Need help with my IBM PC XT-286 (5162) \ VOGONS

Need help with my IBM PC XT-286 (5162)

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First post, by mac512

Posted on 2020-01-11, 11:43

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Hi there!

My name is Jose and I'm new to this community. I'm from Chile and I've been collecting computers from the 80's for a looooong time. It all started with my 1982 Timex-Sinclair TS1000, then the Apple IIc arrived and after that it was all downhill ...

Anyways, I've this fantastic IBM 5162 that I've been working on for the last 2 months or so. It is in pretty basic configuration and other than a Gotek drive it's all original. Since the MFM HD is loosing sectors/tracks by the minute, I thought of installing an IDE drive. Although I've used them before with great results, I'd rather not use an XT-IDE card. So, I bought a multifunction card with IDE controller. The problem is that the BIOS is not compatible with IDE (does not have the necessary ROM routines). I tried burning new ROMs with AMI BIOS but that didn't work. I know some people had good results doing that but that wasn't my case. Maybe it's me flashing the EPROMs incorrectly or using the wrong chips... Does anyone here have done this before? I would appreciate any help...

Also, I've been looking high and low for a RAM card to expand the 5162 with at least 2MB. What card would you recommend? Any advice on where to look for them, other than eBay (prices there are ridiculous)?

Thanks!

Reply 1 of 10, by maxtherabbit

Posted on 2020-01-11, 15:05

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I heartily recommend the AST Rampage 286 cards. Deals do come around for reasonable prices on ebay but you have to be patient

Reply 2 of 10, by Anonymous Coward

Posted on 2020-01-11, 16:18

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You shouldn't need a new BIOS to install an IDE drive. You just need to use a drive overlay such as ontrack disk manager.

"Will the highways on the internets become more few?" -Gee Dubya
V'Ger XT|Upgraded AT|Ultimate 386|Super VL/EISA 486|SMP VL/EISA Pentium

Reply 3 of 10, by mac512

Posted on 2020-01-11, 17:41

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maxtherabbit wrote on 2020-01-11, 15:05:

I heartily recommend the AST Rampage 286 cards. Deals do come around for reasonable prices on ebay but you have to be patient

Thanks Maxtherabbit!

There's one of those on eBay right now. It's half populated and at $89.99. Do you think that's a fair value?

Reply 4 of 10, by mac512

Posted on 2020-01-11, 17:43

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Anonymous Coward wrote on 2020-01-11, 16:18:

You shouldn't need a new BIOS to install an IDE drive. You just need to use a drive overlay such as ontrack disk manager.

I've no experience with Ontrack Disk Manager or any other drive overlay. I already downloaded ODM and will give it a try.

Thanks!

Reply 5 of 10, by mac512

Posted on 2020-01-11, 17:53

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I forgot to mention that I would like to add a sound card.

I have a generic Taiwanese card that sports an OPTi chipset (82C930A). Do you think it would work in the 5162? How about the IDE connector on this card? I know those connectors are usually intended for connecting CD drives but, as it has dedicated connectors for Sony, Panasonic and Mitsumi, I thought that the fourth connector may be usable with IDE HDs...

Reply 6 of 10, by maxtherabbit

Posted on 2020-01-11, 22:25

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mac512 wrote on 2020-01-11, 17:41:

maxtherabbit wrote on 2020-01-11, 15:05:

I heartily recommend the AST Rampage 286 cards. Deals do come around for reasonable prices on ebay but you have to be patient

Thanks Maxtherabbit!

There's one of those on eBay right now. It's half populated and at $89.99. Do you think that's a fair value?

That's quite high, I got mine for about half that. Up to you how badly you want it though

Reply 7 of 10, by mac512

Posted on 2020-01-12, 00:48

mac512 Offline

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maxtherabbit wrote on 2020-01-11, 22:25:

mac512 wrote on 2020-01-11, 17:41:

maxtherabbit wrote on 2020-01-11, 15:05:

I heartily recommend the AST Rampage 286 cards. Deals do come around for reasonable prices on ebay but you have to be patient

Thanks Maxtherabbit!

There's one of those on eBay right now. It's half populated and at $89.99. Do you think that's a fair value?

That's quite high, I got mine for about half that. Up to you how badly you want it though

Yea. Too high for me too. Will keep an eye on fleabay anyways.

Thanks!

Reply 8 of 10, by maxtherabbit

Posted on 2020-01-12, 02:39

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another option to broaden your search is the Intel Above board, but the software is a little wonkier and I feel it isn't quite as nicely made overall

they do work fine though

Reply 9 of 10, by mac512

Posted on 2020-01-12, 12:41

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maxtherabbit wrote on 2020-01-12, 02:39:

another option to broaden your search is the Intel Above board, but the software is a little wonkier and I feel it isn't quite as nicely made overall

they do work fine though

I've seen those on eBay. They seem to be more expensive than AST and Boca cards though.

Thanks!

Reply 10 of 10, by mac512

Posted on 2020-01-14, 21:18

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Made some progress. I found the sound card's drivers and it's working great.

Still waiting for a reasonably priced RAM card...

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