BGoins12
Experienced Member
Looking for some memory for my PS/2 (8530-T31). This model takes 30-pin SIMMs, and none of the ones I have work in it, so for now I am stuck with 512k of memory!
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WTB - Memory for my IBM PS/2 Model 30
- Thread starter BGoins12
- Start date
Stone
10k Member
I have lots of 30 pin SIMMS but I think you need to be a little more specific for a PS/2.
joekster
Experienced Member
I have a small bag of ibm 30pin simms. If you know the fru's that'll work in a mod30, I'll take a look.
vwestlife
Veteran Member
The model 8530-T31 comes up as a PS/2 Model 30-286, not a regular Model 30. In that case, it has four 30-pin SIMM slots, which can accept either 256K SIMMs (for a total of 1 MB) or 1 MB SIMMs (for a total of 4 MB). However, they need to be special PS/2-type SIMMs. It is possible to modify generic 30-pin SIMMs to work: http://john.ccac.rwth-aachen.de:8000/misc/ps2cache/
BGoins12
Experienced Member
Hmm, sounds like it's a PITA to find memory for this particular model, then.
Stone
10k Member
Do the mod.
Chromedome45
Veteran Member
Yep that memory is very hard to find. If you do the mod be careful. Watch for shorts etc.
BGoins12
Experienced Member
I don't think it would. I've been reading that the Model 30 286 is a bit of an oddball when it comes to memory. However, I did find the part numbers to help anyone if they might have any memory laying around.
IBM P/N 30F5360
IBM FRU 74X8637
These part numbers are for a 1MB SIMM, and I would need 4 of them.
IBM P/N 30F5360
IBM FRU 74X8637
These part numbers are for a 1MB SIMM, and I would need 4 of them.
vwestlife
Veteran Member
Unless the parts happen to fall into your lap, I wouldn't put much time or money into upgrading a Model 30-286. Yes, it does have 16-bit ISA slots, so adding things like a sound card are much easier than an MCA-based PS/2, but otherwise it is a slow 1-wait-state 286 with limited expansion and a proprietary 8-bit hard drive interface running at a miserable 3:1 interleave. Maybe with the hard drive replaced by a CF card running on a 16-bit ISA IDE controller the performance would be comparable to other 286s, but with the stock 20 MB hard drive, my 30-286 was barely any faster than my Turbo XT machines.
The 30-286 also has the infamous Dallas DS1287 clock module that inevitably will have a dead battery inside -- although at least it is socketed, unlike another 286 machine I recently acquired whose DS1287 was soldered to the motherboard. :wallbang:
The 30-286 also has the infamous Dallas DS1287 clock module that inevitably will have a dead battery inside -- although at least it is socketed, unlike another 286 machine I recently acquired whose DS1287 was soldered to the motherboard. :wallbang:
I used to own a 8530 286 and I really liked it. I like IBMs because you can very easily just buy that Dallas or in the case of the IBM VP the CR2032. These machines are all very well documented. Obviously the HDD and FDD of the 8530 are somewhat troublesome and not that easy to find. However: they are pretty reliable otherwise and I do not mind the speed that much. 8086/80286 period games run just fine on them and it gave me the opportunity to relive that period of my early teens (nostalgia).
The other IBM PS/2s (few exceptions of course) are a disaster from a sound card (or any card for that matter) perspective: finding MCA sound cards is near impossible.
Just my personal opinion and experience.
The other IBM PS/2s (few exceptions of course) are a disaster from a sound card (or any card for that matter) perspective: finding MCA sound cards is near impossible.
Just my personal opinion and experience.
BGoins12
Experienced Member
Actually, my 30-286 has been pretty good for what I've been throwing at it. It runs all of my older games fine (even with 512k of memory), and it even runs Windows 3.0 very well! I can say that I am quite happy with it.
As for the RTC, I already did the mod where you grind down the sides of it and solder in a battery holder. Works great.
As for the RTC, I already did the mod where you grind down the sides of it and solder in a battery holder. Works great.
BGoins12
Experienced Member
Still looking. I had a lead on some memory, but the guy wasn't able to find it.
There is a 8530 286 up on eBay right now starting @ $1 plus shipping:
http://cgi.ebay.com/390689217538
Good luck!
Buying whole units cheap is the way to go for me. Lots of parts for cheap.
http://cgi.ebay.com/390689217538
Good luck!
Buying whole units cheap is the way to go for me. Lots of parts for cheap.
Stone
10k Member
Ya', but this porbably has the same 512K the OP's machine has and he wants 4MB so that would still leave him 3MB short.
Caluser2000
Banned
Of course that isn't unexpected. But at least they are available. I remember getting 1 meg 30 pin sipps for my clone 286/16 @ $100 a pop back in the day. Obviously I could reuse those, by removing the pins, on 386/486 mobos.
Last edited:
vwestlife
Veteran Member
Even worse is trying to find RAM for the early PS/1 models. Instead of SIMMs, they used proprietary plug-in modules. The idea was that you didn't need to open the case to upgrade the RAM; instead, you just popped off the front bezel and plugged the module into a special slot under the floppy drive.
