reserved

Unless mine is an odd duck, that's composite video and not RF.

Cool. Late production too '89. EGA had been and gone and VGA was the new kid on the block.

The top of the box clearly states RF.

"though an RF modulator" is the crucial bit, the card has none on it (you cannot see any resonant circuits there for example).

Unopened&sealed hardware like this is an investment just like old wine. No way I would ever open it but that's just me.
There are plenty of used hardware to choose from.
An unopened IBM CGA card is a rarity.

I'm glad you got this treasure.

The RF modulator connects to the header on the top of the card, above the composite.
It's basically the same composite signal. The IBM 5155 uses this header to connect the internal monitor.
I'm not sure if IBM never sold the RF modulator itself, but there may have been third-party options.

Scali wrote:

The RF modulator connects to the header on the top of the card, above the composite.
It's basically the same composite signal. The IBM 5155 uses this header to connect the internal monitor.
I'm not sure if IBM never sold the RF modulator itself, but there may have been third-party options.

Thanks everyone for clearing that up! I can see some headers on the top of the PCB. I'll try composite first once I get it installed and running.

Miphee wrote:

Unopened&sealed hardware like this is an investment just like old wine. No way I would ever open it but that's just me.
There are plenty of used hardware to choose from.
An unopened IBM CGA card is a rarity.

I can understand that sentiment. I am not a collector myself - I intend to use the hardware I buy. I just happened to come across this at a time when I was already looking for a used CGA card.

At least by taking pictures of it everyone can experience it a little bit. This is the first and probably last sealed in box vintage hardware I'll ever buy.

Miphee wrote:

Unopened&sealed hardware like this is an investment just like old wine.

No. Wine gets better with age (if stored correctly), while unopened hardware just dies eventually without you even knowing. What's the point of having sealed hardware that you can not even enjoy looking at? (let alone using)

Believe it or not, but almost nothing is really worth more when sealed compared to opened but mint. Games mainly, but that's it almost.

mothergoose729 wrote:

I can understand that sentiment. I am not a collector myself - I intend to use the hardware I buy. I just happened to come across this at a time when I was already looking for a used CGA card.

At least by taking pictures of it everyone can experience it a little bit. This is the first and probably last sealed in box vintage hardware I'll ever buy.

That's cool, we are different that's all.

I also got a NOS IBM CGA in 2015 - it did not stay sealed for long and it is inside my Hyundai XT system since then 😁

I got it for composite goodness 😊 😊 😊

derSammler wrote:

No. Wine gets better with age (if stored correctly), while unopened hardware just dies eventually without you even knowing. What's the point of having sealed hardware that you can not even enjoy looking at? (let alone using)

Believe it or not, but almost nothing is really worth more when sealed compared to opened but mint. Games mainly, but that's it almost.

I disagree. An unopened box of hardware or even software is much more valuable to me as an investment than a used part. Simple as that. Many others think the same way. It also has a huge advantage: it hasn't been touched or modified in any way so I can count on it being in 100% original condition. That original condition is what makes it valuable. As an investment, nothing more. Imagine selling this untouched IBM CGA card after 50 years or so. Prices only go up for scratched up and dusty IBM parts. But saying that the price of a used item is the same as a brand new unopened item is nonsense to me.
Yes, some people want to use them so they go for the cheaper used ones. Others want to display them behind glass so they go for the clean ones. And some people are buying them unopened and keep them closed until the prices go up much-much later. Then sell them. No point in denying the point in that.

I think it boils down to this:
There are people who want the complete item with packaging and all but they want to use it. Those are better off buying an open box with recently tested hardware.
On the other hand there are people who don't care about using things - they want the complete and unopened box. I don't understand this but I don't have to. 😉 Better have that box x-rayed though - you might end up with a resealed piece of plywood. 🤣

mothergoose729 wrote:

CGA cards are not the sexiest thing in retro computing

LIES! 🤣

Very nice find, and I'm actually surprised to learn that IBM was still manufacturing CGA boards in 1989. The date codes on the visible chips seem to be 87 at the latest, but even that is still newer than any others I remember seeing. (I have one early-type and one late-type CGA, and the latter is from late '86 - mine also has the slightly-incompatible "-P" revision of the MC6845 chip).

The RF modulator thing was simply due to limitations of contemporary TV sets. IBM certainly never sold one, and most people seemed to use existing devices made earlier for other home computers, like the SUP'R'MOD .

VileRancour wrote:

The RF modulator thing was simply due to limitations of contemporary TV sets.

I think the reason why the RF modulator was not sold was because of FCC regulation.
These devices tend to generate quite a bit of high-frequency interference, which is why they're always housed inside a metal case.
Getting the IBM PC FCC-certified with the RF modulator installed would have been more difficult (and in fact the PC itself may have not worked 100% with such a device installed, the way it is designed with the motherboard and expansion cards all open and bare).

If it is sold separately, and installed after-market, then regulations no longer apply.
Since many 70s/80s game consoles and home computers do have the RF modulator built-in, it should have been possible, but for some reason IBM didn't go there, not even with the PCjr.
Fun fact is taht the early Commodore Amigas also didn't have the RF modulator built-in. It was a separate module that plugged into the RGB-port. Possibly for the same reason.
Later models had it integrated.

Since IBM PCs were mostly used professionally, and mostly with RGBI monitors, I suppose hardly anyone ever installed an RF modulator.
But you can still buy RF modulators today, so it would be fun to see what happens: https://www.amazon.com/RCA-Compact-RF-Modulat … A/dp/B0014KKV7W

Miphee wrote:

[...]

I disagree. An unopened box of hardware or even software is much more valuable to me as an investment than a used part. Simple as that. Many others think the same way. It also has a huge advantage: it hasn't been touched or modified in any way so I can count on it being in 100% original condition. That original condition is what makes it valuable.

Ever seen what ~40 years does to capacitors? Electrolytics dry out, tantalum caps silently die and explode as soon as you power them up.

You get the enjoyment of something that no-one else has enjoyed, but don't delude yourself it's in the same condition as when new.

That said, I once picked up a battered old IBM CGA card in a big lot. More than 35 years old but still worked. These things were well built. Couldn't say the same for the 5170 innards I had, looked beautiful on the outside, but insides literally started smoking when powered on. Dead tantalums of course...