Need some advise for my Mtec T1230/28 turbocard

[Nick_66]

Hi all,

My first post on this forum from the Netherlands!

I own two Amiga 1200 and a Mtec 1230/28 turbocard. This card is without a simm module. How much memory can this card hold? Is the read/write speed of the simm module important?

This card can also contains two IC's namely a Copro PGA and a PLCC. Not sure what they are used for. Will it be a good upgrade to place these IC's on my card and if so, are they still available?

I mainly use my Amiga 1200 for playing games (WHDload).

Thanks for the help!

[Stevo]

http://amiga.resource.cx/exp/t1230

There you go. Mind you, installing more than 4mb will conflict with the pcmcia port.

[Brian]

COPRO PGA/PLCC is space for a Motorola 68881 or 68882 Floating Point Unit (FPU) that speed up math calculations and is requiered for some software to work but doesn't speed up the computer in any other way. They exist in PGA and PLCC design and you should only use on or the other, not both. By default an installed FPU will run at 14 or 28Mhz since it get it's clock from the Amiga but there's space for a oscillator and jumper to run asyncron if your FPU is of a different speed.

If you don't have software that requier an FPU or work alot with archives it's hardly worth it.

The card need simms that run in at least 70ns. That meens anything 70ns or lower (faster) should work fine where 80ns and higher (slower) wont work. Simms usually specify this and if they don't check the chips as they are usually marked with their speed such as -7 or -70 for 70ns.

[Nick_66]

Thanks for all the replies!

When I install an additional 4mb of ram on my turbocard, can I install WB 3.9 on my A1200?

[carvedeye]

Thanks for all the replies!

When I install an additional 4mb of ram on my turbocard, can I install WB 3.9 on my A1200?

Yes

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

When I install an additional 4mb of ram on my turbocard, can I install WB 3.9 on my A1200?

Suggest you read the system requirements for 3.9:

http://www.vesalia.de/e_os39.htm

TL;DR.  It will work, but depending on how you configure it don't expect it to be rockin' fast, or anything, lol.  

[Nick_66]

Will 60ns simm memory work on my Turbocard?

[Nick_66]

Suggest you read the system requirements for 3.9:

http://www.vesalia.de/e_os39.htm

TL;DR.  It will work, but depending on how you configure it don't expect it to be rockin' fast, or anything, lol.  

Installing 8mb of memory will conflict my pcmcia?

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Installing 8mb of memory will conflict my pcmcia?

My general rule of thumb, if a card only supports up to 8MB of RAM expansion, then 1/2 of of that memory will sit in the same address space as the PCMCIA slot.  So yes, it will conflict.  Cards that support 32MB or more generally add that memory into the 32-bit address space, which exists outside of the "conflict zone".  In other words, if you get yourself something like a Blizzard card, or one of the new ACA cards, you shouldn't have any problems.  Older cards, eh, yes - potential problems.  

[paul1981]

Will 60ns simm memory work on my Turbocard?

Yes. The smaller the number, the faster the simm. 70NS would be fine too.

[Nick_66]

Hi,
I'm having some trouble with my Mtec 1230/28 turbocard for my A1200.
I just installed a 4mb 60ns simm module and placed the correct jumpers (MEM0 and MEM1).
My A1200 starts up normally, but it shows no fastmem. Sysinfo shows the 68030 CPU but no fastmem.
When I do a speedtest the result is 1222 Dhrystones (not sure what it means?)
I also have a Turbo 1220 card with a MC68020 CPU on it. Also a MC68881.
On this card I also have installed a 4mb 60ns simm module.
The speedtest in Sysinfo results in 4788 Dhrystones. Does this mean this is faster card?
Not sure why my Mtec 1230 card won't work. The CPU on this card seems to work, but no extra memory.
Any idea what could be wrong here?

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Any idea what could be wrong here?

You need to resolve your issues with the memory not being detected before you worry about speed tests.  It sounds to me like you either have a dirty or improperly inserted SIMM, a defective SIMM, an incompatible SIMM, or the slot on your accelerator card may also be faulty.  I'd start by going back and rechecking those jumper settings, clean the connectors, and then swap with a different SIMM, if possible.

Also:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhrystone

[paul1981]

Hi,
I'm having some trouble with my Mtec 1230/28 turbocard for my A1200.
I just installed a 4mb 60ns simm module and placed the correct jumpers (MEM0 and MEM1).
My A1200 starts up normally, but it shows no fastmem. Sysinfo shows the 68030 CPU but no fastmem.
When I do a speedtest the result is 1222 Dhrystones (not sure what it means?)
I also have a Turbo 1220 card with a MC68020 CPU on it. Also a MC68881.
On this card I also have installed a 4mb 60ns simm module.
The speedtest in Sysinfo results in 4788 Dhrystones. Does this mean this is faster card?
Not sure why my Mtec 1230 card won't work. The CPU on this card seems to work, but no extra memory.
Any idea what could be wrong here?

Without Fast RAM (ie. just Chip RAM), any Amiga CPU will be slower than normal. I have a question though - did you buy the MTec 1230 as faulty? A lot of the time over the years I notice that when CPU cards become faulty they only seem to work without RAM installed on them. Anyway, obviously swap the RAM SIMM with the known good one from the 1220 card to rule out the SIMM. Good luck.

[Nick_66]

I tried everything. Used a working 4mb 60ns and a 4mb 70ns simm modules. Both simm modules work with my 1220 card.

Cleaned the slot of the simm connector and also the main slot of the card.

I even replaced two IC's with are placed on a socket.

Jumper setting should be MEM0 and MEM1 connected. The rest open.

I think this Mtec 1230 has seen his last days

[paul1981]

I tried everything. Used a working 4mb 60ns and a 4mb 70ns simm modules. Both simm modules work with my 1220 card.

Cleaned the slot of the simm connector and also the main slot of the card.

I even replaced two IC's with are placed on a socket.

Jumper setting should be MEM0 and MEM1 connected. The rest open.

I think this Mtec 1230 has seen his last days

Have a really close look at the card, look at the tracks that lead to and from the SIMM socket, make sure that non are scratched and that the solder joints on each of the 72 pins look good with no cracks (SIMM socket solder joints). Check for corrosion or dirt on the SIMM socket contacts too, although unlikely.
Also, check the actual jumper pins for corrosion, and try different jumpers in case they have dirt or corrosion. Try the 2MB setting (M0 and M3 closed).

Is the Amiga actually detecting the card? Does the clock work? If you type 'cpu' into a Shell, does it say it's a 68030 and 68881/2?