19 Dec
2018
19 Dec
'18
5:38 p.m.
Micro Solutions initially shipped the CompatiCard IV
with the Intel
chip--and it worked well. Intel then revised the chip as the 82077AA-1
to add tape support and broke the FM capability. When I inquired about
this to Intel, I got the response "Who uses FM anymore?". Micro
Solutions sent a bunch of retrofit kits with NSC chips in them to a
small bunch of CC IV purchasers after they discovered the problem.
Fortunately, the 8477 is pin-compatible with the 82077.
Chuck,
Are you saying that CCIV initially had an NSC 8477 or an 8473? Or that it had an Intel
chip and when Intel came out with a new revision they went to an NSC chip? Also are all
CCIVs retrofitable? i.e. can I order an NSC chip and plop it into my CCIV to get FM back?
Finally can you drop in an NSC 8473 in a CCIV to get 128-byte MFM or the best you can do
is switch to a NSC 8477? TIA!
-Ali