Display Video from an IBM PS/2 Model 30 in HDMI by Installing a PicoMem 2 ISA Card With PicoGraph Firmware and a DisplayLink USB Adapter (30-60 mins)

Graphics, Hardware, Video

Task: Display Video from an IBM PS/2 Model 30 in HDMI

Needed: ISA PicoMem 2 Card, PicoGraph Firmware, and DisplayLink Adapter

Time: 30-60 minutes

Introduction

I have previously posted about my challenges getting the IBM PS/2 Model 30 to display in HDMI. My first solution was to install a VGA card with its own BIOS to bypass the onboard MCGA graphics that are difficult to upscale and covert to HDMI. This solution works quite well. A new solution that just became available is to use the open-source PicoGraph solution from Ian Hanschen as the firmware for an ISA PicoMEM card. I have previously posted about the PicoMEM 2 card that provides hard drive storage, floppy drive emulation, networking, audio, and peripheral support via an onboard Raspberry Pi Pico. Here, the PicoGraph firmware sends video out of the USB port on the PicoMEM card that can be converted to HDMI using a DisplayLink adapter. I was fortunate enough to be one of the first beta testers of this solution before being made public. Thanks, Ian, for all your hard work on this. Much appreciated!

Instructions

  1. Purchase a PicoMEM 2. I purchased my PicoMEM 2 from texELEC in the USA for $90 plus taxes and shipping. There are other suppliers such as this site in Europe. Note that no SD card is needed for using this as a video device.
  2. Next, you will need to flash PicoMEM with the PicoGraph firmware that can be downloaded from the GitHub. The instructions are for flashing are on the GitHub. You can choose CGA, EGA, or VGA, for example.
  3. Buy a compatible USB DisplayLink adapter. I purchased this one from Amazon for $40. Look for the Pluggable UGA-165 models with the DL-165 chipset.
  4. Install the flashed PicoMEM in the ISA slot with the computer powered off. Connect the USB-A from the PicoMEM to the USB 2.0 Mini slot on the DisplayLink. Connect the DVI-HDMI adapter to the DisplayLink (included in my package). Connect the HDMI to an LED monitor.
  5. You are ready to boot your IBM PS/2 into HDMI video out!

Comments

This works really well with outstanding video quality on my LED screen as you see with the intro screen to Prince of Persia above with its lovely graphics and colors.

I was impressed with the speed playing Prince of Persia. I did not notice any lag.

Note that I have two PicoMEMs and this worked quite well with the second one plugged into an ISA slot for hard drive and floppy support.