Follow along as I upgrade my Tandy 1000 TX Radio Shack computer with several classic DOS-era hardware enhancements including an XT-IDE CompactFlash hard drive adapter, IIT 2C87-10 math coprocessor, and SmartWatch+ real-time clock module. These upgrades help modernize the Tandy 1000 TX while preserving the original feel and functionality of one of the most popular Tandy systems released during the late 1980s.
Also shown are detailed installation steps for the XT-IDE storage adapter, IIT 2C87-10 floating point unit, and SmartWatch+ RTC upgrade. The video includes opening the system, examining the hardware components, connecting the Tandy CM-11 monitor, running CheckIt benchmarks, configuring MS-DOS startup files, setting the system clock, testing the RTC hardware, and verifying overall system functionality after the upgrades are complete.
Benchmark comparisons using CheckIt demonstrate the performance improvements gained from the IIT 2C87-10 math coprocessor, including comparisons against a stock IBM PC-XT configuration. The video also showcases MS-DOS configuration changes including editing AUTOEXEC.BAT and using the SMWCLOCK utility to synchronize the real-time clock settings during system startup.
Toward the end of the video, I also discuss future plans for the Tandy 1000 TX and provide a sneak peek at a growing collection of Tandy graphics and sound enhanced DOS games running on the system using the Direct Access menu program.
This entry is especially useful for viewers interested in the Tandy 1000, Radio Shack computers, DOS-era PCs, XT-IDE CompactFlash storage, math coprocessors, retro computing hardware upgrades, and vintage IBM PC-compatible systems. The Tandy 1000 TX remains one of the most expandable and enjoyable platforms from the golden age of DOS gaming and home computing.