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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: keropi on December 05, 2007, 08:31:13 AM

Title: Apollo 2030 troubles...
Post by: keropi on December 05, 2007, 08:31:13 AM
I have bought from eBay as working an Apollo2030 card for my A2000... so I unplugged my GVP-030/40 accelerator, put the apollo , and.... nothing....
the monitor powers-up (through the scandoubler) but it never boots... I also diasbled ram, scsi, ram+scsi, but no-go... I use it on a rev 6.2 mobo with KS3.1 and 2MB chipram upgrade...
any ideas? or is it dead? (most propablly)
thanks!  :-)
Title: Re: Apollo 2030 troubles...
Post by: tokyoracer on December 05, 2007, 09:35:13 AM
It doesn't sound good... :-(

All I can say is try removing it and replacing it, or put it in a different slot. :-?
Failing that, you could try swapping CPU's if you have any spare, have you looked hard to see any phisical imperfections?
Title: Re: Apollo 2030 troubles...
Post by: alexh on December 05, 2007, 09:37:49 AM
Quote

tokyoracer wrote:
put it in a different slot. :-?

AFAIK, there is only one CPU slot on an A2000 (or any big box Amiga)

I'd try to use a real KS1.3 ROM, maybe that is it?
Title: Re: Apollo 2030 troubles...
Post by: keropi on December 05, 2007, 09:40:05 AM
a real 1.3 rom??? why? I have a real 3.1 rom on my A2000, and currently running OS3.9...
Title: Re: Apollo 2030 troubles...
Post by: orange on December 05, 2007, 09:41:59 AM
IIRC, I've run Apollo 2030 with KS3.1
I only had to disable SCSI.
Title: Re: Apollo 2030 troubles...
Post by: alexh on December 05, 2007, 10:46:46 AM
Quote

keropi wrote:
a real 1.3 rom??? why?

If you can, try it. Just to the point where the kickstart hand appears.

Accelerators have Boot-ROM's on them, and they can be tied into the Kickstart ROM. If you have a particularly old accelerator with an early Boot-ROM it may not be KS2.x+ compatible.

Not sure this applies to the Apollo 2030 though, there are some comments on the internet saying it doesnt work with anything less than KS2.04 but I am unsure this is true.
Title: Re: Apollo 2030 troubles...
Post by: clemenza on December 05, 2007, 10:47:46 AM
I think your 2030 is probably dead. I use my 2030 on a rev. 6.2 board too and I believe that it is the most trouble-free accelerator for the A2000. I didn't have to disable anything - it worked 100% the moment I installed it. One thing though: did you tried it without installing the RAM SIMMs?
Title: Re: Apollo 2030 troubles...
Post by: keropi on December 05, 2007, 10:52:55 AM
yes, I have tried it with and withou ram on it too...
I think it is dead too  :-( also I don't have any other rom for my A2000 except the 3.1 one... IIRC apollo2030 needs KS2+ ...
Title: Re: Apollo 2030 troubles...
Post by: voxel on December 05, 2007, 12:22:34 PM
Apollo 2030 cards are the worst accelerator cards I ever seen for the Amiga :-(

It are slow (even doesn't compare to the slowest GVP card) and  there is no real scsi chip on it, only one big MAC230 (if I remember well) that recreate it (badly) among other things...

For getting mine working I was forced to install an internal scsi hard drive WITH active termination AND an external active termination, as shown :

HD + active terminator --- A2030 scsi --- external scsi plug + active terminator

I was forced to use two identical edo simms, and mine was limited to 32MB total :-(

Try this, if it's still not working try changing the kicktart rom back to 2.0 (though my A2000 was 3.0)

tell us what's next :-)
Title: Re: Apollo 2030 troubles...
Post by: clemenza on December 05, 2007, 01:42:55 PM
My 2030 works flawlessly with a 3.1 ROM chip. I think it's a great accelerator (for it's price). As I said, I never had any problems with it...
Title: Re: Apollo 2030 troubles...
Post by: keropi on December 05, 2007, 01:53:45 PM
well I give up. I am 99% certain my 2030 is dead.  :madashell:
Title: Re: Apollo 2030 troubles...
Post by: clemenza on December 05, 2007, 02:03:03 PM
Don't you have any other 68030 accelerator to exchange the 030 chip ? (just for test...)
Title: Re: Apollo 2030 troubles...
Post by: keropi on December 05, 2007, 02:16:15 PM
unfortunatelly both my gvp and apollo have the 030's soldered...
Title: Re: Apollo 2030 troubles...
Post by: alexh on December 05, 2007, 02:56:49 PM
Get your money back!!
Title: Re: Apollo 2030 troubles...
Post by: keropi on December 05, 2007, 03:06:50 PM
Quote

alexh wrote:
Get your money back!!


yeah, I wish!
Title: Re: Apollo 2030 troubles...
Post by: Lemmink on December 05, 2007, 04:55:15 PM
I second the opinion that the Apollo2030 is the worst and least compatible accelerator I ever came across (I had about 3 over the time, still have one because I`m too ashamed to sell it to anyone).
Depending on the mobo revision you have to switch off CPU caches during boot up. Some mobo revision are liked more then others (4.x seam to be liked more then 6.x). You can completely forget about the onboard SCSI. On RAM modules the A2030 is verry picky.

Try removing the 68000 from the board.

Having a GVP030 an Apollo2030 is a downgrade. Only pro is it can take PS2 RAM (if you get it to work that is).
Title: Re: Apollo 2030 troubles...
Post by: keropi on December 05, 2007, 05:12:14 PM
damn, so it is THAT crappy... I wish I knew it before lol
ps2 ram modules and the full 030 made me wanting it...
Title: Re: Apollo 2030 troubles...
Post by: hamtronix on December 05, 2007, 05:24:42 PM
Quote

Lemmink wrote:
I second the opinion that the Apollo2030 is the worst and least compatible accelerator I ever came across (I had about 3 over the time, still have one because I`m too ashamed to sell it to anyone).
Depending on the mobo revision you have to switch off CPU caches during boot up. Some mobo revision are liked more then others (4.x seam to be liked more then 6.x). You can completely forget about the onboard SCSI. On RAM modules the A2030 is verry picky.

Try removing the 68000 from the board.

Having a GVP030 an Apollo2030 is a downgrade. Only pro is it can take PS2 RAM (if you get it to work that is).


Why dont you sell yours for shipping cost to the cat with the dead one so he might repair his? Just a thought.
Title: Re: Apollo 2030 troubles...
Post by: clemenza on December 06, 2007, 06:34:39 AM
@Lemmink:

If you don't want your Apollo 2030 I'm willing to buy it - so you don't have to be ashamed anymore! No, really, if you want to sell it, PM me!
Title: Re: Apollo 2030 troubles...
Post by: alexh on December 06, 2007, 09:24:21 AM
Quote

keropi wrote:
Quote

alexh wrote:
Get your money back!!


yeah, I wish!

If you bought via ebay and PayPal then make a claim. Sold as working means working! If you paid by credit card, your purchase is insured for 30 days so claim on your credit card. Dont be lazy, get your money back!
Title: Re: Apollo 2030 troubles...
Post by: keropi on December 06, 2007, 09:41:39 AM
it was an IBAN/BIC money transfer... the seller sends me another 2030 but without the GALS, I must put the ones I currently have on the 2nd, so I can make it work... also the one that he sends me now is the older version...