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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: DarkLord on November 30, 2011, 07:39:48 AM

Title: Pak 68/3
Post by: DarkLord on November 30, 2011, 07:39:48 AM

Hi. I picked up a used PAK 68/3 off of Ebay. I got it cheap, and it looks okay except a few of the pins are damaged. They are on the ends and I believe I can repair them.
 
That's not the real problem.
 
It didn't come with any software or manuals/instructions.
 
I've tried googling, but most of the links are dead or timed out.
 
Does anyone know or have, software or manuals, or links to them?
PDFs would be great as well. All in English preferably.
 
Thanks, much appreciated. :)
 
PS A FRAK addon board for this would be awesome as well!

Title: Re: Pak 68/3
Post by: zipper on November 30, 2011, 08:14:24 AM

Does it need software - I doubt it; just plug in. And minuscle  speed increase without fast RAM I believe.

Title: Re: Pak 68/3
Post by: Cosmos Amiga on November 30, 2011, 11:16:36 AM

PAK 68/3 with fastram ?

Title: Re: Pak 68/3
Post by: DarkLord on November 30, 2011, 01:50:19 PM

The guy that sold it to me thinks he has the (FRAK?) memory board addon. He's looking for it.

Okay, no software...

Schematics, manuals, instructions, PDFs, English? :)

Title: Re: Pak 68/3
Post by: DarkLord on December 01, 2011, 08:24:26 AM

So I guess there's no sources left? :(

Title: Re: Pak 68/3
Post by: DarkLord on January 07, 2013, 07:10:49 AM

Sorry to bring up a long semi abandoned thread, but I did actually get in touch with Holger Zimmerman, one of the original designers of the PAK boards, IIRC.

He was able to hook me up with some great advice, and was actually able to make the TOS ROM chip files, modified v3.06 for use with the PAK board.

There is still a lot of info and files at: http://www.wrsonline.de/pak3.html

You'll have to run it through google translate of course, but it is there.

Anyway, I was able to get my PAK 68/3 board working and have it installed in an Atari STacy. Very tight fit, and not enough room for the add on boards like the FRAK (RAM) and PuPLa/2 (buffer), but it still rocks. According to the benchmark tests, its 987 percent faster than a stock ST.

Here is a picture of the STacy with the PAK board installed, and the top half of the STacy removed:

(Never mind, it won't let me attach a picture for some reason)

I know this is an Amiga site, but some people here did try to help me so I just wanted to let them know it wasn't in vain. Amazing what can still be done with these retro machines, isn't it?

Thanks everyone. :)

Title: Re: Pak 68/3
Post by: orcish75 on January 07, 2013, 11:13:52 AM

Ha ha! When I saw the title of this thread, I thought we're gonna start talking cricket, with Pakistan being 68 for 3! :D

I think this is one of the reasons I haven't used my STE in years. There's hardly any hardware development for the ST compared to the Amiga, accelerators, HDD interfaces, scandoublers etc.

Glad to hear you got your PAK 68/3 working, 987% is SIGNIFICANTLY faster!!!

Cheers

Title: Re: Pak 68/3
Post by: freqmax on January 07, 2013, 11:35:49 AM

Perhaps because Atari ST had another group of users like musicians and gamers? and Amiga were more the engineering type of user? (hacker)

Title: Re: Pak 68/3
Post by: odin on January 07, 2013, 12:52:27 PM

I thought this was going to be about German anti-tank guns :D.