Home
Creators
Search Recent Missing Random
Posts
Search DMs Popular Hash Lookup Tags Random
Importer
Import FAQ
Register Favorites Keys Review DMs Logout
Community
Telegram ThePornDude
Home Creators Posts Import Register Favorites Logout

I couldn't fix this SPARCstation because of one STUPID problem (Patreon)

Published:
2025-02-18 00:24:25
Imported:
2026-06
haven't archived this post yet. have a subscription? use the importer!

Downloads

  • 423613024.mp4

Missing 1 full-res photo, 1 video, as this post has not yet been imported.

Content

This Sun SPARCStation IPX sure seemed like it would have been interesting.

The version on YouTube is here: https://youtu.be/Q3YJYzZicg4

BlueSCSI drive bracket model: https://www.printables.com/model/1194491-sun-sparcstation-lunchbox-bluescsi-bracket
Floppy drive SD card bracket model: https://www.printables.com/model/1194503-sun-sparcstation-lunchbox-floppy-drive-sd-card-bra
PSU replacement GitHub project: https://github.com/hanshuebner/ipx-psu-replacement
Glitch Works battery module: https://www.tindie.com/products/glitchwrks/gw-48t08-1-repair-board-module/

Sources:
"Sun ups performance, disk capacity of Sparcstations," InfoWorld, July 22, 1991.
"Sun Puts Hopes Behind Sparc Clones' Success," InfoWorld, December 24, 1991.
"Sun integrates graphics chip, CPU," InfoWorld, September 23, 1991.
SPARCengine IPX spec sheet: https://wiki.preterhuman.net/File:396534175_7494117120615744_1130792880194432456_n.jpg
"RDI expands BriteLite line with three workstations," InfoWorld, December 16, 1991.
BriteLite IPX information: http://www.georg-basse.de/retro/meine-sammlung/sun-workstations/rdi-britelite-ipx/
UltraSPARC CPU photo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SPARC#/media/File:Sun_UltraSPARCII.jpg
"The Players in the RISC Market," InfoWorld, November 28, 1988.
AUI 10Base-T photo: https://www.longshine.de/products/networking/10mbps-aui-tp-transceiver/
AUI BNC photo: https://gelecekbt.com/AT-MX10S
SBus video card photo: SPARCengine IPX spec sheet: https://wiki.preterhuman.net/File:396534175_7494117120615744_1130792880194432456_n.jpg

----------------------------------------­-------------------------------------

Music by Epidemic Sound (https://www.epidemicsound.com).
Intro music by Dan Mason (https://danmason.bandcamp.com) based on elements by BoxCat Games (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/BoxCat_Games).

Files

Previews only

Comments

Jack Beckman

It's a shame but I think you made the right choice. Maybe after seeing your video someone will come up with a video card to loan you just to see if it works.

Mac84

Ugh, the pain I know all too well. If I ever find any Sparc parts I'll let you know! Thanks for an interesting look at the hardware. I used to work at the publishing wing of IEEE. Their whole set up was based on Sparc systems and when I was there I helped with moving them to virtualized Linux systems... mostly because the IT guys were tired of buying parts off eBay. It was a frequent sight to see Sparc boxes (identical to this one) sitting on top of filing cabinets throughout the building. I considered taking one home now and again, but I knew they kinda still needed the parts and I also asked myself "What would I do with this thing?"

adcurtin

I've got a big ole pile of sparc hardware, happy to lend stuff :) I've got sparcstations 2, 5, 10, 20 (and a sparcserver 20), and a sparc classic. I've had all at least somewhat working within the last 5 years or so. One of the sparcstations even had a battery that still kept the data in the nvram chip! I either converted all to use cr2032s, or left that one with the original battery :) I've got a ton of CG6 video cards for the sbus. I think I have one CG3, which might be the only one compatible with the IPX. at some point I'd like to set up a sparcstation 20 with nextstep and 5 displays.

adcurtin
>>165082177

I also have an optical mouse, and relatively recently got the mousepad it needs to work

Ethan Hawke

Good call on not picking up another video card, that failed chip is part of the MMU circuitry (The Page Map) so a new video card would have lead to only more disappointment. Unfortunate that it failed, the IPX is a nice machine.

Alan Grassia

I enjoyed the video and the look back at the Sparc IPX. There was a lot of interesting content in this video. I found the ending to be of a disappointment after watching all of your hard work to get the workstation running again. A good effort was made, and I agree with your decision to pull the plug when you did. I've always been interested in these machines. Back in the mid-1990s and into the early 2000s, the company I work for had an application that ran on set of three pizza box models. I don't specifically remember the model number. They were cool, but at the time, I had no reason to support those machines. Sun hardware is like NeXT hardware for me: interesting, but I'm not sure if it's worth the money to service and get running again. Side note: What is the name of the background music track that starts at about 6:40 in the video? I like that track.