IBM RT with 5085 graphics processor

[Jules Richardson]

r.stricklin wrote:
> 
> On Apr 6, 2007, at 10:32 AM, Jules Richardson wrote:
> 
>> I picked up a very nice RT system the other day from a list member 
>> which includes the 5085 graphics processor and 5081 colour display. 
>> We've just been setting it up today (or trying to), and an obvious 
>> question arises...
> 
> Dang, I'm jealous. I've been looking for a 5080 attachment adapter for 
> RT, PS/2 or RS/6000 for a while now.

Well I shan't gloat - I'm not even sure how alive the system is yet :-) The 
5085 passes diags and boots OK, so that side is good - but I've not got to the 
RT side of things yet, other than to verify that the PSU is healthy and that 
the CPU and memory pass diags.

The big problem is IBM's use of ESDI hard disks - if those are toast then, 
whilst I think there's enough floppy media to reinstall AIX, coming by a 
replacement ESDI drive (and more importantly an ESDI drive that AIX supports) 
will be interesting.

> Your assumption is correct. You'll probably want the RT PC Options 
> Installation manual off my site:
> 
> http://www.typewritten.org/Articles/

Hurrah - that's a bit good! :-) Many thanks!

> What you probably have is the S/370 Host Interface Adapter, which 
> operates similarly in principle to the later, MCA version for PS/2 or 
> RS/6000. I don't think it matters which BNC connector you use.

Quite possibly! Anyway, I'll be doing the first full test-boot of the system 
when I'm next at the museum :-) The RT's got the fastest ROMP processor 
offered (plus the FP board), 3 x 300MB drives, SCSI (for the tape drive), 
Ethernet, Token Ring, and a quad-port serial board. The 5085 side has the 
Dials, tablet and LPFK options. So as far as "small" IBM systems go it's 
pretty darn slick. Fingers crossed those hard drives still work...

cheers

Jules