CyberStormPPC and single sided 32MB memory.

[patrik]

Hi everyone.

Has anyone tried using singlesided 32MB SIMMs on their CyberStormPPC/CyberStormMk3? If so - did it work, did it recognize the entire 32MB per SIMM etc?


/Patrik

[Framiga]

Hi Patrick,

just got 2 (supposed) 32 MB 60 ns single side SIMMs and doesn't works in my CSPPC 233 060 (P5).

The 2 SIMMs are:

ACT 2276 300197

with 8 chips ACT TM5117400BJ-6

Tryed a search on Google, with no luck.

Anyway aren't recognized at all.

Ciao

BTW- Could someone explain, why in SysSpeed i have 47 MB showed instead of 48 MB?!? (i have another SysSpeed Module, with a similar strange ODD number size).

[Thomas]

I've got four single sided 32MB SIMMS and they don't work at all. If I use two of them, it boots at least but crashes soon. With all four it crashes at once, before it attempts to boot. When mixed with my old (working) SIMMs they are not recognised.

Framiga wrote:
BTW- Could someone explain, why in SysSpeed i have 47 MB showed instead of 48 MB?!? (i have another SysSpeed Module, with a similar strange ODD number size).

Probably because you have activated the MapROM function or use BlizKick. This takes away about 1M of memory.

Bye,
Thomas

[Orjan]

If single-sided SIMMs doesn´t work, then can some-one tell me how to attach 4 doublesided ones? I have two 32Mb doublesided SIMMs in bank 1 without problems, but when I try to add 2 more in bank 2, the last one ( near the edge of the board ) wont fit. The components on the the board seems to be in the way for the circuits on the SIMM...

Or is it just me?

[Framiga]

Ho Thomas,

yes i have MapRom enabled so . .  .OK :-)

Just spoken with a friend that has 2 32MB singleside EDO SIMMS and on CSPPC, are recognized like 16MB each !?!

So if i understood the trick, the 32 MB SIMMs must be FPM doubleside.

. . . or even FPM singleside? :-?

Ciao

[zipper]

> Just spoken with a friend that has 2 32MB singleside EDO SIMMS and on CSPPC, are recognized like 16MB each !?!

They may be 4k page refresh type, which gives just half the memory on most Amiga accelerators. And aren't the BJ ones for printers - not very good for accelerators; P5 warned not to use them.

[Framiga]

Hi Zipper,

so mine are for printers?

ACT TM5117400BJ-6

Cheers

EDIT- so . . .the right one should be:

32MB-FPM or EDO -double-side-2K refresh

is it right?

[zipper]

> EDIT- so . . .the right one should be:

> 32MB-FPM or EDO - double-side-2K refresh

At least that's what I have (EDO one pair, don't remember the other pair; well, they even aren't identical but still work).
The most sellers have no idea about page refresh...
(I managed to sell one pair to a PC user)

[Hyperspeed]

Phase 5 say in their accelerator manuals not to use laser printer
memory and nothing slower than 70ns (80ns for example).

I don't think it matters if a SIMM is single or double sided, in fact
a single sided SIMM would be better because it isn't using as many
DRAMs.

One thing I have picked up from 3x different sites is that Amigas
sometimes really don't like EDO SIMMs. If you want to be sure of
compatibility stay away from EDO which was designed for machines using
a P75 to P120 CPU.

Some users have reported EDO actually killing their old 68k Apple Macs
so if you have problems try swapping your EDO for FPM (Fast Page
Mode).

I used to use an ACT 16mb EDO SIMM (Aren't ACT the people who
manufacture the Apollo accelerators?). Lately I have gotten 2x 16Mb
FPMs and the extra memory is luxury!

:-D :-D

It's also reassuring to know that FPM is your Amiga's friend and some
EDO is definately an enemy, particular to Blizzard/SCSI-IV users.

Don't fret about single or double-sided, I don't think that matters at
all. Single sided SIMMs are generally best because not only are they
smaller but higher quality, use less components that could die and
work in all Amigas.

The bigger the size of the DRAM chip the better quality SIMM you have.
Composite SIMMs comprising smaller-than-necessary DRAMs are just
cheapo server hardware.

[billchase]

I have 4 32MB edo double-sided simms in my
cyberstormPPC.  Works fine.  I believe the
refresh type is more of the compatibility
factor that someone mentioned earlier.  If
I had to do over with, I would get FPM, but
stabilty has been overall pretty good.  Only
problem with FPM is many FPM simms were not
60ns.  All EDO is at least 60ns (please correct
me if I am wrong, I have never seen 70ns EDO).
The phase5 manually does say that EDO is OK.

C Snyder
 

[Hyperspeed]

Hello there!

Well I think like the double-sided thing, refresh is another red
herring.

There are 4x types of refresh:
-----------------------------
1k = fastest but eats power (not good for laptop batteries!)
2k = fast and needs power
4k = slow but not much power needed
8k = slower but very power efficient (usually EDO)

I would say 2k or 4k is a good average for Amigas as it doesn't take
any extremes then which could irritate your accelerator.

I think you are correct in stating all EDO is 60ns minimum. You do see
the occasional 50ns EDO and I think the CD32's SX32-Pro accelerator
has a jumper to allow this.

However I wouldn't like to try this on older 1996 Phase 5 boards. Not
even the 1260.

Phase5 did say that EDO was compatible but EDO evolved quite a bit
before SDRAM came along and some EDO likes to be placed in pairs in
order to receive the full memory amount. This happens a lot with laser
printer memory, sampler memory and server memory.

If you like the look of a SIMM then type out the code in this forum
and I will translate what it means for you to help you decide if it's
a nice one for your Amiga.

As is mentioned below, I too have a problem with a capacitor or
something getting in the way so I cannot use a double-sided SIMM on my
Blizzard SCSI-IV kit. This is possibly unique to my v8.5 DCE model but
it means now that I can only use a maximum of 2x 64mb SIMMs (since the
'060 card's CPU forces away any double-sided SIMM due to the socket
angle.

Another thing Blizzard owners need to consider is that if you use 2x
SIMMs then your card will run them at 70ns, use just 1x and you will
whizz by on 60ns.

I'm shooting myself in the foot by using 2x 16mb FPMs instead of 1x
32mb SIMM, but I haven't seen any difference in speed between 70ns and
60ns in SysInfo or in practical use.

:-)

Oh and I forget, clean your SIMM, Zorro, Trapdoor etc. connectors with
Isopropyl Alcohol to ensure that no finger grease or oxidisa