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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: marcfrick2112 on December 16, 2005, 12:11:03 AM
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Greetings all, I have had an A4000/40 with 16MB RAM for a few years. Since I have a couple of 32MB SIMMS just collecting dust, does anyone know if they will work in a 4000, OR is 16MB the largest SIMM that can be added? Can I mix the size of SIMMS? i.e. leave the 16 in, and add my 2 32MB SIMMS? I would also like to add SCSI to this beast eventually. What card do I need, and how rare are they? Many Thanks to all! :-?
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On the adding memory issue, You are not able to go above the 16mb that is in the A4000 as it will simply not see any more then that. The only option you have is to get a memory exspansion board this usualy replaces the main CPU board with the 68040 chip (A3640) board. There are several boards available for this but you will most likely not find anything new. GVP makes one, the Blizzard board is another one. Most of these also have a faster processor (68040/50Mhz) but can be pricy. Others will be able to give you better info on this I am sure but this is a start.
Adding SCSI can also be done but I am not sure who makes them for Amigas but there are a fue available some will simply atach directly to the CPU board and others slide into your spare slot.
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As has already been mentioned the motherboard will only see 16MB, no matter what size SIMMS you put in there. You need to buy a new CPU board with memory sockets. Phase 5 CyberStorm (MK II, MK III and PPC) cards are generally considered to be the best, and include SCSI either built-in or as an addon, but they are expensive.
You could also add some RAM on a SCSI card - since you intend on adding SCSI anyway. Many SCSI cards have slots for adding extra RAM - I had a GVP Impact II HC+8 in my A4000 which accepted 30pin SIMMS for an extra 8MB RAM.
There's also a board called the DKB3128 which plugs into a Zorro III slot and lets you add up to 128MB, but these are quite rare.
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You have three options as I see it:
1) Add a Zorro II GVP HC+8 card if you desire an additional maximum of 8MB of slower 16-bit memory and a dma scsi interface.
2) Find, if you're lucky, a Zorro III FastlaneZ3 ram/scsi controller card. Most versions will allow you to add up to 64mb of 32-bit ram in matched 30-pin simms. You'll need at least SuperBuster9 an better yet version 11 to use the fast dma scsi-2 controller.
3) Buy a cpu slot accelerator with built in scsi controller. There are/were basically three manufacturers of such processor replacement cards: GVP/GVP-m, Phase5/DCE, and ACT/Apollo. The GVP-m and Phase5 manufactured cards are probably the best, being the most reliable, using standard 72-pin simms up to 128mb and fast dma scsi controllers. The earlier GVP boards use special 64-pin simms and optional scsi controller; the Apollo scsi implementation is a bit flaky. Quality of the DCE cards varies from okay to bad.
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I would say that DCE quality is on par with Phase 5, however they've used an underpowered fan for PPC cooling on CSPPC cards, thus the high failure rate.
I've got two DCE CSPPC cards here that have been upgraded with a better, more powerful fan and they've been working fine without any problems.
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Well... My P5 CSPPC fan stopped to work after one week, lucky that I noticed it and could replace it with a 486 fan. CSPPC still working after 7 years.
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@x56h34
Well, I have a DCE Blizzard 1230/IV and it works fine too but there's been so many threads on bad dce stuff I'd personally go for a Phase 5 board if I had the choice. Even my 1230 board is a bit on the cheapo cost-reduced side, the edge connector for the ram/scsi module uses cheap tinning as opposed to gold contacts as I've seen on the original Phase 5 version. It works but needed cleaning first.