IBM XT build almost finished!

[compaqportableplus]

So is your IBM inventory still two 5160s, three 5150s and the 5155? (At the start of this Frankenstein thread). No, I believe it’s grown beyond that but I just can’t keep track when it comes you you!
That’s an impressive addition to your collection.

I currently have two 5150s (a Rev A 16KB-64KB and a Rev B 64KB-256KB), two 5160s (the 64-256KB one from 1984 I just posted and a later 256-640KB one from 1986). And I still have the 5155 as well.

Since 2019 when I started this thread, I have sold three of my IBMs; two Rev B 5150s, and the 5160 I started this thread for. I used the money from the last 5150 I sold to buy my 1982 Rev A 5150, and used the funds from the 5160 I sold to buy the one I just posted!

So it’s two 5150s, two 5160s and a 5155 now!

I’m very satisfied with where my collection is at now.

 

[ST251]

Thanks!

Yes, that’s correct for the 1986 ones. I was strictly referring to the 10MB units in the early XTs. I would love to get a WD25 as well though!

I also believe the ST-225 was a 20MB IBM drive. One came in the XT that I have and I have no reason to believe it's not original considering it's attached to an IBM hard drive mount.

Oh, do you still have any of those half height 360K drives? I have two full height Tandons and can part with one for a half height drive

 

[compaqportableplus]

I also believe the ST-225 was a 20MB IBM drive. One came in the XT that I have and I have no reason to believe it's not original considering it's attached to an IBM hard drive mount.

Oh, do you still have any of those half height 360K drives? I have two full height Tandons and can part with one for a half height drive

Yes, they used ST-225s as well, with a special full-height bracket and faceplate as you mentioned.

I wish a had some extra half height IBM drives, but I unfortunately don’t. I’d definitely take you up on that offer if I did!

 

[compaqportableplus]

Just thought I’d post a little update on the XT.

I found a nicer original 130w PSU for it (more on where I found it below). The one that was in here was an original IBM part, but it was definitely a replacement later model supply.

Here’s a pic of the machine with its “new” PSU.



Other than that I haven’t changed anything else. It also has not needed any repairs! The IMI 10MB drive is still working great also.

Here’s a pic I just snapped of it running Windows 1.01.



The 5153 I got in 2019 is also still working great as you can see. (Ignore the pink bar, just a camera artifact).

And I got another XT a little over a month ago! I wanted to get another XT to kind of trick out a bit, since I’m leaving the one above mostly stock.

Here it is all finished!





This one was made in September of 1984, so it’s a few months newer than my other one, which I think is from June or July of 1984.

For cards I have a genuine Hercules card, AST SixPakPlus, BocaRAM EMS memory board (with 1MB), stock diskette controller, Western Digital MFM controller, and an original IBM Async card.

And for drives I have a Tandon TM100-2A, 3.5” 720KB floppy drive and a Miniscribe 3650 40MB MFM hard drive. I’ve actually had that Miniscribe for about 7 years and it has been fantastic (it’s been installed in two different machines in the past that I’ve since sold). I absolutely love the sound of it. The 3650 in particular is one of my favorite old drives.

The Tandon drive is an original IBM, but it’s not actually original to this machine. When I got this XT it had a Magnetic Peripherals drive installed which did not work, and I could not figure out what was wrong with it. So I just swapped it for a Tandon. I’ve had pretty good luck with the Tandon drives. I really like them.

I swapped the 8088 for a V20 as well.

Oh, and I have an aftermarket 200w PSU in here also. This XT had the original 130w PSU when I got it, and that’s the same PSU that went into my other XT! I figured I might as well just go ahead and put the 200w PSU in here since I’m upgrading so much other stuff anyway.

And yes, monochrome graphics! My other XT has CGA, so I wanted to go a different route here. And I just recently picked up that 5151 monitor, since my other one stays with the 5150 I currently have set up.

It’s actually in better condition than my other 5151. Still very bright white and not discolored at all. I’m so glad it didn’t get smashed in shipment! I absolutely love the 5151s, very happy to have a second one.

So there’s my IBM XT update! These two machines are definitely keepers. Super happy with them.