Mac IIsi (My First Non Compact)

[3583Bytes]

Ok so someone is selling a Mac IIsi in my area.  It has a monitor but it does not work.  So my next order of business is to figure out how to hook it up to a non Mac monitor.  So my question is how do I do that.  Is an adapter enough or are the synch rates different enough that it won't work?

Also are there any batteries that need to be removed from it, if so will there be soft power issues?

Anything else I should know

Thanks

 

[Elfen]

You should take it apart to see how are the caps and battery.

I do have  question about the IIsi. I see many posts about IIsi ROM SIMMs, but my 2- IIsi 's have the ROM SIMM Slot but no ROM SIMM and there are to ROM Chips soldered on the bottom of the board (towards where the front of the machine should be). My question is, is this ROM SIMM necessary and what does it do? I remember the IIsi being 24Bit Dirty, so is the ROM SIMM makes the IIsi 32Bit Clean?

 

[naryasece]

@3583Bytes,

I would get a Mac to VGA adapter that has switches on it. Although most of my Macs will work with separate sync, I found that the IIsi would only connect to my VGA monitors with composite sync set.

I don't think removing the battery will cause an issue with the soft power. You should be able to get it to boot with the power switch in the back, at least.

@Elfen,

If I recall, the IIsi is a 32bit clean machine. The ROM SIMM slot was to provide the ability to upgrade the ROM at a later date. I think the early production machines had a ROM SIMM in the slot, whereas later computers had it attached to the motherboard. I believe the ROM SIMM is sought after by II, IIx & SE/30 users because it makes their machine 32bit clean.

Hope that helps!

 

[Elfen]

Thanks a lot, naryasece. That answers many questions.

 

[3583Bytes]

Thanks,

If anyone has such a VGA adapter that they are willing to sell please let me know.  Else I will be forced to ebay.

 

[Elfen]

Check with CCC. He might have a couple.

 

[bibilit]

Nice, the IIsi's are really cute machines, and yes they work great with VGA adapters.

I have two of them, they work great without batteries.

 

[wilykat]

IIsi is a cute one, the only II of that design and Apple didn't offer similar size until Quadra/Performa 630 series.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

I have plenty of VGA Adapters of many kinds available, I just need to get around to testing them for IIsi compatibility. I figure that if they'll work on the picky gen2 Video output of the IIsi, they'll work on just about anything.

The Vampire Video subsystem is anemic outside of low res gaming. But as a graphics guy back in that day, anything that wouldn't drive 16" seemed pathetic to me. Snag one of the Radius_Color_Pivot_II/IIsi Video Cards before they all disappear. It won't help with 60hz_ONLY LCDs, but every Mac collector needs to own a high quality MultiSync LCD or CRT. Also, a classic Mac compatible LCD from KDS/Radius can be usually be had at a fairly reasonable price on eBay if you keep an eye peeled.

While you're at it, watch for a palatable price for one of the Ethernet cards, but you likely know that coming from SE/30 territory.

 

[3583Bytes]

Ok so I picked up the IIsi, it was a complete set, system software monitor, laser printer some games.  The only thing not working is the monitor, which is a shame because it would make a nice set.  The monitor (13" B&W) won't power on at all (no power light) so it may be something simple to fix, any ideas?

meanwhile if you have a VGA adapter I would gladly buy one off you, thanks

 

[uniserver]

you could take the monitor apart, and check the fuse, maybe it got hit by a voltage surge.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

I just noticed that you're north of a border preventing shipping anything across it at a reasonable rate. :-/

13" B&W sounds like a search for 12_monochrome_display.pdf might be helpful . . . ;D

 

[3583Bytes]

I will try to see if there is a fuse problem first, hopefully that is it. If not I am willing to pay for shipping, a little adapter won't be that much.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

If it looks like this . . .

[url=https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/441x324q90/534/blacksnowlc.jpg

. . . the service manual will show how to get to the fuse to check it out.

.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/441x324q90/534/blacksnowlc.jpg

.

 

[3583Bytes]

Yah that is the one, unfortunately the fuse seems fine

There does not seem to bee any visible damage or loose connections.  Not sure what to do with it now.

 

[3583Bytes]

OK so I managed to get an Apple 16" Color Monitor from 1993, it did work they guy showed me, however when I hooked it up to my IIsi I get nothing just a black screen.  Does it need a special Monitor type or is something broken on the IIsi?  The computer does post (play little sound) and then the hard disk spins for a while so I think it booted but no video.

Any ideas, thanks

 

[wilykat]

Is the 16" a multiple scan type? I seems to remember older Macintosh not liking multiscan type monitors because of how the sense pins worked.  

 

[Elfen]

I believe the 16in Apple Mon is a multi-sync monitor, you would need either the 13in color, the 12in color (sold with LCs) or the 12in B/W/Grey monitor (also sold with LCs) to work with the IIsi.

Or a multi-sync monitor with VGA capability (I use the Gateway EV700) with a Mac Adapter with switches, and set the switches at 640X480 or 400 - LC Monitor.

Q: Does the IIsi has VRAM in it? Wait... The Macintosh IIsi shares system memory for video function: VRAM: 64-320 k (shared with system RAM), so that can't be it.