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5160 external drives question

clh333

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Joined
Feb 22, 2015
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Cleveland, OH, USA
My 5160 IBM uses an 8-inch IBM floppy controller (ISA card) with an external port. I understand that IBM made this configuration to allow for two more drives without putting additional strain on the XT power supply.

I don't want to modify the case or the configuration of drives internally (1 full-height 360 Tandon, one full-height 20 Mb Everex HD) but I would like to be able to attach a 3.5 inch floppy through the external port. I'm sure someone has done this before; can anyone give me some pointers?

P.S. the IBM controller is also connected to a Central Point Deluxe Option Board.
P.P.S. Upgraded the system ROM to v3 already.

Thanks for your suggestions.

-CH-
 
An 8-inch IBM floppy controller for a 5160? I wasn't aware that IBM made them. Do you have a part number?

Yes, you can use the external port crimping a straight-through or twisted standard floppy ribbon cable to a DC37M connector. Align the ribbon cable so that the "pin 34" side of the cable is on pin 37 of the crimp connector. You'll have to supply external power, unless this is a third-party controller and not IBM. Some of the former allowed for power on the DC 37.
 
An 8-inch IBM floppy controller for a 5160? I wasn't aware that IBM made them. Do you have a part number?

Thank you for your replies, and pardon me for the confusion. I couldn't see the part number and didn't want to pull the card from the chassis just to verify. I do not have any 8-inch drives; have never seen one or an 8-inch floppy disk, for that matter.

I might have made things clearer by adding "8-inch long" controller card. I have two of them; I believe both are IBM. I am attaching a picture of the second controller card, which is stamped 1503968 XM and elsewhere 635. There is nothing else on the front of the board to identify it. It does have a 37-pin female connector, and the FDC chip is an NEC D765AC. On the back of the board is an image of a palm tree inside a square outline, and "94V/0" next to it.. "30-83" is printed in black ink below.

Thanks again,

-CH-

Edit:
FDC Card.jpg

And by the way, MinusZeroDegrees covers the topic very thoroughly. My bad for posting needlessly.
Thanks anyway...
 
Last edited:
Are you talking about his photo? It showed up just fine over here... {puzzled look}

I had to re-attach the picture because my original login timed out while I was composing my posting. Sometimes it takes me a little time to translate from my initial impulse to a polite response.

-CH-
 
Looks like a 3/4" floppy drive controllelr from here. Going to be hard to find 3/4" disks.
 
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This might help you....
https://www.cnvintage.org/d/55-ibm-5160-xt-720k-3-5
 
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