Where to find ZIP RAM? Or A2386SX schematics?

[spirantho]

Oh, I know where the 41464 chips should be - I was the one who desoldered them.

The board is actually a 386 board that was taken by Elite Computer Systems I think it was modified by them to take a 486SLC instead of a 386, and the clock speed was upped to 33MHz.

It's the only board I've ever seen like it.... Problem is I've spent so long with the darn board trying to make it work there's quite a few patch wires all over it now.
I think I was testing it before with the wrong kind of RAM chips, so I need to get hold of these 41464 things so I can test it properly, just in case...!

[hardlink]

spirantho wrote:

The board is actually a 386 board that was taken by Elite Computer Systems ..

That company name rings an old dusty bell in my head, but I can't place them right now.

Were the schematics ever officially released?

Long long ago, before this web thing, we would do these types of discussions on something called 'usenet'. One of the designers of the 386 BB used to be on the comp.sys.amiga.hardware (I believe) group and would sometimes answer questions. Perhaps they could be tracked down now as a lead for the schematics.

[spirantho]

Indeed, Scott Drysdale was on that group. His name is on the bridgeboard itself. Judging by his sig in the only posting I could find:
---
formerly mr. bridgeboard @ cbm.  soon to be a seaman recruit in the us navy.
---

it may be difficult to track him down now!

[hardlink]

spirantho wrote:
Indeed, Scott Drysdale was on that group. His name is on the bridgeboard itself. ...
it may be difficult to track him down now!

Yes, but this may be worth a try, sounds vaguely familiar

Mon Aug 08, 2005 11:05 pm  
(msg board post deleted)
// scott drysdale // s.drysdale.RemoveThis@verizon.net
// amigas and panheads and guns, oh my!

[spirantho]

Worth a try, but no joy - that address just bounced. Assuming I really did have to remove the "RemoveThis" bit.

spirantho wrote:
Talking about all these bridgeboards in the other threads makes me want to get my uber-rare 486-based A2386 working again.

But I need two things:
1) Schematics preferably. Pleeeease! It'd help SO much! You ever tried debugging a three layer PCB without them?
2) RAM chip! I need the 41464AZ08 ZIP RAM chips used for dual-porting! They're like hens teeth.

Can anyone help? Please?

I have a bunch of chips like that but in the wrong package.

Looking at a memory cross reference table, I found that these are the same as the memory chips used in the Commodore 128D for its video ram. However, they were in DIP package format.

Abra electronics also sells these but, once again, in the DIP package.

Jameco also seems to carry them at only 1.69$ each.

See: http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=41574&pa=41574PS

So if you feel comfortable making adapters...

[spirantho]

Looks like that's the way to go then...

I've found some DIL chips on eBay too, they may help.

Thanks again.

[da9000]

Here's where you find ZIP RAM (shameless plug):

http://www.amiga.org/forums/showthread.php?t=53883


As for schematics... I've not found them either :-(

[spirantho]

Oo what a shameless plug, resurrecting my thread from years ago.

I did actually find the Zip chips that I needed - and I should point out that you don't have the chips I was looking for - I was looking for the MN41464AZ08 chips which are used for the dual port RAM, not the 514400 chips which you have for the main RAM.  But as most people will be looking for normal RAM, not dual port RAM, your plug is allowed.

Never did get that bloomin' bridgeboard working. Real shame, given it's one of the very few 486SLC-based A2386SXs....

[da9000]

Doh! Sorry. I did read that you were trying to repair it but by the time I got done posting stuff I had forgotten it and I simply went off the thread topic -> ZIP+A2386SX = must want a RAM upgrade!

Anyhow, that's too bad it ain't working :-(  If you replaced the ZIPs with the correct ones and it didn't work, then what do you think was the problem? Traces? Or battery leak+corrosion? (the dual-ported RAM is kind of far from the battery...)

[hardlink]

Oo what a shameless plug, resurrecting my thread from years ago.

Never did get that bloomin' bridgeboard working. Real shame, given it's one of the very few 486SLC-based A2386SXs....

Let's continue the resurrecting, bot the thread and your bloomin' bridgeboard! I hope to play with my bridgeboards after the summer season winds down; I think I have a couple copies of each type. There was even a printed magazine for Bridgeboard users, I may have the complete set - I should probably send them to they guy digitizing all the other Amiga mags.

Any other parts you need for it?

[mousehouse]

I got a A2386SX from Ebay a few months back - just out of curiosity because I couldn't afford any of them "back in the days"... Haven't tried it yet as my A3000D is completely disassembled to put a Li-Ion clock battery in (which I did a few weeks ago). Just no time to get it all back together.

If there's anything you want me to check let me know...