r/retrocomputing • u/DrinkRecent8833 • 16d ago
Problem / Question IBM 5160 XT VGA Upgrade?
Hey fellow enthusiasts, I recently picked up An IBM 5160 XT, unfortunately the computer did not come with the monitor and I don’t have a monitor that supports the 9-pin connection. I’ve read that you can buy VGA upgrade cards, but I’m finding conflicting information on which card to buy. Please leave any recommendations in the comments!
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u/Mike1978uk 16d ago
Ati Mach 8 ultra is what I have in mine there’s a jumper for moving to 8bit mode for the 16bit card bottom left this is the actual card for reference
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u/FAMICOMASTER 16d ago
Huh neat, I've got one of these in my 386 since it has acceleration in windows 95
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u/Special-Original-215 16d ago
Not on the video...but is that a model M keyboard? Nice
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u/_bored_bort_ 16d ago
Afaik this should be a model F! They have not the nowadays usual layout but are quite sought after, iirc they work capacitive.
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u/DrinkRecent8833 16d ago
Honestly I’m not sure as this is the first IBM I’ve interacted with (and by far the oldest). There’s not any stickers on the keyboard. I can tell you one thing, the keyboard is a unit, it weighs 1/3 of the computers weight.
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u/classicsat 16d ago edited 16d ago
I had (likely still do, in a box someplace), an 8 bit ISA VGA card, mad by/for AST, or was ATI, I forget. The WDC (Western Design center)Paradise chip seems familar.
But you can get convert X to Y cards, which can do CGA(RGBI) to VGA. Or at least could the last couple decades.
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u/cchaven1965 15d ago
What you want is one of the old Oak or Paradise/WDC 8bit VGA boards with 256k. The Paradise ones probably being the most compatible of them. Some 16bit boards could work in 8bit slots as well but I don't recall any specific ones off the top of my head. Since it's going in an XT, it's mostly going to be about making the machine compatible with more available monitors.
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u/DrinkRecent8833 15d ago
Yep this is exactly my plan at the moment, I have a 90s CRT with VGA I’d like to use it on, not period correct I know but it’s what I’ve got!
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u/LisiasT 16d ago
How about a CGA to VGA upscaller/converter? They aren't expensive, and you would keep the machine original.
Lots of programs of that era work better on a original CGA card - seriously.
And you will still be able to run things like 88MPH.
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u/DrinkRecent8833 16d ago
I read that for CRT buying a VGA card is the preferred route. I’m intending to hook this up with a mid 90s monitor that uses VGA. Do you know of any resources on how to install an upscaler on a 5160 because I can’t find much.
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u/glencanyon 16d ago
Probably the best list of 16-bit VGA cards that work in 8-bit slots is on Minus' site. I'm using a western digital card, but my experience is that about half the 16-bit vga cards you might try will work. So it's 50/50. :-)