Failure of PWS433AU video card

[Chris Townley]

After a brief spell of the monitor repeatedly trying to autofit, or
seems the video card in my PWS433AU

The manual suggests the following video cards were available

PCXGA-AA Matrox Millenium PCI VGA adapter
SN-PCXAG-AV Accel Graphics Pro 2000 3D PCI VGA adapter
30-XXXXX-XX Digital TGA2 3D PCI graphics VGA adapter
30-XXXXX-XX Accel Graphics Viper 3D PCI VGA adapter
SN-PBXGI-AA Digital Cateyes/Bobcat graphics adapter

Mine came with a Matrox, which worked well enough.

Looking for a replacement, and see on the bay of E, 2MB Matrox
MGA-MIL/2BI 576-06 REV: B PCI VGA Graphics Video Card

This seems a slightly later version - will it work?

Otherwise any other suggestions? Please bear in mind I cannot currently
get access to the console to change any settings

TI

Chris

[Hans Bachner]

Hi Chris,

Post by Chris Townley
After a brief spell of the monitor repeatedly trying to autofit, or
seems the video card in my PWS433AU
[...]
Mine came with a Matrox, which worked well enough.
Looking for a replacement, and see on the bay of E, 2MB Matrox
MGA-MIL/2BI 576-06 REV: B PCI VGA Graphics Video Card
This seems a slightly later version - will it work?
Otherwise any other suggestions? Please bear in mind I cannot currently
get access to the console to change any settings

Can't comment/guess on the Matrox card, but I'm pretty sure you can
switch the console to serial by connecting a terminal (emulator) to
COM1, switch on the PWS and repeatedly hit <enter> on the terminal until
the SRM prompt appears. Once you are there, you can make the setting
permanent with ">>> set console serial".

At least this approach works for several other Alphas I've come across.

Hope this helps,
Hans.

[Chris Townley]

Post by Hans Bachner
Hi Chris,

Post by Chris Townley
After a brief spell of the monitor repeatedly trying to autofit, or
seems the video card in my PWS433AU
[...]
Mine came with a Matrox, which worked well enough.
Looking for a replacement, and see on the bay of E, 2MB Matrox
MGA-MIL/2BI 576-06 REV: B PCI VGA Graphics Video Card
This seems a slightly later version - will it work?
Otherwise any other suggestions? Please bear in mind I cannot
currently get access to the console to change any settings

Can't comment/guess on the Matrox card, but I'm pretty sure you can
switch the console to serial by connecting a terminal (emulator) to
COM1, switch on the PWS and repeatedly hit <enter> on the terminal until
the SRM prompt appears. Once you are there, you can make the setting
permanent with ">>> set console serial".
At least this approach works for several other Alphas I've come across.
Hope this helps,
Hans.

Thanks, I might give that a try

Chris

[Ben Lambert]

This site is a fairly good reference:

http://moon.hanya-n.org/comp/alpha/hct/graphics.html

Cards that I use in my PWS600s:

Powerstorm 3D30
Powerstorm 4D20
ELSA GLoria

Cards that won't work (require EV6-class)

Radeon 7000/7500
Powerstorm 300

The answer also somewhat depends on the OS you are running, there are more options if you are running Tru64 (but I assume not).

Post by Chris Townley
After a brief spell of the monitor repeatedly trying to autofit, or
seems the video card in my PWS433AU
The manual suggests the following video cards were available
PCXGA-AA Matrox Millenium PCI VGA adapter
SN-PCXAG-AV Accel Graphics Pro 2000 3D PCI VGA adapter
30-XXXXX-XX Digital TGA2 3D PCI graphics VGA adapter
30-XXXXX-XX Accel Graphics Viper 3D PCI VGA adapter
SN-PBXGI-AA Digital Cateyes/Bobcat graphics adapter
Mine came with a Matrox, which worked well enough.
Looking for a replacement, and see on the bay of E, 2MB Matrox
MGA-MIL/2BI 576-06 REV: B PCI VGA Graphics Video Card
This seems a slightly later version - will it work?
Otherwise any other suggestions? Please bear in mind I cannot currently
get access to the console to change any settings
TI
Chris

[Ben Lambert]

If you just want something cheap that works, this old c.o.v thread suggests the S3 Trio64V is also supported, and they're dirt cheap on ebay.
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.os.vms/c/Qn2-U4E8lgs/m/YoBxprQSNlMJ

HTH

Post by Ben Lambert
http://moon.hanya-n.org/comp/alpha/hct/graphics.html
Powerstorm 3D30
Powerstorm 4D20
ELSA GLoria
Cards that won't work (require EV6-class)
Radeon 7000/7500
Powerstorm 300 (E&S RealImage 2100)
The answer also somewhat depends on the OS you are running, there are more options if you are running Tru64 (but I assume not).

Post by Chris Townley
After a brief spell of the monitor repeatedly trying to autofit, or
seems the video card in my PWS433AU
The manual suggests the following video cards were available
PCXGA-AA Matrox Millenium PCI VGA adapter
SN-PCXAG-AV Accel Graphics Pro 2000 3D PCI VGA adapter
30-XXXXX-XX Digital TGA2 3D PCI graphics VGA adapter
30-XXXXX-XX Accel Graphics Viper 3D PCI VGA adapter
SN-PBXGI-AA Digital Cateyes/Bobcat graphics adapter
Mine came with a Matrox, which worked well enough.
Looking for a replacement, and see on the bay of E, 2MB Matrox
MGA-MIL/2BI 576-06 REV: B PCI VGA Graphics Video Card
This seems a slightly later version - will it work?
Otherwise any other suggestions? Please bear in mind I cannot currently
get access to the console to change any settings
TI
Chris

[Chris Townley]

Post by Ben Lambert
If you just want something cheap that works, this old c.o.v thread suggests the S3 Trio64V is also supported, and they're dirt cheap on ebay.
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.os.vms/c/Qn2-U4E8lgs/m/YoBxprQSNlMJ
HTH

Post by Ben Lambert
http://moon.hanya-n.org/comp/alpha/hct/graphics.html
Powerstorm 3D30
Powerstorm 4D20
ELSA GLoria
Cards that won't work (require EV6-class)
Radeon 7000/7500
Powerstorm 300 (E&S RealImage 2100)
The answer also somewhat depends on the OS you are running, there are more options if you are running Tru64 (but I assume not).

Post by Chris Townley
After a brief spell of the monitor repeatedly trying to autofit, or
seems the video card in my PWS433AU
The manual suggests the following video cards were available
PCXGA-AA Matrox Millenium PCI VGA adapter
SN-PCXAG-AV Accel Graphics Pro 2000 3D PCI VGA adapter
30-XXXXX-XX Digital TGA2 3D PCI graphics VGA adapter
30-XXXXX-XX Accel Graphics Viper 3D PCI VGA adapter
SN-PBXGI-AA Digital Cateyes/Bobcat graphics adapter
Mine came with a Matrox, which worked well enough.
Looking for a replacement, and see on the bay of E, 2MB Matrox
MGA-MIL/2BI 576-06 REV: B PCI VGA Graphics Video Card
This seems a slightly later version - will it work?
Otherwise any other suggestions? Please bear in mind I cannot currently
get access to the console to change any settings
TI
Chris

Currently running HP OpenVMS 8.3, but intend to upgrade to VSI OpenVMS
V8.4-2L1 to retain hobbyist license.

The S3Trio64V+ must be supported, as that is on the original Matrox board.

Did a check on the bay of E, and found the exact card I have - at half
the price of the one I mentioned!

Will order it - just hope it works!

Many thanks


Chris

[Crabs]

Post by Chris Townley

Post by Ben Lambert
If you just want something cheap that works, this old c.o.v thread suggests the S3 Trio64V is also supported, and they're dirt cheap on ebay.
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.os.vms/c/Qn2-U4E8lgs/m/YoBxprQSNlMJ
HTH

Post by Ben Lambert
http://moon.hanya-n.org/comp/alpha/hct/graphics.html
Powerstorm 3D30
Powerstorm 4D20
ELSA GLoria
Cards that won't work (require EV6-class)
Radeon 7000/7500
Powerstorm 300 (E&S RealImage 2100)
The answer also somewhat depends on the OS you are running, there are more options if you are running Tru64 (but I assume not).

Post by Chris Townley
After a brief spell of the monitor repeatedly trying to autofit, or
seems the video card in my PWS433AU
The manual suggests the following video cards were available
PCXGA-AA Matrox Millenium PCI VGA adapter
SN-PCXAG-AV Accel Graphics Pro 2000 3D PCI VGA adapter
30-XXXXX-XX Digital TGA2 3D PCI graphics VGA adapter
30-XXXXX-XX Accel Graphics Viper 3D PCI VGA adapter
SN-PBXGI-AA Digital Cateyes/Bobcat graphics adapter
Mine came with a Matrox, which worked well enough.
Looking for a replacement, and see on the bay of E, 2MB Matrox
MGA-MIL/2BI 576-06 REV: B PCI VGA Graphics Video Card
This seems a slightly later version - will it work?
Otherwise any other suggestions? Please bear in mind I cannot currently
get access to the console to change any settings
TI
Chris

Currently running HP OpenVMS 8.3, but intend to upgrade to VSI OpenVMS
V8.4-2L1 to retain hobbyist license.
The S3Trio64V+ must be supported, as that is on the original Matrox board.
Did a check on the bay of E, and found the exact card I have - at half
the price of the one I mentioned!
Will order it - just hope it works!
Many thanks
Chris

Matrox Millenium and S3Trio64V not supported by CDE/Motif but recognized by SRM.
CDE/Motif supported in PWS:
DEC Powerstorm 3D30
DEC Powerstorm 4D10
DEC Powerstorm 4D20
Elsa Gloria Synergy PCI 8mb

Crabs

[Chris Townley]

Post by Crabs

Post by Chris Townley

Post by Ben Lambert
If you just want something cheap that works, this old c.o.v thread suggests the S3 Trio64V is also supported, and they're dirt cheap on ebay.
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.os.vms/c/Qn2-U4E8lgs/m/YoBxprQSNlMJ
HTH

Post by Ben Lambert
http://moon.hanya-n.org/comp/alpha/hct/graphics.html
Powerstorm 3D30
Powerstorm 4D20
ELSA GLoria
Cards that won't work (require EV6-class)
Radeon 7000/7500
Powerstorm 300 (E&S RealImage 2100)
The answer also somewhat depends on the OS you are running, there are more options if you are running Tru64 (but I assume not).

Post by Chris Townley
After a brief spell of the monitor repeatedly trying to autofit, or
seems the video card in my PWS433AU
The manual suggests the following video cards were available
PCXGA-AA Matrox Millenium PCI VGA adapter
SN-PCXAG-AV Accel Graphics Pro 2000 3D PCI VGA adapter
30-XXXXX-XX Digital TGA2 3D PCI graphics VGA adapter
30-XXXXX-XX Accel Graphics Viper 3D PCI VGA adapter
SN-PBXGI-AA Digital Cateyes/Bobcat graphics adapter
Mine came with a Matrox, which worked well enough.
Looking for a replacement, and see on the bay of E, 2MB Matrox
MGA-MIL/2BI 576-06 REV: B PCI VGA Graphics Video Card
This seems a slightly later version - will it work?
Otherwise any other suggestions? Please bear in mind I cannot currently
get access to the console to change any settings
TI
Chris

Currently running HP OpenVMS 8.3, but intend to upgrade to VSI OpenVMS
V8.4-2L1 to retain hobbyist license.
The S3Trio64V+ must be supported, as that is on the original Matrox board.
Did a check on the bay of E, and found the exact card I have - at half
the price of the one I mentioned!
Will order it - just hope it works!
Many thanks
Chris

Matrox Millenium and S3Trio64V not supported by CDE/Motif but recognized by SRM.
DEC Powerstorm 3D30
DEC Powerstorm 4D10
DEC Powerstorm 4D20
Elsa Gloria Synergy PCI 8mb
Crabs

Well I have been running CDE on the console for many years on this
machine with a Matrox Millennium, which has a S3Trio64V

Chris