IBM XT (Intel 8088)

Memory

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Other Components

IBM Personal Computer XT (5160)

The IBM Personal Computer XT (model 5160, often shortened to PC/XT) is the second computer in the IBM Personal Computer line, released on March 8, 1983. Except for the addition of a built-in hard drive and extra expansion slots, it is very similar to the original IBM PC model 5150 from 1981.

The XT was regarded as an incremental improvement over the PC. Compared to the original IBM PC, the XT has the following major differences:

• The number of expansion slots was increased from five to eight
• Base RAM was increased to at least 128 KB
• 5x8 KB ROM ICs was replaced by 2x32 KB one
• A 10 MB hard drive was included on most sub-models, with a disk controller featuring Xebec ICs: 111 
• PC DOS 2.0 was included
• The 5-pin DIN for the cassette interface was removed

Otherwise the specifications are identical to the original PC.

Operation System

• MS-DOS 3_31

MS-DOS 3.31 also does not use as much conventional memory as DOS 4.x or later, making it a good choice for 8088/8086 based computers.

Video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twgD-u7OPVw

IBM 5160 XP PSU

1983 IBM PC 5160 (XT) Power Supply Rebuild & Modifications – Adam's Vintage Computer Restorations

5161 Expansion unit

The 5161 is an expansion chassis using an identical case and power supply to the XT, but instead of a system board, provides a backplane with eight card slots. It connects to the main system unit using an Extender Card in the system unit and a Receiver Card in the Expansion Unit, connected by a custom cable. The 5161 shipped with a 10 MB hard drive, and had room for a second one.

The Expansion Unit can also contain extra memory, but the Extender card inserts wait states for memory in the Expansion Unit, so it may be preferable to install memory into the main system unit.

The 5161 can be connected to either an XT or to the earlier 5150 (the original IBM PC).

Replacement IBM 5161 Expansion Chassis Extender and Receiver Cards

This project duplicates both the extender and receiver cards used in the IBM 5161 expansion chassis. schlae/ibm-extender: IBM 5161 expansion chassis extender and receiver cards

286/386 Accelerators for XT

A 286 accelerator is a CPU upgrade board for the IBM PC or PC/XT computer. It contains an Intel 80286 CPU and cache memory. It may also provide a socket for an 80287 math coprocessor.

The expansion card usually comes with a ribbon cable which connects it to a small CPU daughtercard that plugs into the motherboard's CPU socket after you remove the original CPU from the motherboard and put it on this daughtercard instead.

EGA or VGA graphics

EGA or VGA graphics are a bit out of scope for an IBM XT. EGA was introduced in 1984 and better paired with a i286. And VGA was introduced in 1987 and therefor better paired wit a i386.

Upgrading an XT to EGA or VGA graphics today can be hit and miss. Here are some points:

Some graphics cards look "16-bit", but the small 16-bit header is not connected. Some 16-bit cards have a jumper to allow them to work in an 8-bit PC, although sometimes this means an 8-bit slot in an AT-class computer, and will not work in the 5160. Replacing the Intel 8088 with an NEC V20 can make some previously incompatible VGA cards work just fine.

Some cards that are known to work in an XT are:

• AST VGA
• AST VGA Plus
• Hercules GB500
• IBM PS/2 Display Adapter
• Micro Labs Ultimate VGA
• Oak OTI-037C
• Oak VGA-K077
• STB Systems VGA 640
• Video Seven VEGA VGA
• Video Seven VGA-16
• Video Seven VGA 16E
• Video Seven VGA 1024i
• Video Seven V-RAM VGA
• Wang 3050
• WD Paradise VGA Professional