I like the idea of "CPU slots". Not in the Celeron 300A-style "CPU on a card" concept, but to put everything related on a card, make the motherboard "braindead".
Put the CPU, chipset and RAM slots on the "processor card", that way the only reason to upgrade a motherboard would be if new slots were introduced (PCI-Express, etc) and you actually needed them.
Isn't this called "passive backplane" or something? If it already exists for some systems, why not desktop computers?
You mean like modern Macs have become? They have a CPU, a GPU, some audio chip (probably not a DSP but still). And the OS knows how to work with both the CPUs and the GPU.
Building one would indeed be relatively easy, however that would not be the "real thing". That's like having a copy of a painting. It looks the same, but it's still a fake.
It's true, my website has fallen way behind in terms of updates. However, I do plan on adding content and updating it some day.
As for your Sound Master comment, I'm more interested in the synth side of soundcards. If Sim City supports digital audio, it would sound about the same coming from any soundcard with a DAC (aside from SNR, 8-bit vs 16-bit, mono/stereo, etc). Ultima VI is a good game to get music from since it supports most cards to their best potential.
I visit the local pawn shops and thrift stores every week or so. If I see computers, I turn them around and look at the ISA cards. The Innovation has such a specific backplate (single RCA connector with a DB15 gameport), it's quite easy to recognize. But so far, no luck.
Explain why someone would collect stamps but not use them? Explain why people collect matchbooks and don't use them?
It's just a collection, it's not about cramming the most different soundcards ever put in a single system at once.
Besides, it's a part of computer history, and there's only a handful of people like me on the whole planet. I don't know about you, but 3 or 4 people with these particular pieces of hardware is not enough, as far as preserving computing history goes.
That may not be an "official" museum, but that's what museum do: keep old crap for people to see and learn about.
Indeed, Ultima VI supported it. In fact it's one of the rare game that did support it. It might be a long shot, but at least Lord British should be easier to find than a company that's probably been closed almost 20 years ago.
If this is true, keep any SSI 2001 you may find (however unlikely), and any Mindscape Sound Board too (I've never even seen a picture of that one). The Game Blaster and Covox Sound Master are also rare pieces, and strangely enough even the 1st AdLib card can be "easily" sold on eBay.
You can, however, ditch most of the SB clones. Unless you find Pro Audio Spectrum cards, which are semi-rare. Oh, and keep any boxes/manuals/etc, they may be more valuable than the cards (sometimes).
Yes I did use eBay's "Want it Now" section a few times, but they reset so quickly (from my point of view anyway) that I sometimes forget to re-list my item.
Finally, someone who understands my problem instead of comparing me to that other guy who can't use eBay to find 100's of videocards that fit his needs. And that's exactly why I'm asking Slashdot users, because they're the type of people who are the most likely to find such an item as the SSI 2001.
Searching "Innovation Computer Corporation" in Google only gives 5 websites, one of them being my own, and the other two that mention the SSI 2001 got their informations from my website.
This isn't a normal "I want that item" question that can be answered in 10 seconds. It's a "I've been searching for over 15 years with no success, can someone please help me if you have any information" question. It's also technology-related, and computers-related. It's also about the history of sound technology in PCs. You can't get more nerd than that.
If the previous "ask slashdot" about that videocard was lame, it's not my fault. It's because the guy in question can't even use eBay.
Of course there's none on the market, it came out around 1989! Of course I know that most people who own one won't sell theirs. However, if most Slashdot users are like me, they have a pile of unused hardware in a box somewhere. Maybe one of them have one, that's why I'm asking. I did say I've been looking for that card for over 15 years, you know.
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I like the idea of "CPU slots". Not in the Celeron 300A-style "CPU on a card" concept, but to put everything related on a card, make the motherboard "braindead".
Put the CPU, chipset and RAM slots on the "processor card", that way the only reason to upgrade a motherboard would be if new slots were introduced (PCI-Express, etc) and you actually needed them.
Isn't this called "passive backplane" or something? If it already exists for some systems, why not desktop computers?
You mean like modern Macs have become? They have a CPU, a GPU, some audio chip (probably not a DSP but still). And the OS knows how to work with both the CPUs and the GPU.
Oups, indeed. You got me with the "binaries" part, I read that as "binary". Sort of a higher level of that joke, and I got caught.
;-)
Touché!
Building one would indeed be relatively easy, however that would not be the "real thing". That's like having a copy of a painting. It looks the same, but it's still a fake.
Nope, that's too recent. Check your piles of XT and 286 stuff.
It's true, my website has fallen way behind in terms of updates. However, I do plan on adding content and updating it some day.
As for your Sound Master comment, I'm more interested in the synth side of soundcards. If Sim City supports digital audio, it would sound about the same coming from any soundcard with a DAC (aside from SNR, 8-bit vs 16-bit, mono/stereo, etc). Ultima VI is a good game to get music from since it supports most cards to their best potential.
I'm guessing my best bet would be such places, but they usually don't take requests. And most won't ship items by mail. But it's worth a try.
Thanks.
I visit the local pawn shops and thrift stores every week or so. If I see computers, I turn them around and look at the ISA cards. The Innovation has such a specific backplate (single RCA connector with a DB15 gameport), it's quite easy to recognize. But so far, no luck.
Explain why someone would collect stamps but not use them? Explain why people collect matchbooks and don't use them?
It's just a collection, it's not about cramming the most different soundcards ever put in a single system at once.
Besides, it's a part of computer history, and there's only a handful of people like me on the whole planet. I don't know about you, but 3 or 4 people with these particular pieces of hardware is not enough, as far as preserving computing history goes.
That may not be an "official" museum, but that's what museum do: keep old crap for people to see and learn about.
Indeed, Ultima VI supported it. In fact it's one of the rare game that did support it. It might be a long shot, but at least Lord British should be easier to find than a company that's probably been closed almost 20 years ago.
If this is true, keep any SSI 2001 you may find (however unlikely), and any Mindscape Sound Board too (I've never even seen a picture of that one). The Game Blaster and Covox Sound Master are also rare pieces, and strangely enough even the 1st AdLib card can be "easily" sold on eBay.
You can, however, ditch most of the SB clones. Unless you find Pro Audio Spectrum cards, which are semi-rare. Oh, and keep any boxes/manuals/etc, they may be more valuable than the cards (sometimes).
Okaaay.... what's the URL? :p
Yes I did use eBay's "Want it Now" section a few times, but they reset so quickly (from my point of view anyway) that I sometimes forget to re-list my item.
Finally, someone who understands my problem instead of comparing me to that other guy who can't use eBay to find 100's of videocards that fit his needs. And that's exactly why I'm asking Slashdot users, because they're the type of people who are the most likely to find such an item as the SSI 2001.
Searching "Innovation Computer Corporation" in Google only gives 5 websites, one of them being my own, and the other two that mention the SSI 2001 got their informations from my website.
Here you go smart ass:
http://search.ebay.ca/search/search.dll?sofocus=b
This isn't a normal "I want that item" question that can be answered in 10 seconds. It's a "I've been searching for over 15 years with no success, can someone please help me if you have any information" question. It's also technology-related, and computers-related. It's also about the history of sound technology in PCs. You can't get more nerd than that.
If the previous "ask slashdot" about that videocard was lame, it's not my fault. It's because the guy in question can't even use eBay.
Of course there's none on the market, it came out around 1989! Of course I know that most people who own one won't sell theirs. However, if most Slashdot users are like me, they have a pile of unused hardware in a box somewhere. Maybe one of them have one, that's why I'm asking. I did say I've been looking for that card for over 15 years, you know.
I also have a CM-64 module, which is a CM-32L and CM-32P integrated in one unit.
And if you think a CM-32L sounded "thin", you've never heard the other soundcards (especially the Creative Labs Game Blaster).
Before the Gravis Ultrasound, the MT-32/LAPC-1/CM-32L was the best non-professional soundcard on the market.
The problem is that the company doesn't seem to exist anymore. I did try to find them, that was in fact one of the first thing I tried.