[Info-vax] Modding a DS10-L

[Rich Jordan]

On Mar 15, 6:49 pm, David Froble <da... at tsoft-inc.com> wrote:
> Rich Jordan wrote:
> > One of my two hobbyist DS10L systems has bit it; the main logic board
> > is dead and it just isn't cost feasible to repair/replace right now.
> > So I have a full set of working spares (less the MLB, all tested in
> > the second DS10L) including two extra 512MB DIMMs, sadly not the rare
> > low profile DataRAM models.  And I have some tools (and access to
> > others) and I'm not afraid to use them. especially on spare parts.
>
> > I was thinking about cutting a nice rectangle in the lid right over
> > the memory slots.  Then making a sheet metal cap that would provide
> > enough clearance so that I could use the DIMMs vertically instead of
> > with the right-angle adapters.  That would allow me to take my working
> > DS10L up to 2GB.  The cap would get riveted to the case lid (I don't
> > have access to a welder, nor the skills to non-destructively weld
> > sheet metal).
>
> > I don't expect any problems except for possibly the frontmost case
> > screw mount, which might partially overlap with the area needing to be
> > cut.  Given continuous metal still shielding the system/RAM, am I
> > likely to run into any EMI problems caused by the system? I don't
> > think cooling will be affected enough to matter (as long as there is
> > some turbulence to prevent the metal cap from becoming a dead-air
> > hotspot).
>
> > Fun to think about while I wish  (and keep an eye out for) a free/
> > cheap DS15 or free/dirt cheap DS10...
>
> > Rich
>
> Don't use rivits.  Too permanent.  I'm not sure you need to worry much about the
> emissions, but if it matters to you, a Faraday cage does NOT have to be solid.  It does
> have to be grounded.
>
> It really depends upon what you're decent at working with.  For some people, it's metal,
> for others, it could be plastic, or fiberglass, or ....
>
> Even some aluminum foil, wire, whatever, as long as it's grounded, works.
>
> If you don't need to ground a cover, I'd stick it on with silicon.  A single sheet metal
> screw (keep it short and test it!) would ground any cover.
>
> Just don't over-engineer it ....
>
> Save me the time to look it up, what is a DS15.  I seem to remember it being a DS10 with a
> faster processor, but it's been some time, and I'm not sure I'm right.

DS15 - Black DS10 style case, 21264C (EV68) Alpha processor at 1GHz,
2MB cache.  4GB max memory (4 slots), onboard VMS supported U160 SCSI.

We've got two out at customer sites and they are awesome machines.