Signs you may be taking this whole retro computer thing too seriously: you have a guy in Ohio hand-making custom high-speed VRAM for a very unique PDS video card that only works in one model of computer from thirty years ago…
Yep. That’s me…
The PDS-based HPV (High Performance Video) card that the 8100 came with in 1995 had 2megs of VRAM and would do 832×624 in 24 bit color – which was somewhat crazy for a time when PCs were still 640×480 in 16 colors… But the HPV card was expandable to 4megs using 80ns 68-pin VRAM simms that cost a small fortune back in the day and accordingly weren’t super prevalent – hence needing to have it made here in the 21st century.
When this new VRAM gets here and I max out the HPV card, the 8100 will support 1152×870 in 24-bit color – which back in ’95 would have essentially been alien technology. I mean, the “web” didn’t make the transition to 1024×768 until 2002 – 7 years later.
I should also mention that the Apple “Multiple Scan” 17-inch monitor I have on the 8100 was released at the same time in 1994 for a bit over $1000, supports up to 1024×768 at 75Hz, and was just as far ahead of its time as the computer…
Anyway – I’ve also ordered both an internal 50-pin and an external 25-pin BlueSCSI v.2 adapter. The latter will be used to make a backup of the existing 640meg HD which will eventually be replaced by the former. Once this is done, the original drive will be archived and the system will operate off of the internal adapter as it’s faster and pulls less power from the 30 year old power supply.
I also ordered eight 32meg EDO 72-pin SIMMs to max out the ram in the 8100. The new ram is 60ns instead of the stock 80ns because I might pick up a Sonnet 500Mhz G3 upgrade card for it, and that will require faster ram.
Oh, and I have a Farallon AAUI to 10baseT adapter coming – so I can put the 8100 on the LAN at the house, mostly for the giggles.
Listening to "Be Good to Yourself" by Journey