GVP A1230 / Jaws I MK1

[AmigaOasis]

Hi All,

Wonder if some technical guru's out there can help me.
For a long time I've had an old GVP A1230 Jaws I card packed away in a box unused.

This is the model in question: http://amiga.resource.cx/exp/gvp1230mk1

Due to work/life/family commitments I never really got around to looking at it and with me already having a Blizzard 1220/4 I was not in much of a rush to get it up and running.

Anyway long story short I decided to start my months of searching for memory, with much trail, failure, joy I finally obtained two modules from two different sources.

1 x 4mb
1 x 16mb

However I am stuck, I cannot get either or both to register with the board.

The board will boot, register and under sysinfo list the 68030 /40 on my 1200 but no matter what combination of memory I try or jumpers I cant get it to pick any up.

I know the largest is meant to be in slot 1, but I have tried it the other way, and with just the 4mb on both slots

This concerns me a bit as it should pick the 4mb without too much fuss, I know the 16mb one needs J5 open so the board knows there is a 16mb module.

From much searching the net I know the "correct" jumpers should be set as follows:

J1 - OFF (For 68030)
J2 - ON (RESERVED)
J3 - OFF (RESERVED)
J4 – OFF (RESERVED)
J5 – OFF (ON – No 16MB SIMMS) / OFF – 16MB SIMMS PRESENT
J6 – RESERVED (OFF)
CN4 – RESERVED (2-3)
CN5 – (ON 1-2 : 4k REFRESH DRAM 16M) / OFF 2-3 : 2k REFRESH DRAM 16M
CN6 – RESERVED (1-2)
CN7 – RESERVED (2-3)

I have attached a picture of the jumpers as I have them set currently (note I have tried CN5 1-2 and 2-3 with no change.

One weird thing I noticed is when I put a jumper on J5 (with no memory and with the 4mb only in) the system would not boot.

Now it's highly unlikely that both simms are faulty as one is brand new and the other come out of a working machine before being sold to me.

the 4mb is branded as Great valley Products, the 16mb as GVP-M. Both are genuine 64-pin GVP modules.

Anyone out there with any ideas, does it sound like a problem with the board? I dont have access to another 1200 to test it with but could it be my 1200?

I must admit it seems to be suffering a bit since it was last properly used (RF output is not working and im having to use an old A520 box).

Power is not an issue, I've been using my old A500 PSU on it and besides it detects the card.

Also since I took that picture I have given it a proper alcohol clean so it's spotless and nothing appears to be leaking or damaged on the board.

Would love to get the card working to get a bit of a step up from my blizzard card otherwise I might consider trading the ram in / selling them and then the card for spares (pretty sure the cpu and other bits might be of use to someone out there). But that's my very last resort.

Anyone able to help?

[DWV]

The jumper for 16 mb sims is J3 not J5
J5 is ROM enable/disable

[AmigaOasis]

The jumper for 16 mb sims is J3 not J5
J5 is ROM enable/disable

Hi There,

Thanks for the reply, are you sure? Isn't J3 the option on the Jaws II / A1230+ Mk2?
I have the Jaws I /MK1 model.

I got my reference for this from here: http://www.amigaimpact.org/forums/topic/jumpers-gvp-jaws-a1230-turbo/

If you review the manual for the Series II model here: http://www.commodore-amiga-retro.com/amiga/pdf/gvp_1230.pdf

In chapter 3.4  (page 12) it clearly informs the user to remove the shorting block on J3 to enable 16mb simms. The visual on Page 10 is graphically accurate to the MK2 as can be seen here: http://amiga.resource.cx/photos/gvp1230mk2,1

It's of course a good bet that the Mk1 and Mk2 would have similar options but however as you can see from my initial picture I do indeed have J3 open anyway

Someone a couple of years ago posted here with a problem with the same board : http://www.amiga.org/forums/showthread.php?t=41727

And the jumper layout looks the same to me.

The problem I've got is I have both J3 and J5 off which in either version should enable 16mb sims.

Also it shouldn't matter if I have J3 or J5 on in either version as it should still detect the 4mb simm I have

Do you think the board is broken?

[amiga1260]

You need to put the 16 MB in slot #1. I only know that this works on a GVP 1230 II.

[AmigaOasis]

Hiya,

Tried that and nothing.
Can't even get it to pick up the 4mb either

[AmigaOasis]

Hiya,

Tried that and nothing.
Can't even get it to pick up the 4mb either

Bump don't suppose anyone has any ideas? Im baffled

[rockape]

Hi AmigaOasis,

See  http://www.bigbookofamigahardware.com/bboah/product.aspx?id=131

Quote

"The GVP 1230 uses GVP 64pin SIMMs which are not necessarily compatible with the other 64pin SIMM formats which exist"


Regards, Michael

aka rockape

[danbeaver]

I don't want to be a pessimist, but are you sure the SIMMs work (know anyone who can test them)?  Solder joints can go bad (cold cracks) and memory chips fail over time.

[AmigaOasis]

Heya Thanks for the replies.

The 4mb is branded as Great valley Products, the 16mb as GVP-M. Both are genuine 64-pin GVP modules.

4mb chip was second hand brought from a working machine and the 16mb was factory sealed brand new purchased from GVPMsales at the start of the year.

That said it is possible they are faulty, but extremely bad luck for both not to work!

I will take pictures of them tomorrow and post up, maybe someone can spot something

Annoyingly I had another GVP board (Memory expansion with scsi add on) which I sold on ebay, the fool I am sold it before I got any memory I could of used that to test with argh.

Just wish I had access to another Amiga to test with, my 1200 is pending some care and attention (RF output not working nor is the floppy) or someone nearby with a GVP board and A1200 I could test with.