Reply 1 of 6, by Predator99
Rank
l33t
This is a very nice 286 with a MFM Hard Disk and a ATI MDA/HGC card.
You should also disassemble the mainboard, remove the blue battery and inspect for any corrosion damage first.
If all is OK then yes, you can install a VGA instead of the ATI.
Reply 2 of 6, by MaTi
Rank
Newbie
- Rank
- Newbie
Thanks for your feedback!
Oh so it's an AT? Thought it would be an XT... 😀
I checked the battery and it has not leaked 😀
Ill put in a vga card - let's see.
What would be a reasonable asking price you think?
Also, as Id like to learn.. How can you tell it's an 286? (or for example solely the fact it has 16bit isa slots?)
Still relatively new, but spending too much time on retro already.. 😀
Reply 3 of 6, by Grzyb
Rank
Oldbie
- Rank
- Oldbie
MaTi wrote on 2020-09-07, 22:17:Also, as Id like to learn.. How can you tell it's an 286? (or for example solely the fact it has 16bit isa slots?)
See eg. the BIOS chips - there's "286" on the stickers.
Also, that "ALLEGRO MINI" card is a floppy disk controller with support for 4 drives, very useful for those who want more than 2 drives in one PC.
Nie tylko, jak widzicie, w tym trudność, że nie zdołacie wejść na moją górę, lecz i w tym, że ja do was cały zejść nie mogę, gdyż schodząc, gubię po drodze to, co miałem donieść.
Reply 4 of 6, by Horun
Rank
l33t++
- Rank
- l33t++
MaTi wrote on 2020-09-07, 22:17:Thanks for your feedback! […]
Thanks for your feedback!
Oh so it's an AT? Thought it would be an XT... 😀
I checked the battery and it has not leaked 😀Ill put in a vga card - let's see.
What would be a reasonable asking price you think?
Also, as Id like to learn.. How can you tell it's an 286? (or for example solely the fact it has 16bit isa slots?)
The BIOS stickers say AMI 286, also no XT (except for a few rare 8086 versions) have 16bit ISA slots, and they appear to be 16bit. The WD1003-WHA MFM controller only works in 16 bit ISA slots. As for price: find out if it works first ! If it does not boot up at all then it is "for parts" unless you want to troubleshoot it, if it boots but HD error that is typical for that era computer. If the HD spins up and the floppy drives work that makes it worth more. You need to test it.
Grzyb, you beat me to it ! 🤣
Hate posting a reply and then have to edit it because it made no sense 😁 First computer was an IBM 3270 workstation with CGA monitor. Stuff: https://archive.org/details/@horun
Reply 5 of 6, by MaTi
Rank
Newbie
- Rank
- Newbie
Thank you all!
I now need to find myself an ISA vga card so I can test it..
Id swear I have some, but finding them is a whole different level 😉
Still relatively new, but spending too much time on retro already.. 😀
Reply 6 of 6, by Predator99
Rank
l33t
MaTi wrote on 2020-09-07, 22:17:I checked the battery and it has not leaked 😀
Remove it anyway...it will leak soon...
You can turn it on with the supplied graphics card without monitor connected. If there is one short beep on startup the PC is OK. Then 2 more beeps will follow complaing about missing keyboard or wrong setup.