GVP HD8+ and A530 100-pin internal expansion-connector.

[patrik]

Does anyone know anything about the 100-pin (2x50) expansion-connector found ínternally in the GVP HD8+ and A530?

As far as I know the only device manufactured for this expansion was a PC-emulator-card from GVP.

One interesting thing is that when following the traces to the connector on the PCB in the HD8+ and A530 it seems to have quite the same pinout as a ZorroII-connector.

References:
Front side of HD8+ PCB
Back side of HD8+ PCB
Front side of A530 PCB
Front side of PC-Emulator PCB


/Patrik

[Plaz]

I think your right about it being just a zorro II pass-thru connector. GVP is still around (Kinda) you might ask them about it.....  www.gvp-m.com


Plaz

[patrik]

I sent them a mail asking about it, but they havent answered .


/Patrik

[patrik]

If this expansion-connector is a ZorroII-slot disguised as another physical connector the big question is how much of the ZorroII-standard this expansion-connector supports.

Does it for example support another ZorroII device utilizing DMA-transfers (the GVP SCSI-controller is already utilizing DMA-transfers if I recall correctly) to be added to this expansion-connector.

It wouldnt definately not be a very hard task to build a converter from the internal expansion-connector to a real ZorroII-connector.


/Patrik

[Cyberus]

A very interesting question Patrik, I had never thought about this, but I follow your logic... I have two of these GVP HD8+ controllers so would be eager to hear what you find out...

[vortexau]

If I remember my Amiga trivia facts correctly - from the original ads and reviews in 1989 Amiga magazines - those slots did take a special GVP ZorroII Card shaped to fit the sloping GVP SERIES II A500-HD+ and 030 Accellerator cases!

Remember that the A500 LH expansion connector (and the A1000 RH expansion connector) is a ZorroI connector with 86 of the ZorroII 100 pins.

The A2000 uses a 86 pin slot for CPU Accellerators.
Comparison of the 86 PIN EDGE CONNECTOR on A500/A1000/A2000/A2000B models

Zorro II/III Pins

-EDIT-

Had a look through a few AMIGA WORLD issues....(Pg 7 usually has a GVP ad).
In the March 1991 issue:
' Unique new "Mini-Slot" brings out all the A500 expansion bus signals, allowing for exciting future expansion options - the only intelligent alternative to risky "Pass-Through" functionality. '

[Cyberus]

So does anyone have any idea if this is a possibility? If so, all you'd need to do is find a zorro connector (a chore in itself) and then solder it to the pins....

[WarPiper]

hi,

I kinda of remember an old A500 expansion slot add on called "THE SLINGSHOT", if my memory serves me correctly, I think it was a Zorro II expansion slot that was capable to expansions like a 24 bit graphics card or something and also had a pass through to the A500 external hard drive

SlingShot Pro for A500

[patrik]

@Cyberus

You can buy two ISA-connectors, saw them off to create two 50-pin connectors and then glue the now edgeless sides of them together and tada - you now got yourself a 100-pin ZorroII/III-connector.


/Patrik

[gnarly]

IIRC Jens Schoenfeld (sp?) of Individual Computers was able to get / supply them too.