It was probably made at the IBM factory in Spango Valley in Greenock. I worked there in the 90s. Every motherboard went through 12 hours of stress testing in ovens which ramped the temperature up and down. Then random samples of completed PC’s were tested in the PQRL lab where we did DOA tests out the box. Then they were put on vibration tables to simulate shipping. Checked again then put in rooms with the temperatures ramping up and down again. If you were in the room checking the devices. One minute you’d feel your nostrils burning and within a few minutes you’d have to put on a jacket because it was so cold. They were built like tanks.
Thanks for the mention :) Love the Dremel joke haha. I tend to move stickers like that to the back or inside the machine. That way I preserve its history. Good luck with the project, looking forward to the next video!
@@tony359 Love the model 30 :) Let me know if I can help out in any way with the project. btw. your machine is in excellent condition compared to what mine was lol
I can't wait to continue! Working on a Macintosh now. I could use your expertise for a question indeed. Would this work for adapting a floppy? It doesn't have the key slot on the PCB. github.com/schlae/PS2FloppyAdapter I'd be happy to cut it myself but I thought I would check first. Thanks!
For my collection i always leave stickers or markings as they are because i think, this machines must tell the story they had. That makes them unique in some way. Nice video :-) and a good and healthy year 2023!
I used to test, repair, and sell the IBM PS/2's. Plenty of model 30's, but in the last 2 years of that job we had thousands of the model 77's. Which were a very cool computer!
@tony359 Heck yea! The 76/77 i/s with the "Lacuna" planar was one of the very last "pure-MCA" designs (ignoring the VESA video). They weren't quite trouble-free, but overall really cool boxes! I especially like the smaller 56/76 chassis - built like a brick outhouse.
A couple of years ago I bought the same model 286 we had when I was a teenager, this one has a chrome sticker on the front from the store it was originally bought from. I'm definitely leaving it on there, part of it's history. Our first PC was an IBM PS/2 30, the most recent game it would run was Prince Of Persia.
Prince of Persia was amazing on those machines because it supported MCGA of those older model (the 286 might have supported better modes though). However it was barely playable on those slow machines! :) Is your machine working? Thanks for watching!
Fantastic! Looks like this Model 30 found a caring owner. Just a few things to be aware of... The dim-bulb tester is not the best choice for switch-mode power supplies - some PSU designs really don't like the "current sharing" configuration and may release some of that precious magic smoke. Compressed air and floppy drives can be a fatal combination too. The air pressure can easily rip the heads off if you aren't careful enough (ask me how I know). The Dremel had me rolling. Nice video!
Thank you for all the hints! I didn't know about the light-bulb tester. All it does it could drop the voltage a bit but those PSU are usually universal voltage so here in the UK where mains is 240V we can drop it down to 110V and still be within tolerance. Why would the PSU dislike that? I'm just curious, not arguing with what you say. It's quite interesting actually! Compressed air: absolutely. I think I ended up cutting the part where I recommend NOT using a compressor as the air is notoriourly dirty and yes, you don't want to blast the heads - sorry about yours! :) Thanks for watching!
The voltage drop caused by the bulb can prevent the PSU from starting. Normally, this isn't a big deal - the PSU just doesn't run. Not ideal for troubleshooting, but no harm done. However, some kick-start circuits don't cope well with the "soft" line supply and may fail if the condition lasts too long. Many older SMPS designs have a fairly strictly defined operational range. Or two ranges in the case of the auto-ranging units - it's rarely a single continuous 100 - 240 V range! Later designs tend to be much more tolerant (units with active PFC are exceptionally flexible in this regard). A well-designed unit should shut down or never start, but not all PSUs are designed properly, not even those used in IBM gear. (looking at you, Magnetek!) Other SMPS will start but may not operate (regulate) correctly when loaded beyond a certain point, even when coupled with a bulb of seemingly appropriate wattage. Though, I don't have personal experience with that particular problem. Sometimes it can be hard to tell what actually caused the failure. Is the tester better than nothing? Probably yes. It can prevent cascading and potentially quite violent failures. But it can also introduce new problems. It's a tricky business... Be safe out there!
@@GeckonCZ Good to know. I'm aware of the "pulsing" of some modern PSUs when the bulbs draw lots of current because the capacitor is charging. I didn't know some designs might not like that. I'll bear that in mind thanks!
A "Reference Diskette" is typically for the microchannel PS/2s (Model 50 and above) - It is a "Starter Diskette" for the 8-bit and ISA models. The only configuration aspect for the 8086-based Model 30 is setting the real-time clock. The battery on the riser only runs the RTC - there isn't any configuration saved. As for the memory, there is 128Kb soldered on the planar, and the SIMMs are 256Kb apiece to make 640Kb. It is able to run (as a diagnostic measure) without the SIMMs. Sometimes there can be parity errors from the planar memory. The 'Ardent-Tool' website can provide every bit of information you need - and the diskette images for PS/2s and other systems. Good luck with the repairs! I enjoy my Model 30s among the other IBM systems.
Nice video, I’ve been wondering if it’s worth buying an eBay model 30 as most remarks say stay away from them as they are non-standard and hard to fix. Keep up the good work.
Thanks for watching. The model 30 is available as 8086 and 286. The 8086 is mostly standard but the HDD - the floppy has a different pinout but can be adapted. The 286 is mostly non-standard as you say: RAM and slots are proprietary. Besides that, IBM computers are usually very reliable. Mine was kind of an exception though the MB and PSU worked. But look at what state the machine was! :) Good luck!
Those hard drives aren't always as dead as they seem. Those mini electrolytic capacitors are notoriously failure-prone. As are the ones on most of the floppy drives, too. I have a Sony drive in my PS/2 Model 30, and it just needed a thorough cleaning. Most of the other PS/2 floppy drives I've refurbished (Alps and Mitsubishi) needed new caps. One of them needed a new PCB, too, because it was badly damaged under the caps.
hello sir i have an ibm personal system ps/2 model 55 sx i think and i was wondering if you may know what operating system floppy might work with it that might also work with yours? it's a 386... thanks
I had a PS/2 model 30 286 back in the day that I had salvaged at an auction (this would have been around 1990). I loved how over engineered the machine was.
Impressive isn’t it? One of my views used to work for IBM and said boards were stressed in thermal cycling rooms for days before being released to the public!
Instead of drilling holes or removing pins from cables, you could buy a male to female gender changer and break the pin off that instead. Screw it onto the port, and you can then use any normal cable without having to modify the machine itself.
It was probably made at the IBM factory in Spango Valley in Greenock. I worked there in the 90s.
Every motherboard went through 12 hours of stress testing in ovens which ramped the temperature up and down.
Then random samples of completed PC’s were tested in the PQRL lab where we did DOA tests out the box. Then they were put on vibration tables to simulate shipping. Checked again then put in rooms with the temperatures ramping up and down again.
If you were in the room checking the devices. One minute you’d feel your nostrils burning and within a few minutes you’d have to put on a jacket because it was so cold.
They were built like tanks.
When computers were serious machines. And pricey. Amazing story thanks for your contribution!
Thanks for the mention :) Love the Dremel joke haha. I tend to move stickers like that to the back or inside the machine. That way I preserve its history. Good luck with the project, looking forward to the next video!
Good idea so you get the best of both worlds! Thanks for watching and for your help on this project!
@@tony359 Love the model 30 :) Let me know if I can help out in any way with the project. btw. your machine is in excellent condition compared to what mine was lol
I can't wait to continue! Working on a Macintosh now. I could use your expertise for a question indeed. Would this work for adapting a floppy? It doesn't have the key slot on the PCB. github.com/schlae/PS2FloppyAdapter
I'd be happy to cut it myself but I thought I would check first. Thanks!
@@tony359 Not sure if the drive in the 50 and 30 have the same connector. I'll see if I can find my 30 and do a quick test
That would be great thanks so much!
For my collection i always leave stickers or markings as they are because i think, this machines must tell the story they had. That makes them unique in some way. Nice video :-) and a good and healthy year 2023!
Thank you - Happy new year to you too!
Nice find Tony, all the best in 2023.
Thanks, you too!
I used to test, repair, and sell the IBM PS/2's. Plenty of model 30's, but in the last 2 years of that job we had thousands of the model 77's. Which were a very cool computer!
A 486! Must have been super cool!
@tony359 Heck yea! The 76/77 i/s with the "Lacuna" planar was one of the very last "pure-MCA" designs (ignoring the VESA video). They weren't quite trouble-free, but overall really cool boxes! I especially like the smaller 56/76 chassis - built like a brick outhouse.
A couple of years ago I bought the same model 286 we had when I was a teenager, this one has a chrome sticker on the front from the store it was originally bought from. I'm definitely leaving it on there, part of it's history. Our first PC was an IBM PS/2 30, the most recent game it would run was Prince Of Persia.
Prince of Persia was amazing on those machines because it supported MCGA of those older model (the 286 might have supported better modes though). However it was barely playable on those slow machines! :)
Is your machine working? Thanks for watching!
Wow! It's very clean inside, cool machine!
Yes, if I can make it work 100% and restore it, it's going to be a gem! Thanks for watching!
Fantastic! Looks like this Model 30 found a caring owner. Just a few things to be aware of... The dim-bulb tester is not the best choice for switch-mode power supplies - some PSU designs really don't like the "current sharing" configuration and may release some of that precious magic smoke. Compressed air and floppy drives can be a fatal combination too. The air pressure can easily rip the heads off if you aren't careful enough (ask me how I know). The Dremel had me rolling. Nice video!
Thank you for all the hints! I didn't know about the light-bulb tester. All it does it could drop the voltage a bit but those PSU are usually universal voltage so here in the UK where mains is 240V we can drop it down to 110V and still be within tolerance. Why would the PSU dislike that? I'm just curious, not arguing with what you say. It's quite interesting actually!
Compressed air: absolutely. I think I ended up cutting the part where I recommend NOT using a compressor as the air is notoriourly dirty and yes, you don't want to blast the heads - sorry about yours! :) Thanks for watching!
The voltage drop caused by the bulb can prevent the PSU from starting. Normally, this isn't a big deal - the PSU just doesn't run. Not ideal for troubleshooting, but no harm done. However, some kick-start circuits don't cope well with the "soft" line supply and may fail if the condition lasts too long. Many older SMPS designs have a fairly strictly defined operational range. Or two ranges in the case of the auto-ranging units - it's rarely a single continuous 100 - 240 V range! Later designs tend to be much more tolerant (units with active PFC are exceptionally flexible in this regard). A well-designed unit should shut down or never start, but not all PSUs are designed properly, not even those used in IBM gear. (looking at you, Magnetek!)
Other SMPS will start but may not operate (regulate) correctly when loaded beyond a certain point, even when coupled with a bulb of seemingly appropriate wattage. Though, I don't have personal experience with that particular problem. Sometimes it can be hard to tell what actually caused the failure.
Is the tester better than nothing? Probably yes. It can prevent cascading and potentially quite violent failures. But it can also introduce new problems. It's a tricky business...
Be safe out there!
@@GeckonCZ Good to know. I'm aware of the "pulsing" of some modern PSUs when the bulbs draw lots of current because the capacitor is charging. I didn't know some designs might not like that. I'll bear that in mind thanks!
A "Reference Diskette" is typically for the microchannel PS/2s (Model 50 and above) - It is a "Starter Diskette" for the 8-bit and ISA models. The only configuration aspect for the 8086-based Model 30 is setting the real-time clock. The battery on the riser only runs the RTC - there isn't any configuration saved.
As for the memory, there is 128Kb soldered on the planar, and the SIMMs are 256Kb apiece to make 640Kb. It is able to run (as a diagnostic measure) without the SIMMs. Sometimes there can be parity errors from the planar memory.
The 'Ardent-Tool' website can provide every bit of information you need - and the diskette images for PS/2s and other systems. Good luck with the repairs! I enjoy my Model 30s among the other IBM systems.
Thank you very much for watching my video and also for the info provided! I’m gathering some parts, then I’ll continue the adventure!
@IBM_Museum Thank you so much for the "Ardent-tool" link, it's amazing!
Very cool video. Leave the tag for sure.
Thank you! Yes, I feel the general consensus is going to be to leave the tag on! Thanks for watching!
Nice video, I’ve been wondering if it’s worth buying an eBay model 30 as most remarks say stay away from them as they are non-standard and hard to fix. Keep up the good work.
Thanks for watching. The model 30 is available as 8086 and 286. The 8086 is mostly standard but the HDD - the floppy has a different pinout but can be adapted. The 286 is mostly non-standard as you say: RAM and slots are proprietary.
Besides that, IBM computers are usually very reliable. Mine was kind of an exception though the MB and PSU worked. But look at what state the machine was! :) Good luck!
Nice review Tony...
Thank you Sir! Can't wait to bring it back to life!
Great channel love it :) let the sticker be on it its history :)
Thank you! Yes, I feel the sticker should stay! I'll try not to remove it when I clean the case! Thanks for watching!
Those hard drives aren't always as dead as they seem. Those mini electrolytic capacitors are notoriously failure-prone. As are the ones on most of the floppy drives, too. I have a Sony drive in my PS/2 Model 30, and it just needed a thorough cleaning. Most of the other PS/2 floppy drives I've refurbished (Alps and Mitsubishi) needed new caps. One of them needed a new PCB, too, because it was badly damaged under the caps.
Amazing thanks. I do not see leaks on the caps but I will test them all on next episode! Thanks for watching!
I've got a Model 30/286. When I got it, I reformatted the hard drive, as I always do, and of 20 MB it only had 14 KB in bad sectors.
@@fnjesusfreak Amazing! I can't wait to be able to load some software on that computer and then see what works and what not!
BTW if you need parts, try contacting Back Thru The Future Microcomputers. They may still have some old parts kicking around.
Thank you! Is that a computer club? I'm struggling to find info about that.
hello sir i have an ibm personal system ps/2 model 55 sx i think and i was wondering if you may know what operating system floppy might work with it that might also work with yours? it's a 386... thanks
any OS should work on a 386. I'm not sure I understand the question about working with yours and mine?
I had a PS/2 model 30 286 back in the day that I had salvaged at an auction (this would have been around 1990). I loved how over engineered the machine was.
Impressive isn’t it? One of my views used to work for IBM and said boards were stressed in thermal cycling rooms for days before being released to the public!
Happy holidays!
Ps leave the sticker on
To you too! Yes, I think I'll leave it there! :)
I used to have one of these, sadly it was lost forever when my father got arrested :(
Just like my old P75 with VooDoo2 :(
Sorry to hear that... I hope I brought some good memories back!
Most important of this machine: It's not MCA.
Good point. So I can use my standard ISA cards! Thanks for mentioning that!
The floppy drive is without a doubt dead and needs a recap on the bottom side of the pcb, endemic to drive I’m afraid.
Thanks, I’ve read that on some forums. I shall check when I resume this project! Thanks for watching!
😍
PS/2 systems are more trouble than they are worth. Unfortunate because they have a distinctive style.
They have a special meaning for me. I like challenges :) Thanks for watching!
Dremel screwdriver, hehe.
I forgot to use the official IBM paperclip! :)
Instead of drilling holes or removing pins from cables, you could buy a male to female gender changer and break the pin off that instead.
Screw it onto the port, and you can then use any normal cable without having to modify the machine itself.
excellent idea, thank you!
Just call it #basicember instead.
sandblast the chassis
I don't have a sand blaster (I have a Sound Blaster... LOL) but I will take care of it anyways! Thanks for watching!
use a portable sand blaster
Hey thanks I'll have a look. My air compressor is tiny though. I'll definitely look into that.