Radius Color Pivot LC PDS Video Card

[David Cook]

I recently picked up an LC PDS-slot video card, specifically the Radius Color Pivot LC.

It isn't a particularly powerful card. It is unaccelerated and can only display 640x480 (13" standard), 640x870 (Apple Portrait), and 870x640 (Radius Pivot on its side) at up to 256 colors. Still, this provides an second monitor option for the LC series.

I thought I spotted a typo in the Macworld review. Without the memory module, I assumed Macworld meant to say this would display in B&W, rather than "2-bit".


They were serious about two bit (4 "color") video. I am surprised that Apple's default palette includes two grays, as opposed to red/blue or a highlight color. But, there you are.



Fortunately, this card comes with the extra RAM SIMM to provide 8-bit color. Since the memory was an expensive original option (it cost more than the card itself), and it is an unusual 84-pin SIMM, be careful to check if the memory is included if you have an opportunity to purchase a card second-hand.


Below is the card with the memory in place. I don't know what the empty chip socket is for. 68881 FPU?



The ROM is version 2.6. Let me know if you need a copy. I will upload it when I next hook up my EPROM reader.



Here is the card installed in the LC. Notice the video card has a slot for the large capacitor (recapped in my photo) that appeared on early LC models.



The card does not need software installed to work. If you want to, you can use up to the latest version of RadiusWare 3.4.1 for some optional features. Note that the name of the control panel changed from RadiusWare (with a little pivot icon) to Dynamic Desktop at some point. You just need to drag Dynamic Desktop to your Control Panel folder and reboot.

You do not need a Radius Pivot monitor. LCDs display the 640x480 crisply (left image below). However, I couldn't find a monitor that supported 640x870. It keeps trying to display 1280x870 (right image below) poorly.



If for some reason you see the Radius logo on the screen after boot, go to the Monitors control panel. On cold install or PRAM clear, it just needs to have the video mode selected by the user to hide the logo. However, if the display doesn't show up in the Monitors control panel at all (even if displaying the logo), it could be because of the VGA adapter. I noticed it was a little finicky and needed exactly the right dip switches for the card to recognize a connected display. I swapped to my "Liberty" brand adapter and it works fine.



The Low End Mac description indicates this card works up to System 7.5.1 but may not be compatible with the LC III. Are you ready to be amazed???

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

The Radius Pivot works in the LC, LC II, LC III, LC 475, and Quadra/Performa 630 series. It works with a 68020, 68030, and 68040. It works all the way up to System 8.1!

Kinda.....

Unfortunately, the video card is so wide that you have to remove the memory modules from the LC 475 and 630 series. That only leaves 4MB of motherboard RAM. But, technically it works.



Impressive coding and hardware compatibility by Apple and Radius. A cute card worth picking up if you are an LC-series fan.

- David

 

[robin-fo]

How can I change the resolution on this card? It‘s always in portrait mode. I don‘t have a pivot monitor. I tested different versions of the Radius Software and inside a 475 and a Color Classic with no differences…

 

[David Cook]

How can I change the resolution on this card? It‘s always in portrait mode. I don‘t have a pivot monitor. I tested different versions of the Radius Software and inside a 475 and a Color Classic with no differences…

I assume you have a video adapter connected on the output port? It should have DIP or rotary switch settings to choose the resolution.

 

[robin-fo]

I tried a Macintosh Color Display (M1212) and it couldn‘t display the image. The other display I used is a 19“ LCD screen using a fixed Mac to VGA cable which can sync somehow, but vertically shrinks the image. Both screen work normally using built-in video. I have never seen any option to rotate to landscape or set a different resolution from Software. I can try using an adapter with switches, but don‘t know which settings to set…
My card has the revision 2.4 ROM.. Is there maybe a later ROM Revision which lets the user to change the resolution in the Monitors control panel?

 

[David Cook]

I can try using an adapter with switches, but don‘t know which settings to set

I believe you're on the right track by using an adapter. I definitely had to play around with my adapter to find a compatible setting.

 

[pl212]

Curious if this card works under System 6, as that’s what the LC originally shipped with? I’m guessing the answer is yes, since the Pivot as a whole predates System 7 and since it doesn’t seem to require any exotic drivers…

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Interesting stuff!

Unfortunately, the video card is so wide that you have to remove the memory modules from the LC 475 and 630 series. That only leaves 4MB of motherboard RAM. But, technically it works.

Couldn't find my card for now, but took a quick look at the 630 Logic Board. There should be plenty of headroom to install a "Riser" to clear memory in the Quadra 630. Is there any conflict with the Tuner Card?

Modem/ComSlot is useless, no? So board can be offset to the right, maybe enough to clear memory without raising it much? That'd be an "Offset Riser" doohickey.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Was thinking about this for a bit earlier. You'd need so set the card up to the right over the ComSlot while setting it back away from the backplane in order to swag a ribbon cable setup over to the PDS Porthole at the same time.

I've got the Card, the SIMM and a Portrait Display that would look oh so right at home atop my Q630 had Apple not dropped support for it at that juncture. Probably had something to do with blocking the cooling vent?