I've had this board for a while but haven't really looked at it much until recently. I have no idea what it's for, other than maybe driving an external monitor. I really can't find any information online about it either. My question is this - why would it need a 68000 processor and four RAM SIMMs if it's just a monitor card? I've seen plenty of Radius SE monitor cards that look like your typical video card (very different from what I have). Anyone have any input here? Curious what others think this is!
Rasterops ClearVue/SE PDS Card - External Monitor? Accelerator?
- Thread starter Garrett
- Start date
Found some information posted by Hunter Scai at verycomputer.com back in 1990:
Now that is intriguing!
A monochrome video accelerator card for the SE.
Cheers!
I am looking for opinions on the RasterOps ClearVue SE high-res Monochrome adapter and monitor. This adapter has a high-res frame buffer, selectable for 1024x768 or 640x870 with an integral 16 MHz 68000 accelerator. The RAM SIMMs reside on the adapter/simulator board and, they claim, can use down to 75 ns RAMS for no-wait state operation. There is even an optional 16 MHz 68881 FPU. They claim that some included software lets applications use the FPU transparently. With the 19" monitor, it lists for $1995 but Software that Fits has it for $1379.
Now that is intriguing!
A monochrome video accelerator card for the SE.Cheers!
Last edited:
Found the product catalog by RasterOps. The ClearVue SE is noted on the last page. Maybe an older record is preserved somewhere that gives more overview, such as in MacWorld from 1989 or 1990? 
RasterOps color display systems and video products for Macintosh 1990: : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
RasterOps color display systems and video products for Macintosh 1990
archive.org
Last edited:
The RasterOps ClearVue/SE was noted on page 15 in MacWorld, August 1989 under the magazine's Mac Bulletin. That clears up the card is actually a combination of an accelerator and video-out subsystem for the SE. Some details are given herein.
Exhilarating!
Hey @Zane Kaminski and @JDW, check this out!
Exhilarating!
Hey @Zane Kaminski and @JDW, check this out!
Last edited:
MacWorld's labs tested various video and monitor systems, and a subsequent review, "Solving the Monitor Mystery," was published in the May 1991 issue on pages 132-141. On page 141 in the second paragraph, Robert C. Eckhardt points out:
To accelerate the B/W screen redraws on an external monitor, RasterOps threw in an accelerator subsystem free of charge for the ClearVue/SE product.
Keep in mind that large screens attached to an SE are usually sluggish due to the SE's slower overall speed. You need to purchase a compatible accelerator if you want to pep things up. (MegaGraphics claims that its Rival monitor is unique in being compatible with all available accelerators.) Notable exceptions to this are the RasterOps ClearVue and the Mobius One Page Display, both of which include acceleration--at no extra charge--as part of the standard SE system.
To accelerate the B/W screen redraws on an external monitor, RasterOps threw in an accelerator subsystem free of charge for the ClearVue/SE product.
Last edited:
Wow - you've really outdone yourself! Clearly I'm no good at research... definitely didn't know where to look. That is so neat that this thing has a built-in accelerator.
That said, I don't think it's working how it's supposed to. I booted from Floppy EMU and was able to launch TattleTech. System is reported at 8MHz, which is strange. I was also unable to boot from my trusty BlueSCSI (hence the floppy).
The large resistor near the display port connector on the board I noticed was getting very warm and looks scortched. I am going to buy a replacement and see what happens when that's replaced, although I have no idea what it is for or if it affects functionality.
That said, I don't think it's working how it's supposed to. I booted from Floppy EMU and was able to launch TattleTech. System is reported at 8MHz, which is strange. I was also unable to boot from my trusty BlueSCSI (hence the floppy).
The large resistor near the display port connector on the board I noticed was getting very warm and looks scortched. I am going to buy a replacement and see what happens when that's replaced, although I have no idea what it is for or if it affects functionality.
Attachments
Happy to help, @Garrett!
There may be connection issues between the card and the PDS slot or towards the PDS connector on the card from the chipset along the circuitry. Also, software drivers may be required. I will try to find out.
Definitely! I suspect recapping and trace checking are needed, too. Welcome to the uncharted region!
There may be connection issues between the card and the PDS slot or towards the PDS connector on the card from the chipset along the circuitry. Also, software drivers may be required. I will try to find out.
Definitely! I suspect recapping and trace checking are needed, too. Welcome to the uncharted region!
Do we have any ROM dumps of this thing around? Mine doesn't have the ROM HI or ROM LO chips installed. Didn't come with it: perhaps they're AWOL? Not needed?
Worse, I don't have an SE to see if it works...or a 68881 FPU...
EDIT: Looking closely at the images on first post, your resistor? I measure 5.6 ohms? has been a little toasty before...
The oscilliator Y1 is 57.2832MHz on mine, i have two jumpers on RS2 and RS1 (just between the CPU and FPU. Noted two electrolytics underneath the board, C37 and C38. Both are 25v 33uF.
Worse, I don't have an SE to see if it works...or a 68881 FPU...
EDIT: Looking closely at the images on first post, your resistor? I measure 5.6 ohms? has been a little toasty before...
The oscilliator Y1 is 57.2832MHz on mine, i have two jumpers on RS2 and RS1 (just between the CPU and FPU. Noted two electrolytics underneath the board, C37 and C38. Both are 25v 33uF.
Last edited:
I'm happy to do a dump of my ROMs for you, if they're needed. Is your card working?
I wonder what those jumpers do. If I had to take a guess on the crystal, I'd guess it is for the external video option.
I have no idea if it works or not since I don't have a SE. I have a SE/30 though
I believe mine is the APD version. Seems like there was multiple versions of it. Dunno if that means the ROMs are different. The video port attachment is very much an APD connector. I wonder if it can be "Managed" to convert it to VGA or something?
I also do not have PROM programmer. Or the chips. Just the card, manual, all the bits except the top of the box it comes in and the ROMs. Weird, since it looks pretty much unused.
I believe mine is the APD version. Seems like there was multiple versions of it. Dunno if that means the ROMs are different. The video port attachment is very much an APD connector. I wonder if it can be "Managed" to convert it to VGA or something?
I also do not have PROM programmer. Or the chips. Just the card, manual, all the bits except the top of the box it comes in and the ROMs. Weird, since it looks pretty much unused.