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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: Effy on March 15, 2010, 10:42:07 AM

Title: Another unknown Zorro card ?
Post by: Effy on March 15, 2010, 10:42:07 AM
I just found an unknown Zorro card in my collection. Info :
On the back it has got a led and an on/off switch. It's got space for 8 chips on the other side of the card, the rest of the card is empty with one strange slot where another card is supposed to be plugged in but I haven't got a clue which one. The card appears to be used to make a non-Amiga card to work on an Amiga. The only identification is "CO 9251 AB" but Google hasn't come up with any answers. Is this some kind of daughterboard ?
Title: Re: Another unknown Zorro card ?
Post by: stachu100 on March 15, 2010, 11:00:06 AM
Photo would help a lot....
Title: Re: Another unknown Zorro card ?
Post by: Effy on March 15, 2010, 11:27:44 AM
Just tried to attach a picture of the card ...
Title: Re: Another unknown Zorro card ?
Post by: bburtonpa on March 15, 2010, 12:22:16 PM
Judging by the barrel connector on the backplane, it looks to me like some sort of genlock device.
Title: Re: Another unknown Zorro card ?
Post by: koaftder on March 15, 2010, 12:26:58 PM
Looking forward to the ebay advert. :lol:
Title: Re: Another unknown Zorro card ?
Post by: x303 on March 15, 2010, 12:40:06 PM
Looks like some kind of kickrom and/or memory switcher from combitec.
If you look at the picture, you should see some similarites (backplate, switch, led).
http://amiga.resource.cx/photos/dram2000,1
Title: Re: Another unknown Zorro card ?
Post by: save2600 on March 15, 2010, 04:10:49 PM
That's it? That's all the circuitry, just on the one side? No chips? What a waste and what an ugly piece of kit!  lol
Title: Re: Another unknown Zorro card ?
Post by: Zac67 on March 15, 2010, 07:57:18 PM
Quote from: Effy;547661
Just tried to attach a picture of the card ...


Well, don't oversize that photo, takes away all the fun...

That a switch on the backplate? Or a cinch connector?

On second sight, that card looks like it's got an 8 bit ISA connector. Plus some sockets for glue logic and possibly an EPROM pair - that's an ALF style HDD adaptor for maybe a WD1003/1004 controller board.:juggler:
Title: Re: Another unknown Zorro card ?
Post by: Effy on March 15, 2010, 10:49:39 PM
Zac67 : you are correct, it is some kind of ISA connector, just tried to squeez an old ISA soundcard in it and part of the card fits perfectly inside that slot on the Amiga card. The Amiga card on the back has got NO connector, just an on and off switch and one single red led, that's it, no scsi connector, no svhs connector, no connector at all.
So if I get this, it's an ALF card that is made to use pc isa scsi cards that all together are not bootable ? So without a specific pc isa scsi card this Amiga card is useless ?
Title: Re: Another unknown Zorro card ?
Post by: tone007 on March 16, 2010, 07:44:12 PM
Quote from: Effy;547747
So if I get this, it's an ALF card that is made to use pc isa scsi cards that all together are not bootable ? So without a specific pc isa scsi card this Amiga card is useless ?


I had something similar for the A500 with an old 8-bit XT hard drive card, I think I tossed the setup.
Title: Re: Another unknown Zorro card ?
Post by: joetee on March 16, 2010, 08:57:02 PM
Quote from: Effy;547661
Just tried to attach a picture of the card ...


What a lame picture! How lame of you (just trooling?) to ask w/o any clear source data:
You post that weak-ass thumbnail and then ask of US: the earths Amiga intelligentsia to guess at it for you?  HA!

 Here is how you WILL get an answer: Put that "zorro" card flat down on a (just a 600 DPI) scanner and scan it - upload the jpeg - and THEN everyone on earth will be able to read all of the chip numbers and see where traces go, etc. , then WE will have an answer for you.

So dont question it: we will identify your card: IF you show us the HW source!
Title: Re: Another unknown Zorro card ?
Post by: koaftder on March 16, 2010, 09:00:15 PM
Quote from: joetee;547889

 Here is how you WILL get an answer: Put that "zorro" card flat down on a (just a 600 DPI) scanner and scan it - upload the jpeg - and THEN everyone on earth will be able to read all of the chip numbers and see where traces go, etc. , then WE will have an answer for you.


No sir! Amiga hardware should be placed on tits and snapped with digicam. Effy is famous for this.
Title: Re: Another unknown Zorro card ?
Post by: Effy on March 17, 2010, 01:36:15 PM
Joetee : excuse me sir, I had to resize the original picture 2 times in order to be able to upload it here, even 640x480 was way too big to upload :(
Title: Re: Another unknown Zorro card ?
Post by: Zac67 on March 17, 2010, 08:36:24 PM
@Effy

ALF was before SCSI became popular, so it used ST506 (MFM) controller boards (like the 1003/1004 mentioned above). The ISA cards were bootable, but of course not on the Amiga without special boot ROMs which only the latest ALF cards got (predated Kick 1.3).

To make use of that card you'd need to fill the empty sockets with most probably some properly programmed PALs & 74xx. Boot ROMs would be optional but need to match the card (alternatively a set of drivers to boot off a floppy). And of course a supported ISA card.

And now we want to see the ebay photo - proper resolution please. ;)
Title: Re: Another unknown Zorro card ?
Post by: Dr.Bongo on March 17, 2010, 09:20:41 PM
Just a thought, it's not an Atari ST emulator card is it? looks like there's sockets for the TOS roms. It's not a Medussa card I know, but still hmmm....