Xebec Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 Hey folks, I’ve read through some of the old posts on adapting Tseng 4000 ISA cards to use with the VME bus on a Mega STe. I love the ST and also the Tseng ET4000 was my favorite DOS chipset back in the early 1990s, so I always thought it was cool that you can have the two together.. Questions are : - Are there still any reliable sources for VME to ISA bus adapters that fit inside the Mega STe? - Do most ET4000 cards fit/work? - (not super important, but..) - any recommendations for remounting the two serial ports you lose when removing the bracket for them to fit the card? - Video output - Do you need two monitors hooked up - a VGA compatible and an ST monitor? I.e. GEM compliant software works on VGA, but software that directly accesses the ST chips still goes through the monitor port? My Mega STe is packed up getting ready for a move to a new house, but I’d like access to a higher resolution GEM desktop for certain uses and then of course I want to get back into ST gaming. Thanks! Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/329121-vme-bustseng-4000-neophyte-questions/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrylaffer Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 - Are there still any reliable sources for VME to ISA bus adapters that fit inside the Mega STe? Frank Lukas in Germany is the expert and he was recently selling isa to vme adapters. PM me if you are interested I will send you his email address. I have also seen documentation for isa to vme - Do most ET4000 cards fit/work? I believe so but there might be a few that don't or have limitations due to the DAC. Frank will know for sure - (not super important, but..) - any recommendations for remounting the two serial ports you lose when removing the bracket for them to fit the card? You have a bigger problem on how to mount the card than where to mount the serial ports. Usually people have the two cables from the adapter coming out into a 3d printed case where the vga is installed. So don't expect it to fit well inside your mste. About the serial ports I don't have any recommendations I just put the bracket in a drawer... - Video output - Do you need two monitors hooked up - a VGA compatible and an ST monitor? I.e. GEM compliant software works on VGA, but software that directly accesses the ST chips still goes through the monitor port? I have a mach64 installed on my TT. But I would be really surprised if things work differently: Initially the atari boots from the atari monitor. You need to have the drivers in AUTO folder. Also you need to have there a menu program that will run right after boot and will display on your atari monitor and ask you if you want to use the vga card output portor your atari monitor output port. You also have the option to choose the resolution and color depth if you choose VGA. After that only one monitor will work. And of course there are some incompatibilities with some programs and vga display. I will also be surprised if you can play any games on that display mode. Hope that helps. 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/329121-vme-bustseng-4000-neophyte-questions/#findComment-4977497 Share on other sites More sharing options...
snarkdluG Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 Since Idek does the driver for all the hardware, he have pics on gfx card on his site: https://silicon-heaven.org/atari/nova/ Otherwise he might fix a driver for your card. The 2 monitor problem: I use one monitor and use a small and simple vga switch. So 2 cables to the switch, one from the TT video port and the other from Mach64 card. Then from the switch to the monitor. 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/329121-vme-bustseng-4000-neophyte-questions/#findComment-4977521 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xebec Posted January 3, 2022 Author Share Posted January 3, 2022 15 minutes ago, snarkdluG said: Since Idek does the driver for all the hardware, he have pics on gfx card on his site: https://silicon-heaven.org/atari/nova/ Otherwise he might fix a driver for your card. The 2 monitor problem: I use one monitor and use a small and simple vga switch. So 2 cables to the switch, one from the TT video port and the other from Mach64 card. Then from the switch to the monitor. I like that idea! I think I'll have enough desk space for both but will keep this in mind :). I do have a VGA / upconverter / scan doubler handy for the ST.. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/329121-vme-bustseng-4000-neophyte-questions/#findComment-4977529 Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrylaffer Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 2 minutes ago, Xebec said: I like that idea! I think I'll have enough desk space for both but will keep this in mind :). I do have a VGA / upconverter / scan doubler handy for the ST.. You can always use an auto switch. Mine costed like $15 from ebay. You can add priority to the converted Atari signal (so that when you boot you always see the boot screen) and then you can change to the isa2vme card. But my advise is first make sure you make it work without the switch. When all works then you can take the next step. 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/329121-vme-bustseng-4000-neophyte-questions/#findComment-4977533 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xebec Posted January 3, 2022 Author Share Posted January 3, 2022 1 hour ago, larrylaffer said: - Are there still any reliable sources for VME to ISA bus adapters that fit inside the Mega STe? Frank Lukas in Germany is the expert and he was recently selling isa to vme adapters. PM me if you are interested I will send you his email address. I have also seen documentation for isa to vme - Do most ET4000 cards fit/work? I believe so but there might be a few that don't or have limitations due to the DAC. Frank will know for sure - (not super important, but..) - any recommendations for remounting the two serial ports you lose when removing the bracket for them to fit the card? You have a bigger problem on how to mount the card than where to mount the serial ports. Usually people have the two cables from the adapter coming out into a 3d printed case where the vga is installed. So don't expect it to fit well inside your mste. About the serial ports I don't have any recommendations I just put the bracket in a drawer... - Video output - Do you need two monitors hooked up - a VGA compatible and an ST monitor? I.e. GEM compliant software works on VGA, but software that directly accesses the ST chips still goes through the monitor port? I have a mach64 installed on my TT. But I would be really surprised if things work differently: Initially the atari boots from the atari monitor. You need to have the drivers in AUTO folder. Also you need to have there a menu program that will run right after boot and will display on your atari monitor and ask you if you want to use the vga card output portor your atari monitor output port. You also have the option to choose the resolution and color depth if you choose VGA. After that only one monitor will work. And of course there are some incompatibilities with some programs and vga display. I will also be surprised if you can play any games on that display mode. Hope that helps. This helps a ton! I've sent a PM and everything here makes sense. I was asking "optionally" about the serial ports as I was debating farting around a bit with them to use as a Linux terminal, or for other nostalgia purposes and I *think* the Mega STe "extra" ports are able to handle higher speeds than the built in ST port (19200 limited?). Thanks again! Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/329121-vme-bustseng-4000-neophyte-questions/#findComment-4977537 Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrylaffer Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 1 minute ago, Xebec said: This helps a ton! I've sent a PM and everything here makes sense. I was asking "optionally" about the serial ports as I was debating farting around a bit with them to use as a Linux terminal, or for other nostalgia purposes and I *think* the Mega STe "extra" ports are able to handle higher speeds than the built in ST port (19200 limited?). Thanks again! The setup also works great for FreeMint and Geneva. So with FreeMint you can have your bash terminal on your atari ? Although I think with 4gb might be challenging... Anyway, loads of things to play with when you get your adapter and vga going... Have fun. 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/329121-vme-bustseng-4000-neophyte-questions/#findComment-4977539 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xebec Posted January 3, 2022 Author Share Posted January 3, 2022 Just now, larrylaffer said: The setup also works great for FreeMint and Geneva. So with FreeMint you can have your bash terminal on your atari ? Although I think with 4gb might be challenging... Anyway, loads of things to play with when you get your adapter and vga going... Have fun. Hah that sounds interesting actually. I assume no one makes a modern / reasonably priced 14MB (or even 8MB) ram upgrade for the Mega STe? It's a little unfortunate that Atari Corp released 4MB ST's in 1987 or 1988, yet never upgraded the chipset (with the 1989 STe or 1991 Mega STe) to officially support > 4MB. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/329121-vme-bustseng-4000-neophyte-questions/#findComment-4977540 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Westphal Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 Similar Quick Question that seems relevant : Were or are there any boards that used the VME bus on the Mega ST4 ( no e )? From what I understand it's not quite the same as the Mega STe VME. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/329121-vme-bustseng-4000-neophyte-questions/#findComment-4983989 Share on other sites More sharing options...
snarkdluG Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 (edited) 14 minutes ago, Paul Westphal said: Similar Quick Question that seems relevant : Were or are there any boards that used the VME bus on the Mega ST4 ( no e )? From what I understand it's not quite the same as the Mega STe VME. Atari released a FPU board (SFP004) for the MegaST bus. Then there is the Viking Graphics Card. The Mega bus is not a VME bus though. The bus is present on all the Mega (1, 2 and 4). Edited January 13, 2022 by snarkdluG 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/329121-vme-bustseng-4000-neophyte-questions/#findComment-4983998 Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedocbwarren Posted November 30, 2023 Share Posted November 30, 2023 On 1/3/2022 at 10:18 AM, larrylaffer said: - Are there still any reliable sources for VME to ISA bus adapters that fit inside the Mega STe? Frank Lukas in Germany is the expert and he was recently selling isa to vme adapters. PM me if you are interested I will send you his email address. I have also seen documentation for isa to vme - Do most ET4000 cards fit/work? I believe so but there might be a few that don't or have limitations due to the DAC. Frank will know for sure - (not super important, but..) - any recommendations for remounting the two serial ports you lose when removing the bracket for them to fit the card? You have a bigger problem on how to mount the card than where to mount the serial ports. Usually people have the two cables from the adapter coming out into a 3d printed case where the vga is installed. So don't expect it to fit well inside your mste. About the serial ports I don't have any recommendations I just put the bracket in a drawer... - Video output - Do you need two monitors hooked up - a VGA compatible and an ST monitor? I.e. GEM compliant software works on VGA, but software that directly accesses the ST chips still goes through the monitor port? I have a mach64 installed on my TT. But I would be really surprised if things work differently: Initially the atari boots from the atari monitor. You need to have the drivers in AUTO folder. Also you need to have there a menu program that will run right after boot and will display on your atari monitor and ask you if you want to use the vga card output portor your atari monitor output port. You also have the option to choose the resolution and color depth if you choose VGA. After that only one monitor will work. And of course there are some incompatibilities with some programs and vga display. I will also be surprised if you can play any games on that display mode. Hope that helps. Question for you. I have a MegaSTe and looking to pick up a Mach64. Is there any requirements on it? It's ISA and I have an adapter for it with support. The card claims it's 386 BIOS and 2m, is this workable? Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/329121-vme-bustseng-4000-neophyte-questions/#findComment-5357810 Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrylaffer Posted November 30, 2023 Share Posted November 30, 2023 1 hour ago, thedocbwarren said: Question for you. I have a MegaSTe and looking to pick up a Mach64. Is there any requirements on it? It's ISA and I have an adapter for it with support. The card claims it's 386 BIOS and 2m, is this workable? Not sure what you mean by "386 BIOS and 2m"... As far as I know if it is a Mach64 and ISA it works... The DAC might make a difference and you can look it up from the driver's page: https://silicon-heaven.org/atari/nova/MegaSTE/Mach64/ I think I do have a spare one that I was using in my TT. If interested DM me and I will open da-drawer-of-tt-hardware to check if it is still there. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/329121-vme-bustseng-4000-neophyte-questions/#findComment-5357846 Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedocbwarren Posted December 3, 2023 Share Posted December 3, 2023 Ok so here is a question on this. I am starting to get what I need to build the external monitor connection for the MegaSTe and an ISA card. Is there some kind of stand or case people use to not have an ugly, and possible accident prone, card handing loose behind the case? Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/329121-vme-bustseng-4000-neophyte-questions/#findComment-5359607 Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrylaffer Posted December 3, 2023 Share Posted December 3, 2023 I was lucky enough to have a tower for my TT and I have my Mach64 installed inside the tower. But maybe something like this will work: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3638032 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/329121-vme-bustseng-4000-neophyte-questions/#findComment-5359619 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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