Re: Looking for EISA configuration utility for this EXP4409 motherboard (and any documentation too)

Posted on 2021-03-11, 10:10

by

by georgel

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Sold to an old customer of mine... CFG files do not describe the way EISA NVRam is accessed. Several AMI ECU versions tested but all failed. I also "manually" invoked INT 15h clear EISA CMOS RAM BIOS function from real mode but it returned non-supported function code.

---

Looking for EISA configuration utility for this EXP4409 motherboard (and any documentation too)

Posted on 2021-03-08, 18:41

by

by georgel

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Hi all. Does anybody have experience with this motherboard (and info about it)? I couldn't make AMI ECU work with it. Filename IMG_0929.jpg File size 1.13 MiB Views 307 views

---

Re: Finally! CMS Upgrade Equations for All SB2.0s

Posted on 2021-01-29, 12:49

by

by georgel

in Milliways

in Milliways

Yes' I've already checked there is a conflict between the CMS detecting ports (2x6/7 & 2xA/B) and SB ports (reset and DSP data).

---

Re: Finally! CMS Upgrade Equations for All SB2.0s

Posted on 2021-01-29, 11:26

by

by georgel

in Milliways

in Milliways

Thanks for your nice help. Problem solved -the defective SAA is from ebay (China refurbished soldered s..t) . Do you have any information about the autdoetection of Game Blaster? Can't this be fit into a more complicated device plugged into the PAL socket?

---

Re: Finally! CMS Upgrade Equations for All SB2.0s

Posted on 2021-01-29, 10:01

by

by georgel

in Milliways

in Milliways

I can confirm for now that write accesses to ports 2x2 or 2x3 halt the machine. The 2x0 and 2x1 addresses do not exhibit this problem.

---

Re: Finally! CMS Upgrade Equations for All SB2.0s

Posted on 2021-01-29, 09:04

by

by georgel

in Milliways

in Milliways

Sure, while the kit is installed the jumper is removed and vice versa. I have a friend who purchased a kit from ebay recently, we will make some tests. I will report back after that. By the way, should the Gameblaster's TESTCARD.EXE utility recognize the CMS upgraded SB 2.0s? If you have any advice …

---

Re: Finally! CMS Upgrade Equations for All SB2.0s

Posted on 2021-01-29, 08:32

by

by georgel

in Milliways

in Milliways

Hi, I am very experienced with these PLDs since I make my own devices with them. I tried with AMD PALCE 16V8H -25 and with Lattice GAL16V8D-25 the results were the same. I have many more PLDs to try with but I am 100% sure the problem is not with the ICs themselves. I am using my reliable old …

---

Re: Finally! CMS Upgrade Equations for All SB2.0s

Posted on 2021-01-29, 07:28

by

by georgel

in Milliways

in Milliways

Hi. Unfortunately these PLD equations (latest and previous Rado's versions) are NOT compatible with my SB 2.0 version 06938. Without the upgrade the card works flawlessly. When the upgrade is installed the computer hangs under "paku /cms" at the message "Starting sound". Under Sound Blaster Test …

---

Re: Need advice on Radeon RV620 HD3450 card behavior

Posted on 2021-01-12, 08:06

by

by georgel

in Marvin \ Video

in Marvin \ Video

Not sure about the exact configuration. My Canadian buyer has opened a refund request in ebay ;( He claims two problems --system reboots from time to time and persistent incorrect reflections of the reflected graphic objects on screen...

---

Need advice on Radeon RV620 HD3450 card behavior

Posted on 2021-01-10, 14:05

by

by georgel

in Marvin \ Video

in Marvin \ Video

Hello. I am asking for your kind expertise about the behavior of this VGA card (Radeon RV620 HD3450). I am not going to influence your opinion in any way for now. Sure, if you have questions, please ask. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2B07h-xfxA

---

Does anybody have software or manual for ISA PixelView CL0070 TV tuner/capture card?

Posted on 2020-10-30, 06:38

by

by georgel

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Hello.. Have you seen or worked with such rather rare card? Is its software obtainable? Or manual? Thank you. Filename IMG_0083.jpg File size 1.18 MiB Views 74 views Filename IMG_0084.jpg File size 1.07 MiB Views 74 views

---

Re: 8088/XT build advice

Posted on 2020-02-07, 12:27

by

by georgel

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

A Sound Blaster or compatible card is still much better than a PWM PC speaker! Many games support it even on XT. NTSC artifacts are hardly used since back then CGA was used mainly with RGB monitors, not with NTSC color TV sets that hardly could display 80 columns text.

---

Re: Arrived ISA 8 bit RTVGA boards

Posted on 2020-02-07, 11:59

by

by georgel

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

jmarsh wrote on 2020-02-07, 11:43: I remember having to use a utility to explicitly switch to CGA mode before playing Digger (the game with the popcorn background music). I know it, of course. Here it is along with the source code: http://www.digger.org/download.html

---

Re: Arrived ISA 8 bit RTVGA boards

Posted on 2020-02-07, 11:34

by

by georgel

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

I don't think any VGA card requires additional utilities to provide CGA/EGA modes. They are just subset of the VGA spec. Generic VGA only offers basic compatibility with CGA modes, far from enough for those interested in playing CGA games. CGA games, when run on a VGA, tend to exhibit various …

---

Re: Diamond Trackstar E host system compatibility question

Posted on 2020-02-07, 11:29

by

by georgel

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

I am still looking for a trackstar E 😉 Then I would be able to answer these questions.

---

Re: 8088/XT build advice

Posted on 2020-02-07, 11:26

by

by georgel

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

I see no reason why would one torture himself to use a CGA on an XT instead of a VGA. Ebay is full of XT motherboards, HDDs with controllers and very cheap SB compatible sound cards (they cost around $18 incl. shipping)

---

Re: A 286 computer, is it totally useless?

Posted on 2019-12-03, 07:20

by

by georgel

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

maxtherabbit wrote: my 286 is my favorite retro system to mess around with, the 16-bit protected mode thing is just cool to me Have you learnt real mode first?

---

Re: Why does EMS suck on my 286?

Posted on 2019-11-24, 22:16

by

by georgel

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

I guess you can't. But there's one thing you can be sure of, no one likes you Don't speak on behalf of everybody. Your certainty is a cause of very high error rate and bad productivity of yours. Next time use a universal PCB for your useless projects, this at least will shorten your trial and error …

---

Re: Why does EMS suck on my 286?

Posted on 2019-11-24, 21:36

by

by georgel

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Well it's finally over. SCSI and EMS coexisting. 16-bit ROM access. Zero wait AST rampage. I'm still ironing out some logic issues on my card design with respect to the use of SBHE# and MEMCS16# that prevent it from being used as a truly general purpose tool like I originally intended. BUT I got it …

---

Re: Need some info on a 286/16 SNB-M008 mobo

Posted on 2019-10-27, 21:12

by

by georgel

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

As long as a new NiMH battery costs more than this board in present condition I don't care about the battery so far. It has several years more until it leaks well enough eventually. BTW there are some brands of NiMH accus that amaze me after 30 years -- they haven't leaked and/or still hold charge. …

---