[Info-vax] What video card for a DS10?

[John H. Reinhardt]

On Oct 8, 4:28 pm, Tom Adams <tadams... at yahoo.com> wrote:
> On Oct 8, 3:29 pm, Steven Schweda <sms.antin... at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > tadamsmar wrote:
> > > I have some DS10s to maintain.  I think one of them has a bad video
> > > card.  The monitor is getting no input as if it was not plugged into
> > > the connector.  I swapped and checked the monitor, so I know the
> > > problem is not the monitor.
>
> > > The system is still up and in use.  When I can (tomorrow perhaps) I
> > > will be able to shut it down and swap the video card as a test.
>
> >    I'd reboot the thing once before touching the guts.
>
> >    Which card is in there now?
>
> > > What video cards can I use?   Can I buy a new one or do I need a
> > > legacy card?
>
> >    Define "new".  Define "legacy".  I use Radeon 7500 cards in
> > my XP1000 systems.  I believe that the same is true for my
> > rx2600 and zx2000 IA64 systems, too, but I usually access
> > those over the network or on a serial port.  I'd guess that an
> > ELSA GLoria Synergy-8 (PowerStorm 4D10T, PBXGK-BB) . (The
> > "ViVo" card works, too.  Just ignore the extra holes.)
>
> >    I got my cards on Ebay for probably about $10-$20, but I
> > haven't looked lately.
>
> >    I assume that you weren't expecting an obsolete VMS version
> > in an obsolete Alpha system to support some card made last
> > year, intended to be used in Windows PC.
>
> I was wondering if I could buy a new card, not a refurb.

Why?  The refurb will work just as good.  The problem is you need a
PCI card and those aren't made much anymore.  In addition the Radeon
7500 is the most modern card you can use due to the drivers available
in VMS.  This automatically puts you inthe legacy area.  You can find
them new on Ebay occaisonally, but you will pay for it.  Or Island Co
has them new as JF mentioned.   Finding used ones is a little easier
and usually cheaper since it's often someone selling an old card after
getting a newer one.  At least you have an EV6 processor or else you'd
be stuck with the REALLY old cards like the ELSA Gloria, etc.