product/UB40416
https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/product/NEW_M
(last one has PS2 option for $3 extra)

Picked up a new old stock Cardinal VGA765 ISA graphics card (c. 1992). Some of you might remember me finding the elusive Cardinal SNAPplus a few years back and archiving that new old stock card over at -0°. Artex ended up with the SNAPplus when I was done. Well, the VGA765 is basically that card without the video capture/overlay features and is just as hard to find CIB much less NOS. The main reason for this purchase is to finally finish my massive Mathemetica, Inc. Tempra software archival project which is getting close to done. I am trying to grab as many variants of the software as I can before calling it a success.

Looks like a Tseng 4000

luckybob wrote on 2021-05-14, 23:40:

Looks like a Tseng 4000

You are correct. Like the SNAPplus. Come to think of it, you got my other CIB SNAPplus variant.