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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: supremo on July 16, 2011, 06:12:57 PM

Title: Amiga 600 2mb chip hard hack
Post by: supremo on July 16, 2011, 06:12:57 PM
Dear all:

I have just purchased an A600 with a 2mb chip hard hack. I know there are two types of hacks, one prevents the expansion port to be used and the other not.

There is an easy way to know which kind of hack it is?

At the moment, I don't have any card to test the expansion port. (I want to purchase an ACA630).

Another information that can be useful, is that it has a 68010 chip.

Any help will be very appreciated.
Thanks and regards.
Title: Re: Amiga 600 2mb chip hard hack
Post by: Matt_H on July 16, 2011, 07:54:54 PM
Never seen or heard of this being done (successfully) before. Very interesting.
The ACA630 clips over the 68K chip, so it wouldn't be affected by the status of the trapdoor connector. Whether the 010 throws it off is another matter - my guess would be that it doesn't, since the 010 is pin compatible.

You'd probably seen to ask Jens Schoenfeld directly whether the clockport and other goodies on an A604 would work in such a machine.

Got any photos of the board? I'd love to see what it looks like.
Title: Re: Amiga 600 2mb chip hard hack
Post by: J-Golden on July 16, 2011, 08:24:54 PM
+1!!!

Pics. PLEASE!:)
Title: Re: Amiga 600 2mb chip hard hack
Post by: mfilos on July 16, 2011, 08:34:01 PM
I don't think that there is a problem for mounting an ACA630 over an 68010.
Since the 68010 is modded to the mobo, you should check how good the person that did the mod soldered the 68010 in place. The only problem is IF ACA would clip over the 68010 due to bad soldering.

I didn't know about 2 methods of piggybacking RAM to A600. I only knew one but I'm definitely unfamiliar if the mod interferes with the actual expansion port.
I guess contacting Jens Schoenfeld through his website would solve your mystery.
Title: Re: Amiga 600 2mb chip hard hack
Post by: supremo on July 16, 2011, 09:06:04 PM
Quote from: Matt_H;649858
Never seen or heard of this being done (successfully) before. Very interesting.
The ACA630 clips over the 68K chip, so it wouldn't be affected by the status of the trapdoor connector. Whether the 010 throws it off is another matter - my guess would be that it doesn't, since the 010 is pin compatible.

You'd probably seen to ask Jens Schoenfeld directly whether the clockport and other goodies on an A604 would work in such a machine.

Got any photos of the board? I'd love to see what it looks like.


Thank you for the answer. I didn't know that the ACA630 is a "clip over" expansion.

I will post pictures asap.

Regards.
Title: Re: Amiga 600 2mb chip hard hack
Post by: supremo on July 16, 2011, 09:16:06 PM
Quote from: Matt_H;649858
Never seen or heard of this being done (successfully) before.


Definitely, that is NOT good news for me, because I did not received yet the miggy. The seller said it is working fine, but...

Anyone ever seen a working hack?

I know that, even if it works, it can be a very unstable machine.

Ok, let's see what happens.

Again, thanks.
Regards.
Title: Re: Amiga 600 2mb chip hard hack
Post by: Brian on July 16, 2011, 09:41:42 PM
Are you sure it's an A600 you're getting and not an A500/500+?
Title: Re: Amiga 600 2mb chip hard hack
Post by: Matt_H on July 16, 2011, 10:58:26 PM
Quote from: Brian;649870
Are you sure it's an A600 you're getting and not an A500/500+?


That's a very good question.

supremo, both of the mods you described are easily done on a 500.
Title: Re: Amiga 600 2mb chip hard hack
Post by: supremo on July 17, 2011, 04:54:12 PM
Quote from: Matt_H;649875
That's a very good question.

supremo, both of the mods you described are easily done on a 500.


I am totally sure.

But the 2mb hack seems pretty common. This is one of the references: http://www.amibay.com/showthread.php?t=8500
Other one (german):
http://www.a1k.org/forum/showthread.php?t=3173

Thanks.
Title: Re: Amiga 600 2mb chip hard hack
Post by: supremo on July 23, 2011, 01:04:36 PM
Update:

I have received the 600. Although I have not tested it thorougly, it works perfectly, and detects correctly the 2mb chip ram. It has a 010 too.

Pictures soon.
Title: Re: Amiga 600 2mb chip hard hack
Post by: Matt_H on July 23, 2011, 01:45:20 PM
Very cool - that'll be a nice and small WHDLoad machine :)
Title: Re: Amiga 600 2mb chip hard hack
Post by: Cammy on July 23, 2011, 10:07:55 PM
With a 2-4MB PCMCIA SRAM card it'll be perfect, and with that 68010 mod it's probably the only way you'll be able to add more RAM. Put in a 3.1 ROM (or custom EPROM) and a 4-8GB CF card for the hard drive, an RGB S-Video adapter (http://www.amigamaniac.com/RGB_to_PAL_NTSC_adapter.html) so you can hook it up to a LCD TV (unless you have SCART), and get a couple of brand new control pads (http://www.dealextreme.com/p/additional-gamepad-controller-for-sku-28970-30530), and you'll have the ultimate little Amiga games machine, which will be fully capable of running plenty of decent productivity software too.
Title: Re: Amiga 600 2mb chip hard hack
Post by: supremo on July 24, 2011, 01:29:50 PM
Ok, attached are 3 pictures. I can take more on demand.

Cammy, I have just purchased an CF IDE adaptor and a 8GB CF card. I am planning to get an ACA630, but I have decided to wait for the 40mhz version. Regarding the 3.1 ROM, I am still not sure to buy one, which is the main true advantage? I am interested in one of those S-VIDEO adaptors. The only place to buy them is on that web page?

Thank you all for the comments.

Regards.
Title: Re: Amiga 600 2mb chip hard hack
Post by: mfilos on July 24, 2011, 03:27:58 PM
ACA630 exists only in 25MHz with 32MB RAM. There were some few models that had 30MHz and 64MB RAM.
No 40MHz version is announced for future from Individual Computers AFAIK.

If you want to run WB3.1 then you should upgrade to Kickstart 3.1. Even if you wanna use the HD you should check that your Kickstarts ROMS are >= 37.300 or else you won't be able to boot.
Best Kickstart for A600 pre 3.1 (40.63) is 37.350.
Title: Re: Amiga 600 2mb chip hard hack
Post by: yssing on July 24, 2011, 03:50:44 PM
Just curious, but can you get some sysinfo specs on the HW setup?
Title: Re: Amiga 600 2mb chip hard hack
Post by: supremo on July 24, 2011, 04:24:29 PM
Quote from: yssing;651495
Just curious, but can you get some sysinfo specs on the HW setup?


I am curious too :)

My problem is the following:
The only diskettes I have now are: workbench 2.05, extras and fonts. I cannot even install the SO in the hard disk. I purchased this:

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220720794483&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_2472wt_952

but came with no install disk. Now I am asking the seller if he can sell me an install disk, but no answer. By the way, maybe someone here have one to sell/gift? My location is Germany, until 31st july.

I think the best option is to get an CF transfer kit.

Thanks.
Title: Re: Amiga 600 2mb chip hard hack
Post by: supremo on July 24, 2011, 04:27:02 PM
Quote from: mfilos;651490
ACA630 exists only in 25MHz with 32MB RAM. There were some few models that had 30MHz and 64MB RAM.
No 40MHz version is announced for future from Individual Computers AFAIK.

If you want to run WB3.1 then you should upgrade to Kickstart 3.1. Even if you wanna use the HD you should check that your Kickstarts ROMS are >= 37.300 or else you won't be able to boot.
Best Kickstart for A600 pre 3.1 (40.63) is 37.350.


Yes, probably you are right. I am based on
http://www.vesalia.de/e_aca630.htm
Title: Re: Amiga 600 2mb chip hard hack
Post by: supremo on July 27, 2011, 07:37:35 PM
I am very sorry to say that the computer is very unstable. Very often, when I insert a diskette, the computer resets, and a green screen appears.

It is well known that the green screen indicates error was found in Chip ram.

I think the problem is that "second level" memory chip is too close to the disk drive and the slightest movement resets the computer.

Any advice?
Thanks. regards.
Title: Re: Amiga 600 2mb chip hard hack
Post by: supremo on July 27, 2011, 09:42:44 PM
Ok, I added additional screws and the problem seems to be solved.

Regards.