rlr@bbt.UUCP (rader) (09/20/90)
Hi there, folks. I was wondering if you could give me a hand here. I have the chance to purchase an old Hewlett-Packard Vectra AT clone fairly cheaply. I don't know the model number or anything else, but I plan on taking the cover off and checking out the chip identification, etc. My question pertains to compatibility, as I have absolutely no experience with the Vectra clones. Since HP builds good equipment, I'm assuming the system is reliable. But since HP also likes to do things their own way, I'm also wondering about future compatibility problems. Any software incompatibilities with the AT standard? What about hardware? 100% compatibility is very important in this case. Also, is it feasible to plan on swapping a 386 motherboard (non-HP) into the case, thereby having a possible 386 clone for a lot less $$$$? Time is of the essence here, so if you have ANY experience with the Vectra clones, PLEASE reply via email (addresses below in my sig). If I get a collection of valuable info, I'll post it. And THANK YOU very much! -- ron rader, jr rlr%bbt@rti.rti.org = Opinions are my own and do not | | i gotta six- rlr%bbt$rti.rti.org@CUNYVM = necessarily reflect those of | | pack, & nothin' to do ...!mcnc!rti!bbt!rlr = BroadBand Tech. (SO THERE!) *** Punk ain't no religious cult, punk means thinking for yourself - DKs ***
drick@hplvli.HP.COM (David Rick) (09/20/90)
[advice sought on "classic" Vectra] Sorry to post this, but email attempts bounced. From MAILER-DAEMON@hp-sde.sde.hp.com Thu Sep 20 10:14 MDT 1990 Received: from hplvla by hplvdo.HP.COM; Thu, 20 Sep 90 10:14:22 mdt Received: from hplisa.lvld.hp.com by hplvla.HP.COM; Thu, 20 Sep 90 10:13:32 mdt Received: from hp-sde.sde.hp.com by hplisa.lvld.hp.com; Thu, 20 Sep 90 10:12:40 mdt Received: from hplisa.lvld.hp.com by hp-sde.sde.hp.com with SMTP (16.3/15.5+IOS 3.13) id AA14414; Thu, 20 Sep 90 09:11:05 -0700 Date: Thu, 20 Sep 90 10:12:39 mdt From: Mail Delivery Subsystem <MAILER-DAEMON@hp-sde.sde.hp.com> Subject: Returned mail: Host unknown Message-Id: <9009201611.AA14414@hp-sde.sde.hp.com> To: <hplisa!hplvla!drick> Status: R ----- Transcript of session follows ----- 550 <bbt!rlr>... Host unknown: No such file or directory ----- Unsent message follows ----- Received: from hplisa.lvld.hp.com by hp-sde.sde.hp.com with SMTP (16.3/15.5+IOS 3.13) id AA14409; Thu, 20 Sep 90 09:11:05 -0700 Return-Path: <hplisa!hplvla!drick> Received: from hplvla.HP.COM by hplisa.lvld.hp.com; Thu, 20 Sep 90 10:11:56 mdt Received: from hplvli.HP.COM by hplvla.HP.COM; Thu, 20 Sep 90 10:12:40 mdt Received: by hplvli.HP.COM; Thu, 20 Sep 90 10:12:39 mdt Date: Thu, 20 Sep 90 10:12:39 mdt From: David Rick <hplisa!hplvla!drick> Full-Name: David Rick Message-Id: <9009201612.AA24416@hplvli.HP.COM> To: bbt!rlr Subject: Re: HP Vectra PC/AT compatibility Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc,comp.sys.hp In-Reply-To: article <955@bbt.UUCP> of Wed, 19 Sep 1990 17:21:40 GMT I assume you mean the "classic" Vectra (8MHz 286). I have one of these, and there are some potential gotchas, but none that have been a problem for me. Here are some things to consider: 1) The original HP "multimode" video adapter was nonstandard. It acted like a color adapter in graphics mode and a monochrome adapter in text mode. It used a unique monitor. If this is a problem, use a different display system -- the box will work with anything. I use a Herculese clone. 2) The original hard disk was an HP proprietary 3.5" ruggedized drive. This was very reliable, but rather slow (65 mS) and used a non-standard controller. Later, a standard controller was used, and the box shipped with a Seagate drive. If you have the original setup, and something breaks, it will be cheaper to replace the controller and drive with third-party components. Mounting a third-party drive properly requires a pair of HP drive "slides," which you can buy from a sympathetic HP dealer. 3) The keyboard interface used is HP "Human Interface Loop" instead of AT standard. This is no problem unless the keyboard breaks. It allows a HP mouse to be plugged into the HIL, but I don't recommend that; just use a Microsoft mouse. 4) There is a third interrupt controller chip on the motherboard, daisychained from the first two. This supports HIL, etc. In theory, it could confuse some programs that initialize interrupts, but I have never had a problem, even with interrupt driven modems and MIDI cards installed. 5) HP used an "oversize" BIOS, and the excess takes up some room near the top of the 640k address space. As a result, some software thinks there is 640k and some sees 636k. There have been reports that some RAM-disk software had problems with this originally, but it has likely been resolved by now. That's about all I can think of. Note that most of these issues have been resolved in later generation Vectras. Still, I like my "classic," and it has never, ever failed me. P.S. You might find out what ROM revision it has, and investigate the cost of upgrading to current ROMS. Perhaps the seller will discount it by this amount. David L. Rick Hewlett-Packard Company Loveland Instrument Div (we make _voltmeters_ here) Loveland CO drick@hplvdo@hplvla.HP.COM Of _course_ I'm biased. I _hate_ things that break! Disclaimer: I posted this as an individual, not as a representative of HP. I bought the machine described above with my own money, but got a discount.
louie@cellar.bae.bellcore.com (Paul Louie) (09/22/90)
In article, <955@bbt.UUCP>, rlr@bbt.UUCP (rader) writes: > Any software incompatibilities with the AT standard? What about hardware? >100% compatibility is very important in this case. Also, is it feasible to >plan on swapping a 386 motherboard (non-HP) into the case, thereby having >a possible 386 clone for a lot less $$$$? > > Time is of the essence here, so if you have ANY experience with the >Vectra clones, PLEASE reply via email (addresses below in my sig). If >I get a collection of valuable info, I'll post it. > > And THANK YOU very much! > > >ron rader, jr Ron, I used HP Vectra machines for a long time and I didn't experience any compatibility problems, ONLY if you stick to genuine HP parts. Which lead to your next question concerning converting it into a 386 clone. I strongly advice you not to for two reasons. First, to save money the common practice is to reuse as much of the components as possible. I would expect boards, such as HD/FD controller and Video Board, might have stability problems due to bus speed difference. Of course, you would never know for sure until you take the plunge. But just remember one thing, I never knew a vendor that would give you refund if things didn't work out. Second, it's no longer economically sensible to do the upgrade route. For example, a system integrator in my area can get me a 386SX clone for $650, a 386/25 for a little over $1000. The latest price I've seen for Haupaugh 386 upgrade board is around $700. With this kind of price differential, why bother! Paul