Monotech NuXT

Specifications

It's not like I really needed another XT compatible but the fact that I could solder one up myself was a prospect I couldn't refuse. Upon discovering it online, I immediately ordered one. My timing was impeccable as a few days later LGR made a YouTube video about it and Monotech soon sold out of kits.

The Monotech NuXT is a PC-XT motherboard in a MicroATX form factor with a built in VGA graphics controller, floppy controller, RS232 port, and an XT-IDE compact flash slot that emulates a hard drive. Pretty much everything one needs.

Although I had the option of purchasing it pre-built, a lot of the fun is in soldering it myself. The fact that it had a big quad flat pack Trident VGA chip with as many legs as a millipede that I had to hand solder was not enough to turn me off. The compact flash slot also had many fine pitch legs as well. Both these devices were the source of a lot of swearing for me but the end result was successful.

After soldering up the lot apart from the ISA slots, the computer started up with no problem. I then soldered in the ISA slots but found that, once I powered it up, VGA stopped working properly. Sometimes I got garbage while other times I had no video at all. I then reflowed some solder on some suspicious looking pins on the VGA chip and all was fine ever since.