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Getting a 820-5037 Mac II Workstation/Portrait Display card to work

TimHD

Well-known member
I acquired these two Apple Workstation/Portrait cards over time and been trying to get one of them working on my Mac IIfx.
 

Large: gallery_5459_108_320932.jpg


The top one is a 820-5037-B "1987, 88" and the bottom one probably Revision A board "1987". Both have 13W3 connectors for Apple Portrait Displays.
(NB: Rev C, "1987, 88, 89" seems to have the DA15 connector - see http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Apple-Macintosh-820-5037-C-Workstation-Portrait-Video-Card-/311507706762 for an example).
Apart from noticing the different capacitors in a few places (round silver ones vs square flatter ones here and there) I also noticed that the first one was missing a capacitor at C26 (on right, behind where the 13W3 plug meets the PCB). This seems to explain why this does not work (See a Revision B board, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131618809533 by comparison) 

Anyone have any idea what capacitor is needed here and who can fix it?

 
Secondly, while I have a working Apple Portrait Display, the 13W3 to 13w3 "Sun/Apple" monitor cable I could not make it work. This could be cable related. (While I do have a DA15 to 13W3 cable but I suspect i need a Rev C board for that one to work).
 
Any thoughts/suggestions welcome from those who have managed to get one of these cards working with a Portrait (or LCD) monitor.
 

joethezombie

Well-known member
Hi.  I have a IIfx, a 820-5037-B card, and a Portrait Display.  Nothing special was needed, they just work.  Concerning your boards, the capacitor difference between the two is aluminum electrolytic vs. tantalum.  Apple probably just used what they had on hand at the time the cards were built. I'd bet the capacitance is the same.  The tantalums don't leak and destroy traces like their aluminum counterparts.  The missing capacitor on your first board is a 4.7uF 25V part.

I'm curious about the cable.  Is it a Sun cable?  For some reason I am thinking the two are not pin compatible, but don't quote me on that.  Perhaps someone with a little more knowledge that knows for sure could post.  I have the Apple version.

On the second card, you could try pulling the extra memory that is socketed and see if that helps.  Remember the orientation so you can put them back later when that doesn't help at all.  Also check that lower left capacitor.  It looks like it has leaked.  The fluid is conductive so it can cause shorts.

IMG_0495.jpg

 

TimHD

Well-known member
I'm curious about the cable. Is it a Sun cable? For some reason I am thinking the two are not pin compatible, but don't quote me on that. Perhaps someone with a little more knowledge that knows for sure could post. I have the Apple version.

On the second card, you could try pulling the extra memory that is socketed and see if that helps. Remember the orientation so you can put them back later when that doesn't help at all. Also check that lower left capacitor. It looks like it has leaked. The fluid is conductive so it can cause shorts.
Yeah, it's a sun cable, sold as 'sun/Apple compatible' but I suspect it may not be so, though you'd expect as 13w3 to 13w3 cable to be a straight connection. Anyone got a spare Apple 13w3 cable?
That second card works fine I think but will check for leakage where you indicated. Will washing it do? Or if it's leaked is that a permanent problem? Does anyone here recap monitor cards?

 
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MidnightCommando

Well-known member
Boards are boards are boards, insofar as the techniques needed for repair. If you're wanting someone else to recap for you, I'd be willing to do the work, for the cost of parts + time. 

If the capacitor has leaked, the best thing to do is wash the residue off with isopropyl alcohol and replace the capacitor with a modern tantalum cap. 
 

Check for leakage all over the board - where you can - it may not be terribly visible, but under strong light you should see a thin film that looks "different" to the rest of the surface of the board. 

 

TimHD

Well-known member
ScutBoy, I believe the cables are: (per Apple flyer for portrait monitors)

590-0574 Cable DB25/DB25

590-0615 Cable DB15/DB25

 

joethezombie

Well-known member
Yeah, it's a sun cable, sold as 'sun/Apple compatible' but I suspect it may not be so, though you'd expect as 13w3 to 13w3 cable to be a straight connection. Anyone got a spare Apple 13w3 cable?
You may very well be correct.   I haven't been bothered enough to look it up, but there is something strange about it if I remember correctly.

And yep, TimHD's part numbers match the markings on my cables.  The 13W-3W cable looks to be greyscale only, it's missing a couple of the barrels which I assume would be required to deliver RGB.

 
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