[Solved] What kind of Elpina board is this? \ VOGONS

[Solved] What kind of Elpina board is this?

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First post, by Jed118

Posted on 2024-12-07, 17:57

Jed118 Offline

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Hello all,

I'm going through all my stuff and sorting it out, and I came across this board, which says "computec" on the top side, as well as V1.3, and on the underside, simply "Elpina"

Needless to say it doesn't POST, POST card reader shows nothing at all, as it looks like there's a Dallas RTC missing.

This is strange, there's a crystal already on the board, right where a Dallas RTC would have one (same pinout)

I tried a few RTCs and no go - I wonder if it needs something special?

I tried looking the board up, I found similar boards, but none had a socket there for the RTC (I'm assuming that's what it is)

Does anyone know what kind of board this is?

Last edited by Jed118 on 2024-12-07, 22:37. Edited 1 time in total.

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Reply 1 of 3, by Horun

Posted on 2024-12-07, 18:58

Horun Offline

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Elpina is the logo for the board/silkscreen company not the motherboard OEM name.
It appear to be a PCchips, probably a M538: https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/pcchips-m538
What is the version # found near the keyboard (cannot read 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 2 of 3, by Jed118

Posted on 2024-12-07, 20:59

Jed118 Offline

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That's the one - Mine is V 1.3. OK so that is the RTC then - I wonder why it has an external XTAL. Thanks, I will play around with this and see if I can revive it.

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Reply 3 of 3, by Horun

Posted on 2024-12-08, 03:37

Horun Offline

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Jed118 wrote on 2024-12-07, 20:59:

That's the one - Mine is V 1.3. OK so that is the RTC then - I wonder why it has an external XTAL. Thanks, I will play around with this and see if I can revive it.

Not sure but that xtal is common on most older boards. The manual picture shows a typical DS12887A for RTC, not hard to find a replacement.

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

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