Just what type of memory do GVP boards use? Besides GVP....

[MrBang]

Okay.  For as long as I can remember, GVP expansion boards always used some type of proprietary "GVP" memory.  Back in the day, your Amiga either needed whatever GVP required (for GVP boards) or your basic 72 pin non-parity SIMMS (for everybody else's boards).

I've been thinking about picking up a second hand GVP board and I'm wondering just what type of memory it does require.  SIMMS, DIMMS, SODIMMS, SDRAM, or what?  I mean, they had to be something, right?  I've always suspected that whatever made GVP RAM "special" was just that it wasn't a 72 pin SIMM like everybody else.

Or were they really special?

Memory these days is cheap and plentiful.  I would like to think that I can pick up some memory somewhere without having to scour the internet for "GVP" RAM.

Input, anybody...?

[QuikSanz]

Hi,

It depends on which one. My 030 40Mhz combo is GVP only, My Tek060 50Mhz is std mem only.

Chris

[MrBang]

Okay.  I understand that.  But the board that takes the GVP memory...what kind of memory is it?  A SIMM made by GVP?  Something else made by GVP?  72 pin?  168 pin?

[prowler]

MrBang wrote:
Okay.  I understand that.  But the board that takes the GVP memory...what kind of memory is it?  A SIMM made by GVP?  Something else made by GVP?  72 pin?  168 pin?

I remember years ago seeing a document on AmiNET on how to convert a standard 72 pin SIMM into one for GVP cards. So I am assuming for some reason, GVP used the 72 pin standard but for some reason made it a touch different ?

[Ilwrath]

The modules look similiar at a glance..  But start measuring index marks and counting pins, and you'll find it's quite incompatible to anything else.  It's some type of 68 pin SIMM, or something.  I've never seen one of these chips marked as anything other than a GVP SIMM.  I had an A1200 JAWS-I (G-Force 030), and I can tell you that certainly no stock SIMMS fit it.

Software Hut found a new shipment of them recently, though, so I wonder if some old printer or router, or something uses those same chips, as well.  ;-)

[graffias79]

I know this sad story well, my GVP TRex 4040 uses them as well.  They are 64 pin simms and yes software hut sells them in the 4MB or 16MB variety.

Also, I think they are allegedly faster than FPM simms.  I don't remember where I heard that though.

[justthatgood]

Didn't the Macintosh IIFX use 64 pins, along with one of the LaserWriters ?  I could be wrong  :lol:

[justthatgood]

Didn't the Macintosh IIFX use 64 pins, along with one of the LaserWriters ?  I could be wrong  :lol:

[zipper]

Even some of their desktop models could use them. And http://www.ioffer.com has some for sale. Altavista is your friend!

[JimS]

I seem to recall someething about the early GVP boards requiring an update to handle the 16MB simms... I don't know if that's true or just my failing (brain) memory.
I'd like to get the ZorroII ram out of my 2000 so I can put the bridgeboard in it. Not so much for the BB, but to let it host a network card.

[Acill]

The thing with them is GVP wanted money from users that got there boards, so they stuck these on them so they could charge what they wanted, and as a user you would have no choice but to pay it. Just look at what Software Hut sells them for. Its a joke! Thats another reason I never got a GVP card. I hate hardware companies that charge users crazy prices for things, just because its Amiga.

[Lex]

There were many kinds of SIMMs for GVP boards, not all of them is special:

8 bit, 30 pin - used on their Impact SCSI controllers (A500 HD8, A2000 HC+8). Nothing special.
8 bit, 30 pin, Nibble mode - used on their A3001 accelerator. Special, but not a GVP speciality, as it was used in Suns too.
32 bit, 64 pin - used on most of their older accelerators. Special GVP made stuff, available in 1, 4 or 16 MB form.
32 bit, 68 pin - used only on the G-Force 040/3000. Special non-multiplexed, 1MB, 40 ns SIMMs.
32 bit, 72 pin - standard SIMM, used on their newer accelerators (GVP-M).

[Cyberus]

Lex wrote:
There were many kinds of SIMMs for GVP boards, not all of them is special:

8 bit, 30 pin - used on their Impact SCSI controllers (A500 HD8, A2000 HC+8). Nothing special.
8 bit, 30 pin, Nibble mode - used on their A3001 accelerator. Special, but not a GVP speciality, as it was used in Suns too.
32 bit, 64 pin - used on most of their older accelerators. Special GVP made stuff, available in 1, 4 or 16 MB form.
32 bit, 68 pin - used only on the G-Force 040/3000. Special non-multiplexed, 1MB, 40 ns SIMMs.
32 bit, 72 pin - standard SIMM, used on their newer accelerators (GVP-M).

I have three A500 Impact Series II HD8+ cards
One of them takes GVP SIMMS only
The other (a dead card) takes standard SIMMS
The other has never been opened, so I don't know. But I think you'll find that some versions of the same card use the proprietary SIMMS, some don't.

I managed to get 4MB worth of GVP SIMMS off ebay for one of the controllers, and a couple of standard 8MB 30pin SIMMS from the computer tech from my old Physics Dept - but they will be going into my Fastlane eventually methinks.

[Framiga]

. . . and the 64 pin 30 ns, for the Frame buffer on the TBCPlus card as well. (1 MB default)

+1MB 10 years ago . .  220 USD :-(

Ciao

[adolescent]

AST (or maybe it was ALR) 486 computers used 64pin SIMMS.  I never had a GVP product to try them with, but it might be worth a look.