CompuPro CPU-Z with IMSAI and Front Panel issues - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

18 Oct 2010

I may be able to help.  I've worked for Morrow Designs (Thinker Toys), Wordstar
(MicroPro) and Stoneware (DBMaster).  Yes, I am older than Godbout.  I have pwned two
Altairs and an IMSAI.  I took a tour of the giant (empty) Cromemco facility back in the
day.  Sooo much promise.  So sad.

If you send me full specs, a case of Seagram's 7, and a detailed symptom of the
problem, I will try to help.

dgari at msn dot com
...
  Date: Sun, 17 Oct 2010 08:09:22 -0700 (PDT)
 From: Scott LaBombard <labomb_s at yahoo.com>
 Subject: Re: CompuPro CPU-Z with IMSAI and Front Panel issues
 To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts"
 <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
 Message-ID: <828014.33056.qm at web110803.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>
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 ----- Original Message ----

  From: Nick Allen <nick.allen at
comcast.net>

 Anyone have any experience getting the front panel of an IMSAI computer to work 
with a CompuPro CPU-Z S100 board?
 I read the documentation 
(http://maben.homeip.net/static/S100/compupro/cards/CompuPro%20CPU-Z.pdf), and 
there
 seems some configuration required, I obviously am missing something as it is 
not working properly even after I attempt
 the config in the documentation.

 Hi Nick,

 Assuming that you followed the 'Imsai Front Panel Usage' section in the 
 referenced document, I would also take a look
 at S100 bus pins 54 and 20. I haven't touched any of my Imsai's in several 
 years, but I do recall struggling to get a
 CompuPro motherboard working with the front panel. If memory serves, at a 
 minimum I had to cut the trace leading to
 pin 54 (External/Slave Clear) on the front panel PCB itself. I noticed in the 
 CPU-Z schematic that it is indeed driving
 pin 54 on the bus, so that may well be the issue.

 As for pin 20, it is GROUND in the IEEE 696 spec. I can't tell if the CPU-Z is 
 driving that pin on the bus or not... if it
 is, you may want to cut the trace leading to it on the front panel board as 
 well.

 I have additional notes re. another potential additional change that may be 
 required (somewhere) ...I'll attempt to find
 them. In the mean time, I would try the pin 54 mod first, and then add the pin 
 20 mod if necessary.

 Scott  		 	   		  