Yes, I bought this one: https://www.ebay.de/itm/324865596098 - a Bull Micral 500. From what I've learned, it seems to be a 8580 clone, only in a Desktop. I can provide some info and ROM-dumps. All in all, there is no info anywhere about these computerson the net worth mentioning. -.-
Mm, looks like a dedicated case fan, a-la 8550. The two BIOS EPROM look
to be under the speaker. The socket for the 387 is a bright green, it's mostly hidden by the floppy cable.
My SWAG for IBM-style, there would be four slots, plus four system board devices, Bull has laid the setup / configuration so it's all akin to a clone's CMOS.
On 12/16/2021 13:22, schimmi wrote:
Yes, I bought this one: https://www.ebay.de/itm/324865596098 - a Bull
Micral 500. From what I've learned, it seems to be a 8580 clone, only
in a Desktop. I can provide some info and ROM-dumps. All in all, there
is no info anywhere about these computers on the net worth mentioning.
-.-
Mm, looks like a dedicated case fan, a-la 8550. The two BIOS EPROM lookcomputers on the net worth mentioning. -.-
to be under the speaker. The socket for the 387 is a bright green, it's mostly hidden by the floppy cable.
My SWAG for IBM-style, there would be four slots, plus four system board devices, Bull has laid the setup / configuration so it's all akin to a clone's CMOS.
On 12/16/2021 13:22, schimmi wrote:
Yes, I bought this one: https://www.ebay.de/itm/324865596098 - a Bull Micral 500. From what I've learned, it seems to be a 8580 clone, only in a Desktop. I can provide some info and ROM-dumps. All in all, there is no info anywhere about these
Well, spank me on the adze and pull my hair.
Is this akin to a clone's CMOS? If the battery was pooched on an IBM
system, you wouldn't get the setup screen.
My newer SWAG, ADFs would be needed for adapters. No idea if the 500
would have some sordid of a convenience partition.
FIVE slots. 1 32-bit, 4 16-bit.
3712 KB RAM? Four 30 pin SIMMs? WtTF? IBM used 128KB. MAYBE Bull used
128KB for ROM, another 128KB for what? CMOS set-up?
A ROM dump may be illuminating.
On 12/16/2021 13:49, Louis Ohland wrote:
Mm, looks like a dedicated case fan, a-la 8550. The two BIOS EPROM
look to be under the speaker. The socket for the 387 is a bright
green, it's mostly hidden by the floppy cable.
My SWAG for IBM-style, there would be four slots, plus four system
board devices, Bull has laid the setup / configuration so it's all
akin to a clone's CMOS.
On 12/16/2021 13:22, schimmi wrote:
Yes, I bought this one: https://www.ebay.de/itm/324865596098 - a Bull
Micral 500. From what I've learned, it seems to be a 8580 clone, only
in a Desktop. I can provide some info and ROM-dumps. All in all,
there is no info anywhere about these computers on the net worth
mentioning. -.-
Orchid card, four 30 pin SIMMs, each has two chips "AAA1M304J-70" NPNX?
and one OKI M51256-70?
NMB Technologies AAA1M304J-70 Fast Page Mode CMOS 256K x 4 DRAM
So, four 256KBx9 SIMMs?
On 12/16/2021 14:00, Louis Ohland wrote:
Well, spank me on the adze and pull my hair.
Is this akin to a clone's CMOS? If the battery was pooched on an IBM system, you wouldn't get the setup screen.
My newer SWAG, ADFs would be needed for adapters. No idea if the 500
would have some sordid of a convenience partition.
FIVE slots. 1 32-bit, 4 16-bit.
3712 KB RAM? Four 30 pin SIMMs? WtTF? IBM used 128KB. MAYBE Bull used 128KB for ROM, another 128KB for what? CMOS set-up?
A ROM dump may be illuminating.
On 12/16/2021 13:49, Louis Ohland wrote:
Mm, looks like a dedicated case fan, a-la 8550. The two BIOS EPROM
look to be under the speaker. The socket for the 387 is a bright
green, it's mostly hidden by the floppy cable.
My SWAG for IBM-style, there would be four slots, plus four system
board devices, Bull has laid the setup / configuration so it's all
akin to a clone's CMOS.
On 12/16/2021 13:22, schimmi wrote:
Yes, I bought this one: https://www.ebay.de/itm/324865596098 - a Bull >>> Micral 500. From what I've learned, it seems to be a 8580 clone, only >>> in a Desktop. I can provide some info and ROM-dumps. All in all,
there is no info anywhere about these computers on the net worth
mentioning. -.-
Leads to the question, why the free onboard-RAM slots were not utilised first.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Louis Ohland schrieb am Donnerstag, 16. Dezember 2021 um 21:15:16 UTC+1:
Orchid card, four 30 pin SIMMs, each has two chips "AAA1M304J-70" NPNX? and one OKI M51256-70?
NMB Technologies AAA1M304J-70 Fast Page Mode CMOS 256K x 4 DRAM
So, four 256KBx9 SIMMs?
On 12/16/2021 14:00, Louis Ohland wrote:
Well, spank me on the adze and pull my hair.
Is this akin to a clone's CMOS? If the battery was pooched on an IBM system, you wouldn't get the setup screen.
My newer SWAG, ADFs would be needed for adapters. No idea if the 500 would have some sordid of a convenience partition.
FIVE slots. 1 32-bit, 4 16-bit.
3712 KB RAM? Four 30 pin SIMMs? WtTF? IBM used 128KB. MAYBE Bull used 128KB for ROM, another 128KB for what? CMOS set-up?
A ROM dump may be illuminating.
On 12/16/2021 13:49, Louis Ohland wrote:
Mm, looks like a dedicated case fan, a-la 8550. The two BIOS EPROM
look to be under the speaker. The socket for the 387 is a bright
green, it's mostly hidden by the floppy cable.
My SWAG for IBM-style, there would be four slots, plus four system
board devices, Bull has laid the setup / configuration so it's all
akin to a clone's CMOS.
On 12/16/2021 13:22, schimmi wrote:
Yes, I bought this one: https://www.ebay.de/itm/324865596098 - a Bull >>> Micral 500. From what I've learned, it seems to be a 8580 clone, only >>> in a Desktop. I can provide some info and ROM-dumps. All in all,
there is no info anywhere about these computers on the net worth
mentioning. -.-
Pardon my french, but this is some rare sh*t!little blackbox. At least the Chipset is documented: http://66.113.161.23/~mR_Slug/pub/datasheets/chipsets/Headland/GCK181.pdf
Interesting machine. Definitely getting some Model 50/70 vibes from it. Except they did the reasonable thing and added one extra slot (4
external + 1 internal), similar to what IBM Japan did with the PS/55
Model 5550 boxes.
30-pin SIMMs were cheaper and much more common in the clone world, so
for some time, eight 30-pin sockets were the de-facto standard. 72-pin
SIMMs became popular later in the mid to late-486 era. So that part
makes sense too.
If you are gonna disassemble the thing, please take photos of the planar (for the outline). ROM dumps, software, and any other material would be
much appreciated.
On 21.12.2021 20:00, schimmi wrote:
The machine arrived today, just cleaning it a bit. Power suppy lokks like something from a Model 70 etc. You were right, there are two BIOS Chips am27c512-155dc (64KX8). Already dumped them. No software (reference disks) found so far, its a nifty
...and only one 32bit MCA in spite of a full blown 386DX. Meh :) You're right, didn't even notice the internal-only Slot. It's for the ESDI Controller, a WD1007V-MC1. I collect some pdfs, photos and rom dumps in an archive and send you a link :) Still"LSI Logic's affiliate, G-2, has entered into an agreement with Groupe Bull of
France to manufacture an IBM PS/2 compatible chip set. The chip set includes
the GC181 CPU bus controller, the GC182 memory controller, the GC183
DMA controller, the GC184 address-data buffer, and the GC186 peripheral controller. The 20-MHz chip set, which will be sampled in the third quarter of
1988, will be fabricated with a 1.5-micron (1.2-micron effective) CMOS process. (7/25/88)"
Semiconductor User Information Service Newsletters 1988-1989 by Dataquest https://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/2013/04/102723402-05-01-acc.pdf
Yip, another construction site for boring winter-days. yeah :-/
The machine arrived today, just cleaning it a bit. Power suppy lokks like something from a Model 70 etc. You were right, there are two BIOS Chips am27c512-155dc (64KX8). Already dumped them. No software (reference disks) found so far, its a niftylittle blackbox. At least the Chipset is documented: http://66.113.161.23/~mR_Slug/pub/datasheets/chipsets/Headland/GCK181.pdf
"LSI Logic's affiliate, G-2, has entered into an agreement with Groupe Bull of
France to manufacture an IBM PS/2 compatible chip set. The chip set includes the GC181 CPU bus controller, the GC182 memory controller, the GC183
DMA controller, the GC184 address-data buffer, and the GC186 peripheral controller. The 20-MHz chip set, which will be sampled in the third quarter of
1988, will be fabricated with a 1.5-micron (1.2-micron effective) CMOS process. (7/25/88)"
Semiconductor User Information Service Newsletters 1988-1989 by Dataquest https://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/2013/04/102723402-05-01-acc.pdf
Yip, another construction site for boring winter-days. yeah :-/
Leads to the question, why the free onboard-RAM slots were not utilised first.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Hard to tell from the grainy photos but one of the release levers on the left side looks somewhat mangled (4th slot from the top). Are these the nasty all-plastic sockets?Are there any other sockets than plastic ones? They seem to be fine :) https://photos.app.goo.gl/tabwnRspu6oHbqGh7
On 16.12.2021 21:50, schimmi wrote:
Leads to the question, why the free onboard-RAM slots were not utilised first.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Tomas Slavotinek schrieb am Dienstag, 21. Dezember 2021 um 20:54:55 UTC+1:little blackbox. At least the Chipset is documented: http://66.113.161.23/~mR_Slug/pub/datasheets/chipsets/Headland/GCK181.pdf
Pardon my french, but this is some rare sh*t!
Interesting machine. Definitely getting some Model 50/70 vibes from it.
Except they did the reasonable thing and added one extra slot (4
external + 1 internal), similar to what IBM Japan did with the PS/55
Model 5550 boxes.
30-pin SIMMs were cheaper and much more common in the clone world, so
for some time, eight 30-pin sockets were the de-facto standard. 72-pin
SIMMs became popular later in the mid to late-486 era. So that part
makes sense too.
If you are gonna disassemble the thing, please take photos of the planar
(for the outline). ROM dumps, software, and any other material would be
much appreciated.
On 21.12.2021 20:00, schimmi wrote:
The machine arrived today, just cleaning it a bit. Power suppy lokks like something from a Model 70 etc. You were right, there are two BIOS Chips am27c512-155dc (64KX8). Already dumped them. No software (reference disks) found so far, its a nifty
hope, someone from the old Bull Company has some disk dumps for the ref disks. They are still missing :(...and only one 32bit MCA in spite of a full blown 386DX. Meh :) You're right, didn't even notice the internal-only Slot. It's for the ESDI Controller, a WD1007V-MC1. I collect some pdfs, photos and rom dumps in an archive and send you a link :) Still
"LSI Logic's affiliate, G-2, has entered into an agreement with Groupe Bull of
France to manufacture an IBM PS/2 compatible chip set. The chip set includes
the GC181 CPU bus controller, the GC182 memory controller, the GC183
DMA controller, the GC184 address-data buffer, and the GC186 peripheral
controller. The 20-MHz chip set, which will be sampled in the third quarter of
1988, will be fabricated with a 1.5-micron (1.2-micron effective) CMOS
process. (7/25/88)"
Semiconductor User Information Service Newsletters 1988-1989 by Dataquest >>> https://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/2013/04/102723402-05-01-acc.pdf
Yip, another construction site for boring winter-days. yeah :-/
Only one 32-bit slot? Aww. That's some rough cost cutting...little blackbox. At least the Chipset is documented: http://66.113.161.23/~mR_Slug/pub/datasheets/chipsets/Headland/GCK181.pdf
But yeah, let's hope the refdisk files still exist somewhere. Maybe on
the hard-drive? :P
On 21.12.2021 21:06, schimmi wrote:
Tomas Slavotinek schrieb am Dienstag, 21. Dezember 2021 um 20:54:55 UTC+1:
Pardon my french, but this is some rare sh*t!
Interesting machine. Definitely getting some Model 50/70 vibes from it. >> Except they did the reasonable thing and added one extra slot (4
external + 1 internal), similar to what IBM Japan did with the PS/55
Model 5550 boxes.
30-pin SIMMs were cheaper and much more common in the clone world, so
for some time, eight 30-pin sockets were the de-facto standard. 72-pin
SIMMs became popular later in the mid to late-486 era. So that part
makes sense too.
If you are gonna disassemble the thing, please take photos of the planar >> (for the outline). ROM dumps, software, and any other material would be >> much appreciated.
On 21.12.2021 20:00, schimmi wrote:
The machine arrived today, just cleaning it a bit. Power suppy lokks like something from a Model 70 etc. You were right, there are two BIOS Chips am27c512-155dc (64KX8). Already dumped them. No software (reference disks) found so far, its a nifty
Still hope, someone from the old Bull Company has some disk dumps for the ref disks. They are still missing :(...and only one 32bit MCA in spite of a full blown 386DX. Meh :) You're right, didn't even notice the internal-only Slot. It's for the ESDI Controller, a WD1007V-MC1. I collect some pdfs, photos and rom dumps in an archive and send you a link :)
"LSI Logic's affiliate, G-2, has entered into an agreement with Groupe Bull of
France to manufacture an IBM PS/2 compatible chip set. The chip set includes
the GC181 CPU bus controller, the GC182 memory controller, the GC183
DMA controller, the GC184 address-data buffer, and the GC186 peripheral >>> controller. The 20-MHz chip set, which will be sampled in the third quarter of
1988, will be fabricated with a 1.5-micron (1.2-micron effective) CMOS >>> process. (7/25/88)"
Semiconductor User Information Service Newsletters 1988-1989 by Dataquest
https://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/2013/04/102723402-05-01-acc.pdf
Yip, another construction site for boring winter-days. yeah :-/
Only one 32-bit slot? Aww. That's some rough cost cutting...little blackbox. At least the Chipset is documented: http://66.113.161.23/~mR_Slug/pub/datasheets/chipsets/Headland/GCK181.pdf
But yeah, let's hope the refdisk files still exist somewhere. Maybe on
the hard-drive? :P
On 21.12.2021 21:06, schimmi wrote:
Tomas Slavotinek schrieb am Dienstag, 21. Dezember 2021 um 20:54:55 UTC+1:
Pardon my french, but this is some rare sh*t!
Interesting machine. Definitely getting some Model 50/70 vibes from it. >> Except they did the reasonable thing and added one extra slot (4
external + 1 internal), similar to what IBM Japan did with the PS/55
Model 5550 boxes.
30-pin SIMMs were cheaper and much more common in the clone world, so
for some time, eight 30-pin sockets were the de-facto standard. 72-pin
SIMMs became popular later in the mid to late-486 era. So that part
makes sense too.
If you are gonna disassemble the thing, please take photos of the planar >> (for the outline). ROM dumps, software, and any other material would be >> much appreciated.
On 21.12.2021 20:00, schimmi wrote:
The machine arrived today, just cleaning it a bit. Power suppy lokks like something from a Model 70 etc. You were right, there are two BIOS Chips am27c512-155dc (64KX8). Already dumped them. No software (reference disks) found so far, its a nifty
Still hope, someone from the old Bull Company has some disk dumps for the ref disks. They are still missing :(...and only one 32bit MCA in spite of a full blown 386DX. Meh :) You're right, didn't even notice the internal-only Slot. It's for the ESDI Controller, a WD1007V-MC1. I collect some pdfs, photos and rom dumps in an archive and send you a link :)
"LSI Logic's affiliate, G-2, has entered into an agreement with Groupe Bull of
France to manufacture an IBM PS/2 compatible chip set. The chip set includes
the GC181 CPU bus controller, the GC182 memory controller, the GC183
DMA controller, the GC184 address-data buffer, and the GC186 peripheral >>> controller. The 20-MHz chip set, which will be sampled in the third quarter of
1988, will be fabricated with a 1.5-micron (1.2-micron effective) CMOS >>> process. (7/25/88)"
Semiconductor User Information Service Newsletters 1988-1989 by Dataquest
https://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/2013/04/102723402-05-01-acc.pdf
Yip, another construction site for boring winter-days. yeah :-/
Tomas Slavotinek schrieb am Dienstag, 21. Dezember 2021 um 21:14:25 UTC+1:
Hard to tell from the grainy photos but one of the release levers on theAre there any other sockets than plastic ones? They seem to be fine :) https://photos.app.goo.gl/tabwnRspu6oHbqGh7
left side looks somewhat mangled (4th slot from the top). Are these the
nasty all-plastic sockets?
On 16.12.2021 21:50, schimmi wrote:
Leads to the question, why the free onboard-RAM slots were not utilised first.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I meant the SIMM sockets there (as an answer to Louis' question). OnlyAh, the RAM-Slots. Yeah, turn into the cheap street. And yes, the 4th slot is indeed broken.
the cheapest ones are all-plastic, most have either metal support around
the release clips or all-metal latches (but some of these tend to break
as well).
On 21.12.2021 21:36, schimmi wrote:
Tomas Slavotinek schrieb am Dienstag, 21. Dezember 2021 um 21:14:25 UTC+1:
Hard to tell from the grainy photos but one of the release levers on the >> left side looks somewhat mangled (4th slot from the top). Are these the >> nasty all-plastic sockets?Are there any other sockets than plastic ones? They seem to be fine :) https://photos.app.goo.gl/tabwnRspu6oHbqGh7
On 16.12.2021 21:50, schimmi wrote:
Leads to the question, why the free onboard-RAM slots were not utilised first.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Tomas Slavotinek schrieb am Dienstag, 21. Dezember 2021 um 21:36:53 UTC+1:little blackbox. At least the Chipset is documented: http://66.113.161.23/~mR_Slug/pub/datasheets/chipsets/Headland/GCK181.pdf
Only one 32-bit slot? Aww. That's some rough cost cutting...
But yeah, let's hope the refdisk files still exist somewhere. Maybe on
the hard-drive? :P
On 21.12.2021 21:06, schimmi wrote:
Tomas Slavotinek schrieb am Dienstag, 21. Dezember 2021 um 20:54:55 UTC+1: >>>> Pardon my french, but this is some rare sh*t!
Interesting machine. Definitely getting some Model 50/70 vibes from it. >>>> Except they did the reasonable thing and added one extra slot (4
external + 1 internal), similar to what IBM Japan did with the PS/55
Model 5550 boxes.
30-pin SIMMs were cheaper and much more common in the clone world, so
for some time, eight 30-pin sockets were the de-facto standard. 72-pin >>>> SIMMs became popular later in the mid to late-486 era. So that part
makes sense too.
If you are gonna disassemble the thing, please take photos of the planar >>>> (for the outline). ROM dumps, software, and any other material would be >>>> much appreciated.
On 21.12.2021 20:00, schimmi wrote:
The machine arrived today, just cleaning it a bit. Power suppy lokks like something from a Model 70 etc. You were right, there are two BIOS Chips am27c512-155dc (64KX8). Already dumped them. No software (reference disks) found so far, its a nifty
Still hope, someone from the old Bull Company has some disk dumps for the ref disks. They are still missing :(...and only one 32bit MCA in spite of a full blown 386DX. Meh :) You're right, didn't even notice the internal-only Slot. It's for the ESDI Controller, a WD1007V-MC1. I collect some pdfs, photos and rom dumps in an archive and send you a link :)
"LSI Logic's affiliate, G-2, has entered into an agreement with Groupe Bull of
France to manufacture an IBM PS/2 compatible chip set. The chip set includes
the GC181 CPU bus controller, the GC182 memory controller, the GC183 >>>>> DMA controller, the GC184 address-data buffer, and the GC186 peripheral >>>>> controller. The 20-MHz chip set, which will be sampled in the third quarter of
1988, will be fabricated with a 1.5-micron (1.2-micron effective) CMOS >>>>> process. (7/25/88)"
Semiconductor User Information Service Newsletters 1988-1989 by Dataquest >>>>> https://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/2013/04/102723402-05-01-acc.pdf
Yip, another construction site for boring winter-days. yeah :-/
hehe, maybe. but maybe we have a hen egg problem - were the harddrive has to be configured first - you guessed it - via the refdisk. Hehe :D
That will be the reason then. One bad socket and you lose the entireit's just the holder, nothing, that cant't be fixed :) just added a main pcb photo, feel free to find more issues :D
bank - four sockets for a 32-bit system. From my experience, it's rather difficult to get it working reliably with one latch broken. You have to
get creative and add some kind of support or better replace the entire socket.
Or, you know, use a memory expansion adapter... :)
On 21.12.2021 21:50, schimmi wrote:
Tomas Slavotinek schrieb am Dienstag, 21. Dezember 2021 um 21:45:32 UTC+1:
I meant the SIMM sockets there (as an answer to Louis' question). OnlyAh, the RAM-Slots. Yeah, turn into the cheap street. And yes, the 4th slot is indeed broken.
the cheapest ones are all-plastic, most have either metal support around >> the release clips or all-metal latches (but some of these tend to break >> as well).
On 21.12.2021 21:36, schimmi wrote:
Tomas Slavotinek schrieb am Dienstag, 21. Dezember 2021 um 21:14:25 UTC+1:
Hard to tell from the grainy photos but one of the release levers on theAre there any other sockets than plastic ones? They seem to be fine :) https://photos.app.goo.gl/tabwnRspu6oHbqGh7
left side looks somewhat mangled (4th slot from the top). Are these the >>>> nasty all-plastic sockets?
On 16.12.2021 21:50, schimmi wrote:
Leads to the question, why the free onboard-RAM slots were not utilised first.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Tomas Slavotinek schrieb am Dienstag, 21. Dezember 2021 um 21:45:32 UTC+1:
I meant the SIMM sockets there (as an answer to Louis' question). OnlyAh, the RAM-Slots. Yeah, turn into the cheap street. And yes, the 4th slot is indeed broken.
the cheapest ones are all-plastic, most have either metal support around
the release clips or all-metal latches (but some of these tend to break
as well).
On 21.12.2021 21:36, schimmi wrote:
Tomas Slavotinek schrieb am Dienstag, 21. Dezember 2021 um 21:14:25 UTC+1: >>>> Hard to tell from the grainy photos but one of the release levers on the >>>> left side looks somewhat mangled (4th slot from the top). Are these the >>>> nasty all-plastic sockets?
On 16.12.2021 21:50, schimmi wrote:Are there any other sockets than plastic ones? They seem to be fine :) https://photos.app.goo.gl/tabwnRspu6oHbqGh7
Leads to the question, why the free onboard-RAM slots were not utilised first.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
it's just the holder, nothing, that cant't be fixed
Tomas Slavotinek schrieb am Dienstag, 21. Dezember 2021 um 21:59:40 UTC+1:
That will be the reason then. One bad socket and you lose the entireit's just the holder, nothing, that cant't be fixed :) just added a main pcb photo, feel free to find more issues :D
bank - four sockets for a 32-bit system. From my experience, it's rather
difficult to get it working reliably with one latch broken. You have to
get creative and add some kind of support or better replace the entire
socket.
Or, you know, use a memory expansion adapter... :)
On 21.12.2021 21:50, schimmi wrote:
Tomas Slavotinek schrieb am Dienstag, 21. Dezember 2021 um 21:45:32 UTC+1: >>>> I meant the SIMM sockets there (as an answer to Louis' question). Only >>>> the cheapest ones are all-plastic, most have either metal support around >>>> the release clips or all-metal latches (but some of these tend to break >>>> as well).
On 21.12.2021 21:36, schimmi wrote:Ah, the RAM-Slots. Yeah, turn into the cheap street. And yes, the 4th slot is indeed broken.
Tomas Slavotinek schrieb am Dienstag, 21. Dezember 2021 um 21:14:25 UTC+1:
Hard to tell from the grainy photos but one of the release levers on the >>>>>> left side looks somewhat mangled (4th slot from the top). Are these the >>>>>> nasty all-plastic sockets?Are there any other sockets than plastic ones? They seem to be fine :) https://photos.app.goo.gl/tabwnRspu6oHbqGh7
On 16.12.2021 21:50, schimmi wrote:
Leads to the question, why the free onboard-RAM slots were not utilised first.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The controller seems to be a standard MCA adapter, only with a shortened back-bracket. So, it should fit into any MCA machine. Whether it willlittle blackbox. At least the Chipset is documented: http://66.113.161.23/~mR_Slug/pub/datasheets/chipsets/Headland/GCK181.pdf
work is another question. Not even sure if we have the ADF for it.
Perhaps it's compatible with the IBM card?
Does anyone know what adapter it is? Made by Western Digital, it seems.
We can always ask QBMCA I guess...
On 21.12.2021 21:41, schimmi wrote:
Tomas Slavotinek schrieb am Dienstag, 21. Dezember 2021 um 21:36:53 UTC+1:
Only one 32-bit slot? Aww. That's some rough cost cutting...
But yeah, let's hope the refdisk files still exist somewhere. Maybe on
the hard-drive? :P
On 21.12.2021 21:06, schimmi wrote:
Tomas Slavotinek schrieb am Dienstag, 21. Dezember 2021 um 20:54:55 UTC+1:
Pardon my french, but this is some rare sh*t!
Interesting machine. Definitely getting some Model 50/70 vibes from it. >>>> Except they did the reasonable thing and added one extra slot (4
external + 1 internal), similar to what IBM Japan did with the PS/55 >>>> Model 5550 boxes.
30-pin SIMMs were cheaper and much more common in the clone world, so >>>> for some time, eight 30-pin sockets were the de-facto standard. 72-pin >>>> SIMMs became popular later in the mid to late-486 era. So that part >>>> makes sense too.
If you are gonna disassemble the thing, please take photos of the planar
(for the outline). ROM dumps, software, and any other material would be >>>> much appreciated.
On 21.12.2021 20:00, schimmi wrote:
The machine arrived today, just cleaning it a bit. Power suppy lokks like something from a Model 70 etc. You were right, there are two BIOS Chips am27c512-155dc (64KX8). Already dumped them. No software (reference disks) found so far, its a nifty
Still hope, someone from the old Bull Company has some disk dumps for the ref disks. They are still missing :(...and only one 32bit MCA in spite of a full blown 386DX. Meh :) You're right, didn't even notice the internal-only Slot. It's for the ESDI Controller, a WD1007V-MC1. I collect some pdfs, photos and rom dumps in an archive and send you a link :)
"LSI Logic's affiliate, G-2, has entered into an agreement with Groupe Bull of
France to manufacture an IBM PS/2 compatible chip set. The chip set includes
the GC181 CPU bus controller, the GC182 memory controller, the GC183 >>>>> DMA controller, the GC184 address-data buffer, and the GC186 peripheral
controller. The 20-MHz chip set, which will be sampled in the third quarter of
1988, will be fabricated with a 1.5-micron (1.2-micron effective) CMOS >>>>> process. (7/25/88)"
Semiconductor User Information Service Newsletters 1988-1989 by Dataquest
https://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/2013/04/102723402-05-01-acc.pdf
Yip, another construction site for boring winter-days. yeah :-/
Guess, the WD1007V-MC1 is already documented. I'll try my best to throw you everything in high-res over the fence. Thanks by the way for documenting all of this :)hehe, maybe. but maybe we have a hen egg problem - were the harddrive has to be configured first - you guessed it - via the refdisk. Hehe :D
Tomas Slavotinek schrieb am Dienstag, 21. Dezember 2021 um 22:09:33 UTC+1:little blackbox. At least the Chipset is documented: http://66.113.161.23/~mR_Slug/pub/datasheets/chipsets/Headland/GCK181.pdf
The controller seems to be a standard MCA adapter, only with a shortened
back-bracket. So, it should fit into any MCA machine. Whether it will
work is another question. Not even sure if we have the ADF for it.
Perhaps it's compatible with the IBM card?
Does anyone know what adapter it is? Made by Western Digital, it seems.
We can always ask QBMCA I guess...
On 21.12.2021 21:41, schimmi wrote:
Tomas Slavotinek schrieb am Dienstag, 21. Dezember 2021 um 21:36:53 UTC+1: >>>> Only one 32-bit slot? Aww. That's some rough cost cutting...
But yeah, let's hope the refdisk files still exist somewhere. Maybe on >>>> the hard-drive? :P
On 21.12.2021 21:06, schimmi wrote:
Tomas Slavotinek schrieb am Dienstag, 21. Dezember 2021 um 20:54:55 UTC+1:
Pardon my french, but this is some rare sh*t!
Interesting machine. Definitely getting some Model 50/70 vibes from it. >>>>>> Except they did the reasonable thing and added one extra slot (4
external + 1 internal), similar to what IBM Japan did with the PS/55 >>>>>> Model 5550 boxes.
30-pin SIMMs were cheaper and much more common in the clone world, so >>>>>> for some time, eight 30-pin sockets were the de-facto standard. 72-pin >>>>>> SIMMs became popular later in the mid to late-486 era. So that part >>>>>> makes sense too.
If you are gonna disassemble the thing, please take photos of the planar >>>>>> (for the outline). ROM dumps, software, and any other material would be >>>>>> much appreciated.
On 21.12.2021 20:00, schimmi wrote:
The machine arrived today, just cleaning it a bit. Power suppy lokks like something from a Model 70 etc. You were right, there are two BIOS Chips am27c512-155dc (64KX8). Already dumped them. No software (reference disks) found so far, its a nifty
Still hope, someone from the old Bull Company has some disk dumps for the ref disks. They are still missing :(...and only one 32bit MCA in spite of a full blown 386DX. Meh :) You're right, didn't even notice the internal-only Slot. It's for the ESDI Controller, a WD1007V-MC1. I collect some pdfs, photos and rom dumps in an archive and send you a link :)
"LSI Logic's affiliate, G-2, has entered into an agreement with Groupe Bull of
France to manufacture an IBM PS/2 compatible chip set. The chip set includes
the GC181 CPU bus controller, the GC182 memory controller, the GC183 >>>>>>> DMA controller, the GC184 address-data buffer, and the GC186 peripheral >>>>>>> controller. The 20-MHz chip set, which will be sampled in the third quarter of
1988, will be fabricated with a 1.5-micron (1.2-micron effective) CMOS >>>>>>> process. (7/25/88)"
Semiconductor User Information Service Newsletters 1988-1989 by Dataquest
https://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/2013/04/102723402-05-01-acc.pdf
Yip, another construction site for boring winter-days. yeah :-/
Guess, the WD1007V-MC1 is already documented. I'll try my best to throw you everything in high-res over the fence. Thanks by the way for documenting all of this :)
hehe, maybe. but maybe we have a hen egg problem - were the harddrive has to be configured first - you guessed it - via the refdisk. Hehe :D
And thank *You* for sharing this lovely machine with us. Many gems fromnifty little blackbox. At least the Chipset is documented: http://66.113.161.23/~mR_Slug/pub/datasheets/chipsets/Headland/GCK181.pdf
eBay end up in some dark closet, never to be seen again... let alone documented.
I hope we can bring it to a fully operational state again.
On 21.12.2021 22:25, schimmi wrote:
Tomas Slavotinek schrieb am Dienstag, 21. Dezember 2021 um 22:09:33 UTC+1:
The controller seems to be a standard MCA adapter, only with a shortened >> back-bracket. So, it should fit into any MCA machine. Whether it will
work is another question. Not even sure if we have the ADF for it.
Perhaps it's compatible with the IBM card?
Does anyone know what adapter it is? Made by Western Digital, it seems. >> We can always ask QBMCA I guess...
On 21.12.2021 21:41, schimmi wrote:
Tomas Slavotinek schrieb am Dienstag, 21. Dezember 2021 um 21:36:53 UTC+1:
Only one 32-bit slot? Aww. That's some rough cost cutting...
But yeah, let's hope the refdisk files still exist somewhere. Maybe on >>>> the hard-drive? :P
On 21.12.2021 21:06, schimmi wrote:
Tomas Slavotinek schrieb am Dienstag, 21. Dezember 2021 um 20:54:55 UTC+1:
Pardon my french, but this is some rare sh*t!
Interesting machine. Definitely getting some Model 50/70 vibes from it.
Except they did the reasonable thing and added one extra slot (4 >>>>>> external + 1 internal), similar to what IBM Japan did with the PS/55 >>>>>> Model 5550 boxes.
30-pin SIMMs were cheaper and much more common in the clone world, so >>>>>> for some time, eight 30-pin sockets were the de-facto standard. 72-pin
SIMMs became popular later in the mid to late-486 era. So that part >>>>>> makes sense too.
If you are gonna disassemble the thing, please take photos of the planar
(for the outline). ROM dumps, software, and any other material would be
much appreciated.
On 21.12.2021 20:00, schimmi wrote:
The machine arrived today, just cleaning it a bit. Power suppy lokks like something from a Model 70 etc. You were right, there are two BIOS Chips am27c512-155dc (64KX8). Already dumped them. No software (reference disks) found so far, its a
Still hope, someone from the old Bull Company has some disk dumps for the ref disks. They are still missing :(
"LSI Logic's affiliate, G-2, has entered into an agreement with Groupe Bull of
France to manufacture an IBM PS/2 compatible chip set. The chip set includes
the GC181 CPU bus controller, the GC182 memory controller, the GC183 >>>>>>> DMA controller, the GC184 address-data buffer, and the GC186 peripheral
controller. The 20-MHz chip set, which will be sampled in the third quarter of
1988, will be fabricated with a 1.5-micron (1.2-micron effective) CMOS
process. (7/25/88)"
Semiconductor User Information Service Newsletters 1988-1989 by Dataquest
https://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/2013/04/102723402-05-01-acc.pdf
Yip, another construction site for boring winter-days. yeah :-/ >>>>> ...and only one 32bit MCA in spite of a full blown 386DX. Meh :) You're right, didn't even notice the internal-only Slot. It's for the ESDI Controller, a WD1007V-MC1. I collect some pdfs, photos and rom dumps in an archive and send you a link :)
Guess, the WD1007V-MC1 is already documented. I'll try my best to throw you everything in high-res over the fence. Thanks by the way for documenting all of this :)
hehe, maybe. but maybe we have a hen egg problem - were the harddrive has to be configured first - you guessed it - via the refdisk. Hehe :D
On 21.12.2021 23:19, schimmi wrote:just uploaded the pinout. it's indeed quitre the same and form antec.
No problem :) Hopefully, https://feb-d.de/ can help me out with the software. We'll see :) Next step is to annoy the french bull-society :DThanks. Yep, Z75 should be it. Hard to read what the package says, but I
The copro-socket in the socket is indeed some kind of a bus-terminator or adapter?
Thought exactly the same about the bodge-wire near the PS. Too much current for that trace.
RTC - good question. found out how to remove the battery compartment - took another photo without it. maybe you can spot the rtc now?
However, better photos/infos are coming.
can see the Motorola logo and it ends with 818A. So, probably Motorola MC146818A. THe same part was used in many early PS/2s, including Models
50 and 70.
No problem :) Hopefully, https://feb-d.de/ can help me out with the software. We'll see :) Next step is to annoy the french bull-society :D
The copro-socket in the socket is indeed some kind of a bus-terminator or adapter?
Thought exactly the same about the bodge-wire near the PS. Too much current for that trace.
RTC - good question. found out how to remove the battery compartment - took another photo without it. maybe you can spot the rtc now?
However, better photos/infos are coming.
Tomas Slavotinek schrieb am Dienstag, 21. Dezember 2021 um 23:34:09 UTC+1:
On 21.12.2021 23:19, schimmi wrote:just uploaded the pinout. it's indeed quitre the same and form antec.
No problem :) Hopefully, https://feb-d.de/ can help me out with the software. We'll see :) Next step is to annoy the french bull-society :DThanks. Yep, Z75 should be it. Hard to read what the package says, but I
The copro-socket in the socket is indeed some kind of a bus-terminator or adapter?
Thought exactly the same about the bodge-wire near the PS. Too much current for that trace.
RTC - good question. found out how to remove the battery compartment - took another photo without it. maybe you can spot the rtc now?
However, better photos/infos are coming.
can see the Motorola logo and it ends with 818A. So, probably Motorola
MC146818A. THe same part was used in many early PS/2s, including Models
50 and 70.
Tomas Slavotinek schrieb am Dienstag, 21. Dezember 2021 um 23:57:15 UTC+1:At least there is a nice Bootscreen with way more info you'll see on any PS/2 :) Good point btw. taking the focus to the HDD - I'll hook it up to another machine and take a look at the contents. Hopefully, there is something to configure this Blackbox :)
Ah, that confirms that part. Neat...Of course I take everything apart and send every bit to you. Be prepared for some High-Res Photos. Just hooked it up on my Testbench - HDD spins right up but as we already pointed out - there is no boot from any device due to missing config parameters.
If you don't plan on removing the planar later, could you please take
one more photo of the planar with the fan assembly removed? That should
give me a good enough reference for the outline.
Also, there are pads and outline for a switch in bottom right (SW1).
Maybe a reset button?
On 21.12.2021 23:37, schimmi wrote:
Tomas Slavotinek schrieb am Dienstag, 21. Dezember 2021 um 23:34:09 UTC+1: >>>> On 21.12.2021 23:19, schimmi wrote:
just uploaded the pinout. it's indeed quitre the same and form antec.No problem :) Hopefully, https://feb-d.de/ can help me out with the software. We'll see :) Next step is to annoy the french bull-society :DThanks. Yep, Z75 should be it. Hard to read what the package says, but I >>>> can see the Motorola logo and it ends with 818A. So, probably Motorola >>>> MC146818A. THe same part was used in many early PS/2s, including Models >>>> 50 and 70.
The copro-socket in the socket is indeed some kind of a bus-terminator or adapter?
Thought exactly the same about the bodge-wire near the PS. Too much current for that trace.
RTC - good question. found out how to remove the battery compartment - took another photo without it. maybe you can spot the rtc now?
However, better photos/infos are coming.
Ah, that confirms that part. Neat...Of course I take everything apart and send every bit to you. Be prepared for some High-Res Photos. Just hooked it up on my Testbench - HDD spins right up but as we already pointed out - there is no boot from any device due to missing config parameters.
If you don't plan on removing the planar later, could you please take
one more photo of the planar with the fan assembly removed? That should
give me a good enough reference for the outline.
Also, there are pads and outline for a switch in bottom right (SW1).
Maybe a reset button?
On 21.12.2021 23:37, schimmi wrote:
Tomas Slavotinek schrieb am Dienstag, 21. Dezember 2021 um 23:34:09 UTC+1:
On 21.12.2021 23:19, schimmi wrote:just uploaded the pinout. it's indeed quitre the same and form antec.
No problem :) Hopefully, https://feb-d.de/ can help me out with the software. We'll see :) Next step is to annoy the french bull-society :DThanks. Yep, Z75 should be it. Hard to read what the package says, but I >> can see the Motorola logo and it ends with 818A. So, probably Motorola
The copro-socket in the socket is indeed some kind of a bus-terminator or adapter?
Thought exactly the same about the bodge-wire near the PS. Too much current for that trace.
RTC - good question. found out how to remove the battery compartment - took another photo without it. maybe you can spot the rtc now?
However, better photos/infos are coming.
MC146818A. THe same part was used in many early PS/2s, including Models >> 50 and 70.
What I've meant was ASTEC :) Pinout -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/tabwnRspu6oHbqGh7
Guess, the WD1007V-MC1 is already documented. I'll try my best to throw you everything in high-res over the fence. Thanks by the way for documenting all of this :)
Huh, pads for a ZIP socket,It really looks like a VRAM Upgrade Option, you're right. Onboard are whopping 64K X 4 BIT times 8 (KM41464AJ), so 256KiB VRAM.
That 387 socket is interesting. 486 upgrades for 386 used a
compatibility plug at times.
IBM had clips for broken plastic SIMM clips.
8 low capacity DRAM for VGA-ish video?
Higher res would be fascinating.
On 12/21/2021 16:52, schimmi wrote:
What I've meant was ASTEC :) Pinout -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/tabwnRspu6oHbqGh7
Am 21.12.21 um 22:25 schrieb schimmi:
Guess, the WD1007V-MC1 is already documented. I'll try my best to throw you everything in high-res over the fence. Thanks by the way for documenting all of this :)
Hi Stefan,
yep, there is some documentation.
WD1007-MC1: http://www.franken-online.de/ymmv/esdi/manufac.html#Western%20Digital http://www.franken-online.de/ymmv/esdi/resources.html#WD
The controller works with standard @ddff.adf. I used the ADF file stored here:
http://www.franken-online.de/ymmv/files/WD_UTIL.7z
Control Data SWIFT 94316-200 aka Seagate ST1201E http://computermuseum.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/pcdisk/h/1000/237.htm http://computermuseum.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/pcdisk/h/4000/3899.htm
A nice and relative fast ESDI storage system.
The WD1007 writes a specific format to the hard drive. Unfortunately it
is not possible to read the hard disk contents with another ESDI
controller card, not even with a WD1007x ISA ESDI controller.
If you have a working model 60, 70 or 80 it may be possible to check the
hard disk's content with DOS and find the setup programs.
Wolfgang
Am 21.12.21 um 22:25 schrieb schimmi:Hi Wolfgang,
Guess, the WD1007V-MC1 is already documented. I'll try my best to throw you everything in high-res over the fence. Thanks by the way for documenting all of this :)
Hi Stefan,
yep, there is some documentation.
WD1007-MC1: http://www.franken-online.de/ymmv/esdi/manufac.html#Western%20Digital http://www.franken-online.de/ymmv/esdi/resources.html#WD
The controller works with standard @ddff.adf. I used the ADF file stored here:
http://www.franken-online.de/ymmv/files/WD_UTIL.7z
Control Data SWIFT 94316-200 aka Seagate ST1201E http://computermuseum.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/pcdisk/h/1000/237.htm http://computermuseum.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/pcdisk/h/4000/3899.htm
A nice and relative fast ESDI storage system.
The WD1007 writes a specific format to the hard drive. Unfortunately it
is not possible to read the hard disk contents with another ESDI
controller card, not even with a WD1007x ISA ESDI controller.
If you have a working model 60, 70 or 80 it may be possible to check the
hard disk's content with DOS and find the setup programs.
Wolfgang
A nice and relative fast ESDI storage system.I can agree with that. Not a single failing sector, no problem at all with the controller :)
| Sysop: | Keyop |
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