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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: nyteschayde on January 26, 2012, 11:08:05 AM
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I have a Cyberstorm Mk-I 68040/40 for my A4000D. This machine also has a fully loaded memory module that decided (for some reason) to stop working today.
It simply no longer appears in the list of expansion boards and my machine went from over a 100MB to to the stock 18MB (16MBFAST+2MBCHIP).
I have removed and reseated the module. Does anybody else have any ideas or utilities to query the RAM module?
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BUMP (Just want to see if anybody knows about this but didn't see it because it fell below the fold of new posts)
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I have a Cyberstorm Mk-I 68040/40 for my A4000D. This machine also has a fully loaded memory module that decided (for some reason) to stop working today.
It simply no longer appears in the list of expansion boards and my machine went from over a 100MB to to the stock 18MB (16MBFAST+2MBCHIP).
I have removed and reseated the module. Does anybody else have any ideas or utilities to query the RAM module?
I am not that familiar with the MKI other than i recall it has the funny extra ram board etc. Is there a chance static got the ram on it? You don't mention how much ram there is,but if 128MB this seems unlikely.
have you done anything to disturb the accelerator lately?
Mech
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AFAIR the MArk 1's were fussy about the memory. And I don't remember software to poll the ram ever having existed.
Try installing some of your motherboard ram, which you know is working, onto the memory module to see if the RAM on the accelerator is defective or if the accelerator ram module is defective.
Try re-seating the cards, cleaning the contacts.
More info:http://www.amiga-hardware.com/showhardware.cgi?HARDID=234
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Thanks to both of you. I'll try removing some of the RAM and re-adding it and/or swapping some of the mobo RAM. I don't think static got to it, but could be wrong. I want to say it had more than 128MB but the max supported is listed at 128. This could be the problem too.
I have removed and reseated it and that didn't bring it back. I'll have to see. I am glad I fired up the old A4000D. I forgot how much I liked it.
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Accelerator seems to be working grand. The memory module still won't register any RAM. Each module is of a different make. And I can't find the SIMM size by typing in any of the chip numbers.
If I can find 128MB of new compatible RAM of all the same type, I'll see if I can't pick some up. Chances are though that the board is just being picky for now apparent reason. Everything else works great. It just sucks to have lost that much RAM.
I have a Radeon card coming, so I guess I can get some FAST RAM from that board or pick up a ZorRAM or something.
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Accelerator seems to be working grand. The memory module still won't register any RAM. Each module is of a different make. And I can't find the SIMM size by typing in any of the chip numbers.
If I can find 128MB of new compatible RAM of all the same type, I'll see if I can't pick some up. Chances are though that the board is just being picky for now apparent reason. Everything else works great. It just sucks to have lost that much RAM.
I have a Radeon card coming, so I guess I can get some FAST RAM from that board or pick up a ZorRAM or something.
Can you try it with just a 4 mb stick from your motherboard ram. The link I posted lists which socket to put it in. If the memory card works then its the memory, otherwise try a different working 4 mb simm to make sure.
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I'll have to give it a go tomorrow, it's past midnight here. Can you tell from the hardware site which slot is 0 and which is 3? I hate taking it out and putting it in more than I have to. The connectors on the boards aren't getting any newer. :)
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looks like it needs jumpers to be set for different RAM configurations. There are diagrams on the hardware site, but I have a Mark 2 which is very different.
The site says:
"Bank 0 is closest to the connector. The largest SIMM must always be placed in bank 0, with the second largest in bank 1 and so on."
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So, I went through again. I took one of the working 4MB modules from the motherboard. I verified it went missing. I then configured the jumpers on the memory module for 4MB. I tried each slot, actually, one by one. I fired up the amiga. I ran avail, whichamiga and showconfig each time. Each reported the CPU properly. All reported no change in RAM other than the missing 4MB dropping me down from 2MB CHIP + 16MB FAST to 2MB CHIP + 12MB FAST.
No dice. I double checked all the accelerator jumpers. None of those made a difference. I seated, reseated and repeated all the steps. It simply no longer seems to work.
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You could try cleaning the connectors that connect the ram board to the main cyberstorm board, they might have become dirty or slightly corroded over time and be making a bad contact - try some contact cleaner or isopropyl alcohol and a toothbrush, wait for it to dry then re-try with your original ram. You could also clean the ram sockets and simm contacts too. I've had lots of problems with old hardware and bad contacts, usually can be resolved with this method :-)
Hope you get it working soon,
Robert.
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So, I took a closer look at the jumpers on the Cyberstorm MkI. There is a memory jumper noted as JPA in the manual. It says that 1-2 is normal, 2-3 is fast and open is slow. I thought perhaps I could change the jumper and get the memory to be recognized. I pulled it out of my machine and took a closer look.
I was wondering if I should bother with this or not. Any thoughts?
The manual says:
If problems arise with the memory (e.g. it becomes obvious that previously perfect programs such as Lharc or other packed archives now contain faults), the JPA jumper on the CYBERSTORM carrier board must be changed. This increases the tolerance to memory modules with too high a capacitive load (these are only occasionally on the market, but cannot be differentiated from other types). If problems still occur after this then please contact our technical support centre.
FRONT
(https://img.skitch.com/20120202-mky4cayqtgickck3cxgxtnjqa3.preview.jpg) (https://img.skitch.com/20120202-mky4cayqtgickck3cxgxtnjqa3.jpg)
BACK
(https://img.skitch.com/20120202-85hpdccpjnytibumx3r91hbc22.preview.jpg) (https://img.skitch.com/20120202-85hpdccpjnytibumx3r91hbc22.png)
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So, I took a closer look at the jumpers on the Cyberstorm MkI. There is a memory jumper noted as JPA in the manual. It says that 1-2 is normal, 2-3 is fast and open is slow. I thought perhaps I could change the jumper and get the memory to be recognized. I pulled it out of my machine and took a closer look.
I was wondering if I should bother with this or not. Any thoughts?
The manual says:
If problems arise with the memory (e.g. it becomes obvious that previously perfect programs such as Lharc or other packed archives now contain faults), the JPA jumper on the CYBERSTORM carrier board must be changed. This increases the tolerance to memory modules with too high a capacitive load (these are only occasionally on the market, but cannot be differentiated from other types). If problems still occur after this then please contact our technical support centre.
FRONT
(https://img.skitch.com/20120202-mky4cayqtgickck3cxgxtnjqa3.preview.jpg) (https://img.skitch.com/20120202-mky4cayqtgickck3cxgxtnjqa3.jpg)
BACK
(https://img.skitch.com/20120202-85hpdccpjnytibumx3r91hbc22.preview.jpg) (https://img.skitch.com/20120202-85hpdccpjnytibumx3r91hbc22.png)
You could try it as a last resort, but i suspect since your ram quit working all of a sudden that something has went bad or a bad connection somewhere has developed, but your guess is as good as mine as to where that could be. sorry i can't be of more help.
Mech