Depends where you are, 2G is gone in parts of the world.

BitWrangler wrote on 2023-06-28, 14:48:

Depends where you are, 2G is gone in parts of the world.

Are you sure? 2G is mostly considered essential for emergencies as this is how to deliver SMS messages. 3G (and in future 4G) are "obsoletable" techs.

Grzyb wrote on 2023-06-28, 14:38:

No need to run own GSM network. The original GSM standard (2G) is still supported by modern cellular networks. Currently, operat […]
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No need to run own GSM network.
The original GSM standard (2G) is still supported by modern cellular networks.
Currently, operators are about to disable 3G support, and safe bet they will also disable 4G when 5G dominates the market.
But I don't think there are any plans to disable 2G - there's plenty of specialized devices that only support 2G.

They are definitely talking about shutting down 2G in France but there are a lot of issues because some critical systems works over 2G.
Like emergency buttons in elevators and some infrastructure equipments (water or energy distribution, remotely controlled/monitored through old 2G systems)

By the meantime, you can probably still use 2G PCMCIA modem cards to play Doom on the go.

I don't think there is any use for landline dialup analog modems. (So i don't keep them)
You can use a Cisco analog to VOIP converter to connect two modems. But these devices are not really cheap.
Cathode Ray Dude did a video about that : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGFIEF6siIE (+ A tutorial on his website : https://gekk.info/articles/ata-config.html )

Two modems can't be connected directly because key parts of the dial process are handled by the telephone network and not by the modems.
I'm not a telephone engineer but i suppose that the two modems also can't negotiate the analog modulation details by themselves.
The noise heard after dialing on an analog modem is actually a handshake/negociation for the analog protocol to be used.

Anyway, using serial null modem cable is much easier.
Raw serial for HyperTerminal/XMODEM/ZMODEM.... or for games that supports it (Doom, Diablo, ...)
Or, if you need IP, you can use PPP over the serial link
I've used that several time at home : Retro Laptop W95 -> Null modem cable -> USB serial adapter -> RaspberryPi (PPP server + routing) -> Home Network/Internet.
Enjoy you home 1Gbps fiber optics over a 9600baud serial link !

GigAHerZ wrote on 2023-06-28, 15:14:

BitWrangler wrote on 2023-06-28, 14:48:

Depends where you are, 2G is gone in parts of the world.

Are you sure? 2G is mostly considered essential for emergencies as this is how to deliver SMS messages. 3G (and in future 4G) are "obsoletable" techs.

Certain providers in my country phased out 2G by 2020, others will do it in a few years. The situation is similar in other countries. Some countries don't even have 2G anymore (Japan for instance, phased it out in 2012).
SMS is possible over VoLTE and Vo5G.

This one… is the fastest “genuine” 486 ever made?

Trashbytes wrote on 2023-06-28, 03:34:

Kinda curious why people collect old modems, I mean is there any practical use for them since most networks are now digital? does GSM even still exist out in the wild ?

They are GSM so they still work even if 4G and 5G is all around. Quite slow though.
You can run own SMS gateway or even become an SMS spammer. 😀)
Anyway GSM modems are much more interesting things than conventional wired ones.

AlessandroB wrote on 2023-06-28, 19:56:

This one… is the fastest “genuine” 486 ever made?

No. It's one step before AMD 5x86-133 which is.
Cyrix have 586 core in 486 package. AMD doesn't despite the marking 5x86

-

froller wrote on 2023-06-28, 21:20:

AlessandroB wrote on 2023-06-28, 19:56:

This one… is the fastest “genuine” 486 ever made?

No. It's one step before AMD 5x86-133 which is.
Cyrix have 586 core in 486 package. AMD doesn't despite the marking 5x86

The AMD 5x86 chips are even still given Am486 model numbers, the 586/5x86 naming is pure marketing.

Daniël Oosterhuis wrote on 2023-06-28, 22:15:

The AMD 5x86 chips are even still given Am486 model numbers, the 586/5x86 naming is pure marketing.

Yes 'cause 586 core by AMD is called K5

Nexxen wrote on 2023-06-28, 21:21:

By genuine you mean what exactly? 486 non pentium core is Am5x86, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Am5x86 Intel stopped at DX4-100 […]
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AlessandroB wrote on 2023-06-28, 19:56:

This one… is the fastest “genuine” 486 ever made?

By genuine you mean what exactly?
486 non pentium core is Am5x86, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Am5x86
Intel stopped at DX4-100 (and others too).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrix_5x86 , was based on 686 design.

Don't take this as canon though 😉

the core of the 5x86-p75 is THE SAME of mine DX4 120 wirh more cache and additional multiplier and no more? Even that the dx4 120 is the fastest “branded” 486 at least… 😅

Daniël Oosterhuis wrote on 2023-06-28, 22:15:

froller wrote on 2023-06-28, 21:20:

AlessandroB wrote on 2023-06-28, 19:56:

This one… is the fastest “genuine” 486 ever made?

No. It's one step before AMD 5x86-133 which is.
Cyrix have 586 core in 486 package. AMD doesn't despite the marking 5x86

The AMD 5x86 chips are even still given Am486 model numbers, the 586/5x86 naming is pure marketing.

AFAIK, it is not "pure marketing". Am486 and 5x86 from AMD have one difference - the 5x86 has double the cache on chip. (I don't remember, did Am486 ever support L1 Writeback? 5x86 some models do)
Otherwise they are the same.

GigAHerZ wrote on 2023-06-29, 09:08:

Daniël Oosterhuis wrote on 2023-06-28, 22:15:

froller wrote on 2023-06-28, 21:20:

No. It's one step before AMD 5x86-133 which is.
Cyrix have 586 core in 486 package. AMD doesn't despite the marking 5x86

The AMD 5x86 chips are even still given Am486 model numbers, the 586/5x86 naming is pure marketing.

AFAIK, it is not "pure marketing". Am486 and 5x86 from AMD have one difference - the 5x86 has double the cache on chip. (I don't remember, did Am486 ever support L1 Writeback? 5x86 some models do)
Otherwise they are the same.

The enhanced Am486s did support L1 write-back, which is what the 5x86 effectively is.
It is marketing because the core isn't a deviating architecture from the previous (Enhanced) Am486s, it only got a speed and cache bump that IMO doesn't deserve a supposed "generation" bump.

Again, at this time, "586" chips were generally considered newer generation architectures like the Pentium, Cyrix's M1-derived 5x86, AMD's own K5, etc.
Of course, this is still a bit of a loosey-goosey term as most CPU designers started going more their own way designing x86-based architectures after the 486 generation, but AMD's 5x86 definitely had the weakest "claim" to be of this generation, hence my comment on "pure marketing" (the fact that the model number still begins with Am486, while the branding is 5x86, pretty much proves that point).

Doesn't mean it's a bad chip, mind you, or that I don't appreciate it, but I just consider it the best "true" 486.
Which, I'll fully admit, is loosey-goosey and a bit subjective as well.

Got hold of a somewhat less common card:
A MATROX G200 MMS (G2+/QUAD-PL/TVE)

download/file.php?mode=view&id=167261

download/file.php?mode=view&id=167260

It's interesting that MATROX was able to put 4 x G200A with 8 MB SGRAM each and even an additional TV tuner on one card.
What it means for retro? This card has even drivers for Windows 98, which are still downloadable from the Matrox website.
Imagine 4 screens at fullHD under Windows 98 and maybe a voodoo 2 SLI setup for the 3D part. Wouldn't that be fun?

BTW, under Windows NT you could actually use 4 of those cards at the same time and have 16 screens connected. Talk about sensory overflow ....

ediflorianUS wrote on 2023-06-26, 19:58:

HanSolo wrote on 2023-06-26, 11:04:

Thanks for the suggestions. Pulling out the RAM board, CD and HD drive and main battery didn't change anything. What I think is […]
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Thermalwrong wrote on 2023-06-25, 17:33:

Pull out the expansion RAM board which you can get to from the slide off cover underneath, that's caused real problems on my Thinkpad 760EL - still can't get that working properly in fact. But it works okay without it.
The Thinkpad 760 series outputs some POST code information through the parallel port, if you've got a reader for that.
Also there's a NIMH battery hiding inside the keyboard part under the palm-rest plastic, which usually damages traces in the area.

ediflorianUS wrote on 2023-06-25, 17:18:

hi. How much for the IBM 760ED? do you need assistance in trying to fix it?

Thanks for the suggestions. Pulling out the RAM board, CD and HD drive and main battery didn't change anything.
What I think is strange is that it shows absolutely NO sign of life. I think next I'll try to measure the power supply (have to find the pinout first since it has 4 pins).
Then I'll take a look at the other battery.

It probably blew the main fuse-resistor from overvoltage of PS. Easy fix , just try to change the fuse. should work. as sorin says : check main rail 15-16V , then 5V than 3.3v , if you have volts on evrything than it's a problem if it starts and give's black screen (I have IBM that gives green led/hdd/fan but nothing on screen)

The PSU is definitely a problem. I didn't measure any voltage but it's not the fuse. Even the 230V didn't arrive on the board and the plug itself seems little flaky. It only made contact after pushing it down. Unfortunately while playing with it I ripped off one cable. But I'll remove the plug anyway so I'll fix that then. Right now I don't have the time for that.
Thanks for all assistance. Should it not work after fixing the plug I'll probably open an own thread for that.

Daniël Oosterhuis wrote on 2023-06-29, 09:35:

The enhanced Am486s did support L1 write-back, which is what the 5x86 effectively is. It is marketing because the core isn't a d […]
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GigAHerZ wrote on 2023-06-29, 09:08:

Daniël Oosterhuis wrote on 2023-06-28, 22:15:

The AMD 5x86 chips are even still given Am486 model numbers, the 586/5x86 naming is pure marketing.

AFAIK, it is not "pure marketing". Am486 and 5x86 from AMD have one difference - the 5x86 has double the cache on chip. (I don't remember, did Am486 ever support L1 Writeback? 5x86 some models do)
Otherwise they are the same.

The enhanced Am486s did support L1 write-back, which is what the 5x86 effectively is.
It is marketing because the core isn't a deviating architecture from the previous (Enhanced) Am486s, it only got a speed and cache bump that IMO doesn't deserve a supposed "generation" bump.

Again, at this time, "586" chips were generally considered newer generation architectures like the Pentium, Cyrix's M1-derived 5x86, AMD's own K5, etc.
Of course, this is still a bit of a loosey-goosey term as most CPU designers started going more their own way designing x86-based architectures after the 486 generation, but AMD's 5x86 definitely had the weakest "claim" to be of this generation, hence my comment on "pure marketing" (the fact that the model number still begins with Am486, while the branding is 5x86, pretty much proves that point).

Doesn't mean it's a bad chip, mind you, or that I don't appreciate it, but I just consider it the best "true" 486.
Which, I'll fully admit, is loosey-goosey and a bit subjective as well.

I don't know any 5x86 that have an Am486 part number.

Look for "Am5x86-P75".
They have a second marking line saying "Am486DX5-133W16BGC".

Interesting... there's the BHC as well which seems to be a mobile variant of it?

I found this weird thing and had to have it:

A riser card that provides 2 x PCI slots and 1 x ISA slot yet doesn't use a custom edge connector. I find it odd the lengths this thing goes to provide three slots and then only have two of them usable at once.

It's got this wee little PCI adapter, I'm assuming only these 7 pins on the PCI bus are addressed:

Here's what it looks like on a BF6 with some cards stuffed in it:

Obviously this isn't the use case... 😂

ubiq wrote on 2023-06-29, 20:23:

A riser card that provides 2 x PCI slots and 1 x ISA slot yet doesn't use a custom edge connector. I find it odd the lengths this thing goes to provide three slots and then only have two of them usable at once.

This adapter seems to be made to use mass-market standard boards (like your BF6) in slim desktop cases (that aren't high enough to provide space for 3 slots). The PCI-or-ISA position is for increased flexibility, just as they have a shared PCI/ISA slot on many PCI boards, too.

ubiq wrote on 2023-06-29, 20:23:

It's got this wee little PCI adapter, I'm assuming only these 7 pins on the PCI bus are addressed:

If you mean "only these 7 pins on the PCI bus aren't just connected between on all slots", that's exactly how it works. The 7 per-slot pins are the four interrupt pins (INTA, INTB, INTC, INTD); two busmastering pins (REQ, GNT), and the configuration cycle slot select pin (IDSEL).

ubiq wrote on 2023-06-29, 20:23:

Here's what it looks like on a BF6 with some cards stuffed in it:
Obviously this isn't the use case... 😂

Well, I think this is close to the intended use case, but likely not for an AGP-equipped board, and definitely not with non-low-profile cards plugged into the board at the same time.