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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: motorollin on November 09, 2008, 09:28:31 AM
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I've got a Viper 1230/28 RTC (http://www.amiga-hardware.com/showhardware.cgi?HARDID=120) which works in that the CPU is reported as a 68030/68882, but its 4MB RAM is not shown ("avail" reports 0 bytes of fast RAM).
Is there anything I need to do to make it see the RAM, or is the board borked?
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moto
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Update:
I put the RAM from the Viper on to my Blizzard and it worked, so it seems that the problem is either the Viper board itself or something I'm doing wrong.
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moto
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This picture (http://www.amiga-hardware.com/download_photos/viper123028rtc_1_big.jpg) shows that the viper has some jumpers for the amount of ram on the board. Have you checked if they are set ok?
edited to be more clear
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Sorry I should have mentioned the jumpers. MEM0 and MEM1 are closed and all the other jumpers are open, which should be correct for a 4MB SIMM (which it definitely is).
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moto
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Has that SIMM worked on that card before? Have you tried another stick? Is it possibly EDO and not compatible?
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I agree with Zac67. Try some other simms. Some accelerators are rather picky about the type and brand being used.
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Zac67 wrote:
Has that SIMM worked on that card before?
I have no idea. It was installed on the card when I got it recently in a box of Amiga stuff.
Zac67 wrote:
Have you tried another stick?
I don't have another one small enough. What would happen if I used a 16MB SIMM?
Zac67 wrote:
Is it possibly EDO and not compatible?
If it doesn't say on the RAM, is there any way to tell?
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moto
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I don't have another one small enough. What would happen if I used a 16MB SIMM?
It might actually work (as 4 MB), but that depends on board layout and various detail. Can't really break anything so I'd try.
Is it possibly EDO and not compatible?
If it doesn't say on the RAM, is there any way to tell?
FPMs usually have somewhat descriptive numbers... What do the chips say?
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You could try re-flashing the card. I think the Viper is actually just a DKB Cobra so it won't recognize the memory on the card with OS3.1. There's a flash chip on the card (a Xilink perhaps?) that needs the scsi flash update to make it compatible with OS3.1. Otherwise, you could put 3.0 roms in your machine to make it see the memory and use the machine like that. This was a pretty well documented problem with the original DKB flash rom software which the updated scsi install disk reportedly fixed. Your mileage may vary of course so if you are worried about reflashing the rom just change the roms on the A1200 motherboard back to 3.0.
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Zac67 wrote:
I don't have another one small enough. What would happen if I used a 16MB SIMM?
It might actually work (as 4 MB), but that depends on board layout and various detail. Can't really break anything so I'd try.
Ok, I'll try it the next time I am able to get the machine out.
Zac67 wrote:
Is it possibly EDO and not compatible?
If it doesn't say on the RAM, is there any way to tell?
FPMs usually have somewhat descriptive numbers... What do the chips say?[/quote]
There is a sticker with a part number "11D1320BA-70". I have found some web sites which reckon it's EDO and some which don't... so I don't know whether it's compatible or not.
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moto
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Argus wrote:
You could try re-flashing the card. I think the Viper is actually just a DKB Cobra
Are you sure? They have different entries on the BBOAH and look completely different.
Argus wrote:
so it won't recognize the memory on the card with OS3.1. There's a flash chip on the card (a Xilink perhaps?) that needs the scsi flash update to make it compatible with OS3.1.
Any ideas where I can find the update? Will it fail if it's the wrong card, or would it break the card?
Argus wrote:
Otherwise, you could put 3.0 roms in your machine to make it see the memory and use the machine like that.
Not sure whether I've got any 3.0 ROMs anywhere. Would I be able to softkick 3.0, or would this not work if the OS can't see the RAM?
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moto
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There is a sticker with a part number "11D1320BA-70". I have found some web sites which reckon it's EDO and some which don't... so I don't know whether it's compatible or not.
I guess that's the label on the SIMM itself (original IBM, probably EDO), possibly the chip code could provide better info.
I guess I have at least a dozen 4 MB SIMMs dug up somewhere, mixed EDO/FPM. If you think it'd be worth the postage, I'll take a look. BBoAH says it'll also take 8 MBs but probably only rare single sided ones?
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Zac67 wrote:
I guess that's the label on the SIMM itself (original IBM, probably EDO), possibly the chip code could provide better info.
Ok, the chips themselves are labelled "TP014400J2C-70". Had a quick Google and can't find anything meaningful - but then I don't really know what I'm looking for!
Zac67 wrote:
I guess I have at least a dozen 4 MB SIMMs dug up somewhere, mixed EDO/FPM. If you think it'd be worth the postage, I'll take a look.
Thanks! I'll try my 16MB SIMM and see what happens. If I still don't have any luck and it looks like the 4MB SIMM is incompatible then I might take you up on that.
Zac67 wrote:
BBoAH says it'll also take 8 MBs but probably only rare single sided ones?
I don't think a double-sided SIMM would fit.
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moto
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Ok, the chips themselves are labelled "TP014400J2C-70". Had a quick Google and can't find anything meaningful - but then I don't really know what I'm looking for!
xx4400 most probably means 4x1M FPM (8 chips?) - I'd venture that's one of the most compatible SIMMs on earth (as long as 70ns is fast enough).
Thanks! I'll try my 16MB SIMM and see what happens. If I still don't have any luck and it looks like the 4MB SIMM is incompatible then I might take you up on that.
Sure, be my guest. I'll check what I've got tomorrow.
I don't think a double-sided SIMM would fit.
That's what the card looks like - I'm pretty positive I've got NO single sided 8 MB.
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Sorry, forgot to look for the RAMs a couple of times.
OK, the single sided types I've got:
4 MB Micron 60 ns FPM (µT4C4007-6 chips)
4 MB LGS 60 ns FPM (GM71C17400-6)
8! MB HP 60 ns EDO (Fairchild 8117805-60)
4 MB LGS 60 ns EDO (GM71C17403-6)
4 MB HP 60 ns EDO (MH1M325-6)
So there's even a single sided 8 MB SIMM, but it's EDO.
If you're interested I could e.g. send you one of the 4 MB FPM ones and one of the 8 MB HP modules for testing. There are several of each type, so if you can use more than those, just tell me. PM your address and I'll check what the postage is. :-)
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Zac67 wrote:
Sorry, forgot to look for the RAMs a couple of times.
No problem!
Zac67 wrote:
If you're interested I could e.g. send you one of the 4 MB FPM ones and one of the 8 MB HP modules for testing. There are several of each type, so if you can use more than those, just tell me. PM your address and I'll check what the postage is. :-)
I'll let you know - thanks very much! I still need to try some of the other suggestions first, but I'll get back to you.
Cheers!
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moto
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I think the viper will only take a 4 or an 8;your 16 probably won't be recognized.And you can't use a pcmcia mem card if you have 8 meg ram on the viper.The UK mags of the 90s which I still have recommend other cards.I have one anyway.