What on EARTH is this PCI card?

[EverythingIBM]

Well I figured the BNC was 10base2 networking, and there are some headers on the card that could be the proprietary connectors for the mobo/case connections. I didn't see the name branding on there, though.

In retrospect it has a Crystal chip, and a Phillips chip. The Phillips is likely a decoder chip for video, and the Crystal is most likely a sound chip of some variety. This seems to support the theory that it's a capture or encoding/decoding card of some sort. My initial theory was that the Phillips chip was for encoding video, and the Crystal chip for encoding audio, they'd both be muxed into a signal and sent over the BNC (and input would run back up the BNC) which'd be networked with the controlling PC.

Anywho whether it's a RILOE, a capture card, or a decoder, etc.. I'm still rather captivated by the mystery. I hope you find out how to use it to do something. :D

And this is where I come in...

The crystal audio chips are quite cool, they are sound blaster compatible (also able to run "windows sound system" on DOS games that used it) and feature a unique version of OPL3: Crystal FM synthesis. I actually prefer Crystal FM chip over the real OPL3... but don't tell any OPL3 enthusiasts that!
I do have a cool SCSI jumpered sound blaster 16 though. I use them both

Good job completely killing that card BTW putting it down on the shag carpet like that.... Bye-bye RAM's, Bye-Bye logic chips...

Nah... I wore a hoodie and walked on shag carpet all day touching my computers. It takes a lot to kill computer components. Obviously I am extra careful with expensive vintage electronics, but for ordinary every day stuff, nah. I never once killed an electronic component with carpet or such. I think it'd be hard to do.

 

[njroadfan]

And this is where I come in...

The crystal audio chips are quite cool, they are sound blaster compatible (also able to run "windows sound system" on DOS games that used it) and feature a unique version of OPL3: Crystal FM synthesis. I actually prefer Crystal FM chip over the real OPL3... but don't tell any OPL3 enthusiasts that!

Are you sure the card just didn't install the Voyetra SuperSAPI! OPL driver (which I think sounds WAY better then the generic one)? It used to come with older SB16 driver bundles and the Crystal based Aztech Labs WSS compatible cards.

 

[EverythingIBM]

Are you sure the card just didn't install the Voyetra SuperSAPI! OPL driver (which I think sounds WAY better then the generic one)? It used to come with older SB16 driver bundles and the Crystal based Aztech Labs WSS compatible cards.

I'd have to hear a few familiar MIDI files with "Voyetra Super Sapi" and see if it's the same as Crystal FM synthesis.
The crystal card does NOT contain an actual OPL3 chip (they would have had to pay yamaha: and if they went that far, may as well just make it sound the same), as far as I know anyways (I couldn't find one on my systemboard -- it's integrated)... just a lone chip entitled "CRYSTAL".
I've never heard any SB16s having the same sound as Crystal FM synthesis; in fact, my SB16 (an old version as noted above) has fun playing at the same time with the crystal one, and I get some cool chorus and grungy effects: as both cards have a slightly different sound.

 

[Tetrium2]

I took the liberty of taking a couple pics of that strange S3 card (sorry for stealing the topic :blush.

It's in mint condition, though I don't have anything else except for the card itself. I found it sealed in an antistatic bag and took it home, since it was in new condition and it looked so odd.

 

[Lutiana]

I took the liberty of taking a couple pics of that strange S3 card (sorry for stealing the topic :blush.

It's in mint condition, though I don't have anything else except for the card itself. I found it sealed in an antistatic bag and took it home, since it was in new condition and it looked so odd.

http://www.trademoon.com/Product50006.aspx

Its a Compaq STB Video card, I recognized the part number and looked it up. HP and Compaq always use a xxxxxx-xxx type part number. It is a pretty odd looking card though.

 

[eeguru]

I think that S3 card was the predecessor to this

 

[njroadfan]

I think that S3 card was the predecessor to this

If only they knew what video cards would have become.

 

[deathshadow]

Remember that the humidity of that carpet is probably around 65% RH - possibly higher.

I'm in New Hampshire, where we have 10% humidity or less for 3 months of the year and only see it go past 50% for two months (where is spikes up to an ungodly 90%)

Like right now -- it's April, it's getting ready to rain tonight, and we're at 38% humidity. Yesterday we had a 72F with 12% humidity -- in APRIL. (admittedly the entire week before that the daytime temp never even broke 40F here) We never see anything more than 40% humidity until July.

Good five months a year you can drag your feet on a carpet and get jolts a inch from a grounded surface with a visible spark.

 

[Tetrium2]

I think that S3 card was the predecessor to this

Oh yes, still looking for the ugly mutha heatsinks though

And personally I always take precautions concerning ESD. In The Netherlands weather is usually moist, but with my yltra-dry skin I always get sparks flying, so better not to risk things. Often when I go to bed (I'll spare you guys the details ) and I get out of my pants, I can hear the sparks and sometimes even "SEE" the sparks in the dark!
So for me it's best to -always- be careful when taking ESD into account. And besides, ESD is pretty easy to avoid but a pain to diagnose.