PcBytes wrote on 2024-01-01, 00:10:

This is what I found, thanks to a user who recapped a BE6-II on Badcaps: […]
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This is what I found, thanks to a user who recapped a BE6-II on Badcaps:

" I finally figured it out - Abit has a setting called "In Order Queue Depth".
If you overclock the chipset, they automatically change it to 1.
Put it back to 8 and you'll recover the speed a 440BX is known for. My board was still perfectly stable at 133fsb that way."

Basically 1 is half the speed of 440BX, and 8 is full speed.
I don't really have any better explanation - it took XP longer than it should have to install (given the amount of RAM and the fact that the HDD is a rather speedy one from experience) and only after I had found the Queue Depth was set to 1.

Interesting thing is I didn't see it show up on the BP6's SoftMenu II.

Thats a really weird bug no doubt, wonder what causes it to default back to 1 with 133FSB.

Dunno, I just had to check right now and it appears that Queue Depth defaults to 1 for EVERY 133FSB setting (from 533 up to 1.13GHz), and to 8 for 66 and 100FSB.

pan069 wrote on 2023-12-29, 23:44:

DW12 wrote on 2023-12-29, 20:53:

Today I've received an Ensoniq SoundscapeVIVO sound card, that I bought recently:
IMG_20231229_204208_HDR.jpg
I'll have to clean it, as it is a bit dirty.

Nice. Looks dusty indeed. Stick it in the dishwasher (no soap) and rise with distilled water and then IPA.

That cap in the top left corner looks wonky...

I had some time to clean it and now it looks much nicer:

That cap sits there firmly, it looked wonky only in the picture.

DerBaum wrote on 2023-12-30, 03:06:

DW12 wrote on 2023-12-29, 20:53:

Today I've received an Ensoniq SoundscapeVIVO sound card, that I bought recently:
IMG_20231229_204208_HDR.jpg
I'll have to clean it, as it is a bit dirty.

You have to try the FM emulation of this card.
Please report back how it sounds for you.

So, I've tried it and it sounds weird:

At first I was trying to get it working on my Compaq Deskpro 5100, but for some reason I couldn't get it to initialize properly. Then I've tried it on A-Trend ATC-5220 Rev 1.1 super socket 7 board with K6-2+ 500MHz and it started working, but I've noticed that MIDI playback is a little slow for some reason. Here is an example:

And here is a recording from my other machine using Labway card with ESS chipset and Admos QS700 wavetable:

Can it be a test platform specific issue?

DW12 wrote on 2024-01-01, 17:35:

So, I've tried it and it sounds weird:

Thats no issue... Thats the wavetable "emulating" FM really badly... I have a VIVO 90 and it does the same 😁 ...
Its so bad its funny again 😁

Someone local was clearing out a truly staggering amount of PC controllers for $35 Canadian, and I couldn't pass them up! My first round of testing has found that the two Wingman Force sticks and two of the three Logitech Rumblepads work flawlessly, as does the inexpensive Logitech Wingman Gamepad. Next up is to install the Microsoft Sidewinder software and start testing those pads out! One of the Sidewinder pads is even the old style one that lets you daisy-chain up to four of them together.

Today I've got these new old stock slim ATA cables from Revoltec:

Really handy.

Retro, but not. I'm very happy to have received these cards today!

I like my old, original hardware, but I also love the idea of having these Orpheus cards for a couple specific systems. They're my first "new design" old-hardware purchases.

Scored these 3 for $45 - ASUS P4P800 SE w/2gb DDR 400 and a 3GHZ Prescott P4, Abit A9 Pro with 3gb DDR2 667 and a C2Q Q6600, and an Asus P5Q deluxe with 8Ggb DDR2 800 and a C2Q Q8400. Been playing with VMs and a pile of older budget/corporate fleet laptops for a while, so pretty happy to have the foundations for some real builds now. Just gotta find cases... box/desk clutter PCs it is for now, though.

Murugan wrote on 2023-12-31, 14:56:

Picked this very nice PC up. Never saw the case,never heard of the brand :) It was working before I bought it,came home with it […]
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Picked this very nice PC up. Never saw the case,never heard of the brand 😀
It was working before I bought it,came home with it and no go. Turns out the problem was: Tantalums on the 12V line,what else...
It's a 286-12 with an undocumented board (very nice blue PCB) made by Essex. It's posted on the Retro Web now 😀
https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/essex- … tric-mb286ve_12

Sadly,the full height MFM/RLL Toshiba drive seems not to work. It sounds healthy but the LED stays on,it's not detected and does not respond to the controller card. Replaced it with an XT-IDE which is much quieter haha. Slapped in a CT1600 and replaced the 3,5" drive. Will take another look at the hard drive later on.

That is one cool looking case. Good condition too from what I can see.

ESS 1868 + dream blaster onboard

OMG... the TO-220 chip being upside down is bothering me to NO END.

I would re-spin that board, and do it correctly. whoever did that needs to be slapped.

luckybob wrote on 2024-01-03, 16:52:

OMG... the TO-220 chip being upside down is bothering me to NO END.

I would re-spin that board, and do it correctly. whoever did that needs to be slapped.

that better?

100%

Please tell me I wasn't the only one that got triggered?

I know I'm classified as a neurodivergent by the current generation. But it's not just me, right?

Well, you could tell yourself it's just so that users can more easily install a small heatsink if needed 😜

luckybob wrote on 2024-01-03, 18:36:

But it's not just me, right?

Pull it straight up, twist it 180 degrees and bolt it down.

Sorry about that. ^^
No you weren't the only one.

On-topic. Got myself four mystery boxes for 50 euro.
-Deskpro Evo P4 1.8... meh.
-Maxdata PC with an Asus CUSI-M and a Celeron 1000A, can these run at 1333 easily?
-no-name AT case with ATC-1545 mainboard, P120 and a Sound Blaster 16.with a gold finch header hmmm
-HP Vectra VA6 machine, but a VL5 or 6 board was inside? Strange... It's got a Pentium 200 without MMX on it. SB 32 CT3670 as a bonus.
Not bad I say.

luckybob wrote on 2024-01-03, 18:36:

100%

Please tell me I wasn't the only one that got triggered?

I know I'm classified as a neurodivergent by the current generation. But it's not just me, right?

With 15 years of designing PCBs as my profession, I can only agree with you ...

Jccwu wrote on 2024-01-03, 17:54:

luckybob wrote on 2024-01-03, 16:52:

OMG... the TO-220 chip being upside down is bothering me to NO END.

I would re-spin that board, and do it correctly. whoever did that needs to be slapped.

that better?

Please tell me it's the real design of that board and not something you flipped around? Turning the component will definitely make it not working ...

Happy New Year everyone!

This beauty just came in today. It was ordered before the holidays, so it counts as my Christmas present 😀 50 Euros shipping included

YAMAHA DB50XG

Snatched this, being advertised as new in box. I think the price was great for it, less than 10EUR. Paid more for shipping plus eventual customs fees. But after reading about it here, it seems to be one of those good stars for retro machines.

luckybob wrote on 2024-01-03, 18:36:

100%

Please tell me I wasn't the only one that got triggered?

I know I'm classified as a neurodivergent by the current generation. But it's not just me, right?

I'd bet that at a good number of people here are on the spectrum, as a lot of people here share traits that overlap with Asperger's and other similar conditions. These include attention to the small details, an intense preoccupation with niche subjects, and even hoarding to some degree. I have OCD, which shares some similarities with these conditions and feel right at home here. This is a niche hobby, but this community can be so helpful when I need to know something about computers that have been obsolete for decades. I love how being nitpicky over the orientation of a chip on a board isn't frowned upon here.