[solved] Unidentified 8-bit ISA multifunction card \ VOGONS

[solved] Unidentified 8-bit ISA multifunction card

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First post, by Errius

Posted on 2018-08-23, 02:31

Errius Offline

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Hi all, can any of you identify this card? It has the following text printed on the PCB: ASY-002008-01 REV A0

It provides a DB-25 serial port on the I/O bracket. There is also support for a parallel port (J2) on an additional I/O bracket, but this is missing.

There is a 34-pin (2x17) header (J5) which may be a floppy drive connector.

There are two 26-pin (2x13) headers which are labelled DTE (J3) and DCE (J4). This may be something to do with telecommunications.

There is an 18-pin (2x9) header which has unknown function.

There is a 62-pin (2x31) header which has unknown function, but which appears to extend the ISA bus.

There is a 3V CR2025 button battery which is probably for a RTC.

The card provides 256 KiB RAM when all 36 (4 x 8+1 parity) memory banks are populated. It uses 4164-class 64 Kibit DIP-16 DRAM memory modules. The following memory chips are installed:

NEC D4164C-3 (150 ns)
Fujitsu MB8264A-10 (100 ns)
National Semiconductor NMC3764N-15 (150 ns)

Last edited by Errius on 2018-08-23, 05:27. Edited 2 times in total.

Is this too much voodoo?

Reply 1 of 7, by luckybob

Posted on 2018-08-23, 04:08

luckybob Offline

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BOOM!

https://stason.org/TULARC/pc/io-cards/A-B/AST … PLUS-REV-6.html

It is a mistake to think you can solve any major problems just with potatoes.

Reply 2 of 7, by Errius

Posted on 2018-08-23, 04:31

Errius Offline

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Thank you!

Is this too much voodoo?

Reply 3 of 7, by luckybob

Posted on 2018-08-23, 04:32

luckybob Offline

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yea, it might be a slightly different revision, but should be close enough.

It is a mistake to think you can solve any major problems just with potatoes.

Reply 4 of 7, by Errius

Posted on 2018-08-23, 04:42

Errius Offline

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Do you know what the daughter board that connected to J5 might be for. Extra memory?

ETA: added pics of original AST card with 128 KiB daughter board

Last edited by Errius on 2018-08-24, 23:03. Edited 2 times in total.

Is this too much voodoo?

Reply 5 of 7, by luckybob

Posted on 2018-08-23, 04:47

luckybob Offline

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yep. instead of 256k, the 2nd board will let you have 512k.

I'm usually not a pessimistic person, but experience has taught me it is more likely to have a snowball in hell than find the upgrade card somewhere. If you do, it will come with the base card anyway.

If you had the skill/time/inclination, I don't see it impossible to make your own card. Easy through-hole stuff and all. I'd say it would be faster/cheaper/easier to just find a 2nd memory card.

It is a mistake to think you can solve any major problems just with potatoes.

Reply 6 of 7, by Errius

Posted on 2018-08-23, 04:57

Errius Offline

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Strange that it doesn't any branding or identification. Could it be an unlicensed clone?

Is this too much voodoo?

Reply 7 of 7, by luckybob

Posted on 2018-08-23, 08:48

luckybob Offline

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Errius wrote:
Strange that it doesn't any branding or identification. Could it be an unlicensed clone?

It is a mistake to think you can solve any major problems just with potatoes.

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