The chassis expansion anthology for PowerMacs

[smilesdavis]

The digidesign 12slot nubus is a modified second wave 8slot

[Protools5LEGuy]

More pictures of the chassis

Digging in http://akarchive.digidesign.com/support/docs/4X/43expchassis.pdf

Found that the chassis could be even from Protools III era, I think, as it has a IBM controller it could be

[Protools5LEGuy]

Digging in http://akarchive.digidesign.com/support/docs/4X/43expchassis.pdf

It can be for 3 generations

[smilesdavis]

We should start dumping the Chassis bridge chip roms

I guess the corresponding Pro Tools Card for above diagrams are:
Pro Tools III (d24, PCI) Pro Tools 24 (d24, PCI), Pro Tools Mix (Mix Card, "Mix Core")

[Protools5LEGuy]

We should start dumping the Chassis bridge chip roms

I think, way more important, to determine the 4 tipical models from Protools III - 4, and make pictures of host+guest cards. Those cards are going dumpster daily if we dont make them inmistakenly clear what they are.

I have determined that my SBS chassis, being one of those with the backplane controller between the DSP card (3 PCI+backplane card+ 4 PCI layout), having a REV. A backplane card and comming with d24 + DSP Farm II + DSP farm + having a IBM chipset should be a old world system. Year 1997-99.

After looking for the specs of the IBM 27XXX chip found that is in fact a PowerPC  60x age bridge set.

[Protools5LEGuy]

I can find guest cards for the IBM27-82353B backplane card I have. It should be same chip number but the B

But some cost 250 bucks and others 8 bucks. But none of the same Rev.A I have. And there is no info if different revision number cards should work or not.

Going Abaco systems www to find info about these systems is pointless until someone put more light on these SBS/Bit 3 chassis.

It seems a more valid choice to look for Magma chassis instead of SBS ones.

Also we need to know European and USA places where we could order new cables. And the pinout of these cables is needed too

[Protools5LEGuy]

I have merged my first call about info on the subject (The chassis expansion anthology for PowerMacs) with the other older post from Knez/Knezzen about his magma chassis.

If someone find other posts about chassis in this forum, please point me to them so I can consolidate/merge all post info here.

[Protools5LEGuy]

Found on eBay a complete SBS set of my partial setup.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/204219050946

450 Bucks and dont send to Spain...

[Protools5LEGuy]

SBS isn't rebranded Magma, but a Digidesign-branded one is an SBS rebranded as Digidesign.

But Digidesign chassis are rebranded Magma

You sure? I've read many times on the digidesign forum about SBS manufacturing the Digidesign ones, and I had a Digidesign one myself with SBS all on the inside of it. I didn't think Magma had anything to do with Digidesign but I may be mistaken.

Ok..both might be right..I have seen 7-slot Digidesign chassis that has Magma stuff inside...but maybe some anothers are SBS manufactured.

Avid and Digidesign used to put its logo over any system they sold.

To summarize the are 3 brands

    Second Wave (mostly nubus stuff)

    SBS / Bit-3 brand (could have a Digidesign logo or Protools logo over)

    Magma brand (could have a Avid/ Digigidesig / Protools logo over

There are SBS and Magma modells based on the DEC 2.1 chipset and maybe Avid forced them to make them compatible and they choose to do it or not.

Maybe only ones are 80 pins and others are 68 pins.

All those questions need to be answered.

[DieHard]

Found on eBay a complete SBS set of my partial setup.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/204219050946

450 Bucks and dont send to Spain...

That looks in great shape for its age!

I hate looking at the stuff, cause it makes me want to buy it, even though I wouldn't know what to do with it these days

[Protools5LEGuy]

This is all I am going to dig in chassis. I have done my part on the SBS family.

I am not going to play russian rullette with host cards + building new cables.

My chassis looks nice unpowered at the bottom of the rack...      

I have all I need from PT TDM with MIX Core + MIX Farm + DSP Farm II + DSP Farm

[Protools5LEGuy]

https://www.digchip.com/datasheets/parts/datasheet/205/IBM27-82660.php

Part   IBM27-82660
Category   Logic => Memory Interface
Title   Controller/Driver
Description   Powerpc 60x Memory Controller And Pci Bridge
Company   IBM Corporation

I have merged most post about chassis in this post and made sticky

[mrhappy]

I have merged most post about chassis in this post and made sticky

Good idea... makes it easier to find info that I've forgotten!

[mrhappy]

My chassis looks nice unpowered at the bottom of the rack... 

Yeah they're fairly 'hefty' so having it at the bottom of the rack will lower the center of gravity and serve to stabilize the rack from falling over!!! Good thinking Protools5LEGuy!!! Haha!

Just took a peek around and I currently have 4 chassis... 1 Digi branded SBS and 3 variously branded Magma models. They're all loaded with 'Mix' cards except for one of the Magamas, which is empty as I 'borrowed' the power supply for the SBS when that one had a problem.

At some point I'd like to try one of the 'older' DSP cards as there are a few plugins I'd like to try that won't run on the newfangled 'Mix' era cards.

[redstudio]

I bought a Magma 13 slot digidesign.. problem. I have everything (rack and two pci cards) but I'm missing the cable..
does anyone know and the scsi cables ( looks like VHDCI ) are compatible to connect or are they custom cables?

[mrhappy]

I think we may have dug up some connector info on one of the older Chassis threads. SBS and Magma used different cable connectors that aren't interchangeable with each other.

What I'd like to know is if the cable/connector for the Magma 13 slot chassis is that same one used on the lower slot count 7-8 slot model?? If it is, that would make your cable search much easier as there seems to be many more of the smaller chassis out there!!

[redstudio]

I had Magma 7 and 13 and I always used the same pci and cable ( looks like a scsi VHDCI.. ) it would be interesting to know if the Vhdci cable is compatible with normal scsi Vhdci cables, does anyone have any information?

[mrhappy]

I think Knezzen has made his own cables in the past and might have an answer?? ?

[ivanshpak]

I had Magma 7 and 13 and I always used the same pci and cable ( looks like a scsi VHDCI.. ) it would be interesting to know if the Vhdci cable is compatible with normal scsi Vhdci cables, does anyone have any information?

This is definitely an ordinary SCSI VHDCI cable, you can buy it, but not longer than a meter

[mrhappy]

This is definitely an ordinary SCSI VHDCI cable, you can buy it, but not longer than a meter

Good to know!