Testing a NuBus portrait display card

#1 Sun, 13 Jun 2010 - 20:01 68kMLA

One of my Mac IIs came with a portrait display card and a DB13W3 to DB15 cable. I connected it to a High Resolution RGB monitor, but it wasn't recognised by the Mac II (I had two other regular cards in it as well). I'm guessing a portrait card simply can't drive a 640*480 monitor. Is there a way to test it? I haven't tried throwing in a VGA converter into the mix and played with the DIP switches...

#2 Sun, 13 Jun 2010 - 22:11 68kMLA

The DB15 to 13w3 cable certainly works the other way around, from a standard Mac display port to a Portrait display. However, not all video circuitry in Macs will support the Portrait display: e.g., a IIvx can't do it, but an LC475 can.

#3 Mon, 14 Jun 2010 - 20:28 68kMLA

I would guess what you have already guessed - that the Portrait display card is a fixed frequency (and resolution) card specific to the Portrait display.

#4 Mon, 14 Jun 2010 - 23:24 68kMLA

The Display and, almost certainly the Card, is fixed at approx. 6XX x 8XX and it might be 16" resolution rotated, dunno, my APD adapter's down ATM and vixing it is way down on the hackSheet.

You can get the card to drive a multisync monitor at that res if you noodle out the connections and "roll your own" adapter/cable. All the info's out there in the DevNotes and by googling 13w3.

#5 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 - 00:06 68kMLA

Too much work for a card that I don't need. I'd be happy to give it away, but I would feel bad if it turned out it doesn't work at all.

#6 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 - 05:02 68kMLA

You need not feel bad about giving it to me! Especially if you have the cable! My Apple Portrait Display/EMI Distribution Unit hasn't been working since I started installing the custom adapter into a KVM switchbox!

PM me your cost for shipping & handling if you want it to go to good use! :approve: . . . 27502, BTW!

)

#7 Sun, 11 Jul 2010 - 02:20 68kMLA

Sorry, Bunsen already snagged it. I haven't heard if he received it and if it worked, though.