Howard.Spindel@busker.FIDONET.ORG (Howard Spindel) (11/12/88)
>From: rosenblum@draco.rutgers.edu >Date: 8 Nov 88 16:32:44 GMT >Organization: Rutgers University Graduate School of Management >Message-ID: <983@galaxy> >Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc > >I hope I have all my terminology right in the following query; if not, >be forgiving because I'm no expert on hardware. > >I have an old IBM PC that has only five expansion slots. The system has >a hard disk (controller takes up one expansion slot), two floppy drives >(controller takes up another expansion slot), 384K of memory (taking up >another expansion slot) in addition to the 128K on the motherboard, a >CGA monitor (controller takes up another expansion slot), and an IBM-PC >Graphics Printer (half-size parallel port board takes up another >expansion slot). As you can see, that uses up all five expansion slots. >I'd like to somehow add on a serial port, as cheaply as possible, >without sacrificing any of the current functionality. Given your set of constraints I would suggest that you just replace your parallel port board with a half slot parallel/serial board. I have seen these advertised under $50. You might try calling Priority One electronics (an outfit from whom I have purchased with good success) at 800-423-5922 for a price. Given that you have a vanilla PC I don't think that it is going to matter very much what brand you get - a board with just a parallel and serial port is unlikely to have compatibility problems (one of the reasons I like Priority One is they always take the stuff back if you do have problems). Note that if you plan to further expand this PC in the future you could free up a slot by getting a combo memory/ports board, but I get the feeling from your message that the minimalist approach of fixing your immediate need would work best for you. If you do decide to get a memory board I have had good luck with AST and Quadram products - you should be a little more careful about what company's product you buy when you get a memory board. I am not affiliated with AST, Quadram, or Priority One. Hope this helps. -- Howard Spindel - via FidoNet node 1:105/14 UUCP: ...!{uunet!oresoft, tektronix!reed}!busker!Howard.Spindel ARPA: Howard.Spindel@busker.FIDONET.ORG