Strange Nubus Graphics card

[Udo.Keller]

I just opened my newly received Quadra 700, and found that strange graphics card inside. The former owner did wipe the disk, so there's no control panel and no extension available. Does anybody know this beast? Thinking further, does anybody have suitable information or software to bring it back to life?



Here is a better picture: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2545101/DSCN2122.jpg

 

[Unknown_K]

Formac ProNitron card, never seen it before.

This might be the drivers:

http://web.archive.org/web/19991008093113/http://ftp.formac.com/public/updates/ProNiControl/

(first download doesn't work but the other 2 did)

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Very interesting, that's the first time I've seen wire via <-> via jumpers on a production VidCard. They're common on the blank side of single sided KBD PCBs, but I don't recall seeing any, especially that many, on multilayer PCBs.

What's the copyright date on the PCB?

Can you get a legible shot of the ICs in the four PLCC Sockets next to the unpopulated pads?

edit:

It looks like ChristTrekker is the one with some info on this card: 1024 x 768 x 8 bit 1989?

 

[Udo.Keller]

What's the copyright date on the PCB?Can you get a legible shot of the ICs in the four PLCC Sockets next to the unpopulated pads?

Copyright is 1991, however, some of the ICs have built dates from 1993.

And here is a closeup shot of the PLCC sockets.

 

[Coloruser]

Have the same card in a Mac Iix. Wonder what features it has. The Web is quite silent about those german brands....

 

[adespoton]

Looks kinda-sorta like this? https://wiki.preterhuman.net/Formac_ProVision_4 But not. Looks like the same person may have laid both out though.

Let us know if the drivers do anything.

 

[Coloruser]

The Formac PCI cards may have the same designer as the older Nubus Versions. Other than that, not much info to be found elsewhere.

 

[Bolle]

That's a Formac ProNitron GA19 (or GA19+ if you've got the 40MHz video controller) The base variant comes with a 35MHz one - which is missing in the original post, so that card is non-functional.

Regardless of video controller clock rate the card will only output 1024x768@79Hz/24bit and nothing else. The ROM can be modified to program the video controller with different values to support other resolutions as well. I haven't looked into that in depth yet though, just saw that it should be possible from looking at the ROM dump.

The card features QuickDraw acceleration and uses a standard 72pin SIMM for up to 4MB of GWorld memory.

I do have both variants (GA19 and GA19+) but the latter unfortunately isn't working. It looks like it has been damaged by liquid at some point.
GALs/PALs differ between both variants and the GA19+ (mine at least) has a single factory patch wire installed.

To enable acceleration you'll need version 4.2.1 of the Formac GA driver.

 

[Coloruser]

Then I guess, the GA21 that I have supports 1152x870 with 24bit as the 21 obviously stands for 21“. In those non-multisync days, 640x480 was assigned to 13/14“, 832x624 to 16“, 1024x768 to 19“ and 1152x870 to 21“

 

[Peter-Erik]

HI All, I found this card, seems OK, added to my Q700 but no video but gets warm.

Questions:

- Left below there is no "processor/chip" is this necessary?
- Do I need to install the software to see a picture at all?
- With answers above with resolution do I need for the adapter (DB15 to VGA)


thanks for your time.

 

[Coloruser]

I guess, the card is missing the video controller in the left bottom corner. A TI TMS34020….

 

[Peter-Erik]

@Coloruser the person how started this topic had the same card as me. (and found it in his Q700)

 

[Coloruser]

@Peter-Erik See the attached image - that’s my Pronitron GA21 - means it runs at 1152x870. The GA19 will ru at the typical 19“ resolution if 1024x768. So, a DB15 to VGA Adapter needs to be set to that resolution - plus the matching sync for the display in use.

However, without the TMS graphics chip, the card will no show anything at all.

 

[Bolle]

@Peter-Erik See the attached image - that’s my Pronitron GA21 - means it runs at 1152x870. The GA19 will ru at the typical 19“ resolution if 1024x768. So, a DB15 to VGA Adapter needs to be set to that resolution - plus the matching sync for the display in use.

However, without the TMS graphics chip, the card will no show anything at all.

Could you share the ROM of your card? That would likely be useful to turn 19" cards into 21" cards and figuring out where the configuration data for the TMS34020 is stored by comparing 19" and 21" variants.

 

[Peter-Erik]

@Bolle Thanks for your input (all)

The Rom says "ProNitron GA+ 19Rev.20" (I presume the White label on the chip)

"However, without the TMS graphics chip, the card will no show anything at all" is this really true? I ask this because in the case of Udo there was no chip (send him direct message and he confirm that it didn't work) but with my card that chip is also "gone" but if this is necessary why remove this chip? for what purpose?

 

[Coloruser]

Could you share the ROM of your card? That would likely be useful to turn 19" cards into 21" cards and figuring out where the configuration data for the TMS34020 is stored by comparing 19" and 21" variants.

@Bolle i will send you a PM to discuss how to extract the ROM

 

[Bolle]

for what purpose?

Likely because they fetch some cash when sold separately.
The chip is needed for the card to work.

 

[Peter-Erik]

Too bad

 

[Coloruser]

Looking for TMS 34020s on eBay, you can see them on sale from 70€ (32Mhz) up to 130€ (40Mhz). So, I guess @Bolle is right, they obviously make more money on selling the video controllers on their own than with selling complete graphic cards. I've got my ProNitron GA21 inside a Mac II for less than 50€......including the Mac II.

 

[Peter-Erik]

Thanks