ph4nt0m: 3Com EtherLink MC/32 3C527 for IBM MCA

[ph4nt0m]

Here we have some pretty cool looking network cards for 32-bit MCA, and they are nice Ethernet rather than obscure Token Ring ones.

It's actually IBM High Performance Ethernet LAN Adapter, FRU 00G3368, almost the same to 3Com EtherLink MC/32 3C527 except with a different ID, different MAC address prefix and more static RAM (32Kb vs 16Kb).

On the left, you see a socketed 12MHz 16-bit AMD 80C186 CPU, two 128Kbit 27C128 UV EPROMs with even-odd bytes of microcode, and next to them four static RAM chips in all their glory.

There is also an Intel 82586 Ethernet coprocessor, 3Com PHY and bus interface logic, etc.

Connects using a thick coaxial (AUI, DB15F connector) or thin coaxial (BNC, RG-58A/U 50ohm) cable, though there are various transceivers for AUI to RJ-45 twisted pair on the market.

The original press release

There is also a lengthy technical reference guide which must be boring to most people.

$20 each, many available

This thing is 32cm long and somewhat heavy, so worldwide postage is $20 for 1 card, $25 for 2 or 3 cards