68kMLA Classic Interface

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Pre-NuChip, GAL based NuBus Macintosh II initial release, years of total neglect later I find a surprise inside . . .

Posted by: Trash80toHP_Mini on 2025-01-28 14:15:49

Interesting that it only occupies the CPU socket, the Cache Card adapters fill two.

Snagged this beautiful, near mint machine when a member pointed it out to me on the 'Bay back when I was obsessed with all things NuBus. I did absolutely nothing with is aside from taking a pic of that morass of GALs.

Decided I should check for cap leakage. When I unscrewed and lifted the drive tray, and there it was! 😮
It's only a 16MHz 68020, so I'm wondering what black magic this thing's abrewing?

Anyhoo, suddenly I'm not feeling so guilty about spending money I couldn't afford at the time on this gorgeous machine.

edit:

Orchid MacSprint II

So I picked up a Macintosh II from my friend that has this neat upgrade in it. It's basically a cache upgrade for the II that is supposed to bring the performance up to an IIx. Anybody have a lead on the software (control panel) for it? Unfortunately I can only find mentions of the upgrade in...

68kmla.org

Posted by: Trash80toHP_Mini on 2025-01-28 14:40:50

I couldn't spot any cap or battery leakage at all, any apparent to anyone else?

This machine's amazingly clean and complete inside and out. I never even tried to boot is as I figured the batteries were DOA. That'd be a no go correct? Maybe it's only the IIfx that won't boot w/o two good batteries?

MacintoshII-Pre-Nuchip-CPU-Corner_with_MacSprint_II.JPG

I should check the SIMMs, but I'm not touching those clips! Low profile on the left side, likely original equipment in 1MB flavor? SIMMs on right are higher profile with larger ICs, thinking 4MB apiece? Dunno, memory was absolutely crazy high in that day. 32MB for my Rocket33 put a hurt on the shop budget like holy hell!

It even has the prettiest TOBY I've yet to see, 1987(c) and likely original equipment? It was the only card installed when it arrived. All plates, plugs and the programmer's switch are cherry beyond belief.

I'm putting it back together and back onto the top of the bit less gorgeous IIfx for now. Me happy! 🙂

Posted by: Trash80toHP_Mini on 2025-01-28 14:55:05

Putting it all together. Assuming the batteries are dead, is there any reason I can't use a pair of fresh cells rigged to clip onto the original cell leads in parallel and boot it right up?

Don't wanna modify this machine in any way whatsoever, I'm wondering about passing it on, maybe I should be selling it as near mint/near original as shipped condition with a couple of very nice upgrades. It belongs in the hands of someone who will lavish it with an appropriate level of TLC.

Posted by: nyef on 2025-01-28 15:01:27

If you just want to see if it boots, you can "jump start" it. Ground the negative side of a 1/2 AA cell and use a bit of wire to briefly connect the positive to the startup pin on the PSU connector.

Posted by: Trash80toHP_Mini on 2025-01-28 15:10:30

Nice, but that sounds a less safe proposition than alligator clipping a pair of cells in parallel to the originals to me? I'd like to be able to boot it up a few times with the lid closed to try booting from a 7.1 Install floppy or do an OS install on a HDD in another machine and hook it up for shiggles-n-gits.

Posted by: volvo242gt on 2025-01-28 17:12:03

A couple of these with the wires extended would work wonders.

Battery: IIgs ROM0/1 Caddy

The battery in the ROM0 and ROM1 IIgs system connects to the motherboard using wire "legs". These legs can be easily cut close to the battery. This provides a simplistic way to remove the battery and

www.reactivemicro.com

-J

Posted by: Trash80toHP_Mini on 2025-01-28 18:50:08

Indeed, I have a nice collection of those battery holders, many dating back to the glory days Radio Shack. Thinking about splitting the circuit on a Quad Pack in half and wiring up the two pair of AAA (or AA?) to IC test clips I have on hand:

in-circuit-ic-test-hook-clips-available-in-various-colours.jpg

I think I have four discreet colors available and can use colored electrical tap to code the four legs on the batteries. That way I can just tape the assembly down to the spot on the drive platform for the second FDD and pretty much forget about it?

Posted by: volvo242gt on 2025-01-28 18:55:50

Or to the front panel, that way, you can take the drive shelf out to do memory upgrades, etc, without disconnecting the batteries. Had considered doing that on the fx, then found that Batteries Plus has non-lethal Lithium Manganese 1/2AA batteries available...

Posted by: Trash80toHP_Mini on 2025-01-28 21:42:35

The pack will be held down on the drive shelf by just one strip of electrical tape, no worries. 😉

Wondering why that NOT FOR RESALE sticker was placed on the cache card? Maybe it was a demo machine somewhere? That might explain its great condition, there's almost no yellowing at all.

The one in the older thread has its serial number sticker in that position:

It's also missing the Nylon standoff on the top left edge of my card above the right side of the serial number tag..

Posted by: volvo242gt on 2025-01-29 21:40:13

👍🏻

Probably, re: the sticker. I know that one of my Mac II machines from the 2012 conquest was also similarly mint. Makes sense, since it came with the box. Think that one received the fx board in 2013.

Posted by: indibil on 2025-02-03 05:05:44

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