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Clone Computer Systems Turbo XT Clone from 1986

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First post, by jasa1063

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I picked up this computer a few years ago on eBay for only $125. It was in nearly perfect condition with some initial signs of rust on the inside of the case cover that I was able to get completely cleaned before it did any permanent damage. I vividly remember seeing this exact computer in the computer magazine ads back in the mid 80s. I never forgot that unique case badge, so when I saw the exact same computer for sale, I jumped on it. It originally came a full length CGA video card, a multi I/O controller, dual 360K floppy drives and 640K of ram. I swapped the 8MHz 8088 for a NEC V20 and added an 8087 math coprocessor, added an XTIDE card, Adlib sound card, swapped the CGA for Hercules monochrome card and added a Dallas SmartWatch No-Slot clock. I wanted to have a Hercules system in my vintage computer collection and this seemed to fit bill. I did try adding a Lo-Tech 1MB ram card and Lo-Tech 2MB EMS board, but both have compatibility issues with this computer, so I am sticking with a strictly 640K system. The FujiTech Multi I/o controller has a RTC (I removed the barrel battery as it was just starting to get corroded), floppy, dual serial, parallel and game port. I have been unable to find any information online about this adapter, but the chips are dated to 1986. I really like the looks of the case and the hinged door is a really cool touch. The case is all metal, so no plastic to turn yellow, that is why it looks so good and in near mint condition. The computer software diskettes suggest it is a Wugo PC II, but the motherboard and adapters did not match what I found online for that computer. If anyone knows more about this computer or the FujiTech card, please let me know. I am including pictures of the computer and the FujiTech card. The star of the show is the picture of that ultra cool case badge!

Last edited by jasa1063 on 2025-03-31, 02:44. Edited 8 times in total.

Reply 1 of 3, by jasa1063

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Pictures continued

Reply 2 of 3, by Jo22

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Pretty! 😃

Btw, you can find some Hercules drivers here:
Re: Best CGA & Hercules monochrome games

Infos:
https://www.dosdays.co.uk/topics/cga_simulato … or_hercules.php
https://retrocmp.de/hardware/hercules-card/hercules-card.htm

It's also possible to have two cards installed, CGA and MDA or Hercules.
Or VGA and MDA/MGA (but not Hercules graphics mode).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSzFvOQp_XM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zugZGBPTSA

AutoCAD used two monitors, as well, I remember.
The console was on the MDA card (same as Hercules in text-mode), graphics on the CGA card.
But maybe later versions can do it other way round, too, by using Hercules graphics mode?

To use both CGA and Hercules graphics card (in graphics mode), the Hercules must run in Half-Mode.
This can be forced by running the original Hercules mode utility supplied on diskette or by running MSHERC /HALF.

MSHERC is primarily a runtime for Microsoft products, but it will also set the registers of the Hercules card accordingly. As a side-effect.
So programs like CheckIt! will see the Hercules card, since the registers of the Hercules had been changed.

The reason is this: The Hercules behave like an IBM MDA after power on.
Merely the 4 KB MDA memory is being released to PC bus.
Which can co-exist with VGA (debuggers like CodeView use MDA text-output).

After changing the registers, either 32KB or 64KB of Hercules graphics memory are beind released to PC bus.
In Half-Mode, the CGA framebuffer is not touched. In full-mode, it is.
Hence, the Hercules can emulate a CGA card, too.
It can cover its framebuffer and display the picture of CGA data on the other Hercules graphics page.

That being said, some programs may ignore all of this and do set up Hercules they way they want it. Not sure.

Edit: This is just an oversimplification.
Hercules has some more registers, like for selecting active page and visible page.
So applications can draw on the invisible page, too.

"Time, it seems, doesn't flow. For some it's fast, for some it's slow.
In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

//My video channel//

Reply 3 of 3, by jasa1063

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Jo22 wrote on 2025-03-31, 00:30:
Pretty! 😃 […]
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Pretty! 😃

Btw, you can find some Hercules drivers here:
Re: Best CGA & Hercules monochrome games

Infos:
https://www.dosdays.co.uk/topics/cga_simulato … or_hercules.php
https://retrocmp.de/hardware/hercules-card/hercules-card.htm

It's also possible to have two cards installed, CGA and MDA or Hercules.
Or VGA and MDA/MGA (but not Hercules graphics mode).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSzFvOQp_XM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zugZGBPTSA

AutoCAD used two monitors, as well, I remember.
The console was on the MDA card (same as Hercules in text-mode), graphics on the CGA card.
But maybe later versions can do it other way round, too, by using Hercules graphics mode?

To use both CGA and Hercules graphics card (in graphics mode), the Hercules must run in Half-Mode.
This can be forced by running the original Hercules mode utility supplied on diskette or by running MSHERC /HALF.

MSHERC is primarily a runtime for Microsoft products, but it will also set the registers of the Hercules card accordingly. As a side-effect.
So programs like CheckIt! will see the Hercules card, since the registers of the Hercules had been changed.

The reason is this: The Hercules behave like an IBM MDA after power on.
Merely the 4 KB MDA memory is being released to PC bus.
Which can co-exist with VGA (debuggers like CodeView use MDA text-output).

After changing the registers, either 32KB or 64KB of Hercules graphics memory are beind released to PC bus.
In Half-Mode, the CGA framebuffer is not touched. In full-mode, it is.
Hence, the Hercules can emulate a CGA card, too.
It can cover its framebuffer and display the picture of CGA data on the other Hercules graphics page.

That being said, some programs may ignore all of this and do set up Hercules they way they want it. Not sure.

Edit: This is just an oversimplification.
Hercules has some more registers, like for selecting active page and visible page.
So applications can draw on the invisible page, too.

Thanks for all the great information. I already have a bunch games loaded, but one I am having issues with is Broderbund Shufflepuck Cafe. It refuses to run saying that I don't have Hercules video card installed. Not sure why it is not detecting properly as all the other software I have works fine?

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