How to upgrade RAM on a A4000/40 desktop + SCSI

[Argus]

You have three options as I see it:

1) Add a Zorro II GVP HC+8 card if you desire an additional maximum of 8MB of slower 16-bit memory and a dma scsi interface.

2) Find, if you're lucky, a Zorro III FastlaneZ3 ram/scsi controller card.  Most versions will allow you to add up to 64mb of 32-bit ram in matched 30-pin simms.  You'll need at least SuperBuster9 an better yet version 11 to use the fast dma scsi-2 controller.

3) Buy a cpu slot accelerator with built in scsi controller.  There are/were basically three manufacturers of such processor replacement cards: GVP/GVP-m, Phase5/DCE, and ACT/Apollo.  The GVP-m and Phase5 manufactured cards are probably the best, being the most reliable, using standard 72-pin simms up to 128mb and fast dma scsi controllers.  The earlier GVP boards use special 64-pin simms and optional scsi controller; the Apollo scsi implementation is a bit flaky.  Quality of the DCE cards varies from okay to bad.

[Argus]

@x56h34

Well, I have a DCE Blizzard 1230/IV and it works fine too but there's been so many threads on bad dce stuff I'd personally go for a Phase 5 board if I had the choice.  Even my 1230 board is a bit on the cheapo cost-reduced side, the edge connector for the ram/scsi module uses cheap tinning as opposed to gold contacts as I've seen on the original Phase 5 version.  It works but needed cleaning first.