About the ramdac... Chances are that empty socket is for something else... maybe a video-accelerator or similar device

I doubt this card was so high-end that it allowed a better ramdac... if it was such a card then the ramdac would be already there IMHO

at any rate a better RAMDAC would allow higher resolutions and refresh rates (assuming the main chipset could support them) and a better output signal

Wacky. I didn't realize they made cards where you could add a RAMDAC to them. There is already one integrated onto the card or it wouldn't be able to render via VGA, but I guess the expansion socket is for a faster one that would enable you to have higher refresh rates and resolutions, with the one on the card being disabled when you add a faster one. At some point though you'll hit a wall with the 1MB frame buffer on the card. Basically, the RAMDAC is used to convert the digital picture stored in the cards video memory into three seperate color values so you can then display the picture on an analog computer monitor. Wikipedia has a good article about it here.

Nothing on th99, but I did find this:

😉

What you have is a "special" OEM version of the Ultra Pro known as the "Graphics Ultra XLR". I think it was made for Dell or Gateway. Basically they just give you a really cruddy RAMDAC and only 1mb of ram. Every retail Ultra pro I've ever seen has had the high end RAMDAC and the full 2mb.

Also, despite the name "Mach32", the datapath to memory on these cards is actually 64-bit when 2mb is installed, with 1mb only 32-bit.

Also, can you take a better photo of your card for me so I can add it to the VCwiki?

http://www.wiki.vintage-computer.com/index.ph … ATi_Mach_Series

Judging from the top pic having the larger socket empty whereas the other card pictured has a smaller socket empty, looks as if the card took one RAMDAC or another. I guess so they didn't have to produce two different cards.

GXL750 wrote:

Judging from the top pic having the larger socket empty whereas the other card pictured has a smaller socket empty, looks as if the card took one RAMDAC or another. I guess so they didn't have to produce two different cards.

I think the RAMDAC's were in the same physical socket, or the retail version had it soldered to the board. It looks like the one in the second pic is a user's card with the upgrades applied, just the pictures weren't taken at the same position (one is zoomed in).

All of the Mach32 VRAMs that I can recall have the brown socket whether the better RAMDAC is present or not.

wow, everyday I learn something new 🤣
what happens if you put the better ramdac in rg100's card? Does it get used ?

Thanks a lot for the info, people. Ah, what a shame it's not a good version. Oh well. Maybe if I can find a replacement DAC chip, and also the RAM chips, it will be OK. I must say the image quality is good. Nothing cruddy about it. Here's the best picture that I can take, using my seriously crappy old camera.

To upgrade my collected cards I purchased ~40 pieces of these memory devices here:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/5-Toshiba-TC524258-5V-2 … =item5198f06f7f

Some months ago there was a special offer (5 pieces for 2.99$)

I think if you just upgrade the RAM on that thing, you should be okay. It seems to me that RAMDACs aren't really all that critical now that we use LCDs. Just back in the early 90s with a CRT, the better RAMDAC would have been critical. On an LCD, you won't see the flickering.

People, thanks very much for the info. I'm really happy with this card. I like the image quality. And I just bought some of those cheap RAM chips for it! - Thanks very much for the heads up! 😀

I suppose I can't use those RAM chips to upgrade that Action Media II card of mine 😜

Oh yeah, thanks for the photo. I've added it to the vcwiki.

Anonymous Coward wrote:

Also, can you take a better photo of your card for me so I can add it to the VCwiki?

http://www.wiki.vintage-computer.com/index.ph … ATi_Mach_Series

Hey, if you'd like, I could check which pics are still missing and then check if I have any of the missing cards.
You're more then welcome to add any pic I post to the wiki! ;D

Okay, thanks!

I got those really cheap chips from ebay, and upgraded my Mach32. I can now use it at 1024x768x16-bit @ 60 Hz.

As I recall those were TERRIBLE video cards for MS-DOS gaming.