CV64 RAM

[motorollin]

How do I find out whether my CV64 has 2 or 4MB on board? According to the BBOAH they came in 2 or 4MB flavours, and I want to know whether mine has enough video RAM for 1280x1024x16 (which would use 2.5MB of RAM)

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moto

[motorollin]

@countzero
SysInfo reports the board size as 0kb! Bizarrely, ShowBoardsMUI reports it as 64MB :-?

@AMIGAZ
I've got several empty brown sockets on the card. Are they the video RAM sockets?

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moto

[motorollin]

Great! :-D So what type of chip do I put in the sockets? I think I counted 4 empty sockets so I assume I need 4x512k chips? But what type? Also does the card autoconfig the RAM or do I have to set a jumper to tell it how much to use?

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moto

[motorollin]

Just looked on the CV64 photo on BBOAH and the sockets are populated with HM514260CJ7, but according to this datasheet, those chips are only 256k each :-?

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moto

[motorollin]

@Bazzaq
Thanks! You reckon this card would have the correct chips on it? There are 4 soldered on and 4 in sockets, just like the CV64, and it says it's a 4MB card, so I guess they are the right ones.

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moto

[motorollin]

@Framiga
Have already tried to find the same chips but can't find them for sale anywhere. See my post above - think I might have found a card with some compatible chips on but just need confirmation before I buy it.

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moto

[motorollin]

Yeah I did find that site, but I can't find anywhere on there to actually order anything!

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moto

[motorollin]

@Bazzaq
Thank you very much! I bought 2 of these ones since it worked out cheaper for shipping once combined.

@Framiga
Thanks anyway for the link. But it's easier to buy the cards from eBay and steal the chips than to go through a dealer who may or may not still have them, and might not even sell me 4.

Cheers guys :-D

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moto

[motorollin]

My S3 Trios arrived this morning. Before I insert the RAM I want to check something.

The CV64 has a maximum memory of 4MB with 8 sockets, which means each chip needs to be 512k. The S3 Trio is a 2MB card with 2 chips, which means each chip is 1MB. Will 1MB chips work as 512k in the CV64? Will the chips definitely be compatible? Really don't want to blow up my CV64...

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moto

[motorollin]

Further to the above, the chips from the S3 cards have different part numbers to the chips on the CV64. Will this be a problem? I'm very nervous about putting these chips in my CV64.

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moto

[motorollin]

In the Posting Of The Beast (Oli, check your post count :-) ) Oli_hd wrote:

Ermm on that auction you linked to the picture shows two socketed ram chips and two soldered chips... making four.
(the two bottom right below the ROM are ram chips too)
That would make 512kb

Ahhh, I didn't realise they are RAM chips too. Anyway, after extensive Googling and checking of datasheet archives I couldn't find any information on the chips which came on the S3s. So I decided to be brave (stupid?) and just try it, telling myself that the chips would die before the card if they are wrong :-) The machine still boots and the CV64 still works :-D However, I still don't seem to be able to open any larger screenmodes. Using the following equation:

Minimum video memory = (HR x VR x CD) / 8,388,608

I should be able to open a 1280x1024x24 screen ((1280 x 1024 x 24)/8,388,608=3.75). However when I test the screenmode in CGXMode I get "cannot open test screen", which suggests it doesn't have enough video RAM. Do I have to tell the card it has 4MB with a jumper or a CGX setting?

[EDIT]
Oh it looks like the CV64 can't do 1280x1024x24. I don't have a CV64 manual but checked the CV64/3D manual on amiga.resource.cx and 1280x1024x24 isn't listed as a supported resolution. So I have set it to 1280x1024x16 and it works fine. This screenmode didn't work before since it requires 2.5MB of RAM so the extra memory must be working :-D

Thanks for the help guys!
[/EDIT]

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moto

[motorollin]

Oli_hd wrote:
Woohooo, Im a beast baby  :-D

Not any more :-P

Oli_hd wrote:
I was gonna say you should try reinstalling cybergfx as it may set something on installation saying the card couldnt do better than such a res but if you have made a new screen res that needs 2.5meg and it works it must be fine.

I might reinstall CGX anyway just in case it detects the RAM and sets up some of the variables with different values accordingly. But agreed, if my screenmode requires >2MB of RAM then I know the extra chips are doing their job.

Oli_hd wrote:
First thing I would have done is go into showconfig and see how much address space its using, 2 meg + 64k and it aint, 4meg+64k and its good.
(you could have also added it as RAM to the system)

I did try showconfig but it showed 0MB :-? I'll try again now I've got the 4MB on board.

Oli_hd wrote:
Glad it didnt end up in a big pile of smoldering ash. :lol:

Me too!

Oli_hd wrote:
Seems the bboah agrees, 1280 x 1024x16@75Hz is the best it can do in true colour.... time to upgrade me thinks ;-)

Good to know I'm pushing the card to its limit. The only way I can think to upgrade is with a Mediator + Voodoo, but I think I'd rather keep this A4000 as classic as possible :-)

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moto

[motorollin]

Should the daughterboard in my A4000 ever die then I will replace it with a Mediator 4000Di, but until then I'll stick with pure Zorro. Makes it feel more like a "real" Amiga for some reason.

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moto

[motorollin]

Pin 1 is marked with a little dot on the chip. That end goes the same end as the missing corner on the socket. To get the chip out just use a small screwdriver and *gently* lever out one side then the other and the chip will pop out. Then align the chip in the socket on the CV64 and firmly but gently push both sides at the same time and it will pop in.

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moto

[motorollin]

Yes I know I could go for the CVPPC, but I like the autoswitch in the CV64 :-)

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moto