gklimes@gmu90x.UUCP (George Klimes) (05/24/89)
I recently acquired a 3000HL from a Tandy Computer Center for a great
price. What I want to do now is add a 16 bit hard disk controller and
(probably) a VGA card.
My question is this: Are there any known problems with using third party
cards in the 3000HL? This is the original 3000HL. How AT-compatible is
the bus?
The VGA cards I've seriously considered are the Paradise VGA and VGA + 16,
the FastWrite VGA, and a 16 bit card from ATI. Will these work OK? And the
16 bit hard disk controller I've looked at is an OMTI model that also
handles 2 floppies (high and low density). Also, I would want to eventually
add an EMS 4.0 board with a meg or two or RAM. Will the big name EMS boards
work in this machine? Also, will the 3000HL work with the 1.44 Meg drive?
--- George Klimes
Graduate Student
George Mason University
BITNET =====> GKLIMES@GMUVAX
INTERNET ===> GKLIMES@GMU90X.GMU.EDU or GKLIMES@GMUVAX.GMU.EDUreyn@trsvax.UUCP (05/25/89)
Regarding your 3000HL,
I used the original 3000HL for about two years before I got the 4000 I'm
using now. I never had any problems with any of the video cards we shoved
in it, and those ranged from CGA to Hercules to EGA to VGA.
The 3000HL is a true clone as far as the bus goes, the 16 bit slots are the
same as an IBM-AT electrically. You should be able to use anybody else's
cards and peripherals with little or no worry. If they don't work in a
3000HL, then they probably don't work in 90% of the IBM compatibles on the
market.
John Reynolds
As usual, the above information and opinions
are my fault.uhclem@trsvax.UUCP (05/25/89)
<> R1>The 3000HL is a true clone as far as the bus goes, the 16 bit slots are the R1>same as an IBM-AT electrically. You should be able to use anybody else's R1>cards and peripherals with little or no worry. If they don't work in a R1>3000HL, then they probably don't work in 90% of the IBM compatibles on the R1>market. The 3000HL does not have the second 8237 DMA controller, so you don't have any 16-bit DMA channels (#4-#7). DRQ4-7 and DACK4-7 on the bus are therefore N/C. These are rarely used, but it will prevent a device like the Adaptec SCSI adapter from working in this machine. Subsequently, the HL is not a "true" AT compatible, instead it is more of a 286 XT. <This information is provided by an individual and is not nor should be construed as being provided by Radio Shack or Tandy Corp. Radio Shack/Tandy Corp has no obligation to support the information provided in any way.> "Thank you, Uh Clem." Frank Durda IV @ <trsvax!uhclem> ...decvax!microsoft!trsvax!uhclem ...sys1!hal6000!trsvax!uhclem
cms@yendor.UUCP (Christoph Sunderland) (05/26/89)
From article <1995@gmu90x.UUCP>, by gklimes@gmu90x.UUCP (George Klimes): > My question is this: Are there any known problems with using third party > cards in the 3000HL? This is the original 3000HL. How AT-compatible is > the bus? Check the version of the BIOS that is in the machine. I do not know what the current BIOS version is, but your local store should be able to find out. We had LOTS of problems with the HL's we purchased until we upgraded the BIOS chips in the machines. Since then we have not been having any problems with the machines. We are currently running Video 7 VGA cards with Priam (70M) hard drives. They have been running for almost a year now without any problems. -- Chris Sunderland -- Christoph Sunderland @ Ava Technologies - Reston Virginia work: 703-264-0074