Gammitin (Ben) 💾
A new thread 🧵:
I bought a job-lot of ISA and VLB video cards (and a random legacy PCI one). They arrived today as you can see the packaging was absolutely terrible, they shoved all 9 cards into an anti-static bag and hoped for the best (Grr😡), What's wrong with these sellers?
Dec 5, 2024 at 1:52pmBuffer
Show threadGammitin (Ben) 💾Dec 5, 2024
Jeez, wish me luck peeps 😭
Show threadGammitin (Ben) 💾Dec 5, 2024
No loose or damaged parts floating about, so before I go any further I'm going to closely inspect every card and then give them a quick IPA clean.
Show threadGammitin (Ben) 💾Dec 5, 2024
Here's the 5x VLB cards:
Show threadGammitin (Ben) 💾Dec 5, 2024
So, I bought the lot for the VLB cards, but damn there's a Tseng Labs ET4000AX ISA card in here! If this works, I've doubled my money in value on its own. Talk about silver tuna, I'm never this lucky!
Show threadGammitin (Ben) 💾Dec 5, 2024
Jeez, there's a Paradise PVGA1A Professional in here with the 4x Oscillators, damn!
Show threadGammitin (Ben) 💾Dec 5, 2024
The only physical damage from the poor packaging is on a VLB card, where the traces have been scratched, I'll check it over, but doesn't look like any have been cut.
Show threadGammitin (Ben) 💾Dec 5, 2024
So I've decided I can't wait to see if the Tseng works, to test the VLB's I'll need my 486 rebuild, which I'll need to get out of storage. So I'm going to use this Pentium III board with a 16bit ISA slot to do some testing:
Show threadGammitin (Ben) 💾Dec 5, 2024
Eeek (in a good way) 😍
Show threadGammitin (Ben) 💾Dec 5, 2024
The Tseng ET4000AX works, well so far, more testing needed, also hopefully I can add more RAM too!
Show threadGammitin (Ben) 💾Dec 5, 2024
Check-It seems happy, all the tests passed, looking great!
Show threadGammitin (Ben) 💾Dec 5, 2024
This thing is so crisp! Crystal Caves 3:
Show threadGammitin (Ben) 💾Dec 5, 2024
MS-DOS gaming heaven RN ☺️
Show threadGammitin (Ben) 💾Dec 5, 2024
Quake in standard resolution mode:
Show threadGammitin (Ben) 💾Dec 5, 2024
Quake in maximum (Dos) resolution mode:
Show threadGammitin (Ben) 💾Dec 5, 2024
I'm pleased that the Paradise video card also works well too, passed all the Check-It tests.
Show threadGammitin (Ben) 💾Dec 5, 2024
Unfortunately the Trident TVGA9000 ISA card is dead, the machine won't even post with it inserted, I'll try to diagnose this at a later date.
Show threadGammitin (Ben) 💾Dec 5, 2024
The PCI Advance Logic ALG2302.A works and it will be good as a spare, I have too many PCI cards as it is, but nice that it works.
Show threadGammitin (Ben) 💾Dec 5, 2024
Time to test the VLB cards, this system didn't come with a VLB video card, so I need to check the manual to see if there are any related jumpers.
Show threadGammitin (Ben) 💾Dec 5, 2024
Well there are two jumpers related to the VL Bus:
Show threadGammitin (Ben) 💾Dec 5, 2024
I have 4 of these Cirrus Logic CL-GD5429 cards and none of them are working. The machine does post, but no video output at all. I've even taken the bracket off so it sits lower, but it's a no go unfortunately.
What a shame 😞
Show threadRyan WalmsleyDec 5, 2024
@Gammitin OOoo I think I have one of those too,
Show threadmirabilosDec 5, 2024
@Gammitin ooh, I have one of these as well; in contrast to the PCI cards, it’s capable of doing dual screen setup with a Hercules
Show threadEloshaDec 5, 2024
@Gammitin Just a cozy desk is missing for the right feeling 😊
Show threadRyan WalmsleyDec 5, 2024
@Gammitin Is that a rare card then?
Show threadGammitin (Ben) 💾Dec 5, 2024
@Ryanteck none for sale in the UK, but Tseng makes just about the best MS-DOS card money can buy.
Show threadRyan WalmsleyDec 5, 2024

@Gammitin Oh wow!

I think the one in my Compaq Portable 386 is the same one but I'll have to double check.

Show threadGammitin (Ben) 💾Dec 5, 2024
@Ryanteck that's cool, love those portables!
Show threadKevin Karhan Dec 5, 2024
@Gammitin what's this?