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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: patrik on May 26, 2003, 08:00:54 PM
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Does anyone know anything about the 100-pin (2x50) expansion-connector found ínternally in the GVP HD8+ and A530?
As far as I know the only device manufactured for this expansion was a PC-emulator-card from GVP.
One interesting thing is that when following the traces to the connector on the PCB in the HD8+ and A530 it seems to have quite the same pinout as a ZorroII-connector.
References:
Front side of HD8+ PCB (http://amiga.resource.cx/gallery/HD8.jpg)
Back side of HD8+ PCB (http://amiga.resource.cx/gallery/HD8-back.jpg)
Front side of A530 PCB (http://amiga.resource.cx/gallery/A530.jpg)
Front side of PC-Emulator PCB (http://amiga.resource.cx/gallery/PC286.jpg)
/Patrik
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I think your right about it being just a zorro II pass-thru connector. GVP is still around (Kinda) you might ask them about it..... www.gvp-m.com
Plaz
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I sent them a mail asking about it, but they havent answered :(.
/Patrik
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If this expansion-connector is a ZorroII-slot disguised as another physical connector the big question is how much of the ZorroII-standard this expansion-connector supports.
Does it for example support another ZorroII device utilizing DMA-transfers (the GVP SCSI-controller is already utilizing DMA-transfers if I recall correctly) to be added to this expansion-connector.
It wouldnt definately not be a very hard task to build a converter from the internal expansion-connector to a real ZorroII-connector.
/Patrik
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A very interesting question Patrik, I had never thought about this, but I follow your logic... I have two of these GVP HD8+ controllers so would be eager to hear what you find out...
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If I remember my Amiga trivia facts correctly - from the original ads and reviews in 1989 Amiga magazines - those slots did take a special GVP ZorroII Card shaped to fit the sloping GVP SERIES II A500-HD+ and 030 Accellerator cases!
Remember that the A500 LH expansion connector (and the A1000 RH expansion connector) is a ZorroI connector with 86 of the ZorroII 100 pins.
The A2000 uses a 86 pin slot for CPU Accellerators.
Comparison of the 86 PIN EDGE CONNECTOR on A500/A1000/A2000/A2000B models (http://www.hardwarebook.net/connector/bus/zorroii.html)
Zorro II/III Pins (http://www.hardwarebook.net/connector/bus/zorro.html)
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Had a look through a few AMIGA WORLD issues....(Pg 7 usually has a GVP ad).
In the March 1991 issue:
' Unique new "Mini-Slot" brings out all the A500 expansion bus signals, allowing for exciting future expansion options - the only intelligent alternative to risky "Pass-Through" functionality. '
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So does anyone have any idea if this is a possibility? If so, all you'd need to do is find a zorro connector (a chore in itself) and then solder it to the pins....
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hi,
I kinda of remember an old A500 expansion slot add on called "THE SLINGSHOT", if my memory serves me correctly, I think it was a Zorro II expansion slot that was capable to expansions like a 24 bit graphics card or something and also had a pass through to the A500 external hard drive
SlingShot Pro for A500 (http://www.amiga-hardware.com/slingshotpro.html)
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@Cyberus
You can buy two ISA-connectors, saw them off to create two 50-pin connectors and then glue the now edgeless sides of them together and tada - you now got yourself a 100-pin ZorroII/III-connector.
/Patrik
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IIRC Jens Schoenfeld (sp?) of Individual Computers was able to get / supply them too.