Amiga.org

Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: Dropcheck on July 28, 2007, 02:57:44 PM

Title: Adding 512 Chip ram to A500 Rev 6a MB
Post by: Dropcheck on July 28, 2007, 02:57:44 PM

Hi,

   So I've given up on my quest to transform a A1200PAL machine into a red,white and blue NTSC machine.  Silly me I thought it would make sense to make one mb and have a easy way to switch between video standards.   :crazy:

   Okay so my next quest is to upgrade the chip ram on my A500 Rev 6a mb.  It has the plated through holes for the additional memory dips, now solder covered.  My A501 card is working just fine.  Is there any other mods I need to make other than soldering the additional ram chips?

 :-?

Thanks,

Title: Re: Adding 512 Chip ram to A500 Rev 6a MB
Post by: T3000 on July 28, 2007, 03:06:01 PM

Have you concidered a Megachip for 2 megs of chipram? Pops right into the socket, no soldering. They come up on ebay occasionally.

Title: Re: Adding 512 Chip ram to A500 Rev 6a MB
Post by: Jeff on July 28, 2007, 03:16:55 PM

I did a 2 meg chip ram hack to my rev 6a 500 years ago. It involved using an 8372B Agnus and replacing all of the 256x4 memory chips on the motherboard with 1Megx4 (including filling the empty slots). Some traces also had to be cut/modified. As I recall it was in Amazing Computing magazine last half of 1993.

It would indeed be much easier to just find a used Megachip:-D

Title: Re: Adding 512 Chip ram to A500 Rev 6a MB
Post by: Zac67 on July 28, 2007, 03:21:57 PM

Talking about A501 - you're not thinking about adding 512 MB chip RAM onboard with the A501 in place, are you? These two exclude each other since they use exactly the same signals.

Title: Re: Adding 512 Chip ram to A500 Rev 6a MB
Post by: SamuraiCrow on July 28, 2007, 05:00:52 PM

Zac67 is right.  If you put in the ECS Fat Agnus and Super Denise in your motherboard, the A501 RAM expander will act as chip RAM.

Title: Re: Adding 512 Chip ram to A500 Rev 6a MB
Post by: Crumb on July 28, 2007, 05:22:36 PM

ECS Denise is not required

Title: Re: Adding 512 Chip ram to A500 Rev 6a MB
Post by: Ilwrath on July 28, 2007, 05:58:40 PM

Quote

ECS Denise is not required

Correct.  Though an ECS Agnus is.  (rev 6a would have shipped with one standard, anyhow.)

Also, there is a jumper or two to cut.  I found the info on Google a while back, when I did the mod to a rev 5 A500 (which is a bit more complicated, but not much).

Title: Re: Adding 512 Chip ram to A500 Rev 6a MB
Post by: Orjan on July 28, 2007, 07:50:55 PM

Quote

Zac67 wrote:
Talking about A501 - you're not thinking about adding 512 MB chip RAM onboard with the A501 in place, are you? These two exclude each other since they use exactly the same signals.

Hehe.. 512 MB RAM on an A500 motherboard.. Now thats something! :D

Title: Re: Adding 512 Chip ram to A500 Rev 6a MB
Post by: whabang on July 28, 2007, 10:14:59 PM

Not just 512 Mb RAM, it's 512 Mb CHIP RAM.
Add 128 Mb Fast RAM to that, and you'll have a monster! :-D

Title: Re: Adding 512 Chip ram to A500 Rev 6a MB
Post by: Zac67 on July 28, 2007, 10:48:00 PM

 :lol: got me!

With those 1/2 Gig graphics adapters nowadays, it's hard to believe you can actually work with one thousandth of that at times.

Title: Re: Adding 512 Chip ram to A500 Rev 6a MB
Post by: Dropcheck on July 29, 2007, 08:09:01 AM

Title: Re: Adding 512 Chip ram to A500 Rev 6a MB
Post by: Dropcheck on July 29, 2007, 08:10:44 AM

Quote

Zac67 wrote:
Talking about A501 - you're not thinking about adding 512 MB chip RAM onboard with the A501 in place, are you? These two exclude each other since they use exactly the same signals.

Well..... I thought about it  :crazy: Nah, I know I need to remove the A501 :)