WavetablePi: Better PWM audio Scrap Computing 2023-01-23 | Understanding why the audio quality of the WavetablePi's PWM audio (i.e., without the HiFi DAC) was poor and trying to improve it with a low-pass filter. While doing so we are testing out audio from Warcraft II and Quest for Glory I.Original WavetablePi Video: youtu.be/xC-qhcPUeRsWavetablePi: github.com/scrapcomputing/WavetablePimt32-pi: github.com/dwhinham/mt32-piRaspberry Pi Audio Schematics: hackaday.com/2018/07/13/behind-the-pin-how-the-raspberry-pi-gets-its-audio
Repairing a K-568 Turbo LED Display Module Scrap Computing 2025-04-20 | In this video we are repairing a K-568 MHz display module.Links:- Turbo Displays Howto video: youtube.com/watch?v=wNkg-e47Ex8- K-568 Reproduction: github.com/scrapcomputing/MHzDisplay_K568- TD-37S Reproduction: github.com/scrapcomputing/MHzDisplayBlaster youtube.com/watch?v=a4iVehn7APUMusic:- Space Quest V - Reorchestrated and Remixed - Simulation Terminated- Space Quest V - Reorchestrated and Remixed - Academy Hallways- Stalker from the Duke Duke Dance Party Album,all by the Space Quest Historian, Troels Pleimertspacequesthistorian.bandcamp.com youtube.com/@spacequesthistorianAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
Re-materializing a corroded video card with Retro-Deposition! (April Fools 2025) Scrap Computing 2025-04-01 | Retro-deposition is so much better than electrolysis that you have to see it to believe it!It's so scientific that it's almost embarrassing.Happy April Fool's Day!Music:- Space Quest V - Reorchestrated and Remixed - Simulation Terminated, Space Quest Historian, Troels Pleimertspacequesthistorian.bandcamp.com youtube.com/@spacequesthistorianAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0- Gangplank Galleon by High Treason (youtube.com/@HighTreason610) youtube.com/watch?v=oqZf9Z_k2T8en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroplatingen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacrificial_metalMetal emoji: pngimg.com/image/82615 Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)
SiS540: The fastest IGP for Super Socket 7 ? Scrap Computing 2025-02-16 | In this video we are exploring the PC Chips MR586LMR SiS 540 based Super Socket 7 motherboard, running benchmarks and comparing its integrated graphics to the older SiS 530 and a Voodoo 3 2000 PCI.SiSFSB: github.com/scrapcomputing/sisfsbSiS530 video: youtube.com/watch?v=HoF7nL3G5kcVIAFSB tool: vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=87013VIAFSB github: github.com/enaiel/viafsbCPUSPD tool: vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=74359Athlon CPUs: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_AMD_Athlon_processorsK6-2 CPUs: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_AMD_K6_processorsVoodoo: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voodoo3TheRetroWeb chipsets info: theretroweb.com/chipsetsDOS Benchmarks: philscomputerlab.com/dos-benchmark-pack.htmlMusic:- Gangplank Galleon by High Treason (youtube.com/@HighTreason610) youtube.com/watch?v=oqZf9Z_k2T8- Stalker from Duke Duke Dance Party by the Space Quest Historian, Troels Pleimert https://spacequesthistorian.bandcamp.com. Attribution-Non Commercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
486 Sandwich Socket Blaster: Redesigned Interposer for 3V CPUs on 5V motherboards Scrap Computing 2024-11-03 | In this video we are putting together the 486 Sandwich Socket Blaster voltage-adapter/interposer boards for 486 CPUs.This is a new two-board "sandwich" design that is easier to assemble than the original 486SocketBlaster.Sandwich Socket Blaster Project page: github.com/scrapcomputing/486SandwichSocketBlasterOriginal 486 Socket Blaster videos:Part 1: youtube.com/watch?v=n5qlx4qKbSEPart 2: youtube.com/watch?v=7anzRWXtba0Retro Erik's channel: youtube.com/@RetroErikMusic:- Simulation Terminated from Quest V Reorchestrated and Remixed- Academy Hallways from Quest V Reorchestrated and Remixed- Stalker from Duke Duke Dance Party- Stooge Fighter Battle from Space Quest 6 Reorchestrated- Battle Cruiser from Quest V Reorchestrated and Remixedby the Space Quest Historian youtube.com/@spacequesthistorian Troels Pleimert spacequesthistorian.bandcamp.comAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
Repairing a butchered ASUS P5A Part 2. Scrap Computing 2024-08-11 | This is the followup repair video of an ASUS P5A super socket 7 motherboard.Part 1 is youtube.com/watch?v=MigVZLc_Mgw.In this video we are looking into how the CPU's VCC2DET pin interacts with the VCC3 power controller and finally figuring out the power issue we had in part 1.We are also adding the missing 78L05 regulator that powers the ESS solo-1 audio chip.We are also attempting to fix the socket's broken mount with super-glue using white-tack as a mould.Finally we are repairing the damaged ISA slot.We are trying out some games, including Duke Nukem 3D, Monkey Island and Quest for Glory Shadows of Darkness.ESS Solo-1 DOS drivers: vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=407237407 image: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:7407_Hex_Buffer.png public domainMusic:- Main Theme from Quest V Reorchestrated and Remixed- A Job Not So Well Done from Quest V Reorchestrated and Remixed- Simulation Terminated from Quest V Reorchestrated and Remixed- Academy Hallways from Quest V Reorchestrated and Remixed- Battle Cruiser from Quest V Reorchestrated and Remixed- Stalker from Duke Duke Dance Partyby the Space Quest Historian youtube.com/@spacequesthistorian Troels Pleimert spacequesthistorian.bandcamp.comAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
Can we save this Butchered ASUS P5A Super Socket 7 Motherboard? Part 1. Scrap Computing 2024-07-27 | We are attempting to repair an Asus P5A super socket 7 board that has had several components de-soldered and removed. On top of that it has damaged traces and has a power regulation issue on the 3V rail. In the process we are replacing the HIP6012 PWM controller and we are investigating the power circuit.Part 2: youtube.com/watch?v=-WO0Vd2BWVcCoil calculator: coil32.net/online-calculators/ferrite-torroid-calculator.htmlMusic:- Simulation Terminated from Quest V Reorchestrated and Remixed- Academy Hallways from Quest V Reorchestrated and Remixed- Battle Cruiser from Quest V Reorchestrated and Remixed- Stalker from Duke Duke Dance Partyby the Space Quest Historian, Troels Pleimert spacequesthistorian.bandcamp.comAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) creativecommons.org/licens\es/by-nc-sa/3.0/
MCE Blaster MDA,CGA,EGA to VGA Adapter Released! (Part 2) Scrap Computing 2024-06-29 | This video dives into some of the technical challenges of building an MCE adapter using the Pi Pico.It goes over sampling of the input pixels, and how it relates to the card's pixel clock.Finally it shows the MCE Blaster working with several games (Prehistorik, Prince of Persia and Quest for Glory) on a couple of ISA video cards.Project Page: github.com/scrapcomputing/MCEBlasterMCE Blaster part 1: youtube.com/watch?v=kgDOiGoxKvE@The8BitGuy How CRTs Work: youtube.com/watch?v=3A-Td0i4_Kcen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enhanced_Graphics_AdapterMusic:- Simulation Terminated from Quest V Reorchestrated and Remixed- Academy Hallways from Quest V Reorchestrated and Remixed- Battle Cruiser from Quest V Reorchestrated and Remixed- Stalker from Duke Duke Dance Partyby the Space Quest Historian, Troels Pleimert spacequesthistorian.bandcamp.comAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
MCE Blaster: Pi Pico based MDA/CGA/EGA to VGA adapter (Part 1) Scrap Computing 2024-06-02 | We are presenting how vintage computer video works and how we can build a Raspberry Pi Pico based MDA/CGA/EGA to VGA adapter.EGA: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enhanced_Graphics_AdapterCGA: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_Graphics_AdapterMDA: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_Monochrome_Display_AdapterMCE Blaster Part 2: youtube.com/watch?v=Neg1WR7Hz5sThe Rasteri's (@TheRasteri) adapter: - youtube.com/watch?v=vwKA1z8tg1gNecroware's (@necro_ware) mce-adapter:- youtube.com/watch?v=kHhpTq-WSJk- youtube.com/watch?v=f9ryiV4UiKYResources:15KHz modern monitors: http://15khz.wikidot.comen.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:VGA_Port.svgupload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Numbered_DE9_female_Diagram.svgAdapters: dosdays.co.uk/topics/mda_cga_ega_converter%20-%20pt1.phpVideo modes: minuszerodegrees.net/video/bios_video_modes.htmR-2R DAC: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resistor_ladderGBS-Control Mod: ramapcsx2.github.io/gbs-controlMusic:- Simulation Terminated from Quest V Reorchestrated and Remixed- Academy Hallways from Quest V Reorchestrated and Remixed- Battle Cruiser from Quest V Reorchestrated and Remixed- Stalker from the Duke Duke Dance Party AlbumAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
Throttle Blaster rev 0.3: Controllable by serial port Scrap Computing 2024-04-07 | We are putting together the PCB of the Throttle Blaster revision 0.3, and demonstrating the serial port functionality.Throttle Blaster part 2: youtube.com/watch?v=nGy8OmOe_34Throttle Blaster part 1: youtube.com/watch?v=9uNml2j6sy0Project page: github.com/scrapcomputing/ThrottleBlasterKermit program: http://www.columbia.edu/kermit/mskermit.htmlMusic:- Battle Cruiser from Quest V Reorchestrated and Remixed- Stalker from the Duke Duke Dance Party AlbumAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0Ascii table (public domain): commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ASCII-Table-wide.svg
Scrapface (April fools day joke 2024) Scrap Computing 2024-04-01 | High Treason: @HighTreason610 youtube.com/watch?v=s3GEaIT0VxkMusic:- Stalker from the Duke Duke Dance Party AlbumAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
Throttle Blaster: An add-on Turbo circuit released! (Part 2) Scrap Computing 2024-03-18 | In this video we are going through some of the features of the updated Throttle Blaster. This version works with either a rotary encoder, a single button, or a potentiometer, and the video shows how they work.We are also trying Digger in DOS, the Secret of Monkey Island, Grim Fandango and Quest for Glory Shadows of Darkness on Windows 98.Finally we are testing mp3 playback on Windows under different selected frequencies.Throttle Blaster project page: github.com/scrapcomputing/ThrottleBlasterDigger Info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digger_(video_game)CPU Galaxy's (youtube.com/@CPUGalaxy) awesome video trying playing mp3s on real 486 CPUs: youtube.com/watch?v=b0zZpzxHSeMMusic:- Battle Cruiser from Quest V Reorchestrated and Remixed- Stalker from the Duke Duke Dance Party AlbumAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
Throttle Blaster: A hardware Turbo knob for slowing down the CPU speed (Part 1) Scrap Computing 2024-02-26 | This video is introducing the Throttle Blaster, a simple hardware project based on a Raspberry Pi Pico that allows you to slow down your vintage PC at a very fine granularity.We are showing two systems, a Pentium iii and an Athlon XP, both of which can be throttled down to the performance levels slower than the original IBM PC.Throttle Blaster project page: github.com/scrapcomputing/ThrottleBlasterCPUSPD: vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=74359Necroware's Turbo Button Video: youtube.com/watch?v=i9DTA81xUN0Music:- Stalker from the Duke Duke Dance Party AlbumAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
Horizontal Barrel Battery Blaster: A CR2032-based barrel battery drop-in replacement Scrap Computing 2023-11-05 | This is a small PCB with a CR2032 battery holder that works as a drop-in replacement for leaky barrel batteries commonly found in 386 and 486 PC motherboards. The coin-cell battery is mounted horizontally on the motherboard. It is compatible with through-hole, SMD 1206 or SOT-23 diodes. Project page: github.com/scrapcomputing/HorizontalBarrelBatteryBlasterPrevious Barrel Battery Blaster Videos:Original: youtube.com/watch?v=6Hp7FsoPKOYVertical: youtube.com/watch?v=O76bEk7QzwAMusic:Stooge Fighter Battle - Space Quest 6 Reorchestratedby the Space Quest Historian, Troels Pleimert spacequesthistorian.bandcamp.comAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
Repairing a tricky L2 cache issue of a SOYO 4SAW2 486 Motherboard Scrap Computing 2023-10-21 | We are repairing a damaged SY-4SAW2 late 486 motherboard based on the SiS 85C496 chipset, with leaky battery damage, missing/damaged components and broken keyboard connector. The missing components were next to the SC464 PLL. The PC was hanging during the external (L2) cache detection.TheRetroWeb: theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/soyo-sy-4sawAtheatos Channel:Mods: youtube.com/watch?v=eUaoXPgnZvoOver/Under Clocking: youtube.com/watch?v=PZ82WlMuG7kMusic:- Stalker from the Duke Duke Dance Party Album- Kiz Urazgubi and Battle Cruiser from Quest V Reorchestrated and Remixedby the Space Quest Historian, Troels Pleimert spacequesthistorian.bandcamp.comAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0Intro Music: "Unreal Super Hero 3" by Kenet & Rez : youtube.com/watch?v=9STiQ8cCIo0
Rescuing an MS-5185 Super-Socket 7 board with on-board ATi Rage PRO and Creative Audio-PCI Scrap Computing 2023-09-27 | We are repairing a Gateway MS5185 motherboard based on the ALi Aladdin V chipset, that has both an ATi Rage PRO Turbo AGP graphics chip with 8MB of RAM and a Creative ES1373 Ensoniq PCI audio chip on-board.Then we are trying out a few DOS games, including Duke Nukem 3D, Jazz Jackrabbit, Quest for glory Shadows of Darkness, and Monkey Island.We are also adding the unpopulated ISA slot along with its 74ALS245 transeiver chip, and testing an OPTi 82c931 sound card.We are also testing 3D Mark 99 and 2000 on a K6-2+ 550Mhz.Audio-PCI: dosdays.co.uk/topics/audiopci.phpvogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=26252Phil's DOS Benchmark Pack: philscomputerlab.com/dos-benchmark-pack.htmlUnisound sound card initializer: vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=72553Music: Track Stalker from the Duke Duke Dance Party Albumby the Space Quest Historian, Troels Pleimert spacequesthistorian.bandcamp.comAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0Intro Music: "Unreal Super Hero 3" by Kenet & Rez : youtube.com/watch?v=9STiQ8cCIo0
Rescuing a Prox-1560 Super Socket 7 SBC with an Aladdin V chipset! Scrap Computing 2023-09-14 | We are repairing a small industrial SBC Protech Prox-1560 with a super socket 7 K6-2+ CPU, then we are connecting an AWE64 sound card and trying out some DOS benchmarks and games.ISA Backplane photo from LGR's video: youtube.com/watch?v=Q4qJf50YSVkTheRetroWeb: theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/protech-prox-1560ISA Pinout image CC BY-SA 4.0: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industry_Standard_Architecture#/media/File:ISA_Bus_pins.svgPhil's DOS Benchmark Pack: philscomputerlab.com/dos-benchmark-pack.htmlUnisound ISA sound card initializer: vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=72553Music: Track Stalker from the Duke Duke Dance Party Albumby the Space Quest Historian, Troels Pleimertspacequesthistorian.bandcamp.comAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
Embarrassing mistakes made restoring this Biostar 486 motherboard Scrap Computing 2023-08-20 | In this video we are restoring a 486 Socket 3 motherboard, and we are trying to fix several issues. Some of the highlights include:- Replacing the ODIN RTC module of a 486 motherboard Biostar MB 1433 50UIV with an NWx287 CR2032.- Accidentally inserting my 486 DX 33 CPU the wrong way in and killing it.- Trying to get my 486 DX2 66MHz CPU to work, which stubbornly refused to do so...- Trying to fix a very embarrassing issue with both L1 and L2 caches not working on my 486 DX2 66MHz CPU, which turned out to be the Turbo jumper...- Adding some thermal paste to the voltage regulation transistor and attaching it firmly against the PCB for better cooling.theretroweb: theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/biostar-mb-1425uiv-ver-7NWx287 CR2032: github.com/scrapcomputing/nwX287.cr2032.ssop.motOriginal NWx287: github.com/necroware/nwX287Necroware's channel: youtube.com/@necro_wareNecroware's NWx287 video: youtube.com/watch?v=svPNxILeQEwCPUSPD: vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=74359Phil's DOS Benchmark Pack: philscomputerlab.com/dos-benchmark-pack.htmlCPU World: philscomputerlab.com/dos-benchmark-pack.htmlMusic: Track Stalker from the Duke Duke Dance Party Albumby the Space Quest Historian, Troels Pleimertspacequesthistorian.bandcamp.comAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
NWx287 RTC Module CR2032 edition Scrap Computing 2023-08-04 | This video is about the modified NWx287 RTC module by Necroware that works with a CR2032 battery instead of a CR1225. It is based on a BQ3285 RTC chip (SSOP-24 package). This boards is a drop-in replacement for some of the Dallas, Benchmarq, Odin RTC modules, like the DS1287 and BQ3287.Project page: github.com/scrapcomputing/nwX287.cr2032.ssop.motOriginal NWx287 project: github.com/necroware/nwX287Necroware's channel: youtube.com/@necro_wareNecroware's NWx287 video: youtube.com/watch?v=svPNxILeQEwAdrian's Motorola Bus Mode: youtu.be/2Sgleturods?t=3434Music: Track Stalker from the Duke Duke Dance Party Albumby the Space Quest Historian, Troels Pleimertspacequesthistorian.bandcamp.comyoutube.com/watch?v=2NTBsj0nhRw
Vertical Barrel Battery Blaster: A CR2032-based drop-in replacement for leaky CMOS batteries Scrap Computing 2023-07-22 | A drop-in replacement for leaky CMOS batteries, commonly used in 386 and 486 motherboards. This one uses a vertical CR2032 battery holder.Project page: github.com/scrapcomputing/VerticalBarrelBatteryBlasterNot-a-varta: github.com/wiretap-retro/Not-A-Varta-CR2032Music: Track Stalker from the Duke Duke Dance Party Albumby the Space Quest Historian, Troels Pleimertspacequesthistorian.bandcamp.comyoutube.com/watch?v=2NTBsj0nhRw
MHz Display Blaster: A 7-segment frequency display clone Scrap Computing 2023-07-14 | We are putting together a modern reproduction of a MHz frequency display module, which was common in 486 PC cases. It is based on the TD-37S. The PCB for this replica board is open source and available on github. The board uses a common cathode 0.56" 7-segment display and lots of jumpers.Project page: github.com/scrapcomputing/MHzDisplayBlasterConfiguration tutorial: youtube.com/watch?v=wNkg-e47Ex8Music: Track Stalker from the Duke Duke Dance Party Albumby the Space Quest Historian, Troels Pleimertspacequesthistorian.bandcamp.comyoutube.com/watch?v=2NTBsj0nhRwAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
Serial Mouse Blaster: The Quest for the Serial Optical Mouse (part 3) Scrap Computing 2023-07-08 | The third part of the Serial Mouse Blaster project, that converts a modern USB optical mouse to serial. We are putting together the new PCB revision 0.3 that fixes several issues and fits nicely inside the mouse.PCB: github.com/scrapcomputing/SerialMouseBlasterPCBFirmware: github.com/scrapcomputing/SerialMouseBlasterFirmwarePart 2: youtube.com/watch?v=YjD63UplQ3cPart 1: youtube.com/watch?v=cGvVPzlRPjMCuteMouse DOS Driver: cutemouse.sourceforge.netMusic: Track Stalker from the Duke Duke Dance Party Albumby the Space Quest Historian, Troels Pleimertspacequesthistorian.bandcamp.comyoutube.com/watch?v=2NTBsj0nhRw
Replacing a CMOS battery with a Super Capacitor? Scrap Computing 2023-07-02 | Testing a 5.0V/1F coin cell super capacitor as a replacement for a leaky CMOS Barrel Battery on a 486 motherboard.Spoiler: It is not a drop-in replacement, as it will get damaged by over-voltage, and even after modifying the motherboard's charging circuit it will not maintain the charge for more than a couple of days.Barrel Battery Blaster video: youtube.com/watch?v=6Hp7FsoPKOYISA pinout CC BY-SA 4.0: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industry_Standard_Architecture#/media/File:XT_Bus_pins.svg Music: Track Stalker from the Duke Duke Dance Party Albumby the Space Quest Historian, Troels Pleimertspacequesthistorian.bandcamp.comyoutube.com/watch?v=2NTBsj0nhRw
Serial Mouse Blaster: Quest for the Serial Optical Mouse Part 2 Scrap Computing 2023-06-18 | We are building the Serial Mouse Blaster PCB and testing out on an optical USB mouse.This is practically a USB Mouse to serial mod.Part 1: youtube.com/watch?v=cGvVPzlRPjMPCB: github.com/scrapcomputing/SerialMouseBlasterPCBFirmware: github.com/scrapcomputing/SerialMouseBlasterFirmware CuteMouse DOS Driver: cutemouse.sourceforge.netMusic: Track Stalker from the Duke Duke Dance Party Albumby the Space Quest Historian, Troels Pleimertspacequesthistorian.bandcamp.comyoutube.com/watch?v=2NTBsj0nhRw
Quest for the Serial Optical Mouse: The search for milliamps (part 1) Scrap Computing 2023-06-10 | This video is about a mod that converts a USB Mouse to a serial mouse with no external power.The serial port provides very little power through its logic pins. So powering a micro-controller and a USB mouse from the serial port alone is not straightforward. This video presents all the problems we encountered and all the techniques and circuits we developed to overcome this limitation.The result is a prototype board with a Raspberry Pi Pico, and some other circuitry that is able to drive a USB optical mouse, all of which are powered only by the serial port!The USB mouse is modified with a resistor in series with its LED to lower its power consumption.USB Mouse To Serial Project: github.com/mborjesson/USB-Mouse-to-Serial USB Serial Mouse Adapter Project: github.com/LimeProgramming/USB-serial-mouse-adapter USB to serial mouse adapter video: youtube.com/watch?v=HPF02NrRYNo CuteMouse DOS Mouse Driver: cutemouse.sourceforge.net
ISA Blaster: DirtyRat Project (USB Mouse on a Pico-powered ISA card in DOS) (Part 2) Scrap Computing 2023-05-19 | Fixing some of the issues of the DirtyRat DOS USB Mouse project.ISA Blaster PCB: github.com/scrapcomputing/ISABlasterDirtyRat Firmware: github.com/scrapcomputing/DirtyRatFirmwareDirtyRat Mouse Driver: github.com/scrapcomputing/DirtyRatDriverRaspberry Pi Pico: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raspberry_Pi#Raspberry_Pi_PicoISA Blaster (part 1): youtube.com/watch?v=8HuxukpbsAECuteMouse DOS Driver (unmodified): cutemouse.sourceforge.netCuteMouse that builds with JWasm: github.com/davidebreso/ctmouse
ISA Blaster: A software-defined ISA card based on a Raspberry Pi Pico (Part 1) Scrap Computing 2023-04-30 | We are building a Raspberry Pi Pico based ISA card and we configure it to work as a USB mouse interface card, using a modified version of the CuteMouse DOS driver.ISA Blaster PCB: github.com/scrapcomputing/ISABlasterDirtyRat Firmware: github.com/scrapcomputing/DirtyRatFirmwareDirtyRat Mouse Driver: github.com/scrapcomputing/DirtyRatDriverCuteMouse DOS Mouse driver: cutemouse.sourceforge.netDOS Mouse Protocols: github.com/davidebreso/ctmouse/blob/main/doc/protocol.txtISA Bus image by Appaloosa (Creative Commons): commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ISA_Bus_pins.png8250 UART: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8250_UARTSerial programming: en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Serial_Programming/8250_UART_ProgrammingCuteMouse DOS Driver: cutemouse.sourceforge.netISA I/O Read Timing Diagram: gist.github.com/PhirePhly/2209518Music: Track Stalker from the Duke Duke Dance Party Albumby the Space Quest Historian, Troels Pleimertspacequesthistorian.bandcamp.comyoutube.com/watch?v=2NTBsj0nhRw
486 Socket Blaster + 133MHz Am5x86 better than Intel Overdrive? (part 3) Scrap Computing 2023-04-22 | We are trying out an AMD 5x86 CPU @133MHz on the 486 Socket Blaster adapter. To make it stable we adjust the capacitor values. Then we run the usual benchmarks from Phil's Computer lab suite, like 3DBench, PC Player Benchmark, Doom and Quake.Project github: github.com/scrapcomputing/486SocketBlasterPart 2: youtube.com/watch?v=7anzRWXtba0Part 1: youtube.com/watch?v=n5qlx4qKbSEDOS Benchmarks: philscomputerlab.com/dos-benchmark-pack.htmlIntel Overdrive photo: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:KL_Intel_Overdrive_DX40DPR100.jpgby Konstantin LanzetMusic: Track Stalker from the Duke Duke Dance Party Albumby the Space Quest Historian, Troels Pleimertspacequesthistorian.bandcamp.comyoutube.com/watch?v=2NTBsj0nhRw
USB Mouse to Serial port adapter (by CalamityLime) Scrap Computing 2023-04-16 | Exploring several ways of connecting a modern mouse to a vintage 486 PC, and building CalamityLime's USB to serial adapter based on a Raspberry Pi Pico. We are testing the adapter in DOS using the CuteMouse driver.The video mentions the following options for using a modern mouse on a vintage PC:1. Native ps/2 support 386/486 vogons thread: vogons.org/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=361222. Necroware PS/2 mouse to serial: github.com/necroware/ps2-serial-mouse-adapter youtube.com/watch?v=ORccba_6Pfg 3. USB mouse to serial (Raspberry Pi / Linux): github.com/mborjesson/USB-Mouse-to-Serial youtube.com/watch?v=vAz2g2S6Rmw4. Lime USB mouse to serial: github.com/LimeProgramming/USB-serial-mouse-adapter vogons.org/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=84280 youtube.com/watch?v=cL6qdjrDeecCuteMouse Mouse Driver for DOS: cutemouse.sourceforge.netMusic: Track Stalker from the Duke Duke Dance Party Albumby the Space Quest Historian, Troels Pleimertspacequesthistorian.bandcamp.comyoutube.com/watch?v=2NTBsj0nhRw
Swapping the BIOS of a SiS 530 Super Socket 7 Motherboard (Compaq Mustang-S) Scrap Computing 2023-04-07 | We are replacing the BIOS image of a Compaq Mustang-S Socket 7 SiS 530 based motherboard with that from another board. This involves updating the IRQ routing table on the new BIOS to make it compatible with this board, using the awdbedit tool and modbin. Then we run several DOS benchmarks and doing some audio tests on the onboard ESS Solo-1 chip. Finally we are trying out 3DMark 99 and 3DMark 2000 on Windows 98 using both the onboard SiS graphics core (SiS 6306) and a Voodoo 3 2000 PCI.NOTE: After some further testing, it turns out that not all devices are working correctly. So perhaps the routing table fix did not work as well as I thought.SIS 530 Specs: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon_Integrated_SystemsPhil's Computer Lab ESS Solo-1 video: youtube.com/watch?v=e14dFZWi2eIThe 430TX board of a previous video: youtube.com/watch?v=dhNRiWV-JfYCraig's PCI tool: http://web.archive.org/web/20090914161318/http://members.datafast.net.au/~dft0802/downloads.htmAward BIOS edit tool: awdbedit.sourceforge.netThe Unofficial AMD K6-2+ / K6-III+ page: http://web.inter.nl.net/hcc/J.Steunebrink/k6plus.htmESS Solo-1 Drivers: philscomputerlab.com/ess-es1938s-solo-1.htmlESS Solo-1 DOS Initialization: vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=942392#p942392HEXIT DOS Hex Editor: http://mklasson.com/hexit.phpDOS Benchmarks: philscomputerlab.com/dos-benchmark-pack.htmlMusic: Track Stalker from the Duke Duke Dance Party Albumby the Space Quest Historian, Troels Pleimertspacequesthistorian.bandcamp.comyoutube.com/watch?v=2NTBsj0nhRw
Amazing K6-III+ Socket A Mod! (April Fools Joke 2023) Scrap Computing 2023-04-01 | This mod is too scientific, so don't try to understand. It requires a flux capacitor and at least 88MHz FSB. Finally we are fixing the pin incompatibility by forcing the K6-III+ CPU into Socket A with a hammer.Disclaimer: This is an April Fool's Day joke video, please don't try to mod your K6-III+ CPU as shown in the video, you will damage both the CPU and the motherboard.DOS Benchmarks: philscomputerlab.com/dos-benchmark-pack.htmlMusic: Track Stalker from the Duke Duke Dance Party Albumby the Space Quest Historian, Troels Pleimertspacequesthistorian.bandcamp.comyoutube.com/watch?v=2NTBsj0nhRw
Maxing out a 430TX Socket 7 board @500MHz with a K6-2+ and a patched bios (DFI P5BTX/L part 2) Scrap Computing 2023-03-24 | This is a follow up video to the repair of the DFI P5BTX/L motherboard youtube.com/watch?v=7eH1f1b1Ha0. In this video we are discovering undocumented jumper settings, patching the bios with the Bios Patcher tool and trying out a K6-2 400 and a K6-2+ 550MHz. We run a couple of benchmarks and compare the results against those published by Phil's Computer Lab.Bios Patcher website: http://www.rom.by/articles/BP/index_english.htmBios Patcher by Necroware: youtube.com/watch?v=VwZT40sRMzMBios Patcher by Bits and Bolts: youtube.com/watch?v=0KBYj1vx3zQModbin tutorial by Atheatos: youtube.com/watch?v=bQM4e7AwI0UPhil's K6-2+@550 Benchmarks: youtu.be/A2Oymnq5DEQ?t=329DOS Benchmarks: philscomputerlab.com/dos-benchmark-pack.htmlMusic: Track Stalker from the Duke Duke Dance Party Albumby the Space Quest Historian, Troels Pleimertspacequesthistorian.bandcamp.comyoutube.com/watch?v=2NTBsj0nhRw
Repairing the voltage regulation circuit of a Socket 7 Motherboard: DFI P5BTX/L (part 1) Scrap Computing 2023-03-17 | Repairing the DFI P5BTX/L Pentium MMX era Socket 7 Motherboard with an Intel 430TX (Triton II) PCIset, which has a damaged voltage regulation circuit. The damaged transistor is a CEP6030L and the PWM Controller is a US2075.Intel Chipsets: dosdays.co.uk/topics/intel_chipsets.php430TX info: theretroweb.com/chipsets/278Motherboard info: theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/dfi-p5btx-l-rev.-cMusic: Track Stalker from the Duke Duke Dance Party Albumby the Space Quest Historian, Troels Pleimertspacequesthistorian.bandcamp.comyoutube.com/watch?v=2NTBsj0nhRw
Sound Blaster SB32 CT3930 Repair. OPL3 and AWE32 MIDI in one card! Scrap Computing 2023-03-11 | Repairing a faulty Creative Sound Blaster CT3930 ISA Sound Card. This is a rather special SB32 card because it has both an EMU8K wavetable Midi chip and a genuine Yamaha OPL3 instead of Creative's CQM. The card was generating white noise and also occasionally a high-pitched tone. The very end of the video at 21:17 shows a small part of the pinout of the CT1971 EMU8K chip.CT3930 Manual PDF: vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?fileid=1614&menustate=0UNISOUND: vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=72553Music: Track Stalker from the Duke Duke Dance Party Album by the Space Quest Historian, Troels Pleimertspacequesthistorian.bandcamp.comyoutube.com/watch?v=2NTBsj0nhRw
MHz Displays Tutorial: How to configure the 7-segment LED displays of vintage PCs Scrap Computing 2023-02-21 | A tutorial on how to configure the 7-segment LED displays of vintage computers that show the CPU speed in MHz when the TURBO button is ON or OFF. These displays were very common up until the 486 and pentium era.Diagrams and other resources for many types of displays: minuszerodegrees.net/led_speed_display/led_speed_display.htmMusic:Track Stalker from the Duke Duke Dance Party Albumby the Space Quest Historian, Troels Pleimertspacequesthistorian.bandcamp.comyoutube.com/watch?v=2NTBsj0nhRw
Barrel Battery Blaster: Drop-in replacement for leaky CMOS batteries Scrap Computing 2023-01-29 | We are putting together a Barrel Battery Blaster. It is a small PCB for a CR2032 Lithium battery that can be used as a drop-in replacement for old NiCd rechargeable barrel batteries.BarrelBatteryBlaster: github.com/scrapcomputing/BarrelBatteryBlasterMusic:Track Stalker from the Duke Duke Dance Party Albumby the Space Quest Historian, Troels Pleimertspacequesthistorian.bandcamp.comyoutube.com/watch?v=2NTBsj0nhRw
WavetablePi: Wavetable Midi module powered by a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W Scrap Computing 2023-01-16 | We are building a WavetablePi wavetable module with a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W, a HiFi DAC and an OLED display, and trying it out on an ESS AudioDrive ES1868F ISA sound card. We are testing some audio from Warcraft II, Wacky Wheels and Quest for Glory Shadows of Darkness.WavetablePi PCB: github.com/scrapcomputing/WavetablePimt32-pi: github.com/dwhinham/mt32-pimt32-pi control: github.com/gmcn42/mt32-pi-controlUNISOUND: vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=72553Music:Track Stalker from the Duke Duke Dance Party Albumby the Space Quest Historian, Troels Pleimertspacequesthistorian.bandcamp.comyoutube.com/watch?v=2NTBsj0nhRwCrickets sound: Thatcher, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Field_cricket_unedited.ogg
486 Socket Blaster rev0.2 (DIY Voltage Adapter part 2) Scrap Computing 2023-01-09 | This is the second part of the 486 Socket Blaster video. We are testing the revision 0.2 of the 486 interposer PCB, checking the CPUMUL functionality and trying out a couple of smoothing capacitors to reduce the voltage ripple.Sources and gerber files for the PCB: github.com/scrapcomputing/486SocketBlasterPart 1: youtu.be/n5qlx4qKbSEMusic:Track Stalker from the Duke Duke Dance Party Albumby the Space Quest Historian, Troels Pleimertspacequesthistorian.bandcamp.comyoutube.com/watch?v=2NTBsj0nhRw
Voltage Blaster Mini -5V ISA Scrap Computing 2023-01-07 | A smaller version of the original Voltage Blaster.Phil's Computer Lab Voltage Blaster video: youtube.com/watch?v=y1-0giyLQIYNecroware's Voltage Blaster Video: youtube.com/watch?v=61INxtCRNJgVoltage Blaster Mini source code and gerber files: github.com/scrapcomputing/voltage-blaster-miniMusic:Track Stalker from the Duke Duke Dance Party Album by the Space Quest Historian, Troels Pleimert spacequesthistorian.bandcamp.com
486SocketBlaster: A DIY voltage adapter for the 486 CPU (part 1) Scrap Computing 2022-12-31 | Building the "486SocketBlaster", a 5V to 3V adapter for 486 CPUs. This allows you to plug in a 3V CPU to an older 5V-only motherboard, which means that you can plug in a 100MHz DX4 or a 133MHz Am5x86 into a motherboard that would normally only work with slower CPUs. In other words with this adapter you don't need an Overdrive CPU!The board design and gerber files: github.com/scrapcomputing/486SocketBlasterThe second part of the video: youtu.be/7anzRWXtba0Music: Track Stalker from the "Duke Duke Dance Party" Album by the Space Quest Historian: youtube.com/watch?v=2NTBsj0nhRw
Yamaha XG YMF724 PCI Sound card PC/PCI (SB-Link) in DOS #doscember Scrap Computing 2022-12-29 | Trying out a couple of PCI sound cards based on the Yamaha XG YMF724F-V chip in DOS, configuring them to work with PC/PCI DMA Mode and S-IRQ IRQ mode, and adding the missing PC/PCI header to one of them. The YMF724 sounds great in DOS games because it includes an OPL3 FM synthesizer. It is also very compatible because of PC/PCI and S-IRQ.Music: Track Stalker from the "Duke Duke Dance Party" Album by the Space Quest Historian: youtube.com/watch?v=2NTBsj0nhRw
