Unknown card

[George]

Hi everyone. I need help.
I got this huge Nubus card. At first, I thought that was VGA card.
But, I can’t get any information.
Please help me.

 

[Byrd]

Seeing the CALCOMP sticker suggests this was some sort of card used to control a huge Calcomp Technology printer or plotter. Does the connector on the back look like VGA exactly? Without the software, cable and printer that is probably as big as a living room lounge, there won't be much you can do with it.

 

[cheesestraws]

Three independent RAMDACs usually means 24-bit graphics output of some kind but that doesn’t mean it’s outputting that in a useful way of course. Quick googling can’t find anything about those specific ramdacs. Someone with more time might find more out.

 

[Alumamac]

Here’s an InfoWorld article from 1990 referencing some Calcomp NuBus video cards.

ETA: Could be a Chroma Vision Plus based on above post re: 24-bit graphics.

 

[George]

Thanks everyone.

Seeing the CALCOMP sticker suggests this was some sort of card used to control a huge Calcomp Technology printer or plotter. Does the connector on the back look like VGA exactly? Without the software, cable and printer that is probably as big as a living room lounge, there won't be much you can do with it.

If your information is true, I have no idea for use.
This card has D-Sub 9-pin plug.

Three independent RAMDACs usually means 24-bit graphics output of some kind but that doesn’t mean it’s outputting that in a useful way of course. Quick googling can’t find anything about those specific ramdacs. Someone with more time might find more out.

Here’s an InfoWorld article from 1990 referencing some Calcomp NuBus video cards.

ETA: Could be a Chroma Vision Plus based on above post re: 24-bit graphics.

If this card is video card, I can use it, so I hope so.

 

[joshc]

Probably a video card but that's not going to be VGA output, a lot of video cards from this time were made for use with specific monitors only.

 

[Phipli]

Be warned, as joshc implies, the 9 pin wasn't really a standard and there are all sorts of variations. For example, some were TTL and some weren't. As well as the pins being different anyway.

Best start would be to find an old review or advert saying what monitors it can work with to see if that gives clues. There is a large archive of searchable MacWorlds and MacUsers on Archive.org.

 

[cheesestraws]

Yeah. Personally I'd poke each of those pins with an oscilloscope to see what's coming out, if anything, but there's absolutely no guarantee that it's VGA-compatible.

 

[Phipli]

Also there is there a chance it is some weird RIP(?) card for a colour laser/imagesetter thingy from before my time? PPM instead of FPS.

They usually seem to have more pins, but I've not ever researched them.

 

[cheesestraws]

Also there is there a chance it is some weird RIP(?) card for a colour laser/imagesetter thingy from before my time? PPM instead of FPS.

Perhaps: it'd feel odd to me for something like that to have three per-channel RAMDACs, but I know very little about RIPs so I'm happy to be told I'm wrong

 

[Phipli]

Yeah, given the speed I don't see why you wouldn't use one RAMDAC three times... or something. I can't quickly find enough photos to get a feeling for it and it's really not something I know anything about. Used dedicated computers for spooling, and good printers with lots of processing power... but never a printer with a Nubus card.

 

[Alumamac]

I'd agree that would be an odd connector for an output device.

So did some more digging around:

From Macuser 05/90
There is an ad for Calcomp Monitors. "CalComp DrawingCard display system". "Display System" might be referencing that the monitor came with a card?? There is a review of their 21" Monitor in the same issue and there is no mention of it coming with its own video card. I've attached the Calcomp ad.

From MacUser 05/92:
Review of Accelerated Video Cards:
"CalComp ChromaVision QuickPlus is available only with a matching monitor" I'm attaching some pages from the review. One shows a grainy photo of the board (looks similar) and another is a graph of compatible monitors.

 

[Phipli]

@George if you feel comfortable doing so (i.e. the board looks to be in good condition), can you put it in a computer and load up TattleTech? It should spit out what the declaration ROM is calling itself. "CalComp WallArt 3.2" or whatever.

 

[George]

I try to put this card in a IICi.
At first, IICi can show video, but monitor turn gray.
It maybe, unknown card was main monitor (when I puted into vga card into SE, same phenomenon was happened).
So, I connected vga cable to unknown card, then, moniter turn black ,HDD is moving.
Unknown card maybe working, but unknown card's video out is different perhaps.
So, I can't see this unknown card's info yet.

 

[cheesestraws]

I'd agree: that sounds like the card is appearing as a graphics card but you haven't got the right monitor or wiring for it.

If you want to test this, you could boot up an installation that has a custom desktop pattern, and see whether that appears on the internal video after a while.

 

[George]

出力デバイス用の奇妙なコネクタになることに同意します。

それで、さらに掘り下げました：

Macuser 05/90 から
Calcomp モニターの広告があります。「CalComp DrawingCard 表示システム」。「ディスプレイシステム」は、モニターにカードが付属していることを参照している可能性があります?? 同じ号に彼らの 21 インチ モニターのレビューがあり、専用のビデオ カードが付属していることについては言及されていません。Calcomp の広告を添付しました。

MacUser 05/92 より:
高速化されたビデオ カードのレビュー:
「CalComp ChromaVision QuickPlus は、対応するモニターでのみ使用できます」レビューからいくつかのページを添付します。1 つはボードの粗い写真 (似ている) を示し、もう 1 つは互換性のあるモニターのグラフです。

どうもありがとう！
未知のカードの意味がわかり ました。
しかし、互換性のあるモニターを持っていません。
別の使用可能なモニターを検索してみます。