Adding RAM to A3000D

[orb85750]

Easiest, most readily available way to add RAM to A3000D?  Thanks.
EDIT: I mean fast ram.

[tone007]

Cheapest, easy, most readily available, any ZII board with memory on it. (up to 8MB, obviously.)

Easy, more expensive, sometimes available, ZIP chips.

Edit: Woops, forgot about ZorRAM.

[Amiduffer]

You're kidding, right? ;-)

Actually, if you can locate a Fast Slot accelerator that has the option for installing memory chips, then you're good to go. Otherwise, its the old ZIP chip route.

In any case, you're limited by what comes up on the auction systems.

[save2600]

There's also the DKB 3128 and ZorRAM which is currently for sale:

http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=51&products_id=958

...costly, but both of these solutions are Amiga 3000 Zorro III 32-bit FastRAM done right.

[VingtTrois]

Yep as written in the comments above: Fast Ram with accelerators card (on CPU slot), expansion card (ZORRO), ZIP socket (ZIP Ram expansion or Simmfolie/Simmphonie).

[orb85750]

Cheapest, easy, most readily available, any ZII board with memory on it. (up to 8MB, obviously.)

That's not going to create a problem in an A3000?

[save2600]

That's not going to create a problem in an A3000?

Nope, no conflicts - just slower than ZIII RAM.

[Tenacious]

There's also the DKB 3128 and ZorRAM which is currently for sale:

http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=51&products_id=958

...costly, but both of these solutions are Amiga 3000 Zorro III 32-bit FastRAM done right.

I have the 128 Meg version of ZorRAM in my other A3000.  It's excellent, plug and play!

Before the ZorRAM was recently released, a used DKB 3128 was very rare and rediculously overpriced.  I don't know which is the better performer speed-wise, but, I imagine the ZorRAM will draw far less current (It won't tax your PS).

It's the the 16-bit bus Amigas (A2000s, 1000s, 600s and 500s) that have the 8 Meg address limit when used without a 32-bit accelerator.

Also, a 16-bit memory board designed for the A2000 will slow a 32-bit bus Amiga like the 3000.  They're a bad choice.

[desantii]

Slower is an understatement, I would say dog slow! Definitely would not recommend, recently tried an 8mb board on a 3000 and it was much much slower than with just the onboard chip ram
 

Nope, no conflicts - just slower than ZIII RAM.

[Zac67]

Z2 RAM is bound to slow down the machine, so probably the smartest choice is a SIMM adapter and no-cost (or close to) SIMMs for it. If you're not planning to get an accelerator that is.

[Tenacious]

Z2 RAM is bound to slow down the machine, so probably the smartest choice is a SIMM adapter and no-cost (or close to) SIMMs for it. If you're not planning to get an accelerator that is.

I am probably not understanding your advice, or, maybe I don't know what a SIMM adapter is.  Doesn't the SIMM adapter go onto the motherboard where the Zip ram chips normally go?  Isn't this location on the motherboard limited to 16 Megs?  Aren't SIMM adapters themselves rare and still expensive?

ZorRAM goes for about $137.  That's a little over a dollar per meg, not bad for a 20 year old machine.

EDIT: I think ZorRAM will perform best if there is some Fast Ram on the motherboard.  It seems I read that somewhere.

[Zac67]

Depends on what you're aiming at. I've seen a SIMM adapter somewhere for $25 (years ago I have to admit) and 4/8 MB SIMMs should be free to have. A DIY adapter is also possible, there's surely how to around.

But of course you're limited by the Ramsey capabilities - 16 MB. Anything more requires either a ZorRAM or an accelerator.

[kolla]

There's an alternative to ZIP RAM, djbase has a nice SIMM-ZIP adapter that lets you use ordinary old fashioned 72 pin SIMMs.