MB 1230 XA problems - jumpers?

[Amigalynx]

Hi everyone, since I have put a Microbotics 1230 XA board in my A1200, I've had various problems: my external floppy disk drive works erratically, and my PCMCIA slot seems to have problems too (i.e. read errors when using CFD).

As I hadn't heard of any PCMCIA interference with the 1230XA, I've thought these problems could be caused by incorrect jumper settings, but since I don't have the manual I don't know how to set them. There is a jumper between the two "test" pins (does anyone know their utility?) and another one on the other set of pins (just labeled 1, 2 and 3 ; I think the jumper is between 2 and 3 but I don't have the board nearby to check). Can someone help me?

My config:
A1200 rev. 1B
3.0 ROM
Microbotics 1230 XA, 68030@33 MHz, 68882@50 MHz, 16 Mb RAM

[McVenco]

It could be that your memory isn't configured correctly. Under 3.0 this needs to be done with software. Under 3.1 memory is configured automatically.

Check for info and software:

TBBOAH

or

Amiga Hardware Database

[Amigalynx]

It could be that your memory isn't configured correctly.

I don't think so...I use AutoXA, I configured my memory with SetXA and everything goes well...MBRTest-2 did not find any error on the memory.
(Well, another oddity is that I don't know which timing/speed settings are good for my memory, so I tested the most aggressive ones with 40ns and 1 cycle of latency (and rebooted as needed). MBRTest-2 did not report any error...but AIBB did not find the mem to be any faster that when it was configured at 70ns/3 cycles...anyway, I did not have any problem with programs that did not try to access peripherals, so I don't think this is the problem)

[JaXanim]

@Amigalynx

If I read this right, your jumper settings are incorrect. Fortunately, I kept a copy of my long gone M1230XA board's manual so let's hope this sorts it for you.

With the edge connector to the left as you view the board,
the three pin jumper near the FPU chip is called Jumper 1.
The two pin jumper just below Jumper 1 is called Jumper 2.

Jumper 1 should be set on the Rightmost pins if the CPU and FPU have the same clockspeed. Since yours are running at different speeds, Jumper 1 should be across the Leftmost pair.

The 'Test' Jumper 2 should be OFF. Just leave it hanging free from one of the pins. When Jumper 2 is ON the configuration EEPROM is bypassed on bootup and the RAM setting will be reported as 128Mb at the lowest cycle setting. Only use Jumper 2 if the EEPROM gets 'confused'. It's basically used for factory testing.

The MB1230AX card requires some special software if running under AmigaDOS3.0. This is called SetXA and AddXAmem which adds the card memory to the system at bootup and prevents PCMCIA memory address problems. Seems you're missing these drivers (?)

If you only have the standard 25watt A1200 power supply you will experience problems. Any additional drives beyond the native floppy will cause crashes and erratic behaviour.

There was a photocopy of the old MX1230AX manual in the BBoAH, but that and all other useful literature were pulled when someone complained about copyright. Shame really.

JaX

[Amigalynx]

Thanks a lot! I'll check this... :-)

Strangely, although the test jumper is set (and SetXA confirms it), the Workbench actually detects the amount of memory I have specified in SetXA (16 Mb)

The MB1230AX card requires some special software if running under AmigaDOS3.0. This is called SetXA and AddXAmem which adds the card memory to the system at bootup and prevents PCMCIA memory address problems. Seems you're missing these drivers (?)

I don't use AddXAmem but AutoXA, which at the first bootup adds the memory, puts itself in RAD and reboots, thus allowing almost everything to be in Fast RAM, like if it was Autoconfig RAM (I have more than 2000000 bytes of free Chip RAM when nothing runs on my WB...)

If you only have the standard 25watt A1200 power supply you will experience problems. Any additional drives beyond the native floppy will cause crashes and erratic behaviour.

I use an A500 power supply...well, maybe I'll start another thread to ask about this another day, since I know of at least four types of external Amiga PSUs...

[X-ray]

"...There was a photocopy of the old MX1230AX manual in the BBoAH, but that and all other useful literature were pulled when someone complained about copyright. Shame really..."
-----------------------------------------------------------

Ja, I was bitter about that too, because I scanned a lot of stuff and provided it as a BBoAH reference and Ian had to take it down.

[rkauer]

Looks your problem fits on the power supply!

 I have one 1230XA myself with an PC/AT PSU (200 W), and everything runs fine!:-D

A time ago I test a orig PSU with my Miggy: guess what happened? Instability, reboots from nothing, errors in reads and writes....:boohoo:

Almost destroy my HD partition!:boohoo:

Buy yourself an old PC/AT PSU (cheap an much more reliable than ATX ones). You'll need some ironwork, but is easy.:rtfm:

[ ]s :-D    

[kd7ota]

rkauer wrote:
Looks your problem fits on the power supply!

Definately have to go with rkauer's solution.  I myself had a bigfoot power supply attached to my Amiga 1200, and it worked nicely.

Hmmm....  I may have to get my Amiga 1200 again from Nevada and get it back up and running to take it for a surf on the net.  :-)