Amiga.org

Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: vegavov on November 30, 2010, 07:22:32 PM

Title: A500 Ram upgrade
Post by: vegavov on November 30, 2010, 07:22:32 PM

I've got an Amiga 500 and my goal is to be able to play games that require 1mb of RAM. So I got my hands on a 512kb RAM expansion card and plugged it in fairly easy. Without the card workbench 1.33 tells me I have 362k bytes free after booting up. With the card inserted and turned on it tells me I have around 800k free after booting workbench.

But, when I try to run my 1mb RAM game with the board turned on I get a guru meditation error. I also got the error when trying to run non-1mb RAM games. With the card turned off I can run these non-1mb RAM games fine.

The errors i've gotten: (CPU errors?)

Guru Meditation #00000004.xxxxxxxx
Guru Meditation #00000003.xxxxxxxx

Is the problem connected with the RAM expansion card and can I do anything to fix it?

I have a kickstart rom 1.2 btw

-thanks

Title: Re: A500 Ram upgrade
Post by: Tenacious on December 01, 2010, 03:02:56 AM

Don't remember ever seeing this.  My first reaction is to suspect the ram expansion.

What do you do to "..turn it on.."?

Is it a Commodore A501, or other brand?  Goes into the trapdoor on the bottom, right?

Are any of the components socketed?  Any loose?

Is there corrosion associated with the battery?

Title: Re: A500 Ram upgrade
Post by: vegavov on December 01, 2010, 11:59:38 AM

There is a switch on the ram card to turn it on and off. I'm pretty sure it is a A500. Thats what it says on the bottom. Yep, trapdoor on the bottom.

It seems there might be some corrosion on the battery. However, before installing the card, during boot, it said something like: battery backed up clock not found. With the card it prints a date and time.

Not sure what you mean by socketed components. Components on the ram card?

Title: Re: A500 Ram upgrade
Post by: vegavov on December 01, 2010, 12:11:58 PM

Here's a picture of the expansion card.

http://zergasm.com/files/dcp1526

Title: Re: A500 Ram upgrade
Post by: Xanxi on December 01, 2010, 12:15:04 PM

Time to remove this leaking battery and clean the board.

Title: Re: A500 Ram upgrade
Post by: vegavov on December 01, 2010, 03:01:42 PM

Quote from: Xanxi;595874

Time to remove this leaking battery and clean the board.

Okay, so I should pry off the battery? The board can function without it?

Title: Re: A500 Ram upgrade
Post by: Zac67 on December 01, 2010, 09:31:43 PM

Run a RAM test - probably there's either a chip fault or the battery damage has eaten away vital contacts... Before cleaning up the mess it's probably easier to get another card.