Even something as trivial as the MCA slot covers was modified for easier removal/installation: https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/Pics/Photos/MCA_Slot_Covers.jpg
Aside from the major design changes mentioned above, there are also many smaller tweaks everywhere. For example, the system has a provision for a 95-ask Operator Panel: https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Planar_Front_IO.jpg https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Panel_Chassis_Stripped.jpg https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Panel_Chassis_Populated.jpg https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Panel_Cover_Removed.jpg
Nope, that front panel cover is not removable on a regular Model 90.
And then there's this strange shortened slot cover: https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Back_Short_Slot.jpg
There's nothing behind it, no unused headers on the board (aside from
the op panel connector), or anything else. Any ideas?
Control is not convinced there is a problem...
Tom, I can say with experience that the slot cover blank can and will
cut you open if you let it.
Blood for Micro Channel!
Remember, IBM loved to reduce costs. They loved automated assembly.
Wonder how the PS/55s were assembled. With that tab sticking out, how
were the slot covers fed to the picker? The basic covers we have could
be loaded in magazines, I bet. Think of something like staples? each one
fits into the next one....
Perhaps. Maybe IBM Japan figured hand assembly of the blank covers could
be reduced with more populated adapters? Dunno.
On 10/6/2021 15:06, Tomas Slavotinek wrote:
Even something as trivial as the MCA slot covers was modified for easier
removal/installation:
https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/Pics/Photos/MCA_Slot_Covers.jpg
https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/Pics/Photos/MCA_Slot_Covers.jpg
Recovering after a wild animal instinct party...
Tom, remember the 7012 Thick/Thin Ethernet Riser P/N 52G4737, FRU
43G0382 Card 2-8 ?
https://ardent-tool.com/RS6000/7012/7012_common.html
Since we have zero Japanese Announcement Letters, we'll probably never
know. BUT remember the Japanese CAD Station brouchure that Sandy sendt?
https://ardent-tool.com/PS55/Docs/PS55_Model_5560-N.pdf
Little Wanna-Be RS/6000... "I think I can, I think I can..."
Huh... Replaceable power switch / volume front panel... Unpopulated OP
Panel header.
Suggestive of an earlier OP Panel with a display? Probably designed with
it, then they figured out they could get by without it.
Think of the B: Bay display in the 5494.
https://ardent-tool.com/5494/5494.html#Op_Panel
On 10/6/2021 15:06, Tomas Slavotinek wrote:
Aside from the major design changes mentioned above, there are also many
smaller tweaks everywhere. For example, the system has a provision for a
95-ask Operator Panel:
https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Planar_Front_IO.jpg
https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Panel_Chassis_Stripped.jpg
https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Panel_Chassis_Populated.jpg
https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Panel_Cover_Removed.jpg
Nope, that front panel cover is not removable on a regular Model 90.
The smaller opening to the left of the volume pot is also curious: https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Panel_Chassis_Populated.jpg
U57 "DSKBOOT" 64F3110 PAL
https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/5560.html
Got to love the Japanese penchant for labeling things.
U72 64F3110, TI CF61533FN https://ardent-tool.com/9590/9590_Planar.html#90_planar https://ardent-tool.com/9590/9590_Planar.html#90_planar_early
Yep, IBM Japan FTW!
The PAL seems to be wired to the floppy controller. I'll try to figure
out what exactly is going on there...
The link to the early Model 90 planar reminded me something. YouTube
made me rewatch the old LGR PS/2 Motherlode video and @ 16:17 I've
noticed that his board is cut differently than the one in my early Model
90 (see the area around the fan connector). It also has an additional
PAL device in the "SPARE" position (near the power connector):
https://youtu.be/k2R6bwxQqs8?t=977
(pause the video and use the "," and "." keys to move frame by frame)
Probably even earlier sample...
On 7.10.2021 15:42, Louis Ohland wrote:
U57 "DSKBOOT" 64F3110 PAL
https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/5560.html
Got to love the Japanese penchant for labeling things.
U72 64F3110, TI CF61533FN
https://ardent-tool.com/9590/9590_Planar.html#90_planar
https://ardent-tool.com/9590/9590_Planar.html#90_planar_early
This puppy arrived a few weeks ago (thankfully in one piece): https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Dirty_Front.jpg https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Dirty_Badge.jpg https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Dirty_Intake.jpg
Yeah it looked rather disgusting, but luckily the plastics weren't
actually yellowed, just really dirty, with a layer of what I presume was cigarette tar covering everything.
For those unaware, the PS/55 Model 5560 is basically an improved version
of the PS/2 Model 90. The machine has two extra MCA slots in place of
the memory risers:
https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Dirty_Back.jpg
The SIMM sockets were relocated to the planar (under the PSU). The PSU
can be swung out, for easy access to the memory, similar to Models 85/95: https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Planar_PSU_Out.jpg
But unlike the 85/95, the machine can be operated with the PSU swung
out, making memory related experiments significantly less annoying (even compared to Model 90).
To my surprise the machine cleaned up rather nicely... after many hours
of scrubbing and some alcohol/q-tip treatment: :) https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Front_01.jpg https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Front_02.jpg https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Back.jpg
The planar and adapter cards needed more than just cleaning as they were littered with leaking SMD caps. I've removed all of them and cleaned up
the areas that got hit by the leaked electrolyte... https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Planar_Recap.jpg
...and then reinstalled a few caps here 'n there and decided to test the board. Unfortunately the original PSU was (and still is) unstable, so I
had to hack together something using a standard ATX PSU. This is totally safe, I promise!
https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Planar_ATX_Test_01.jpg https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Planar_ATX_Test_02.jpg
Yay, It works!
https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Screen_01.jpg https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Screen_02.jpg https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Screen_03.jpg
Some of the SIMM positions are unreliable and I've since narrowed that problem down to the process complex board. The planar itself is ok (and
fully recapped now).
Aside from the major design changes mentioned above, there are also many smaller tweaks everywhere. For example, the system has a provision for a 95-ask Operator Panel: https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Planar_Front_IO.jpg https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Panel_Chassis_Stripped.jpg https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Panel_Chassis_Populated.jpg https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Panel_Cover_Removed.jpg
Nope, that front panel cover is not removable on a regular Model 90.
The volume pot comes standard with most machines from the PS/55 line. (I wonder why this was a thing in Japan. These were business machines, and business software is usually silent... hmm.)
Among the "quality of life" improvements are also these brackets (or handles?) on the back side of the system. They make opening the unit
much easier:
https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Cover_Slide_Bracket.jpg
Even something as trivial as the MCA slot covers was modified for easier removal/installation: https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/Pics/Photos/MCA_Slot_Covers.jpg
But there are also some oddities... Like the case lock - it was
relocated to the top cover: https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Cover_Lock.jpg
And then there's this strange shortened slot cover: https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Back_Short_Slot.jpg
There's nothing behind it, no unused headers on the board (aside from
the op panel connector), or anything else. Any ideas?
I've updated the 5560 page with the new information and photos: https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/5560.html
And added a 5560 PSU page here: https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Power.html
What an interesting machine! It's like a Model 90 from a parallel
universe...
Anyway, the tasks left are the PSU repair/restuffing and diagnostic of
the complex memory issue. And then experiments with the normally
unsupported Type 4 platform.
I'll measure the chassis opening to see if it's the right size for two HDLX-2416 LED units, but I think it is.
On Wednesday, 6 October 2021 at 21:06:26 UTC+1, Tomas Slavotinek wrote:
Anyway, the tasks left are the PSU repair/restuffing and diagnostic of
the complex memory issue. And then experiments with the normally
unsupported Type 4 platform.
Sounds like a major surgical operation. Kudos for the extensive effort.
On 7.10.2021 10:24, Tomas Slavotinek wrote:
I'll measure the chassis opening to see if it's the right size for two
HDLX-2416 LED units, but I think it is.
The opening is 60 x 26 mm in size - just about perfect for the dual
HDLX-2416 setup:
https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5560/Panel_LED_Display_Fit.jpg
The PAL seems to be wired to the floppy controller. I'll try to figure
out what exactly is going on there...
Please do. It makes me curious, blue. What is this PAL doing? Is it
memory? Wired to the FDC, that doesn't seem quite sensible.
Does it add function? DSKBOOT seems to suggest something related to
booting,
not sure it is O/S related, more like IML? Maybe DSKBOOT supports DBA-ESDI?
You must.. probe it! Yes!
What pins of the FDC does it connect to? What other components does it connect to?
How about this for an unsupported rumor... the DSKBOOT connects the FDC
to NVRAM to enable booting from CDROM... ;)
On 11.10.2021 1:47, Louis Ohland wrote:
Please do. It makes me curious, blue. What is this PAL doing? Is it
memory? Wired to the FDC, that doesn't seem quite sensible.
Why not? The PAL is sitting right next to the FDC and at least some of
the traces go towards the controller.
Does it add function? DSKBOOT seems to suggest something related to
booting,
Yeah... the name. The "DSK" part makes sense - floppy DiSK, DBA DiSK -
could be either (or both) if we go just by the name itself.
not sure it is O/S related, more like IML? Maybe DSKBOOT supports DBA-ESDI?
That's the thing, everything related to the OS "BOOT" process is handled
in software/firmware. I can't think of anything boot-related that would require a special HW logic.
The only IML-related thing that requires a special HW is the
E0000-FFFFFh range ROM/RAM switching, but that's implemented on the
processor complex.
You must.. probe it! Yes!
What pins of the FDC does it connect to? What other components does it
connect to?
Yep... Probulation time!
How about this for an unsupported rumor... the DSKBOOT connects the FDC
to NVRAM to enable booting from CDROM... ;)
:-D I like the enthusiasm, but that doesn't make much sense. The two components are already connected to the planar I/O bus. Not because they
need to talk to each other directly, but because the CPU needs to be
able to address both of them.
Going by the little information we have currently, I only have one
theory - the PAL handles the FDC reset initialization. The 82077
controller can be switched between 3 different modes (PC AT, PS/2, and
Model 30). This is done by setting two of the inputs in a certain way
when the RESET line is toggled. I'll have to check the datasheet again,
but I don't think this can be achieved with high value pull-up or
something similar in this particular case. So perhaps "DSKBOOT" means
"DiSK controller BOOT"? Though something like "FDCINIT" would make much
sense in this context...
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