PicoGUS - Custom Universal sized version Gravis UltraSound - Suitable for PC-104, standard ISA and low profile ISA

[masteries]

 

 

A custom sized version designed to be suitable for any PC computer;
from standard ISA slot to PC-104 ISA formats.

As well, its reduced sized is intended to be compatible with very low profile PC computers
such Sinclair PC 200, Amstrad PC20 and other low profile based cases.

Board height is a bit less than 5 cm. , in order to be used in very low
profile PC cases.

 

 

Board design is intended to satisfy user and motherboard needs

and restrictions, in this way the microcontroller, DAC, connectors...

can be placed at each side of the board; depending the motherboard,

such my PC/104 case, the visual aspect is not so good due to the

DAC and the controller needs to be placed at left side

 

The reduced size and weight is also oriented
to be suitable for most demanding courier systems, where
larger or more weighted packages could be problematic,


This custom version is focused in Sound Card emulation,
there are no space for MIDI output; with this unit you have:

• Gravis Ultrasound (GUS) - the primary focus of PicoGUS, hence the name
• AdLib (OPL2)
• Tandy 3-voice
• CMS/Game Blaster

Rapsberry Pi Pico is presented in a socketed way, in order to remove it
or replace it anytime you need,


This video presents the compatibility with a PC-104 based 486-DX4 PC computer:





And this one presents the compatibility with a Pentium II motherboard:

 

 

 

 

 

Some photographs and proof of ownership (its a continuous manufacturing):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PicoGUS compatibility test:

 

https://github.com/polpo/picogus/wiki/Compatibility-list

 

 

As compatible mobo chipsets I tested:

 

-Maple ACC (the computer shown at PC/104 video testing)

-Intel 440 LX  (the computer shown at Pentium II video testing)

-Intel 440 BX

-Intel 815E

 

 

 

 

 

Price is 60.5€ per unit, plus 10.50€ of tracked shipment around the world

Payment is preferred via Paypal selecting for friends and/or family option,

 

 

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Some examples of contacted users and their use cases:

 

 

Regarding board design: Obviously some needs and some motherboards require a component placement that doesn´t look beatiful, such the example of my PC/104 motherboard; there are no space at the other side of the board, there are only 85 mm width space... a standard sized PC/104 board doesn´t fit (that is very usual in small form factors).

 

 

 

Such an user example, a French mate, he sent these photogaphs, published with him consent:

 

 

 

 

 

His PC/104 motherboard has no space for a standard sized PC/104 add-on board, the PCI connector at other end interferes, but this tiny sized sound card fit well, and cost around 5 times less than any hard to find PC/104 sound card board, that probably will not fit in his motherboard.

 

 

He needs the same solution as my case, but using a taller female PC/104 connector instead a male one.

 

 

Another use cases are two users that contacted:

 

=>One with a 386 SX that only supports up to 56 mm tall cards, and his ISA slot lacks the space between socket and bracket, and there is no brackets for addon card outputs/inputs ? Rare world, unique solutions

 

 

=>Other user presented a 486 motherboard, a big one that only presents PC/104 ISA expansion. The lenght between PC/104 ISA and a motherboard dissipator is 60 mm

 

A taller design will be better to avoid the 4 copper wires, impossible to route with 50 mm restriction, but this would left out these presented users,

 

This would be never happen,

 

These mates were awaiting around 30 years to be correctly attended,

now they are happy, their machines will produce high quality sound for the first time

 

 

Edited April 26, 2023 by masteries
Added examples of use cases

[ianoid]

What about drivers/software? What does it require?

 

Would it work in my original Tandy 1000?

[masteries]

2 hours ago, ianoid said:

What about drivers/software? What does it require?

 

Would it work in my original Tandy 1000?

Regarding software, for music playback it requires installation of Gravis UltraSound patches folder,

 

As simple as copy a folder to C:\ULTRASND

 

As well, initialization is based in set two variables at autoexec.bat;

and execute "pgusinit.exe" 

 

All these are provided as download link with a .pdf

document; initialization step is illustrated at the videos.

Its the same as original Gravis Ultrasound card initialization

 

Last, games and music/sound playback software need to support

Gravis Ultrasound, in the same way these software support Adlib

or Sound Blaster,

 

 

More relevant appears to be your version of Tandy 1000,

its a pretty ancient such the first Tandy 1000 from 1984?

 

Or is it a version with a 286 processor and a standard 8 bits ISA

or a Tandy 1000 RSX with two 16 bits ISA slots?

 

(16 bits ISA slots accept 8 bits ISA cards, like you can view in the second video,

where I connected this sound card to a Pentium II motherboard).

 

 

Edited April 24, 2023 by masteries

[eightbit]

Does this fully emulate the GF1 chip?

[masteries]

On 4/26/2023 at 1:11 AM, eightbit said:

Does this fully emulate the GF1 chip?

Greetings Eightbit,

 

As far I tested it appears to be good compatible with the

heart component of a Gravis Ultrasound,

 

Despite, check the compatiblity list:

 

https://github.com/polpo/picogus/wiki/Compatibility-list

 

 

As well, I tested these mobo chipsets:

 

-Maple ACC (the computer shown at PC/104 video testing)

-Intel 440 LX  (the computer shown at Pentium II video testing)

-Intel 440 BX

-Intel 815E

 

 

 

Also, I updated the first port, in order to clarify that this version

is intended to be customized; you can request component placement

location at your own, or demanded due to your mobo restrictions,

 

There are some use cases, from users that already contacted

for a suitable sound card for their low profile or rare format PC

 

As well, it can also be used in standard sized PC

 

 

Edited April 28, 2023 by masteries

[masteries]

@suverman

 

Your three units have been sent,

 

As well, I prepared an installation manual;

with tips about PC computer bios configuration:

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1It30QMcoY6Il9u5xYMUYFa6Y_fpyk7fO/view?usp=share_link