Got an IBM Portable PC 5155. Really slow, but it's a nice engineering piece.
Sunday, April 23, 2017, 09:00 PM
Posted by Administrator
This Portable PC is heavy, but it's an IBM PC/XT in a case with a build in amber CRT screen.
It's factory configuration only includes 256KB RAM, an IBM PC floppy controller and a CGA graphics card. The internal screen is feed by an FBAS (Composite) video signal (and not with 9-pin connector).
![](../images/IBM_Portable_PC_front.jpg)
An original 64-256KB memory card was installed, which results in 512KB in total.
But I managed to add interface cards, and I replaced the original memory card with a Mycomp MEMS memory card, which can be populated with gigantic 2048KB RAM, and this card can offer conventional *and* expanded memory (at the same time).
In the screenshot, you can see the result after it was booted (IBM DOS 5.02 is used).
![](../images/IBM_Portable_PC_with_640KB_and_EMS.JPG)
Believe me, repairing or just changing the cards, DIP switches or memory chips on the mainboard is *NO* fun. Inside the case it's really (over)crowded. But on the other side, in terms of mechanical quality, this PC seems to be very good quality.
![](../images/IBM_Portable_PC_opened.JPG)
Take a look at the 'related link' below, if you are interested in further details.