Macintosh IIsi Card Options

[EvieSigma]

I have a Macintosh IIsi and corresponding PDS to NuBus adapter (with FPU) on the way, but I'm totally lost as to a card to use with it. I was thinking a video card (to avoid using the motherboard RAM for video) but an Ethernet card would also be a helpful thing, and I don't even know what other kinds of cards are out there, this is my first Mac II!

So uh...any suggestions? I know nothing about NuBus video cards, I've found a bunch on eBay but most are 12" cards (which don't fit in most IIsis, apparently) and don't have any VRAM listed, and some cards use video connectors I'm not familiar with (like the Radius cards with 9 pin connectors).

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Check these out, if you can source one with a 10bT or ThinNet daughtercard, you get the best of both worlds in one slot:

http://lowendmac.com/video/futura2lx.html

http://lowendmac.com/video/futura2sx.html

Full size cards fit just fine if you install a lower profile HDD or equivalent. I use a 2.5" Savvio UltraSCSI server drive. It sits right below the (allegedly incompatible) Radius Rocket 33 in my ongoing SuperIIsi™ hack. That card would be the reason behind the TwinSlotIIsi™ hack.

 

[EvieSigma]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/112127699549?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I found a Futura II LX, but alas, no Ethernet connector! Doesn't even have anywhere to put one...

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

That's the right one. female header connector on the back end, standoffs near the backplane plate and the black cover for the Ethernet connector opening. Just need to find the daughtercard..

 

[EvieSigma]

Too bad I will probably never ever find that daughterboard...I'm considering the card anyway though, it's probably a good one.

 

[unity]

Thats an interesting setup. All I have in my IIsi is an Applied Engineering Quicksilver+ FPU cache card. Probably does not help much since I dont use the computer!

 

[joethezombie]

I was lucky and found one of those SuperMac dual PDS combo-cards with video and ethernet.  Alaska has one, too, and posted pictures here.  It's a neat little setup, and even has a free PDS slot (passthrough on the ethernet).  I wonder if a 3rd card would work in it!  If you find one, you'll need an Asante FriendlyNet transceiver to get the AAUI Ethernet working.  Apple or Farallon won't work.

 

[EvieSigma]

Man, that looks insane! I'm amazed it actually works!

 

[Unknown_K]

IIsi have weak power supplies ( a Radius Rocket will not run for example) so stuffing 2 cards is pushing it let alone 3.

I have a IIsi with Nubus adapter and I think I currently have a decent video card installed, but Ethernet would also be a good idea (mine originally came with the Nubus adapter plus Ethernet and 64MB RAM and a custom HD led mounted in the lid for a server).

 

[joethezombie]

Come to think of it, wasn't there a seller on eBay with hundreds of IIsi radius pivots selling them for like $5?  You could get one of those, and then a pds ethernet card into that?

 

[EvieSigma]

Yeah, Ethernet would remove the need for an external CD drive when it comes to installing software...that's why I was considering it.

But vampire video just SUCKS, man!

 

[Unknown_K]

Without the Radius monitor what good would the pivot card be? You can just connect a PDS Ethernet card and be done with it.

Also you can use a video card and get a SCSI to Ethernet adapter (kind of pricey).

 

[EvieSigma]

Oh I wasn't talking about the pivot card, I was just talking in general.

Though wait, how would the Ethernet card come out the back without some sort of card to flip it around?

 

[joethezombie]

Without the Radius monitor what good would the pivot card be? You can just connect a PDS Ethernet card and be done with it.

The IIsi radius pivot can also work with some LCDs, though granted it might be a bit difficult to find a compatible model.  Just a PDS Ethernet wouldn't fulfill OPs request of getting rid of the vampire video, and having ethernet.

EDIT:  It also works with Portrait Display, AppleColor HiRes RGB, Macintosh 12" RGB.

[...] how would the Ethernet card come out the back without some sort of card to flip it around?

The PDS ethernet cards for the SE/30 work in the IIsi as well, so the port cover is connected by a ribbon cable.

 

[Unknown_K]

The IIsi Ethernet PDS cards also work in the SE/30 so they are not cheap.

 

[EvieSigma]

Oh yeah, I figured that's how it would go...I guess that means no Ethernet for me, the only reason why I even have a SE/30 Ethernet card is because it was in there when I bought it.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

IIsi have weak power supplies ( a Radius Rocket will not run for example) so stuffing 2 cards is pushing it let alone 3.

Definitely weak. "Luckily" mine gave up the ghost so for the SuperIIsi™ I'm hacking a tiny ATX PSU into the original sheet metal to run a bunch of cards. The Rocket isn't compatible with the IIsi, probably because of the weak PSU. Had to play the shell game, installing the software on the HDD in the IIcx and swap it back into the IIsi, but that's another story.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

I was lucky and found one of those SuperMac dual PDS combo-cards with video and ethernet.

Color me jealous, I'd LOVE to get my grubby little paws on one of those TwinSlot adapters!

 

[EvieSigma]

I got the IIsi today and as of right now I can't get video out of it.

I don't know if my DB-15 to VGA monitor is bad, or if the monitor I plugged it into isn't compatible or what. Google Searching revealed something about needing a sync on green monitor, but also something else about Mac IIs not liking the majority of DB-15 to VGA adapters. I'm stumped.