Amiga.org
Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: TheBilgeRat on May 09, 2013, 07:41:11 PM
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I was checking out memory expansion for the old beast when I saw that there was a new zorro memory card out there called the BIGram. Its decently cheaper than the zoram for the same amount of memory (256Mb). BUT, cheaper doesn't always mean better.
Anyone have the Bigram? I notice that one of the claims to fame on the advert blurb for zoram is the fact that you can stack multiples up to 1GB. Can you do the same with Bigram?
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I recall a few posts about these when they first came out. ZorRAM is compatible up to OS 4.1, BigRAM only up to 3.9, also BigRAM is a physically larger card (for those who care about that sort of thing), but I think it was also the first one to support up to 256MB, and should be a little bit cheaper. I think one was designed by AmigaKit also, and the other by someone else? Don't recall the rest of the details, sorry!
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No Zorro III (or Z II) RAM cards are supported by OS 4 as main memory. OS 4.1 does seem to support them (all) as swap memory though.
Using several at once shouldn't be any different regardless of make since it's all Z3 Autoconfig.
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I've just bought a BigRAM for a customer. It seems to work very well so far! I too wondered about the difference, and thought that the main difference was that the ZorRAM was supported by AmigaOS 4.1 - however, when I received the BigRAM, that says it is also supported by AOS4 the same way! It also says it doesn't like 3rd party bus-boards, but I believe the same is for the ZorRAM.
So, all in all... I'm not sure there is a difference except the price (Which must be really annoying for AmigaKit!)
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Nice! Thanks, guys.
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Folks the comparison is on both the Hyperion Classic Amiga Forum and in an Amibay discussion. The BigRam+ has its ram on one side rather than both sides making it longer, otherwise they are identical down to the design and chips used. I put up side-by-side pictures somewhere like Abay.
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You might want to read this thread before you put a BigRAM or ZorRAM in your A4000.
http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=67514
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I was checking out memory expansion for the old beast when I saw that there was a new zorro memory card out there called the BIGram. Its decently cheaper than the zoram for the same amount of memory (256Mb). BUT, cheaper doesn't always mean better.
Anyone have the Bigram? I notice that one of the claims to fame on the advert blurb for zoram is the fact that you can stack multiples up to 1GB. Can you do the same with Bigram?
Both cards are esentially the same and share the same code, in fact BigRam+ is the latest version of Zorram. BigRam+ uses less aggresive timings and is supposed to be less problematic and more compatible.
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You might want to read this thread before you put a BigRAM or ZorRAM in your A4000.
http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=67514
Just skimmed to the bottom of this thread. It seems like his problem was caused by a chip on the A4000 CPU board, not either of those memory boards. Heck, if anything, the troubleshooting process he went through to get the memory board working actually fixed some kind of manufacturing defect on his CPU board. Kudos! :)
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Just skimmed to the bottom of this thread. It seems like his problem was caused by a chip on the A4000 CPU board, not either of those memory boards. Heck, if anything, the troubleshooting process he went through to get the memory board working actually fixed some kind of manufacturing defect on his CPU board. Kudos! :)
Its a great read, not often I see such detailed threads on troubleshooting these days. :(
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You might want to read this thread before you put a BigRAM or ZorRAM in your A4000.
http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=67514
Ug.. glad he figured it out..but what a struggle to read through. Just me but I always throughly inspect hardware/chips caps etc..before panic mode..lol
Interested in this thread as I have just found out about ZorRAM and was thinking about it for my machines.
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Ug.. glad he figured it out..but what a struggle to read through. Just me but I always throughly inspect hardware/chips caps etc..before panic mode..lol
Interested in this thread as I have just found out about ZorRAM and was thinking about it for my machines.
If the Bigram+ is still available in December I shall be asking my missus to get me one for xmas. :)
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I have 4 BigRam+ and 2 ZorRam cards spread over my A3/4000's and no problems except in the A4000Ts with Mediators power supply plug in the way of one of my Z3 slots. Just saved some monies.
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It seems like both of these boards are gone again? I just tried to order a ZoRam from AmigaKit along with some other items (it was listed as "in stock" on the AmigaKit website) and it looks like it's not available.
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We were considering whether to do another run of ZorRAM, but when BigRAM was made available it became a more risky investment over the years to get back our production costs.
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Why is it listed as "In Stock" on your web site then? It sure "looked" like it was available when planning out my machine upgrades.
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In Classic Amiga terms, ZorRAM was a large investment and big production run. We sold it for 4 years and it took that long to sell through our stock. Obviously planning another run will mean we tie up a significant amount of capital for another 4 years. We have to be very careful what product we invest in as we operate in a very risky market place.
Thats not to say that I wouldn't investigate another smaller run in future.
We have a few RAM unpopulated boards that our Technician has to assemble and test from the last production run which we will release for sale in the next month.
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Thanks for investing in the classic Amiga.
I know your investment has paid off for me!
Here's hoping your investment pays off big time for you!
Please add my name to "want to buy" Zoram!
Thanks,
M
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Amiga OS 4.1 Classic generically will scan for Zorro 3 memory and use it as swap memory. So as long as the Zorro 3 memory card conforms to proper specs, in theory any Zorro 3 memory card (including WinUAE which can add Zorro 3 memory!) will work. During OS 4.1 Classic testing we only had ZorRAM and a DKB 3128 for testing so that was all that was mentioned. I don't think the BigRAM was available yet.
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We have a few RAM unpopulated boards that our Technician has to assemble and test from the last production run which we will release for sale in the next month.
Can you please post it this thread when the last few are made available, in fact I wouldn't mind ordering one now and waiting if that is an option?
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Doesnt one of them work with Z2 and the other only z3? Thats a big deal I think.
@ Mods why is "crumb" allowed to have a Satanic Avatar. its very offensive and against TOS. Seeing upside down crucifixes with inverted pentagrams is as bad as a picture of a penis to me, insulting and offensive.
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Doesnt one of them work with Z2 and the other only z3? Thats a big deal I think.
Well, the maximum you can get on Z2 is 8MB....vs 256MB for a BigRAM or ZorRAM (zorro 3)....so...in the context of OS4 8MB is peanuts :). It was discussed during development but not worth it for only 8MB.
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In other words, both are Zorro 3 only and a side by side comparison show virtually identical chips and electronic IDs with the BigRam+ being single sided and I assume less expensive to build.
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It seems like both of these boards are gone again? I just tried to order a ZoRam from AmigaKit...
Oh, I'm glad I got my ZorRAM when I visited AmigaKit in early July.
Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
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@ Mods why is "crumb" allowed to have a Satanic Avatar. its very offensive and against TOS. Seeing upside down crucifixes with inverted pentagrams is as bad as a picture of a penis to me, insulting and offensive.
(http://fcdn.roadbikereview.com/attachments/lounge/293574d1395773037-ive-read-lot-threads-here-degenerate-bickering-lighten-up-frances_t268.jpg)
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Doesnt one of them work with Z2 and the other only z3? Thats a big deal I think.
@ Mods why is "crumb" allowed to have a Satanic Avatar. its very offensive and against TOS. Seeing upside down crucifixes with inverted pentagrams is as bad as a picture of a penis to me, insulting and offensive.
Really how is that against TOS. Are there rules against having religious symbols for avatars then ?
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Off topic
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The ZorRam works with a Cyberstorm MK1 and the BigRam Plus does not work.
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The ZorRam works with a Cyberstorm MK1 and the BigRam Plus does not work.
That's a full house in that A4000! Nice! Probably won't make a difference but have you tried it with just the BigRam, and all the other cards removed?
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Thank you! :)
Of course I have tried the BigRam+ with all other cards removed.
The BigRam+ is not compatible with the Cyberstorm MK1.
Maybe a timing problem.
I just got the confirmation from 505dieter who has exactly the same problem.
Here but all in german language:
http://www.a1k.org/forum/showthread.php?t=41499&page=47
By the way... the RapidRoad USB Module for the X-Surf 100 isn't compatible with the Cyberstorm MK1 aswell. :(
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By the way... the RapidRoad USB Module for the X-Surf 100 isn't compatible with the Cyberstorm MK1 aswell. :(
Ugh, dislike. :( I'm probably not going to be in the market for an A4000 for at least another year or so, but as I love the RapidRoad in my A2000, that's good to know!
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Thank you! :)
Of course I have tried the BigRam+ with all other cards removed.
The BigRam+ is not compatible with the Cyberstorm MK1.
Maybe a timing problem.
I just got the confirmation from 505dieter who has exactly the same problem.
Here but all in german language:
http://www.a1k.org/forum/showthread.php?t=41499&page=47
By the way... the RapidRoad USB Module for the X-Surf 100 isn't compatible with the Cyberstorm MK1 aswell. :(
Well is it compatible with the ZorRam? Is that what, "The ZorRAM 256MB card works the way with the MK1" means?