VOGONS


First post, by tadziopazur

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Hello fellow history dwellers.

I acquired the following board (https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/mitac- … n-10-compaq-oem), "untested" for something amounting to $25. A steal -- which is actually spot on, but the kind of steal you want.
Upon inspection the board seems to have missing VRM module - the set of randomly pointing pins next to three blue caps. I havent tried it, obviously. Return window is closed, so I can either throw it into donor pile, sell for scraps or attempt to repair.

Due to the amount of "retro features" (2.0..3.5V, 66/100MHz FSB, Ess AudioDrive, 2x PCI and ISA each, 3xSDRAM with Rage LT Pro being mixed blessing) I am entertaining the idea to fix the board.
In order to do that, I need some info on the missing component (there is nothing on the PCB and the online materials I was able to find give me no trace to latch on.

Thus my ask - if anyone has this exact board, could you please help me identify the VRM module in question?
I guess that some markings should be on it (print, laser engraving).

Thank you in advance
--
T.

Reply 1 of 5, by andrea

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That is the amplifier for the onboard sound.
You'll notice that the board has two audio outputs, one is regular line out and the other is an amplified output for use with non-amplified speakers.

Also the power connectors are not standard AT, but a proprietary Compaq format with soft power, essentially ATX over AT-style plugs.

Reply 2 of 5, by rasz_pl

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That board layout is definitely a choice 😀 Good luck finding compatible enclosure, 3d printing might come in handy.
CPU 3.3V comes from PSU, Vcore is next to socket, missing component does indeed look like TDA1515B or some other TDA15xx
power supply situation Compaq Presario 2262: No POST

https://github.com/raszpl/sigrok-disk FM/MFM/RLL decoder
https://github.com/raszpl/FIC-486-GAC-2-Cache-Module (AT&T Globalyst)
https://github.com/raszpl/386RC-16 ram board
https://github.com/raszpl/Zenith_ZBIOS Zenith Z-386 MFM-300 ZBIOS disassembly

Reply 3 of 5, by andrea

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rasz_pl wrote on Today, 17:15:

That board layout is definitely a choice 😀 Good luck finding compatible enclosure, 3d printing might come in handy.
CPU 3.3V comes from PSU, Vcore is next to socket, missing component does indeed look like TDA1515B or some other TDA15xx
power supply situation Compaq Presario 2262: No POST

I think if you desolder the audio jacks, and relocate them somewhere, a microatx case can be easily adapted to fit, probably just by drilling new holes for the standoffs.

Probably the cleanest way would be, if the through-holes allow (I don't know), to replace the jacks with some mounted vertically and then do a short M-F cable with a panel mount female connector on the case or on a slot blank.

Also @OP that funky white connector on the back is a VESA DFP which is electrically DVI-D. It may come in handy if you want to use a digital display.

Reply 4 of 5, by rasz_pl

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andrea wrote on Today, 17:54:

Also @OP that funky white connector on the back is a VESA DFP which is electrically DVI-D. It may come in handy if you want to use a digital display.

was Compaq selling LCDs for those low end systems? 😮

https://github.com/raszpl/sigrok-disk FM/MFM/RLL decoder
https://github.com/raszpl/FIC-486-GAC-2-Cache-Module (AT&T Globalyst)
https://github.com/raszpl/386RC-16 ram board
https://github.com/raszpl/Zenith_ZBIOS Zenith Z-386 MFM-300 ZBIOS disassembly

Reply 5 of 5, by andrea

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Apparently yes, from what I found Compaq was pretty much the single big OEM that believed in it.
Now, have they actually sold any, is another question.