Picked up this AT case for a good price. I'll admit, I didn't look at the pictures too closely, but other than being hilariously yellowed (browned?) it seemed it pretty good shape.

A little chunkier than its slightly younger cousin.

Hmm, wasn't expecting a 40x

It looks surprisingly clean inside?

That power supply though, yikes! It's the only thing that's dusty in the case too. I kinda think the case is unused and just had some parts thrown in it for some reason.

Anyway, the height of this case makes it look like it might be the right...

Hmmm, hmmm....

BitWrangler wrote on 2024-02-21, 19:18:

[...]

The BIOS in those only appears to be for the SCSI side, it doesn't extend the system BIOS as far as floppy support is concerned. So it supports HD floppy like a 16bit I/O card supports HD floppy... if system or another extension BIOS supports it. However you can mess around with drvparm and read them under DOS after boot. I believe that XTIDE BIOSes have HD floppy support though so you can use one of those (elsewhere, not plugged into this card) if there isn't support in system BIOS.

Yep, it's just the interface. Still, it saves a slot vs using a separate 16b I/O card - and my Turbo XT actually has all slots filled at present with more stuff I could add, so that's very welcome.

Just won an eBay auction. Went for a lot lower than what I predicted. Very happy!

Data Expert EXP3406 - No corrosion on board (going to remove the varta battery as soon as I get it)
Cyrix 486 DX2 66
8MB Ram
TSENG ET4000 VLB 1MB
Generic VLB Bus Multi IO
Audiodrive ESS ES1868F

zuldan wrote on 2024-02-22, 07:55:

Just won an eBay auction. Went for a lot lower than what I predicted. Very happy! […]
Show full quote

Just won an eBay auction. Went for a lot lower than what I predicted. Very happy!

Data Expert EXP3406 - No corrosion on board (going to remove the varta battery as soon as I get it)
Cyrix 486 DX2 66
8MB Ram
TSENG ET4000 VLB 1MB
Generic VLB Bus Multi IO
Audiodrive ESS ES1868F

3.jpg

1.jpg

2.jpg

ET4000/W32I - nice 😀

zuldan wrote on 2024-02-22, 07:55:

Just won an eBay auction. Went for a lot lower than what I predicted. Very happy! […]
Show full quote

Just won an eBay auction. Went for a lot lower than what I predicted. Very happy!

Data Expert EXP3406 - No corrosion on board (going to remove the varta battery as soon as I get it)
Cyrix 486 DX2 66
8MB Ram
TSENG ET4000 VLB 1MB
Generic VLB Bus Multi IO
Audiodrive ESS ES1868F

3.jpg

1.jpg

2.jpg

Aha, ET4000 VLB, this is what I've always wanted to get, maybe you can try to install the missing 132pin socket on the motherboard, using a 386 processor on this motherboard.

It’s my first motherboard with VLB so I’m not too familiar with VLB cards. After some quick research it looks like the W32 was Tsengs first VLB card?

Would be very interesting if I could get a 386 CPU working on the board as well. I’ll start looking for a 132 pin socket.

Arrived today NOS Tyan S1662D Dual Pentium Pro motherboard.

zuldan wrote on 2024-02-22, 08:58:

It’s my motherboard with VLB so I’m not too familiar with VLB cards. After some quick research it looks like the W32 was Tsengs first VLB card?

No, the ET4000AX was also used on early VLB implementations. It was not a great performer though, still basically being a 16b ISA design, just clocked higher on VLB.

The W32I added memory interleaving - it's one of the few VLB cards where adding that second MB actually provides material benefit.

Would be very interesting if I could get a 386 CPU working on the board as well. I’ll start looking for a 132 pin socket.

Nice project. I have a similar board with same chipset that does have the So132 on it. I was able to run VLB video with 386(DX) CPUs. Not as fast as with a 486, but a lot faster than 386 ISA.

W.x. wrote on 2024-02-22, 01:18:

eesz34 wrote on 2024-02-21, 16:53:

Picked up this AT case locally because I needed the case, and because it's my first case with a speed display. What I don't like is the turbo switch controls the display, but I want the MB turbo output to control the display so a little controller board is in order.

Have that case, just with 3xCD/DVD slot design. (still AT thought)

I thought it looks cool, but it's surprisingly flimsy. The difference in build quality between this one and the NOS Techmedia I have (looks like this https://images.craigslist.org/00I0I_8W7NIKi69 … 0t2_600x450.jpg) is like the difference between a 1980s Hyundai and Rolls.

eesz34 wrote on 2024-02-21, 16:53:

Picked up this AT case locally because I needed the case, and because it's my first case with a speed display. What I don't like is the turbo switch controls the display, but I want the MB turbo output to control the display so a little controller board is in order.

Picked up this case locally yesterday. It's in hydrogen peroxide already.

Bought DR-DOS 5.0 for my 286 build. With manual.

I am tired of retrogaming to be honest. Every review sets as a goal retrogaming and nothing more. There is plenty of abandoned software - different OSes, different utilities, memory managers, programming tools, editors. Why should I spend tons of money to run Wolf3D or Doom and think I am done?

Deano wrote on 2024-02-22, 13:13:

Arrived today NOS Tyan S1662D Dual Pentium Pro motherboard.

Nice! That's a really good find!

rkurbatov wrote on 2024-02-22, 15:15:

Bought DR-DOS 5.0 for my 286 build. With manual.

I am tired of retrogaming to be honest. Every review sets as a goal retrogaming and nothing more. There is plenty of abandoned software - different OSes, different utilities, memory managers, programming tools, editors. Why should I spend tons of money to run Wolf3D or Doom and think I am done?

I think there is an intention to keep things fun here. An undercurrent to keep things "aggressively" game focused, much as is the intention of the DOSbox main fork, for similar reasons. I think that reason is self defense...

When there is a lot of mention of practical things, applications, programming etc, even when doing it for fun and personal interest, it generates a lot of keywords that draw in "them"... "Them" being the people who aren't into retro for the fun of it, they are still relying on ancient hardware for something business critical, and when you don't cater to their every whim, provide support and answers on demand, you are stealing food from their children's mouths, lawyers get mentioned, they get real entitled about it.

That applies right across the retro for fun community, but here as well we shy away from getting too "serious" even for fun, because we see one or two of "them" occasionally.

Anyway, I think there are a number of Vogons who would also like to explore old apps and things for nostalgia, fun and interest. Would be nice if there was a members only area for it, hidden until 10 post minimum or something.

BitWrangler wrote on 2024-02-22, 16:12:

I think there is an intention to keep things fun here. An undercurrent to keep things "aggressively" game focused, much as is th […]
Show full quote

rkurbatov wrote on 2024-02-22, 15:15:

Bought DR-DOS 5.0 for my 286 build. With manual.

I am tired of retrogaming to be honest. Every review sets as a goal retrogaming and nothing more. There is plenty of abandoned software - different OSes, different utilities, memory managers, programming tools, editors. Why should I spend tons of money to run Wolf3D or Doom and think I am done?

I think there is an intention to keep things fun here. An undercurrent to keep things "aggressively" game focused, much as is the intention of the DOSbox main fork, for similar reasons. I think that reason is self defense...

When there is a lot of mention of practical things, applications, programming etc, even when doing it for fun and personal interest, it generates a lot of keywords that draw in "them"... "Them" being the people who aren't into retro for the fun of it, they are still relying on ancient hardware for something business critical, and when you don't cater to their every whim, provide support and answers on demand, you are stealing food from their children's mouths, lawyers get mentioned, they get real entitled about it.

That applies right across the retro for fun community, but here as well we shy away from getting too "serious" even for fun, because we see one or two of "them" occasionally.

Anyway, I think there are a number of Vogons who would also like to explore old apps and things for nostalgia, fun and interest. Would be nice if there was a members only area for it, hidden until 10 post minimum or something.

Figure it's pretty much like classic/vintage cars. Sporty and top-trim level cars get the most attention, but there are those weirdos that go nuts over a mint Geo Metro or 80's Camry. Really though, all should be welcome!

I was a kid in the 90's and I played a butt-load of computer games growing up, so retro computing is very much a nostalgia hobby for me, with a focus on gaming. Honestly though, as an adult, I have more fun messing with the hardware than actually sitting down with a working system and playing the games I'm trying to get it to run! 😅 (Thinking back, getting in to overclocking was more about messing with hardware than actually using it too...)

overdrive333 wrote on 2024-02-22, 14:12:

eesz34 wrote on 2024-02-21, 16:53:

Picked up this AT case locally because I needed the case, and because it's my first case with a speed display. What I don't like is the turbo switch controls the display, but I want the MB turbo output to control the display so a little controller board is in order.

Picked up this case locally yesterday. It's in hydrogen peroxide already.

The long lost brother to mine!

BitWrangler wrote on 2024-02-22, 16:12:

much as is the intention of the DOSbox main fork, for similar reasons. I think that reason is self defense...

I always treated DOSBox as something for retrogaming, that's the cheapest way to do so. And seems like GoG now uses it officially as a DOS container for games they bought - that's ok. But, you know, when I get the build of some period - say, 1990 or 2000 - there is always plenty of alternatives to try or to play with among standards. Side branches I would say. Or specialized software. No, it's always DOS 6.22, Doom 2, Duke Nukem 3D, Commander Keen. Install, ensure it works, done. That's meh. It was such a competitive word with tens of alternatives - sometimes very good but just not so lucky. I am happy that many people carefully saved all this forgotten stuff so now I can play something that I only heard of back then.

Anyway, I think there are a number of Vogons who would also like to explore old apps and things for nostalgia, fun and interest. Would be nice if there was a members only area for it, hidden until 10 post minimum or something.

Good idea.

Purchased various banks of RAM in the last few days, ranging from 30 pin and 72 PIN SIMM, to PC100 and 133 SDRAM, 1 GB DDR, and even DDR2 800 CL4, normally they are CL6, then there are a couple of ECC RAMs, a PC 100 of 128 MB, and another DDR 400 of 1 GB.
Some modules will arrive in the next few days, the others are already in my paws.

ubiq wrote on 2024-02-22, 06:05:

Picked up this AT case for a good price. I'll admit, I didn't look at the pictures too closely, but other than being hilariously yellowed (browned?) it seemed it pretty good shape.
IMG_0739.jpeg
A little chunkier than its slightly younger cousin.

Love that case, reminds me of Hallgrímskirkja...

Anything look worth giving space to here? Looks like all Core2 or late P4 even. It's going real cheap, but not sure if I see anything worth the gas...

BitWrangler wrote on 2024-02-22, 23:13:

Anything look worth giving space to here? Looks like all Core2 or late P4 even. It's going real cheap, but not sure if I see anything worth the gas...

I'd inquire on 4:3 screens. Maybe there is a hidden gem.