The first IBM PS/1 custom riser & RAM + First Sound Blaster

[@realfogman]

Hello, as the maintainer of the memory upgrade card, I just wanted to say thank you for promoting it. I always wanted to make an update to this card (more capacitors and the cutting, as you have mentioned). So, I guess this will put some pressure on me during the Christmas holidays ;) Btw., I guess you have the 80286 model (2011, lack of ISA slots), so that you only get 2 MB additional. For the 80386 models (2121 with ISA slots), the card will extend the internal 2 MB up to 6 MB.

[@Epictronics1]

Thanks for making the card. Great project :)

[@SimonEllwood]

Maybe see if you can find room for those original clips?

[@HeinzFichtenbauer]

Yes, please create a new version of your great creation - but including Epictronics comments. I have two of these machines and having more memory would be awesome.

[@purrator]

Ah. Finally someone made a riser publically available and not just telling everyone "I have done one" :) The original riser also has an additional power supply for a move beefy 5V rail, tough

[@hamesparde9888]

LOL I hate it when people do that, but won't make the thing available. 😂😤

[@GeoffreyGowey]

Something to note: I'm not sure if anyone here has pointed this out, but the original IBM expansion card add-on option available for the PS/1 consisted of an entirely separate chassis that sat on top of the CPU chassis and you replaced the original cover with it. I never bought it, but I remember it distinctly because I wanted to buy it. Likewise, the add-on 5 1/4 floppy drive was another chassis that went under the CPU chassis and had something that went through the center to patch it in.

[@parjf]

I had a PS/1 2011 back in the day and had the optional expansion module - used it with an Adlib card, a RAM card with 2MB and eventually a 14.4K modem (internal was only 2400bps). Bought it used for cheap a bit over two years after release as everyone was switching to 386/486 machines and I was broke.

[@aurelienblaha]

Great video! There was an official riser back in the day, it was called Adapter Central Unit (ACU).

[@Epictronics1]

Thanks!

[@RetroTheory]

Nice video, not many people have built that weird little card :) I just wanted a platform to test things like 16bit scsi and xtide, and various sound cards on the 2011.

[@Epictronics1]

Thanks for making the project. I think it's great!

[@genkidroid]

Great video. I also have a 2011. I upgraded the cpu to a Harris 286 25mhz running at 16mhz, made the ram module and the riser card and added a picomem to have a bigger hdd and adlib sound running the audio through the monitor speaker

[@Epictronics1]

Thanks. I guess we'll do some overclocking next :)

[@Marco.Teixeira]

@@Epictronics1 maybe you could also show us how to run the audio to the monitor speaker :)

[@wacholder5690]

10:14 Your vacuum-cleaner will surely find them. Watch the friendly tingling noise in the cleaner hose. Things only get *really* clean, if you can hear stuff going up the hose ... 🙂 Every part has a unique sound: transistors, solder blobs, small capacitors and bigger spiders.

[@Epictronics1]

Hehe. I ones had to take the hoover apart and cut the bag open to get a part back for my vintage Toshiba :)

[@GarthBeagle]

This is great! I wish I had a colour display for my PS/1 (and a front face plate, still looking for one!)

[@Epictronics1]

Thanks! good luck!

[@tarajoe07]

Love that we're in an age that we can just build missing components

[@wacholder5690]

9:38 These chips might have coated contacts, since they might been intended for sockets. I had that already back then when I modified a PS/2 SVGA card for an additional 1MB of VRAM. Using some fine sandpaper on the lower, outer edge fixed that in later attempts.

[@Epictronics1]

If I had known, I would have wiped those pins with sand paper or an abrasive pen before soldering.

[@inachu]

I drooled for that pc

[@AnthonyRBlacker]

Yes, I will TOTALLY agree that it's much more fun messing around with vintage machines today as there are SO many better options for upgrades now. Back then it was SO frustrating waiting for a computer show to come around so you could possibly find the part you needed.. or took your chances ordering something from a mail in catalog.. oh boy.. those were the days though!

[@Epictronics1]

I was a bit worried for a while since parts were getting rare and more expensive. But with all the reverse engineering and new projects I think It's just gonna get better now

[@mowersman]

I'm so pleased this exists! I've got a pair of 2011's. One with some kind of fault on the video circuit, as it beeps with a fault code for video, but nothing else. And one fully working one that I bought purely to help diagnose the non working one. I'm hoping this will allow easier diagnosis by way of a POST card.

[@mowersman]

Thinking about it, would you be able to measure how far back the ISA slots could move? I'm tempted to have a go at modifying the design in Kicad, but don't really want to have a PCB made, just to figure the dimensions out.

[@Epictronics1]

@@mowersman Unfortunately, I already have the next project on the bench. I'm gonna have to get back to this project later

[@mowersman]

@@Epictronics1 No worries, let me know if you do get it back out!

[@frugalprepper]

This is a really neat project. Now I just have to find a PS1!

[@OscarSommerbo]

The ram card should get the holes for the plastic lever arms included on the Gerber files, as well as the key slot. Thingyverse has the STL files for the plastic levers.

[@Epictronics1]

Great, thanks for sharing

[@g4z-kb7ct]

9:40 The trick with old chips is to sand the chip legs all over with 400 grit sandpaper then they will solder very easily.

[@Epictronics1]

I'll give it a try next time. Thanks

[@markcritic2409]

I had one of these machines WITH the sound. It's basically 100% identical to a Tandy 1000 TL, the 3-voice music chip and an 8-bit DAC not SB compatible.

[@Stoney3K]

IBM being IBM really wanted you to buy IBM branded accesories for this weird machine so they deliberately designed it so no standard components would fit (even though they are electrically the same). And with IBM pricing, it's no surprise that this machine lost over all of the super-cheap AT clones that were flooding the market in the early 90s.

[@Darxide23]

15:45 since the riser comes so close to the lid, could you glue some kind of guide to the lid so that the riser gets held straight up instead of falling over from the weight of the cards? Kind of like how the 5150 has those guides on the front of the case where extra long expansion cards would be guided into to hold them straight up?

[@Epictronics1]

Yesh, something printed is probably the solution

[@spokehedz]

This is a good project to mention that there are fluxes that are more 'aggressive' than others when it comes to cleaning the pins/connectors. I keep a tiny amount of the angry stuff to clean really dirty stuff, but it is an absolute requirement to clean the board after use.

[@g4z-kb7ct]

15:00 Yes there is a XTIDE with CF slot on it. I built one a few years ago and it works well. The one I built was through-hole but the other A1091 I designed uses all SMD parts and is smaller. It should be possible to squeeze it even smaller than the small CF version and position the CF slot so it is accessible at the back of the PS1.

[@Epictronics1]

Great. I'm a bit behind with all things XT-IDE. This is the only one I have, and I have'n even finished it yet :)

[@orinokonx01]

I have a feeling that IBM fixed most of the problems you mentioned at the end with the PS/1 Model 2121. It's a 386SX system with an ISA riser built in. I suspect the system unit is a tiny bit larger, but that definitely makes up for the problems you faced in this video! It's a great little machine, one of my favourites in my collection!

[@Epictronics1]

Yeah, they had clearly planned for a riser when designing the board sins it has that MCA looking slot. I agree, It's a very cool little IBM

[@luizapper]

Most of the PS/1 2121's uses a larger case (called "machine B"), but it was also available in this same lower case ("machine A"), it's planar also has an identical MCA(-AVE) slot for it's riser card (ACU) but there is not sure if it is pin compatible with 2011 model planar.

[@orinokonx01]

@@luizapper aaahh well now that makes much more sense, thank you!

[@andrewb9830]

Oh nice! Didn't realize this project got released. I'll have to order up some of the boards to build up my 2011.

[@BigBadBench]

Perfect doscember project! I love that PCB design and manufacturing has become so possible.

[@Epictronics1]

Oh, I wish I had thought of the 6100. You beat me to it :D

[@hamesparde9888]

I actually saw that and was thinking that it must be to ground or something, so it wont matter. 😅

[@briviao]

I think I have no more excuses to upgrade my very first computer (still perfectly working)! Thanks!!!

[@Epictronics1]

Good luck with the project! (PS. There will probably be a slightly upgraded riser in the upcoming months)

[@luizapper]

@@Epictronics1 A riser with flat cabled ISA slot header (mainly the 16bit one) is a more adaptable solution for arranging larger cards inside this little case.

[@jozsefizsak]

I watch and enjoy all your videos right to the end, yet I don't have or plan to get any computers older than circa 1997. I guess quality has universal appeal. 😊

[@Epictronics1]

Thanks :) The late 90s was a great era too. In fact, I just picked up an IBM and Mac yesterday from around that time. Comming up on the channel!

[@SimonEllwood]

I got the bonus points for the 7905 having an unusual tab potential ;) I used 79XX regulators back in the day.

[@Marco.Teixeira]

Thank you! I have one of these and always wanted a sound card on it. 🎉🎉🎉

[@kenabi]

every ps1/2 video makes me want a ps/1 2168/66 that much more. i'm torn between drooling and shaking my fist at the sky in envy.

[@Epictronics1]

Start saving. Those PS/1s are great fun :)

[@agntdrake]

I always thought the form factor on these was super cute. I feel like if they had brought them to market a few years earlier they would have probably been a lot more successful, although maybe it didn't really matter in the end.

[@twinshobbytwinshobby3863]

Awesome Video !

[@Epictronics1]

Thanks!

[@jerther_]

I think the riser card would benefit from having its components soldered on the same side as the edge connectors, right? It would make more sens I think.

[@Epictronics1]

Yes, but first we need to install a standoff at the back because the tantalums are preventing the riser from shorting against the shield

[@tigheklory]

Awesome video as always!

[@Epictronics1]

Thank you :)

[@MasterControl90original]

I have a 2011 with the "famipack" bundle... Lots of software and games plus the rare proprietary soundcard with midi ports... Cumbersome because of upgradability limitations but it is such a well made and fascinating machine

[@AndrewTubbiolo]

I hate to admit how many times I laid out a 7805 for a 7905 and made the same mistake. :) 3 times before I finally got the gutteral gut punch when I hear the sequence 7905.

[@charlesdorval394]

And then there's 7805 vs 78L05 ... I absolutely NEVER trusted my memory and messed that one up hehehe

[@briangoldberg4439]

There are a other options for the 7905. You could cut off the metal tab (making is shorter) and then stick a heatsink on the back to dissipate heat.

[@Killerspieler0815]

Yeha, that this transistor touching the chassis was a problem was totally obious ...

[@EnvAdam]

10:15 - I use to think 0402 caps were small and then I got into watchmaking..... and then I also tried designing some very compacted PCBs, yeah 0201 and 01005 are massive headache if dropped on the floor, same with watch parts, they often tend to be the size of a spec of dust.

[@leonkiriliuk]

Anyone who refurbished a Vectrex knows that there's a plastic protector between the 7905 and the shield. When I first saw the riser go in and touch the metal shield, I squealed inside.

[@Epictronics1]

Bonus point :) I guess I need to restore a Vectrex next

[@Brfff]

What a little beauty!

[@SockyNoob]

That ISA slot motherboard could definitely be lengthened which would improve it.

[@Epictronics1]

Comming up next :)

[@craigrenwick9132]

Watching this it make one wonder if you could crowbar any more ram on by swapping out the onboard ram chips with an additional PCB to allow for larger chips?

[@Epictronics1]

I forgot to mention. The expansion card actually has 4MB, but the 2011 only supports 2MB + onboard RAM.

[@craigrenwick9132]

@ thank you, good to know. Unlikely I will ever get one, as my wife doesn’t want me to fill up the basement like I would when working. Of course those were all related to Amdahl front end processor equipment and a number of Fujitsu server systems. Would keep the house warm if I was running extended tests during the winter.

[@luizapper]

​@craigrenwick9132 @Epictronics1 4MB RAM module is recognizable on the later PS/1 2121 model (i386SX).

[@djdoo]

Yeah really nice looking machine, unique and compact but there are also the disadvantages of the almost no space inside for upgradeability... I was ready to accuse the riser designer but I don't think there are a lot of things to be done there, those ISA slots (even the 8 bit one) are huge for that little case and maybe an MCA riser would be better for that PS/1 to put one of those nice sound card clones for the MCA BUS and get rid of it entirelly. Nice video as always, cheers from Greece!

[@Epictronics1]

Thanks!

[@fra4455]

Great video

[@Epictronics1]

Thanks :)

[@6LordMortus9]

Looks like the cpu cover makes for an built-in heat sink for that transistor :)

[@mlthmp]

Any suggestions on where to begin learning to solder?

[@Epictronics1]

Not specifically, but I'm sure there are many KZbin videos. That's where I would start

[@SudosFTW]

Sounds like you need a PicoGUS and a breakout for a bracket for output, really.

[@IkarusKommt]

IBM and Olivetti definitely loved their weird, proprietary BS cards.

[@yannisgk]

"awe32" was after this sounblaster?

[@m0rph19]

Could you install the components from the back of the board on the front instead? Would give more clearance at the back and looks like they should fit without interfering with the slots or cards.

[@Epictronics1]

Yes, that would be better. But first the riser needs a standoff at the back. The tantalums are preventing the riser from shorting against the shield.

[@devnull73]

Definitely should fix that riser to move the cards back by about 15mm!

[@Epictronics1]

Yes, I think this project deserves it

The linked PS/1 RAM project says "4 MB for 386" - is this the same board (looks like it, though), or wrong link?

[@Epictronics1]

That is correct. In a 386 you'll get 4MB with this card

[@ETA555]

Var i sverige kommer du ifrån?

[@Popclone]

When you going to do the XTIDE Universal BIOS upgrade ?

[@Epictronics1]

Any day now

[@marksmith9566]

Can you install an external floppy with th interface cable coming out near the mamory expansion card?

[@Epictronics1]

Yes, I even think there is a project to connect a standard FDD to the PS/1 slot

[@awilliams1701]

wow I never would have figured that out. I thought those regulators were grounded on the contact point. lol

[@Epictronics1]

Don't ask me how I know😅

[@stefanegger]

You can push down the pin of the pen to make it wet again. I am also curious why you buy so many PCs, what is your plan or what do you do with all of them?

[@Epictronics1]

If left without the cap for a day it completely dries up. Good question. Maybe I should build a museum

[@HeinzFichtenbauer]

Stupid question: This riser - could it be used in a PS/2 like a model 70 as well in order to have ISA-slots there?

[@Epictronics1]

No, unfortunately, that won't work

[@chrisyboy219]

That riser is a bit tragic. Needs someone with a ruler and some knowledge of SMD component layout to give it a bit of a remix. The placement of everything is super awkward with respect to the machine it's going in to!

[@ncot_tech]

In the UK naming something "tat" means it's poor quality, and given AliExpress's reputation for selling crap, the name is quite funny :)

[@Pulverrostmannen]

I was screaming at the screen the moment you put in the card the tab was touching the casing

[@Epictronics1]

Bonus points!

[@custm42435]

you could have just done ram and opl3lpt lol is why my p70 has ram card upgrade and sound

[@charlesdorval394]

TBH I'm not a fan of tantalums, then again, let's let them go flamey in another 30 years hehehehe

[@joetheman74]

It's ok to complain about stupid. Just call it like it is. It's a good idea that is piss poorly implemented.

[@awilliams1701]

CMS is never an obvious choice. It sounds horrible IMO. lol

[@Epictronics1]

With this card, you get both :)

[@awilliams1701]

@Epictronics1 honestly cms sounds worse than the PC speaker. Lol and I always unplugged that

[@awilliams1701]

Yeah I really don't like this computer. I've always hated small computers. Even now. I recently decided to build a media streaming server with the free Jellyfin service. I had some spare parts (AMD 3600x + B550) and bought some new parts. It's bare bones. Almost nothing to it. Just the ram, NVME, and a small low form factor Intel A310 GPU. The mid tower is almost empty. But I can put anything in it. I don't like how even with adapters you still struggle with this machine.

[@mal2ksc]

I don't like that it was a simple money grab to soak the few people remaining at the time that held to "nobody gets fired for buying IBM". It was all out of date before it even hit the market, and required expensive, proprietary cards.

[@awilliams1701]

@@mal2ksc yeah......that's exactly what this feels like to me. It just seems like a really crappy computer.

[@Lynxxde]

Oh no, auto-translated audio, thats just awful, please switch it off.

[@ruben_balea]

You have to switch it yourself, click on the "gear" icon and audio track and choose the original. There's a browser extension to disable translations, its called "KZbin Anti Translate" and available for Firefox and Chrome and Firefox or Chromium based browsers.

[@DuskHorizon]

It's a KZbin thing and not an EpicTronics thing; you can select English United States (original) under the cog.

[@Lynxxde]

@@ruben_balea The problem is i like to download the videos with jdownloader 2, but then i get a random audio-track not even german. 🥸 Or i get german, but the translation is so bad i dont understand a thing .. - Sure it's a creators thing, if they disable it, the videos only get the original audio. Happily many big creators already switched off this crap.

[@Epictronics1]

It's a new KZbin thing. I didn't turn it on.

[@Lynxxde]

@@Epictronics1 I know, yt enables it on some videos automaticly, but you can switch it off in your youtube studio. The problem is i like to download the videos with jdownloader 2, but then i get a random (or last added?) audio, i get an unwatchable video. Many big producers like eevblog switched it off immediatly, because so many viewers wrote him the audio is awful.