How can I identify the specs of this old computer? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: jorgeh
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2022, 10:40:13 pm
content: HiI got an old computer, and i was wondering if the 68k means the ammount of ram. I tried to google it, but i wasnt able to find any reference related to this specific model. I did found a manual for an ELTEC WRAP-1/68k.

author: Andy Watson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2022, 11:07:18 pm
content: Quote from: jorgeh on July 15, 2022, 10:40:13 pmI doubt it! 68k almost certainly refers to the 68000 processor. I can't find anything specific about the "TE 84" system. I think your best approach would be to try to idenitify the individual cards that are being used in aVMEbus/rack.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2022, 12:51:02 am
content: Going to Imgur for the hi-rez version of the photo confirms the large ceramic PGA with the gold-plated lid is a Motorola 68020 CPU, specifically MC68020RC16E, with a mid 1989 date code.Its stuffed full of 256K x 1 bit DRAM chips. I count an 16x4 'block' in the fourth photo, and a 18x4 block in the fifth photo. That's 2MB on the fourth board and another 2MB with parity on the fifth board. However they may not be general purpose RAM directly accessible to the 68020 CPU as they could be special purpose RAM e.g. Video RAM or data acquisition buffers, that isn't in the CPU's memory map.The CPU board (photo six) has a 16x2 array of SIL chips in the bottom left corner that is likely to be its RAM. The capacity is unknown as the SIL IC's part numbers are only visible from the side.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2022, 03:44:24 am
content: Based on the card connectors, the expansion bus is VME.

author: jorgeh
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2022, 06:59:58 pm
content: tnx for the info. I didnt knew how this type of connector was named.CPU, HDD and floppy was no problem to recognise. but with ram i wasdoes this have a graphic card? but I dont see a VGA connector. or is it via terminal/serial port?

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2022, 07:16:37 pm
content: VME was based on the 68000 series so that is hardly surprising.You have the RAM cards. With a better photograph showing the part numbers, the amount of RAM can be determined. I see 8 x 16 bit wide banks.

author: Twoflower
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2022, 07:18:39 pm
content: There seems to be an Video out on the card labeled VIB (VIdeo Board?). There are connectors R G B and S (X5...8) A wild guess would be that this means Red Green Blue Sync.You can get bigger images if you right-click on the images at Imgur and select open image in new tab. Usually it is preferred to upload the images here. And yes that's a Motorola 68020.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2022, 07:36:27 pm
content: I also see what looks like a pile of VRAM on the processor board. I got the feeling from various Google search results that this was some sort of video production system.

author: Twoflower
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2022, 08:36:25 pm
content: My Google-Fu found some data about the T84 (Keywords I used: "eltec mainz 1989", and don't ask me why I found that specific link in the results).Erfassung von nicht signalisierten 3D-Strukturen mit VideotheodolitenPage 20 (sorry in German). Maybe you can use that as starting point to find more.At least the T-84 is mentioned there. But they has the system populated with different cards (e.g. 86030). Looks like a later version. The datecodes in your system indicate 1989, the document is dated 1996. But the main structure is probably similar to your system.So the RGBS connectors could actually inputs of a frame-grabber.