[Info-vax] DEC 54-23104-01 graphics adapter

[John Wallace]

On Dec 13, 6:41 pm, John Wallace <johnwalla... at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Dec 13, 12:53 pm, MG <marcog... at SPAMxs4all.nl> wrote:
>
> > Does anyone know what the DEC video or graphics card, going by
> > the part number 54-23104-01, is or is supposed to offer?
>
> > I recently came across it, I saw it on offer on a Brazilian
> > auction site, here:
> > <http://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/MLB-213718267-54-23104-01-contr-vi...>
>
> > I haven't been able to find any additional information about it.
> > This is a DEC PowerStorm-type, isn't it?  If so, there's a good
> > chance I once had a system with one of those cards (in an Alpha-
> > Server 1000 4/266 of mine, back in the way).
>
> >   - MG
>
> Caution: loose logic and vague recollection follows:
>
> If it's PCI that makes it a ZLXp-E* (aka TGA, aka PBXGA-xx) or its
> PowerStorm (aka TGA2, aka PBXGB-xx) follow-on. It's not full length
> PCI so it's the 8plane not the 24plane.
>
> There's no VGA chip in the picture. The ZLXp-E didn't have a VGA mode
> or VGA chip iirc. Iirc the Powerstorm follow-ons had a VGA chip. The
> absence of VGA compatibility made the ZLXp-E* pretty much useless in
> anything other than a DEC-badged (or compatible) Alpha system, and
> they needed specific support in the consoles. The VGA chip on a
> PowerStorm means they didn't need specific support in  the console (or
> BIOS), they could be driven by VGA emulation (on an Alpha console) or
> VGA mode itself, until the OS's real driver took over. (That reads
> badly, but...)
>
> If the part number on the |d|i|g|i|t|a|l| chip were readable, that
> would be helpful. It is almost  certainly a 21030-xx or a 21130-xx.
> 21030 is ZLXp-E*, 21130 is TGA2.
>
> If I were in a gambling mood, based on the picture I'd bet at least
> one KitKat that this is a ZLXp-E1.
>
> If it's a ZLXp-E1, you may need the switch settings for resolution and
> refresh rate, which are in the manual, or alternatively a kind
> contributor round here has already posted them for you at:http://antinode.info/dec/pbxga_settings.html
>
> And if the author of that page is reading: the NT card is the same as
> the non-NT card. There were two reasons for the different package part
> numbers: the NT package was supposed to come with NT drivers, not
> needed on VMS or Tru64, and the different part numbers in theory made
> it possible for the right stovepipe/empire within DEC to get credit
> for the sale.
>
> hth
> john

Couple of things I forgot:

there were also PBXGC Powerstorm cards too. I know nothing about them,
but it doesn't matter here.

And yes the PBXGA works (and is supported) under VMS.