Area 5150 Demo @ Evoke 2022 (Audience Reaction) PCRetroTech 2022-08-15 | Here is the audience reaction to Area 5150, first place in the Alternative Platforms category at the Evoke 2022 Demoparty in Cologne, Germany.This demo runs on an original IBM PC 5150 @with 4.77MHz with 640kb of RAM and an IBM CGA graphics card.pouet.net/prod.php?which=91938
Studying the Amstrad PC1512 Graphics Chip PCRetroTech 2023-11-05 | We try to do cycle accurate probing of the graphics chip in the Amstrad PC1512 from 1986, to try and find glitches and to figure out how to use it optimally.Amstrad Reference Manual:seasip.info/AmstradXT/1512tech/section1.html#1.11.5
Animating Ellipses on a Vintage 386 Computer PCRetroTech 2023-08-06 | I show implementations of ellipse routines, including horizontal ellipses and diagonal/general ellipses on a vintage 386 computer, all assembly optimised for maximum performance.I talk about how scan conversion of lines, circles and ellipses actually works at a high level and talk about all the issues I ran into trying to get my final animation to work.Code repository for this episode:github.com/wbhart/ellipsePC-Key-Draw:pcjs.org/software/pcx86/sw/misc/pcsig/0001-0999/DISK0344Minsky circle algorithm:http://cabezal.com/misc/minsky-circles.htmlDa Silva Ellipse algorithm:https://cs.brown.edu/research/pubs/theses/masters/1989/dasilva.pdfVan Aken's algorithm:arxiv.org/pdf/2009.03434.pdfKappel's algorithm is unfortunately behind a paywall.
XGA : King of IBM Graphics Standards (Part 1) PCRetroTech 2023-06-18 | We take a look at the IBM XGA standard and try to program an IIT chip that is almost 100% XGA compatible.INMOS XGA Guide:ardent-tool.com/video/72-OEK-258-00_XGA_Software_Programmers_Guide_Sep91.pdfIIT AGX Datasheet:http://pdf-html.ic37.com/pdf_file_B/20200531/pdf_pdf/PdfOld/icpdf_datasheet_1/IIT-A_datasheet_19743/324506/IIT-A_datasheet.pdfIIT Text file (provenance unknown):https://pdos.csail.mit.edu/6.828/2008/readings/hardware/vgadoc/IIT.TXTI also used:* The PC Graphics Handbook, by Julio Sanchez & Maria P. Canton* Programmer's Guide to the EGA, VGA and Super VGA Cards, by Richard F. Ferrero
PC Graphics Programs of the 1980s PCRetroTech 2023-04-23 | We take a look at Gem Paint, a couple of versions of PC Paintbrush, PC Paint and 4 Point Graphics which were competing graphics programs for the PC in the 1980's and early 90's.FreeGem:owenrudge.net/GEM/distAll other programs shown can be downloaded from WinPCWorld or similar site.
A Rare Paradise Pre-EGA Graphics Card that Plays Doom PCRetroTech 2023-03-26 | We take a look at a Paradise Hi-Res Graphics card from 1986 and try to figure out what features it had. We end up running it with FastDoom.Viler's Blog Article:int10h.org/blog/2023/03/cga-6845-crtc-phantom-vsync-glitchRevision 2023:2023.revision-party.net/satellitesParadise Video Controller - 4 Documentation:http://bitsavers.org/components/westernDigital/_dataSheets/PVC4.pdfFastDoom:doomwiki.org/wiki/FastDoom
Rescuing a REMARKABLE 386 DX-25 Made by Compaq PCRetroTech 2023-02-12 | We rescue a Compaq Deskpro 386/25m, a machine that is a bit of a hidden gem. Quite a number of things go right with this restoration and the results really speak for themselves.If you need a setup utility, perhaps you can find one here:ftp.zx.net.nz/pub/archive/ftp.compaq.com/pub/softpaq/sp6001-6500I have no idea about the reliability of that site though. You need a version of the driver that has your machine. In my case sp6144 was sufficient.
Reverse Engineering the Video Chip of the IBM CGA Card (1981) PCRetroTech 2023-01-22 | We try to non-destructively figure out the HD6845 chip used on some IBM CGA cards from 1981.Lots of new glitches are found along the way, and we freeze snow in place for possibly the first time!Many thanks to Sean Riddle who let me use his die shot of this chip:http://www.seanriddle.com/6845Viler's Font website:int10h.org/oldschool-pc-fonts/fontlist/font?ibm_cgaReenigne's blog:reenigne.org/blog/adventures-in-crtc-lockstepHere is a link to a document (heavily under construction) in which I describe the result of some of the experiments I've done so far. Bear in mind this document has a long way to go until completion.github.com/wbhart/crtc/blob/master/crtc.pdf
I finally got this ATI VGA Blitter Working! PCRetroTech 2022-12-11 | I take another look at this ATI Graphics Ultra card with an IBM 8514/A compatible blitter. I finally get it to work correctly, including the ATI specific blitter hardware and I use it to generate some 3D objects and rotate them in real time on a 286!Code for this episode can be found on my GitHub repository: github.com/wbhart/mach8blitterMinor correction to the video: I now believe the "destination colour compare function, which I mention very briefly in passing, actually only compares against a fixed colour in a register, not against the destination colour. But this doesn't affect the presentation at all.Unfortunately the IBM register level documentation seems to be lost to history. Only documentation of the AI level remains.
This VGA Card does Polygon Fill, but is it FAST? PCRetroTech 2022-09-04 | We take a look at a 16 bit VGA card from ATI which is 8514/A compatible. We try to get the polygon fill and blitter operations working. But is it fast enough and is there enough documentation to figure it all out?
More of the Vintage PCs that Took Over my Cellar! PCRetroTech 2022-08-21 | I take a look at the other half of the PCs that are filling up my cellar. Many of them turned out to be fairly recent and not vintage at all, but there are some genuine vintage ones there too.What should I do with these machines? They seem to just be breeding down there!
We WON a Democompetition! Area 5150 @ Evoke 2022 Alternative Platforms PCRetroTech 2022-08-14 | I contributed a demo effect to Area 5150 which won first place at the Evoke 2022 Demoparty in Cologne Germany.I give a kind of scene report, show some of the other amazing things that went down there, talk a little about what's new in Area 5150 and discuss how my Glenz effect actually worked.Here is a link to Area 5150 being shown at Evoke (with audience reaction):youtu.be/1Kvi56KgWasHere's an ultra high quality capture direct from the PC (no audience):youtu.be/fWDxdoRTZPc
I have TOO MANY Vintage PCs! PCRetroTech 2022-07-10 | I take a look at my Vintage PC collection, including machines that I've had stored in my cellar for years.
What does the Diamond Monster 3Dfx card ACTUALLY do at the Hardware Level? PCRetroTech 2022-06-26 | We take a look at the Voodoo 3Dfx chipset and program our way through the Glide interface to see what this vintage graphics card actually does at the hardware level.
These VGA Cards have a COPROCESSOR! PCRetroTech 2022-06-12 | We take a look at some cards that reportedly support the IBM 8514/A standard. These cards have a hardware blitter.We also take a look at a Paradise CGA card from the mid 80s with Plantronics COLORPLUS support.8514 Demo Diskette:http://mail.lipsia.de/~enigma/neu/ibmpc.htmlVideo about Ron Belewski's 8514 Mahjong Solitaite:youtube.com/watch?v=v7eQHQljvNsImages:IBM VGA Graphics Card - Vlask - CC-By-SA 4.0MCA Slots - K Reichert - CC-By-SA 3.0Amiga 500 - Bill Bertram - CC-By-SA 2.5creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0Other images used under fair use doctrine (e.g. non-performative work or for educational content)
3Dfx Voodoo Graphics Tech Demos + Amstrad CPC 464 Purchase PCRetroTech 2022-05-29 | We take a look at the history of the 3Dfx Voodoo Graphics chip and its tech demos. We prepare for programming it.We also take a brief look at hooking up an Amstrad CPC 464 to a SCART monitor.3Dfx Tech Demos:soggi.org/video-cards/tech-demos.htmImages: Wikipedia - CC-By-SASGI Iris Personal Workstation - Andy Diller CC-By-SA 2.0IRIS 4D Professional - Brad Montgomery CC-By-SA 2.0Pro Audio Spectrum - Public DomainOpen GL - Shmuel Csaba Otto Traian CC-By-SA 3.0Arcade Machines Japan - Asanagi CC0Voodoo Die Shots - Fritzchen Fritz Public Domaincreativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0Other images may be used under fair use doctrine (non-performative works, educational purposes).
8 Bit Computer Graphics Technique Almost Unknown on PC? PCRetroTech 2022-05-15 | We take a look at Raster Interrupts and try to figure out why they weren't widely used on EGA and VGA cards on the PC.We look at Ghosts and Goblins for the C64 and a technique it used called sprite multiplexing.Images:SCSI Terminator - Adamanios CC-By-SA 3.0creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0
16 Colour Graphics on the PC in 1982! PCRetroTech 2022-05-01 | We take a look at the Plantronics mode on the Amstrad PC1640 and on a Paradise EGA card.Files:FreeGem - owenrudge.net/GEM/distPlantronics Driver - http://www.seasip.info/Gem/drivers3.htmlImages:Plantronics ColorPlus - John Elliot CC By-SA 4.0GemOS - Public Domain in Germany (not performative)Sony V20 - Christian Bassow CC By-SA 4.0Boy in Woods - Annie Spratt (Almost Public Domain, Unsplash)creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0
The Emulex Persyst Colour 2 Vintage Graphics Card PCRetroTech 2022-04-17 | I take a look at the Emulex Persyst Colour 2 card, try to identify what it is and what its superpower is. It's obviously a colour graphics card for a PC/XT, but what exactly?Then I take a look at my ST-225 Seagate Hard Drive, to try and figure out what has gone wrong with it. I manage to narrow the problem down, but what exactly is wrong?Images:Persyst EMS Board - Bub - CC-By-SA-3.0
Pentium Socket 5 : This was UNEXPECTED!! PCRetroTech 2022-04-03 | I take a look at an original Pentium Socket 5 motherboard with Intel FX Chipset and compare it with a 486 at the same frequency and a Socket 7 board.I also take a look at the output of a Genoa SuperEGA card using an RGB to HDMI converter.
Dont put a graphics card from 1981 in a PC from 1994!! PCRetroTech 2022-03-20 | I try putting a CGA graphics card from an original IBM PC into a 486 computer from 1994. I check out how fast it goes, run some games and some benchmarks.I also try to repair my IBM PC which is having problems.
How the NEC V20 beat Intel Processors in the 1980s! PCRetroTech 2022-03-06 | We take a look at the NEC V20 CPU and how it had faster instruction timings than Intel CPUs, could emulate the Intel 8080 CPU and how it had additional instructions not in the Intel instruction set.We also look at an early version of Microsoft BASIC, we emulate the 8080, take a look at my EGA card collection and try to get to the bottom of some corruption in EGA games.TopBench:github.com/MobyGamer/TOPBENCH/tags
The BEST Early 3D DOS Games (1981-1990) PCRetroTech 2022-02-20 | I look at the very best 3D DOS Games on the IBM PC and 286. Some of the research in this video was contributed by Trixter (Jim Leonard) from The OldSkool PC YouTube channel.Games covered:Sierra 3D Helicopter SimulatorChuck Yeager's Advanced Flight TrainerEchelonDeep Space: Operation CopernicusF19 Stealth FighterF16 Combat PilotInterphaseSilpheedStar WarsStellar7Mech Warrior
My Secret CGA 3D Graphics Project (2 Year Progression) PCRetroTech 2022-02-06 | I show the CGA graphics project I've been working on in secret for almost two years. I try it out on some really cool hardware and then look at some early 3D demos and games.A copy of the effect that runs on a normal CGA card can be found here:github.com/wbhart/PCRetroProgrammer/blob/main/TETRA3D.COMIt requires as much conventional memory as possible on a 640kb machine.
The Original Sound Blaster : A Retrospective PCRetroTech 2022-01-23 | We take a look at my somewhat rare CT1350B, the SoundBlaster 2.0 from Creative Labs from the original SoundBlaster Series. I take a look at how it works, some historical advertising and diskettes, a SoundBlaster book by Demosceners and their demo using the SoundBlaster.Sound Blaster Documentation:https://pdos.csail.mit.edu/6.828/2008/readings/hardware/SoundBlaster.pdfImage credits:Adlib Sound Card - Austriacus (Wikipedia) Public Domain ImageGame Blaster - Bratgoul (Wikipedia) CC-BY-SA 3.0creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0
The intrigue of SmartEGA and SuperEGA PCRetroTech 2022-01-09 | We take a look at a Genoa SuperEGA board with SmartEGA BIOS. The history of this board is really surprising, and it has some modes that are not well known.Images from Unsplash:* Teapot - Eduardo Froza* Hot air balloon - Lynn Kintziger* Red boat - Maksym PotapenkoImages from Wikipedia:* IBM 5154 - phreakindee Public Domain* Professional Graphics Adapter - John Elliot CC-by-SA 3.0* Plantronics ColorPlus Adapter - John Elliot CC-by-SA 4.0creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0Mark Ferrari's GDC Talk:youtube.com/watch?v=aMcJ1Jvtef0
Is this Really One of the BEST 486 Motherboards Ever Made? #DOScember2021 PCRetroTech 2021-12-19 | I test out the Shuttle Hot 433 Socket 3 Motherboard. It makes one of the fastest 486 PCs that I have ever seen.Links:vogons.orghttp://www.minuszerodegrees.net/manuals/Shuttle/Shuttle%20-%20HOT-433P.pdfDemos:Stars by NooonDX Project by RealtechContrast by Oxygene
Amazing Dithering in CGA and EGA Graphics (and how it works) PCRetroTech 2021-12-12 | We look at how dithering helps DOS games and some really great resources for doing dithering yourself.Credits:Famicat:twitter.com/famicam64/status/742141992239550464Michael Noland's Blog:http://michaelnoland.com/tag/cga16 Colour CGA Dithering on Reddit:reddit.com/r/PixelArt/comments/9yzt4s/newbiecclakeside_view_cga_colors_onlyCGA Jam:itch.io/jam/cga-jam/entriesThe Dithertron:8bitworkshop.com/dithertronAlmost Public Domain Images: unsplash.com Images:Boy in Woods: Annie SprattTeapot: Eduardo FrozaCabin: Olivier GuillardRetro PCs: Lorenzo HerreraCat: Cedric VTDithering in CGA using GIMP:http://www.alexsolab.com/post/photography/gimp_cgaDownload GIMP:gimp.org/downloads
Updating DOS Game Graphics in OpenGL PCRetroTech 2021-12-05 | Blender 2.49b:download.blender.org/release/Blender2.49bBlender Textures:cloud.blender.org/p/texturesNehe's OpenGL Tutorials:nehe.gamedev.netZaxxon on Moby Games:mobygames.com/game/zaxxon
Making my own Fun with AGP Video Cards and OpenGL (Part 1) PCRetroTech 2021-11-28 | I look at the fun world of OpenGL programming on AGP Graphics Cards from the early 2000's, using PellesC.PellesC:http://www.smorgasbordet.com/pellescWindows XP version:web.archive.org/web/20131230180825/http://www.smorgasbordet.com/pellescOpenGL Utility Toolkit (GLUT) for Win32:user.xmission.com/~nate/glut.htmlTo install Glut, put the glut.h file in Program Files/PellesC/include, glut.lib in Program Files/PellesC/lib and glut.dll in Windows/System32.I unzipped the source zip file in My Documents folder inside the PellesC subdirectory, which is where PellesC usually goes looking for source files. But you can actually stick them anywhere you like, so long as you can find them. The examples are in the progs/examples subdirectory and the demos are in the progs/demos subdirectory.
A Tale of Two 486 Motherboards (Saturn II Overclocking Finale) PCRetroTech 2021-11-21 | CPU Galaxy's Videos:youtube.com/watch?v=ysMmAVNKrFYyoutube.com/watch?v=qPRSHI4JoWI
NECs Answer to the TRS-80 Model 100 - I Love this Machine! PCRetroTech 2021-11-07 | This is one of my favourite machines in my collection, the NEC PC-8201A. It's a dream come true to own a machine like this.Image Credits Wikipedia:4040 CPU - Thomas Nguyen8008 CPU - Konstantin Lanzet8080 CPU - Konstantin Lanzet8086 CPU - Thomas Nguyen8088 CPU - Konstantin Lanzet8085 CPU - Konstantin LanzetImages cropped and resized.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0
Did I buy FAKE chips for my rare OPL2 Music Card!? PCRetroTech 2021-11-05 | Adrian Black's Video:youtube.com/watch?v=2OMMHwY5V5kExcellent study of fake chips by plgDavid:youtube.com/watch?v=k72SFBOZ_lw&t=401s
Is that a RARE 8 Bit Sound Card in the Huge Box of Retro PC Parts I bought? PCRetroTech 2021-10-24 | ...
A Quick Look at my 486 Motherboard with ALi Chipset and PCI Slots PCRetroTech 2021-10-03 | Ultimate Hardware 1998 PC Chips M918:http://www.win3x.org/uh19/motherboards/6818Jan Steunebrink's Page on the 5x86:http://web.inter.nl.net/hcc/J.Steunebrink/amd5x86.htm
Tandy 1000SX Part 3: Programming the Tandy Graphics Adapter | #SeptTandy PCRetroTech 2021-09-19 | PCRetroProgrammer:youtube.com/channel/UCI70OkBmDW9yb_n2ICayysgTandy 1000SX Technical Reference Manual:archive.org/details/tandy-1000sx-technical-reference-manual/page/n221/mode/2up
How DOES that CGA Chessboard Demo Work!? PCRetroTech 2021-08-30 | Reenigne's blog article on Improper Modes:reenigne.org/blog/crtc-emulation-for-mess
IBM Project Chess 40 years on! (August 1981 - August 2021) PCRetroTech 2021-08-15 | IBM History Archives:ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/pc25/pc25_birth.htmlSelected images used under a fair use doctrine for noncommercial and educational purposes.Thank you IBM for giving the world the IBM 5150 machine!
I Figured Out Smooth Scrolling on the IBM Model 30! PCRetroTech 2021-07-31 | Against all odds I got smooth scrolling working on this amazing historic machine!
Smooth Scrolling on MCGA (proto-VGA) PCRetroTech 2021-07-18 | Instructions on how to make VGA images:http://bitwelding.blogspot.com/2017/05/creating-images-for-legacy-pc-vga.htmlMCGA Discussion online:github.com/joncampbell123/dosbox-x/issues/777My GitHub:github.com/wbhart/CGAGraphics/tree/master/mcga320x200
Plus Hardcard 20 and 40 Postmortems + Channel Announcement PCRetroTech 2021-07-04 | I try to figure out why three of my Plus Hardcards died and whether there is feasibly anything the retro community could do to repair them when they die.New channel:youtube.com/channel/UCI70OkBmDW9yb_n2ICayysg
PCI Socket 3 Motherboards #4 : reanimating an SIS 85C496 board PCRetroTech 2021-06-20 | I get the SIS496 board working that I was unable to get to go in the previous video on the channel. I put it through its paces and benchmark it.
Attempting to revive a Socket 3 Motherboard + 512kb Cache Experiments PCRetroTech 2021-06-06 | I try to get an SIS PCI Socket 3 motherboard working, and then compare 256kb cache with 512kb to see what the performance difference is.YouTube video of LS-486E board: youtube.com/watch?v=2OYad_jlIs0Ultimate Hardware Entry for LS-486E: http://www.win3x.org/uh19/motherboard/show/7276Motherboard manual for LS-486E: elhvb.com/webhq/models/486pci/ls486ec2.htm
