Upgrading a Tandy 1000 TL/2 desktop
Mark Lenigan
My brother owns a Tandy 1000 TL/2 which he would like to upgrade
It contains the following hardware:
* 80286 8Mhz microprocessor
* 3.5" 720k floppy drive
* 5.25" 360k floppy drive
* 20 MB Hard Drive
* 640k RAM memory
* CM-5 Monitor
* DMP-133 Dot Matrix Printer
* Tandy Mouse
We were wondering how compatable this unit is with "regular" (non-tandy)
parts. Would it be possible to add a larger hard drive, double speed
CD-ROM drive and a 14.4 kBaud modem? Also, would an 80287 math
coprocessor speed up the computer when it is running games, deskmate or
WordPerfect 5.1? We'd also like to add VGA, but the monitor plug looks
different the SVGA monitor plug on my Pentium? Would this be a problem?
If anyone has any knowledge or information regarding this
computer or its upgrades, we would be very grateful for your assistance.
Mark Lenigan
PS How much is one of these computer systems worth
Kevin Gibson
>
>We were wondering how compatable this unit is with "regular" (non-tandy)
>parts. Would it be possible to add a larger hard drive, double speed
>CD-ROM drive and a 14.4 kBaud modem? Also, would an 80287 math
>coprocessor speed up the computer when it is running games, deskmate or
>WordPerfect 5.1? We'd also like to add VGA, but the monitor plug looks
>different the SVGA monitor plug on my Pentium? Would this be a problem?
>
>
>PS How much is one of these computer systems worth
>
The TL/2 is XT-clone but is not 100% compatible. The largest hard drive you
can add to the motherboard controller is 40 MB. You will need an XT-IDE hard
drive -- this is not the same as the AT-IDE hard drives sold by most computer
vendors. One hard drive that I have had suggested to me is the Seagate
ST 351a/x. I have seen 3 vendors for this drive in Computer Shopper magazine.
It goes for about $115. Another alternative is to buy an AT-IDE drive
controller for the TL/2 that plugs into a slot. Radio Shack sells one for
around $150. (cat no. 25-1095) If you have this controller, you can use
standard AT-IDE hard drives in the TL/2. **
As far as VGA is concerned, you will need to add a VGA card to your system.
It needs to be an 8-bit VGA card to be compatible with the TL/2.** The TL/2
comes with a CGA monitor. The motherboard video is actually an enhanced type
of CGA with 16 colors possible. It is often nicknamed "TGA"-- meaning
Tandy Graphics Array.
I do not believe that adding an 80287 is really worth the trouble. I'm not
even sure that the TL/2 has the option of adding a coprocessor. If it does,
you won't see performance boost in WordPerfect because it doesn't use math
functions. The same applies to Deskmate. Some games do use a coprocessor, but
many do not.
As far as the modem is concerned, I'm not sure. You may be able to add a
modem card -- most modem cards will fit in a standard 8-bit XT slot. You will
have to disable a COM port -- I don't know exactly how that is done on the
TL/2. **
I don't think a CD-ROM is possible on the TL/2. The power supply is only
about 65 watts. You can't run Windows 3.1 on the TL/2 because it does not
support 80286 protected mode. If you are looking to do multimedia on this
machine, you are out of luck. I'm not sure if the MS-DOS 3.3 even allows
a CD-ROM drive. Upgrading DOS on the TL/2 is not supported by Tandy according
to my sources.
There are a few companies that specialize in Tandy peripherals:
DCS Industries 800-537-3539
Micro Systems 800-528-8493
PC Enterprises 800-922-7257
It might be wise to talk to one of these vendors about upgrading your machine
or to Tandy (800-the-shack). DCS industries has a book called "Upgrading your
Tandy..." that is supposed to be a good source of info. (about $20) Tandy
has the Technical Reference manual for the TL/2 (around $35 I think).
There is an FTP site for Tandys: musie.phlab.missouri.edu
An FAQ document can be found there that will give you more details.
A WWW page is also available: http://umbc8.umbc.edu/~tmeush1/tandy/
**I HAVE NEVER ACTUALLY PERFORMED ANY UPGRADES ON THE TL/2 SO NONE OF WHAT I
TOLD YOU IS GUARANTEED TO WORK !!! The TL/2 isn't worth much these days
because of its inability to run Windows 3.1, its small hard drive limitation,
and its memory limitations. I suggest buying a new machine over upgrading the
TL/2.
In the long-haul, purchasing a new machine is a better investment than
upgrading the TL/2.
Kevin Gibson
Kosack
: * 80286 8Mhz microprocessor
: * 3.5" 720k floppy drive
: * 5.25" 360k floppy drive
: * 20 MB Hard Drive
: * 640k RAM memory
: * CM-5 Monitor
: * DMP-133 Dot Matrix Printer
: * Tandy Mouse
: We were wondering how compatable this unit is with "regular" (non-tandy)
: parts. Would it be possible to add a larger hard drive, double speed
: CD-ROM drive and a 14.4 kBaud modem? Also, would an 80287 math
: coprocessor speed up the computer when it is running games, deskmate or
: WordPerfect 5.1? We'd also like to add VGA, but the monitor plug looks
: different the SVGA monitor plug on my Pentium? Would this be a problem?
: If anyone has any knowledge or information regarding this
: computer or its upgrades, we would be very grateful for your assistance.
: PS How much is one of these computer systems worth
Eh, the TL/2 is worth probably around $150, $200 tops.
Coprocessor, not worth it for what you want. The Tandy is more
'upgradeable' than thought possible. I have a TL'1', with a 20Mb hard drive.
If you want to do cool stuff, then you may wish to go to
wuarchive.wustl.edu, I believe that they have a EMS emulator, that swaps
out Extended memory and installs a A20 handler look-alike, so Windows
should run theoretically, I've never tried this on my system. There is a
shareware program called QuickPC that reroutes some video output, mainly
text, directly to the video card, making DIR's and other such tasks very
fast. I have a copy of it, but I got it from a friend, and I don't know
where he got it from. It's from Baggs Technologies, if that means anything.
CDROM: Yes, possible too, yet I doubt 2x speed. A few years back Tandy
made a single speed internal CDROM compatible with the TL series. They
bundled Compton's Encyclopedia with it, along with some games. It needed
VGA, of course. The last I saw of it, they were selling it for $319 on
clearance (about 3 years ago), I think it's a Hitachi brand CD.
14.400 Modem: Almost certainly. I would get the 14.4K's with the new
UART though, the 16550(A), if you want 14.4K They buffer info as it comes
in, making it easier on you and your Tandy. I threw a 2400bps modem with
a 16450 into my Tandy right out of my 486 (when I got the 14.4), and it
works beautifully. This means that your Tandy isn't limited to the old
8250 UARTs of the past. Relax: You can do more than you think, your
Tandy is ISA architecture, and a standard IBM bus, no big problems.
If you want to expand memory, get something like RAMpat, and take it up
to 16Mb. I do think though, that all of this stuff is too expensive to
warrant upgrading the Tandy. Donate it to a Public School (like mine)
and get yourself a new computer.
joseph m. grib, jr
>computer or its upgrades, we would be very grateful for your assistance.
>
>Mark Lenigan
>
>PS How much is one of these computer systems worth
Mark,
Frankly, most systems aren't worth the time or trouble to upgrade, whereas
for the same amount of money you can buy a pre-assembled machine, that
should work out of the box. In the case of jumping one processor to another
(eg. 386 to a 486), the cost can be justified if you're not changing very
much other hardware, but in your case where you're upgrading the whole
machine, and it's cheaper just to buy new. (also, you'll get some of the
latest software with it, whereas if you just upgraded components you won't)
Good Hunting,
Joe
Kurt Downing
it was 286 on an 8-bit bus. It had CGA graphics and will accept an 8-bit
VGA card as well as an 8-bit HD controller. Typically the HD was on a
card back then( either 20 or 40 MEG). It would be an OK word processor
if you have some CGA graphics based software. Oher than that it is not
upgradable............ Hope this helps. Kurt. AWP...@PRODIGY.COM
clo...@gmail.com
Michael Black
> You can install an XT-IDE or XT-IDE Light card in the Tandy that will
> allow you to use modern compact flash cards with your vintage computer.
> A trident 8-bit VGA card would also be a good upgrade.
>
can't remember if they had IDE yet.
Chances are really good that his brother gave up on the computer a long
time ago, after all 1995 is 23 years ago.
Michael
clo...@gmail.com
> can't remember if they had IDE yet.
>
> Chances are really good that his brother gave up on the computer a long
