VOGONS


First post, by EPoX

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Greetings. Im trying to add usb support on a FIC va-503+ board. i even got the manual and in it..there is a low quality picture of an optional USB board that connects to the motherboard.

( it does not look like a simple cable, this usb addon board looks like it has some components in it besides usb ports i see some capacitors and other electronic components) I tried searching on google for such addon and found nothing. I even found pics of the box, cd, and bags that this board included in the box and i did not see this usb addon card in the box.

So i came here to find out if anyone here has such addon, or how did you solve the problem to add usb support to this motherboard. If you bought another card or if you bought a PCI USB (would like to know which model and brand/chip maker did you buy)

usb is very important for me, specially for win98 so i can transfer files.

thanks

Reply 2 of 42, by Repo Man11

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There is a header on the board that you can attach a USB cable to - the only difficult part is finding out the pin out of the header so you can match the cable. The VA-503+ does work with the plus series CPUs, though not officially, they are only supported by a beta BIOS, but that's more than good enough.

Here is the cable you'll need: https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Port-USB-Rear-Pane … SsAAOSwC-tfDNu4

Last edited by Repo Man11 on 2021-03-06, 21:40. Edited 1 time in total.

"I'd rather be rich than stupid" - Jack Handey

Reply 3 of 42, by Repo Man11

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The adapter you saw in the manual is an ATX form card, for use in ATX cases. Hard to find, and expensive if you do.

"I'd rather be rich than stupid" - Jack Handey

Reply 5 of 42, by Repo Man11

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The pin out probably matches the two five pin arrangement shown here, but you need to verify that before attaching the cable, either by a manual, or with a voltmeter.
https://www.frontx.com/cpx108_2.html

To rearrange the pins: https://www.frontx.com/head_con.html

"I'd rather be rich than stupid" - Jack Handey

Reply 6 of 42, by Thermalwrong

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I've got the FIC VA-503A board, it shows the pinout in the manual, it is just a regular USB port backplate cable:
2021-03-06 21_28_11-va503a_2.pdf.png

For the CPU support have a read of the unofficial K6 III support page: http://web.inter.nl.net/hcc/J.Steunebrink/k6plus.htm
Sadly, the link for the BIOS went away when FIC took down their FTP server, but you can find "JE4333.zip" here.
Thankfully someone runs a backup of the FTP site

Attachments

Reply 7 of 42, by EPoX

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thank you very much, so its not rocket science, i can plug one of those brackets that came with many athlon xp motherboards and it will work just fine. i just need to be carefull and check the pinout with a multimeter.

that is great news

Reply 8 of 42, by peg

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i have the exact same motherboard and I used this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Port-USB-2-0-Hub-t … -0/323846426571

The only issue with using newer usb brackets is that there are made for 9 pin keyed usb connectors. The FIC motherboard isn't keyed so you need something like what I linked above.

Also, I know you didn't ask about this, but if you need the PS2 bracket for this motherboard this one will work: https://www.ebay.com/itm/PS-2-DB25-female-Pri … rs/254093317741

Reply 9 of 42, by SETBLASTER

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http://www.captainwilliams.co.uk/root/fic503.php

MODDED BIOS BY Tim Stinnett , IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND, BUT I FOUND IT, AND SHARING WITH ALL OF YOU

Last edited by SETBLASTER on 2021-03-12, 02:23. Edited 1 time in total.

Reply 10 of 42, by SETBLASTER

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This is a mega pack of stuff for that motherboard that i made.

It contains:
-Old websites with info and tutorials on how to fix some of the problems, specially with sound blaster cards, it has bios, drivers, etc.
-Some of the websites are not available anymore so i saved them using wayback, and i was able to get most of the files hosted on those websites too.
-For example there is a site that talks about problems with the motherboard and that site gives you a link to other 2 sites, and those 2 sites have files in it. I saved all sites to pdf and all files on the site are on the pack.
- INCLUDED ALSO THE LATEST MODDED BIOS FOR K6-iii , mod by Tim Stinnett

https://www27.zippyshare.com/v/BQevuyeq/file.html

Now if there is an angel out there in this forum.....
I would really like to have an ISO image of the original Driver CD that came bundled in the box of the motherboard, I have only seen it Once, on ebay, asking 300 dollars for it.

Reply 11 of 42, by PC Hoarder Patrol

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You mean this 😀

FIC VA-503 Plus Docs.jpg
Filename
FIC VA-503 Plus Docs.jpg
File size
296.78 KiB
Views
1824 views
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception

Can't imagine its particularly rare (or valuable) - happy to write you an ISO

Reply 12 of 42, by SETBLASTER

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PC Hoarder Patrol wrote on 2021-03-12, 02:36:

You mean this 😀

FIC VA-503 Plus Docs.jpg

Can't imagine its particularly rare (or valuable) - happy to write you an ISO

yeaaaaaa
is that yours???
awesome you will share the iso!

wait what model is that? the va-503+ manual i got is white

Reply 13 of 42, by PC Hoarder Patrol

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Yes, these are from my retail boxed version of the VA-503+ (PCB 1.2A), bought new in 2000-2001

fic_va-503plus.jpg
Filename
fic_va-503plus.jpg
File size
1009.86 KiB
Views
1775 views
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception

I'll get the ISO written / uploaded over the weekend and link it here.

Reply 14 of 42, by PC Hoarder Patrol

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SETBLASTER wrote on 2021-03-12, 03:27:
yeaaaaaa is that yours??? awesome you will share the iso! […]
Show full quote
PC Hoarder Patrol wrote on 2021-03-12, 02:36:

You mean this 😀

FIC VA-503 Plus Docs.jpg

Can't imagine its particularly rare (or valuable) - happy to write you an ISO

yeaaaaaa
is that yours???
awesome you will share the iso!

wait what model is that? the va-503+ manual i got is white

FIC_CD_PRO_V4_1.jpg
Filename
FIC_CD_PRO_V4_1.jpg
File size
109.79 KiB
Views
1726 views
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception

You can download the compressed (.7z) ISO here

https://www.mediafire.com/file/emzeteh0nidiot … RO_V4_1.7z/file

Here's the filelist & FIC company bio from the image

Filename
FILELIST.TXT
File size
7.7 KiB
Downloads
77 downloads
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception
Filename
FIC.TXT
File size
6.75 KiB
Downloads
67 downloads
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception

Reply 15 of 42, by SETBLASTER

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PC Hoarder Patrol wrote on 2021-03-15, 04:08:
SETBLASTER wrote on 2021-03-12, 03:27:
yeaaaaaa is that yours??? awesome you will share the iso! […]
Show full quote
PC Hoarder Patrol wrote on 2021-03-12, 02:36:

You mean this 😀

FIC VA-503 Plus Docs.jpg

Can't imagine its particularly rare (or valuable) - happy to write you an ISO

yeaaaaaa
is that yours???
awesome you will share the iso!

wait what model is that? the va-503+ manual i got is white

FIC_CD_PRO_V4_1.jpg

You can download the compressed (.7z) ISO here

thank you !!!!!

Reply 16 of 42, by Kiteless

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Hey all, dusting off a months old thread here. I've been scouring the web and of course here on Vogons with no luck finding the manual for this motherboard. Any chance someone can upload a PDF of it here? Also how can I tell what rev my motherboard is? I can't seem to find it silk screened on the board anywhere.

On the plus side I've found BIOS updates, and this awesome CD Pro ISO! Super handy. Building this system to be in an interactive Quake booth at VCF West. 😁

Thanks so much all!

YouTube channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTfnRX4AWhbYJuguUcEff-g

Main Systems
NuXT
IBM 5140
486 DX4 100Mhz (Mainly DOS)
AMD K6-2 500Mhz (Mainly DOS)
AMD Athlon 700Mhz 9700 Pro (Win 98)
Pentium D 3Ghz 4670 AGP 8x (Win XP)

Reply 17 of 42, by Kiteless

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Oops, found the rev it's a 1.2A. Found it waaaaaaaay down in the corner by the BIOS

YouTube channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTfnRX4AWhbYJuguUcEff-g

Main Systems
NuXT
IBM 5140
486 DX4 100Mhz (Mainly DOS)
AMD K6-2 500Mhz (Mainly DOS)
AMD Athlon 700Mhz 9700 Pro (Win 98)
Pentium D 3Ghz 4670 AGP 8x (Win XP)

Reply 18 of 42, by PC Hoarder Patrol

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Kiteless wrote on 2021-07-21, 08:19:

Hey all, dusting off a months old thread here. I've been scouring the web and of course here on Vogons with no luck finding the manual for this motherboard. Any chance someone can upload a PDF of it here? Also how can I tell what rev my motherboard is? I can't seem to find it silk screened on the board anywhere.

On the plus side I've found BIOS updates, and this awesome CD Pro ISO! Super handy. Building this system to be in an interactive Quake booth at VCF West. 😁

Thanks so much all!

Glad you found the ISO useful - you can find the manual (rev A4) here

https://www.ultimateretro.net/motherboard/man … a4777462618.pdf

Last edited by PC Hoarder Patrol on 2022-02-07, 10:14. Edited 1 time in total.

Reply 19 of 42, by Horun

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Thanks for CD and manual, somehow I missed this a few months ago and have two rev 1.2A.

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