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WTB: 8 Bit ISA VGA Card for IBM 5150 Motherboard

Per [here], some 16-bit VGA cards are known to work with the 5150 motherboard.
Are you specifically after 8-bit cards, or are 16-bit cards acceptable too ?
 
Your chances are raising massively if you replace the 8088 by a NEC V20. The issue is not so much the motherboard but the VGA BIOS of many 8-bit capable cards using 286 instructions.
 
modem7 said:
Per [here], some 16-bit VGA cards are known to work with the 5150 motherboard.
Are you specifically after 8-bit cards, or are 16-bit cards acceptable too ?
Click to expand...

Well I guess I just need one that will work for a reasonable price.

I've got a 5150 Motherboard that I'd like to sell, but it hasn't been Tested and I don't have any Video Cards that I can use to perform the Test.

I don't feel right putting it up for sale without knowing that it actually works.
 
hmb said:
Any Trident TVGA8900C based VGA card will work in a 5150.
Click to expand...
How do you know that?
For example, for all we know, some Taiwanese company designed/produced a TVGA8900C based VGA card, targeted it for 16-bit machines only, and put 80286 instructions in the card's BIOS.
 
modem7 said:
How do you know that?
For example, for all we know, some Taiwanese company designed/produced a TVGA8900C based VGA card, targeted it for 16-bit machines only, and put 80286 instructions in the card's BIOS.
Click to expand...

Fair enough - I cannot say for certain that hasn't happened. I recently went through the process of finding a VGA card for my 5150, and ended up with two cards that both worked. One was the TVGA8900C based card (which I will describe in more detail). The other was an ATI VGA Wonder-16 which despite its name works perfectly in a 5150 as long as it has a BIOS ROM version of 3 or earlier - unfortunately ATI's early "VGA Wonder" cards are both harder to find and more expensive that the more common early-model Trident cards.

The TVGA8900C card that I know works with a 5150 (with a later BIOS, as pointed out above by Chuck) is a fairly common configuration that has the identifier "8916CX2/4/8 LC2 REV A", has two Quadtel BIOS ROMS (version C2.11), and has the jumper layout shown at https://stason.org/TULARC/pc/graphics-cards/U-Z/UNIDENTIFIED-XVGA-TVGA-8900C.html .
There is a very similar version of this card with a single Quadtel BIOS ROM (version 3). It retains the same jumper layout (including the 8/16 bit bus detect jumper) of the card I mentioned above. However, I have not personally tested this version of the card on a 5150.
Pictures of both versions are shown at http://old.vgamuseum.info/home/214-trident-tvga-8900c.html
Usually there are several of both versions listed on eBay at point in time.

According to its manual the Trident TVGA 8900D apparently works in a PC or XT (no personal experience). The 8900D card has two sets of jumpers: one for 8/16 bit bus selection, the other for 8/16 bit BIOS detection.
 
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OK so I purchased a Trident 8900C. Is there anything special I have to do to the Motherboard or Video Card to get it working?

Does it matter which Slot I put it in?

I've got a 10/27/82 BIOS on the Motherboard.
 
Syclops said:
OK so I purchased a Trident 8900C.
Click to expand...
Hopefully it will work.

Syclops said:
Is there anything special I have to do to the Motherboard ...
Click to expand...
On the 5150 motherboard, the two video switches are to be both set to ON.

Syclops said:
... or Video Card to get it working?
Click to expand...
If the layout of your card matches the one at [here], then the jumper at position SW4 needs to be off (to auto-detect 8 or 16 bit bus).

Syclops said:
Does it matter which Slot I put it in?
Click to expand...
Not for an IBM 5150 motherboard. Slot 1 is typically used, only by convention.

Syclops said:
I've got a 10/27/82 BIOS on the Motherboard.
Click to expand...
Good.
 
OK, this is a really stupid question, but I've never played with any IBM Motherboards.

When I turn on the Power Supply, will the Motherboard automatically start to Boot or is there Jumper or something that needs triggered?

Also can I use a Standard AT Keyboard on this thing and which of the 2 Keyboard looking plugs does it need to be plugged into?
 
Syclops said:
OK, this is a really stupid question, but I've never played with any IBM Motherboards.

When I turn on the Power Supply, will the Motherboard automatically start to Boot or is there Jumper or something that needs triggered?

Also can I use a Standard AT Keyboard on this thing and which of the 2 Keyboard looking plugs does it need to be plugged into?
Click to expand...

starts as soon as you apply power
no, you have to use a XT type keyboard, AT type ones won't work
if you're looking at the back of the PC, it's the DIN on the left
 
Hmm, There are no obvious signs of physical damage or corrosion on the motherboard, but I get nothing. Even connected a speaker (XT style 2 Pin not sure if that will work though) and there are no beeps or anything. Bummer.
 
Syclops said:
Hmm, There are no obvious signs of physical damage or corrosion on the motherboard, but I get nothing. Even connected a speaker (XT style 2 Pin not sure if that will work though) and there are no beeps or anything. Bummer.
Click to expand...
Try the diagnostic procedure at [here]. No keyboard required.
 
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