Mac 512k and Mac Plus with Interesting Upgrades

[MeTheMac]

Hello!
Just yesterday, I picked up two compact macs, a Mac II, and a first generation iPod. However, both compact macs have interesting upgrades. Both work (after a quick reflow of the analog board) and are pretty clean inside. They also have fan mods!

The Mac Plus has a 68000 16Mhz upgrade by Brainstorm, and possibly a RAM upgrade. I am not sure how much RAM it has before since I don't have a keyboard, mouse, and boot disk yet to check. I also notice the Mac Plus makes a clicking noise constantly after the macintosh bootup screen shows, not sure why this is. Is it bad? Also, how do I fix a slightly fuzzy screen?

The Mac 512k has a SCSI expansion, and a 2MB RAM daughterboard, both by "Prespect Systems Inc".

On a side note, the Mac II has a Dove Marathon 030 expansion and 5MB of RAM, but is missing both floppy drives and the bay. If anyone has the floppy drives + bay, I'd be interested.

So, I was wondering what sort of value they carry and what use they have. Do they need recapping? Anything I should watch out for (yes, I know about CRTs)?
Also, is there a good way to retrobrite the Mac II case?

Thank you so much!

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The Mac Plus motherboard is pretty normal other than the CPU slotted on top an a resistor(?) connecting the CPU board and some component on the motherboard.

The Macintosh 512k has loads of wires and such everywhere:

.

 

[vtgearhead]

Can you post photos of that Dove accelerator? I recently removed and socketed the 030 chip in one of my SE/30s in order to install a Dove 030 accelerator. Works just fine, but I'm curious if yours has any bodge wires or other obvious differences.

FYI: The 512ke daughterboard is carrying 1.5 MB of memory which likely extends the on-board 512k to a total of 2MB.

 

[MeTheMac]

@vtgearhead No bodge wires that I can see or anything. Haven't got it booting yet since I don't have a monitor -- do you have a recommendation for a monitor to purchase?

Is the Dove 030 very rare?

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Also, what do you mean by the 512ke board -- Ihad thought it was a 512k, not 512ke? Also, do you mean there is 1.5mb on the daughter card or 2MB? It seems to say 2MB on the card. EDIT: It has a 800k drive, so I think it is a 512ke!

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Should I be worried about any of these things on the Plus or 512k?

Plus:

Has brown glue + some weird stuff on the metal bar (transformer)

has a 35v cap at C1 and red caps where RIFAs would go

Flyback transformer model is 157-0026-B from MONITRON

Date of board is 1992



512k:

Has RIFAs

Flyback transformer has more yellow glue

has a (polymer?) cap at C1

Flyback transformer model is 157-0042-C from LIFON

Date of board is 1991

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Here's a photo of the Plus transformer -- wondering if I should swap the 512k analog board into the Plus?

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Any help is appreciated. Any idea of the value of these things?

 

[vtgearhead]

Interesting! That Dove board is very similar to mine, but there are some key differences. I've posted photos of mine in a different topic here and will link to it if I can find it.

I think this link will work:

https://tinkerdifferent.com/threads/remove-and-socket-se-30-cpu.4153/post-35720

 

[MeTheMac]

@vtgearhead Cool, best of luck on that endeavor!
Any idea about the flyback transformer or other questions I posted? Thanks!

 

[vtgearhead]

Can't comment on the flyback (I don't see anything concerning in the photo, though). Definitely replace the RIFA caps ASAP. If your soldering skills are good recap the entire analog board.

 

[MeTheMac]

@vtgeargead Ah okay. On the other side of the leg coming off the flyback there looks to be some corrosion. Is one Flyback better than the other?
Already bought a Console5 kit for both analog boards. Do you know if it comes with the RIFAs?

 

[Kai Robinson]

Would you be so kind as to post a picture of your brainstorm accelerator?

 

[MeTheMac]

Would you be so kind as to post a picture of your brainstorm accelerator?

Of course! I'll get you a photo when I'm doing the diode mod tomorrow!

Any ideas about my above questions? Thanks!

 

[vtgearhead]

@vtgeargead Ah okay. On the other side of the leg coming off the flyback there looks to be some corrosion. Is one Flyback better than the other?
Already bought a Console5 kit for both analog boards. Do you know if it comes with the RIFAs?

If both flybacks appear to be operating correctly my advice would be to leave them be. The Console5 kits come with all caps required, RIFA and otherwise. Note that most of the board caps are gobbed together and/or to the board with hot-melt glue. If it can be peeled away safely, do so. Otherwise a fresh X-acto blade can be used to cut them free. Be careful around the height and brightness pots. They are made out of ceramic and it's easy to break one with a tool swipe. Ask me how I know....