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Mac IIci onboard video to VGA Monitor

Posted by: Elfen on 2015-05-29 17:57:59 Since the boards need recapping, I'll assume that the onboard video of my IIci's are Kaput! But it could be something else. I hook up my Macs to a Gateway 700e (I think) monitor using a Mac2VGA adapter. I have several kinds of these adapters, and they are all set to work with the IIfx's 24bit Apple video card and the LCs that I have AND they all work with the settings I have on them: 640X480 VGA or 800X600 SVGA with H-Sync, V-Sync and Composite on Green "ON". This setting works with the video card (the same Apple's 24bit video card as in the IIfx) in the IIci. But in removing the card, and putting the adapter on the Mac IIci's built in video - Nothing but a dark screen on both (semi) working IIci's. The video card works on both of them - monitor lights up and the  flashing "?" inside the floppy disk shows up. The cursor is also there and the mouse can move it. Note: I did remove and threw out the PRAM battery as a precaution so they have no PRAM Batteries but they do turn on! So, in asking, is there something with the Mac IIci video I need to be aware of or are these the right settings and the built-in video is kaput until a recapping is done? As knowledgeable as I am in these old Macs, I should know this but I need.... help and verification. BTW - 1 Mac with the Daystar 040 has 20MB and the other has 8MB. This should be enough to have built-in video work. Right?

Posted by: uniserver on 2015-05-29 18:09:58 make sure Ram Bank A is populated with ram.  if you don't,  then onboard video is not going to display.

Posted by: Elfen on 2015-05-29 18:15:34 They both have RAM on both banks.

Posted by: uniserver on 2015-05-29 18:29:40 try 512x384 setting of your db15 to vga adaptor.

Posted by: Elfen on 2015-05-29 19:15:29 I'll try it tomorrow when I get the chance. make sure Ram Bank A is populated with ram.  if you don't,  then onboard video is not going to display. Correct me if I'm wrong; memory tells me that Bank A needs either 256KB SIMMs or 1MB SIMMs for the video to work. Putting in 4MB SIMMS wont work for the video.

Posted by: uniserver on 2015-05-30 05:46:12 well the 4 meg simms should work, if they are good. you could try some 1meg simms just to see. the IIcx and the Iici,  you can install 8 - 16 meg simms in them. and the onboard video should still work.

Posted by: uniserver on 2015-05-30 05:47:35 also caps.  did this one get a cap-job?

Posted by: Elfen on 2015-05-30 07:33:55 No, as in this link. https://68kmla.org/forums/index.php?/topic/25498-mac-iicxi-miracle/ Which is why when I get my disability check and the bills are paid, one, and money pending, then the other will be sent to you to recap. We'll discuss details in a week or two. But the board will be sent dirty because they work as is. I'm afraid of washing it and it dying on me - that happened to me on a LC475 I had so I'm a bit weary.

Posted by: uniserver on 2015-05-30 09:08:09 ok sounds good.

Posted by: Elfen on 2015-05-30 09:24:56 Thanks. I'll keep checking the RAM and adapter setting. Maybe I'll get lucky.

Posted by: uniserver on 2015-05-30 09:26:53 yeah i don't think the standard VGA setting will work with the IIsi / IIci,  however the VGA setting on the adaptor does work with the Q700 and starting with the LC-I

Posted by: Elfen on 2015-05-30 11:26:43 Strange. I managed to get all three Mac IIci boards going (YES!). But I could only get it to display on one adaptor on an unlisted setting, and the IIci thinks it's a portrait display. The Screen is in Blue as well, but it works! Unfortunately it will not work on any other adapter. Thanks for pointing out the direction to go.

Posted by: waynestewart on 2015-06-02 11:48:06 While sorting out my Mac stuff I tried out my IIci connected to a Viewsonic lcd via the onboard video. I was just making sure it worked and didn't notice what the resolution was. I'll try to remember to take a pic of the video adapter and settings when I get home

Posted by: uniserver on 2015-06-02 12:01:30 i think i just turn switch 6 on for the IIsi and IIci. on my db15 to vga adaptor. and that gets me 512x384 the other DB15 to vga adaptor, the switch settings are all different. pretty sure 640x480 on my second adaptor is switches 1 and 2 on... the rest off. here is one with a ton more swtiches.

Posted by: Trash80toHP_Mini on 2015-06-02 15:36:17 AFAIK, there's no way to get a standard 60Hz VGA signal out of the Vampire Video Victims for use with a fixed sync VGA Monitor or LCD. Gotta find a good multisync display or go NuBus, but early NuBus cards were almost uniformly 60Hz VGA hostile as well. IIci supports: 12" Monochrome 13" RGB Portrait .  .  .  or that's what GttMFH2e specifies. LEM: adds support for the 12" RGB's 512x384 @ 60.15Hz***** gamba2 adds Multiple Scan 14 & 15 support for the IIci & IIsi to the list, but only with third party adapters. (Sync on Green silliness?) *****60Hz fixed freq. VGA Display might display something at 512x384, but the input for the 12" RGB Display is 60.15Hz, so the IIci's output freq. would be out of sync for most practical purposes, or so I would think.

Posted by: Elfen on 2015-06-02 21:41:52 Thanks to you all for the information! I will continue when I get the boards recapped. Uniserver - that's one of the adapters I have! LOL! Trash80toHP_Mini - Yeah, the IIci thinks it's Portrait and I cant change it. WayneStewart - Thanks! The Gateway EV700 I'm using is a multi-sync monitor. And it works great with the 24bit video cards an the LCs that I have!

Posted by: waynestewart on 2015-06-03 08:18:23 The adapter I used was one of the common TTL ones that were sold under several labels. It was the model with the single row of 8 switches. The switch settings were for the multiple resolutions 16” to 17” 1024x768 switches 12578 were on

Posted by: Trash80toHP_Mini on 2015-06-03 09:02:12 I've got a couple of 60Hz VGA limited LCDs to play around with if I get the chance. One of my "Liberty" adapters is DA-15 to DA-15 and I'm wondering if that might be an example of the Vampire Video Adapters mentioned as compatibility requirement for Apple MultiSyncs in the gamba2 chart? Not all MultiSync Displays are flexible enough to handle all Mac & NuBus resolution/freq combos. I have a 21" MAG CRT for testing that is simply awesome for testing purposes. It has Mac/DA-15, VGA/HD-15 and 5-BNC inputs with LED readout panel indication of VGA/Mac (likely more) signal, res & freq for whatever is active. But even with that, I've seen "out of Sync" indication on the panel for oddball Mac resolution/freq inputs that don't phase the 17" Sony Trinitron MultiSync in the least. Very strange stuff, Display Juju. 🤔

Posted by: jlindsay26 on 2023-07-28 14:22:31 Just want to say thanks recapped my IIci and I was finally getting a startup chime but no video. Came across this post and say the comment about the multi scan not work. So I connected to a vga monitor and set to 512x384 and now I got video so again thanks

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