vanfanel wrote on 2025-05-28, 12:43:

On a related note, to get perfect compatibility with games needing EMS on any computer built around the Vortex86 DX, use JEMMEX instead of HIMEM.SYS+EMM386, like this:

DEVICE=C:\DOS\JEMMEX.EXE X2MAX=32767 X=E400-EBFF

That makes the most hard-to-get EMS games to work, including Aladdin, Realms of Arkania II, Elder Scrolls: Arena, Lemmings 2, etc... All the hard ones work flawlessly!

Including, it seems, Wing Commander 3 (now it fails the way it did in Windows, at least).
@Mu0n have you tried JEMMEX instead of HIMEM?

snipe3687 wrote on 2025-05-28, 13:29:

- I have a BOM but not a component placement map or anything. I suppose I could work something up for that. I always hand assemble so I didn't really think of that.
- yep the front and back plates were designed specifically for this build so they should fit just fine.

I know it's asking you to work "for free", and I am embarrased to do so, but please, if you can, inlude a placement map too: I lack the abilities or equipment for hand assembling.
I was about to order the original WeeCee design pre-assembled at PCBWAY (that's why I was talking to Rasteri about it) but now that your fork is ready, I would prefer to have the USB-C connector.
But, without the placement map, I can't order it because I wouldn't be able to assemble it.

vanfanel wrote on 2025-05-30, 09:00:

I know it's asking you to work "for free", and I am embarrased to do so, but please, if you can, inlude a placement map too: I l […]
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snipe3687 wrote on 2025-05-28, 13:29:

- I have a BOM but not a component placement map or anything. I suppose I could work something up for that. I always hand assemble so I didn't really think of that.
- yep the front and back plates were designed specifically for this build so they should fit just fine.

I know it's asking you to work "for free", and I am embarrased to do so, but please, if you can, inlude a placement map too: I lack the abilities or equipment for hand assembling.
I was about to order the original WeeCee design pre-assembled at PCBWAY (that's why I was talking to Rasteri about it) but now that your fork is ready, I would prefer to have the USB-C connector.
But, without the placement map, I can't order it because I wouldn't be able to assemble it.

It's not work when you are having fun! I will see what I can do.
Also, I don't mind assembling one for someone myself if they wanted to pay for all the parts and some of my time for the assembly. Just throwing that out there.

Will have had wrote on 2025-05-29, 18:04:

vanfanel wrote on 2025-05-28, 12:43:

On a related note, to get perfect compatibility with games needing EMS on any computer built around the Vortex86 DX, use JEMMEX instead of HIMEM.SYS+EMM386, like this:

DEVICE=C:\DOS\JEMMEX.EXE X2MAX=32767 X=E400-EBFF

That makes the most hard-to-get EMS games to work, including Aladdin, Realms of Arkania II, Elder Scrolls: Arena, Lemmings 2, etc... All the hard ones work flawlessly!

Including, it seems, Wing Commander 3 (now it fails the way it did in Windows, at least).
@Mu0n have you tried JEMMEX instead of HIMEM?

instantly bombs with a conflict, I'm afraid:

I modified the JEMMEX parameter address range to the next 2k and it all worked out. Not sure what's recommended or forbidden in those choices, but I was able to go through the installer and launch the game!

thanks for the suggestion, that's a good tool from the freedos world.

Mu0n wrote on 2025-05-31, 11:00:

I modified the JEMMEX parameter address range to the next 2k and it all worked out. Not sure what's recommended or forbidden in those choices, but I was able to go through the installer and launch the game!

thanks for the suggestion, that's a good tool from the freedos world.

What's your exact JEMMEX line, please? Just to be sure 😀

vanfanel wrote on 2025-06-01, 10:31:

Mu0n wrote on 2025-05-31, 11:00:

I modified the JEMMEX parameter address range to the next 2k and it all worked out. Not sure what's recommended or forbidden in those choices, but I was able to go through the installer and launch the game!

thanks for the suggestion, that's a good tool from the freedos world.

What's your exact JEMMEX line, please? Just to be sure 😀

it's just yours, but +2048 (or +0x800), so:

DEVICE=C:\DOS\JEMMEX.EXE X2MAX=32767 X=EC00-F3FF

Mu0n wrote on 2025-06-01, 18:53:

vanfanel wrote on 2025-06-01, 10:31:

Mu0n wrote on 2025-05-31, 11:00:

I modified the JEMMEX parameter address range to the next 2k and it all worked out. Not sure what's recommended or forbidden in those choices, but I was able to go through the installer and launch the game!

thanks for the suggestion, that's a good tool from the freedos world.

What's your exact JEMMEX line, please? Just to be sure 😀

it's just yours, but +2048 (or +0x800), so:

DEVICE=C:\DOS\JEMMEX.EXE X2MAX=32767 X=EC00-F3FF

Ok, thanks! 😀

@snipe3687: Any news with regards to the placement map file, please? I'd really like to order improved the WeeCee Redux board along with some friends at PCBWay or similar service, and it's needed to be able to do so 😀

sorry for the delay! if you look in the PCB.C folder on github there should now be a folder called pcbway_production that has the position file. hopefully that works.

snipe3687 wrote on 2025-07-09, 20:13:

sorry for the delay! if you look in the PCB.C folder on github there should now be a folder called pcbway_production that has the position file. hopefully that works.

Yay! Thanks!!! Time to get my definitive Vortex86DX based DOS PC! 😀
Will try to place the order at PCBWay ASAP!

@snipe3687 After putting the order in PCBWay, they ask me this:

"As shown in attached screenshot1, there are vias on pad. Could we fill them with resin? It can avoid poor soldering when assembly. But there will be extra fee. And we also can fill all vias.
Extra fee is same. Do you want to fill vias on pad or all vias?"

And this is the screenshot in question:

I told them to fill all vias. Is that OK?

Generally via in pads and filled vias are advanced technologies that increase price, the same in JLCPCB. It's critical for automated soldering - reflow via paste and stencil. If you solder it manually you can handle unfilled vias without problem, just put more solder to fill the holes...

RayeR wrote on Yesterday, 14:54:

Generally via in pads and filled vias are advanced technologies that increase price, the same in JLCPCB. It's critical for automated soldering - reflow via paste and stencil. If you solder it manually you can handle unfilled vias without problem, just put more solder to fill the holes...

I am not soldering it, I will be getting it ready to use from PCBWay (I am a DOS guy, not an electronics guy),
So, since they will use automatic soldering, telling them to fill the vias is the right answer?