IBM MCA card to ID.

From: jpero_at_sympatico.ca <(jpero_at_sympatico.ca)>
Date: Tue Jul 31 08:31:00 2001

> Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2001 12:27:15 -0400
> From: Chad Fernandez <fernande_at_internet1.net>
> To: classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org
> Subject: Re: IBM MCA card to ID.
> Reply-to: classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org

> Wizard,
>
> Will you be keeping the custom black box? :-) I'd like to see pictures
> of it, if you can do that easily.

As I said, it is just simple black large box made for IBM, no
provisions for mounting HDs, requires 220V power ONLY, front is HEX
keypad w/ 4 digit LED (small!) Basically, oversized box to shuttle
data between two different connections, basically to hold PSU,
motherboard and all 8 cards, there's no openings for the I/O ports
like vga, etc. To mount a little hd 30MB (!!) IBM used a MCA pass
through card w/ MCA HD mounted on it, then it's plugged into topmost
slot and kept in place from wobbling via a simple bent piece of
sheetmetal and three screws. Two on card, one to chassis.

It's made of heavy gauge steel so it is HEAVY and large. appox 9U
rack but it doesn't have holes for rack ears so I left it behind.

Top 4 screws uncrews 1/4 turn, take off top plate for card access.
Loosen but not remove 8 screws (4 per side, slide them off by pulling
upwards if needed for better access to other parts.

Later 3172's (002 and 003) is based on 85 or 95 motherboard using
dx2 50 complex card and at minimum 8MB installed.

Newer boxens are now much efficient and vastly compact than this
early days types.

Cheers,

Wizard
 
> Chad Fernandez
> Michigan, USA
Received on Tue Jul 31 2001 - 08:31:00 BST