> -----Original Message-----
> From: cctech-admin_at_classiccmp.org [mailto:cctech-admin_at_classiccmp.org]On
> Behalf Of Bill Allen Jr
> Sent: 02 April 2003 06:14
> To: cctech_at_classiccmp.org
> Subject: RE: IBM 5161
>
>
> The ibm 5161 expansion box was designed for use with
> the ibm pc.
And presumably *only* the PC, ie not the XT.
> the pc had fewer slots then the later released pc xt
> and it's power supply was too small to handle a hard
> drive.
Yep, 5 slots and a 63W PSU that couldn't even handle a fully populated
backplane if some of the cards were a little power-hungry.
> the exp box added a hard drive to the system and
> provided extra card slots ( i think the box also had
> additional bios or came with an extra fixed disk rom
> chip that went into the pc).
Not that I've found, just an 8-slot backplane which immediately loses a slot
because one of them must be occupied by the receiving end of the expander
interface that has to go in the 5150. There might be a BIOS in that
interface though, I didn't really check that. The 5161 has a hard drive
controller card in it as well as a Seagate monster that's probably only 5 or
10 meg.
> the card that connects to the ribbon cables that come
> from the exp box goes into one of the pc's card slots.
No ribbon cables, just an interface cable that's thicker than my thumb!
> i cannot remember if it is slot specific or if it can
> go into any slot - there is a plate on the pc's back
> that removes to allow the ribbon cables to exit the
> case.
There's a plate on the back, yes, maybe very early boxes used ribbons and
the thicker cables came along later?
> i was told that the expansion box was a little rare
> because, shortly after the pc was released that pc xt
> was released .
Well, a year later anyway, after the 5150 had shifted 200,000 units
according to most websites.
I've put a breakdown of the kit on my IBM page - go to
www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk and click on the link in the very top 'updates'
message.
cheers
--
adrian/witchy
www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk - the online computer museum
www.snakebiteandblack.co.uk - monthly gothic shenanigans
Received on Fri Apr 04 2003 - 12:19:01 BST