************ Topic 6 Wed Feb 22, 1989 C.KURTZ1 at 19:31 EST Sub: MEMORY UPGRADES Information on upgrading older Atari 8bits to 256K or even 1M 110 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 1 Wed Feb 22, 1989 C.KURTZ1 at 19:33 EST Hey, I'm thinking about upgrading my 800XL to 256K. The Atari8 mags used to be littered with mail order ads for upgrades but they seem to have fizzled. Does anyone still sell these kits or should I try to find an Atari dealer? Thanx, Cy ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 2 Thu Feb 23, 1989 ZMAGAZINE [HL Brewer] at 01:17 EST Hi, Cy. When I was in the market to upgrade my 8ooXL, folks in the St. Louis area told be the most often chosen upgrade was the RAMBO XL from ICD. I took their advice and have never regretted it. The RAMBO XL makes the 8ooXL/12ooXL a 256K machine, and allows up to a 192K RAMdisk (with SpartaDOS). It retails for under $4o, not including DRAM (memory) chips or labor. Some soldering is required, but not much. DRAM chips for this installatin (#41256 @15oms) run around $1o each and you'd need eight. So for parts alone, you are looking at over $1oo. Newell Industries (last I heard) also make a memory upgrade, but I know next to nothing about it. If you go into the library here, check out file #4064--it tells of the elusive 512K upgrade for the 8ooXL... Harold ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 3 Thu Feb 23, 1989 C.KURTZ1 at 19:46 EST Harold, Thanx for the info. I just stumbled over the Rambo XL in an old mag, also What on earth is a DRAM? and where can I get it? how much does it cost(pardon my grammar)? I will go now and check out msg# 4064. Thanx Again, Cy ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 4 Fri Feb 24, 1989 MAT.RAT at 08:32 EST DRAM := DYNAMIC RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY; END OF LINE ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 5 Sat Feb 25, 1989 R.COLLINS1 at 04:21 EST I was wondering on upgrading by 800XL to 256K, but with the high prices of RAM, I just can't afford it right now. What I was wondering is if there was an upgrade out that used the older 64KX1 chips, the original ones in the computer, another eight to bring mine up to 128K, not as much as I like, but enough to keep me happy for a while. Mat, in your article on the XEGS in the Aug 1988 Antic, you talk about the upgrade for the XEGS that piggybacks the RAM chips for a total of 128K. Is this possible for my 800XL? Thanx -Ryan- ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 6 Sat Feb 25, 1989 BOB.PUFF at 12:32 EST Hello Ryan, Just a suggestion: you will be MUCH happier with a 256K upgrade for your XL than just adding 64K more... The 256K gives you more than 1 DD disk worth of RAMdisk, plus compatibility with programs like PaperClip XE that will let you use ALL of your memory for a BIG text file... Bob ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 7 Sun Feb 26, 1989 ORION.MICRO at 20:38 EST I agree with Bob. 64K will buy you very little; just go on and get the RAMBO/XL from ICD. keith ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 8 Tue Mar 07, 1989 DATAQUE.1 at 23:35 EST Ryan, another vote for the 256k, you will be compatible with the other available upgrades, and the 256k's are less than $100 for a set of 8. If you really shop around, you can even find them for around $60 a set, or less. It will be a cleaner upgrade also, the piggy banked upgrades invite wiring errors, noise, and potential destroyed devices, since you just about have to solder the chips directly to each other..... chuck/dataque ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 9 Sat May 06, 1989 N.HUNTER at 19:47 EDT HELP! I'M DOING A 65XE RAM UPGRADE & BEST ELECTRONICS IS OUT OF THE C025953 ATARI CUSTOM CHIP. ANYONE OUT THERE KNOW WHERE I CAN ACQUIRE ONE VIA MAILORDER???? OR AN ALTERNATIVE????*S ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 10 Mon May 08, 1989 BOB.PUFF at 15:41 EDT Hmm its been a while since I've upgraded a 65XE.. I used to use the 256k 800XL upgrade (PD one), with some modifications... Not sure if there is a DOC file around concerning upgrades for the 65 or not.. You might want to search the file libraries here and see if anything pops up. Basically, you need to play with the freddie chip instead of the '158s, cause freddy does the address multiplexing. The C025953 is a Atari custom chip, which makes doing a 320k upgrade real easy. Best Electronics is the only place I can think of for obtaining those; but if you can find a dead 130XE, you might be able to pull one out of it. Bob ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 11 Mon May 08, 1989 DATAQUE.1 at 19:42 EDT whoops, I read the model wrong, I thought it was a 600xl, my mistake. so basically..... nevermind! ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 12 Thu May 11, 1989 D.SCHMIDT4 at 00:21 EDT A couple of mistakes in my 512K upgrade for the 800XL computers surfaced, (Thanx RBMIER) I had a select line from the PIA being grounded. Sorry to all those who had problems with it. I have uploaded a corrected version and everything should be just fine now. If anybody else has problems with it, I am on GEnie at least once a month, so I should be around to answer any questions and help out. The file in question is #4336, and it is a 512k RAMdisk that is accessible even from BASIC. It uses the diagnostics select line, but diagnostics are still available at all times. If you have a 576XE, I have included instructions so that you too can take advantage of your entire RAMdisk from BASIC with only a minor rewiring. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 13 Thu May 11, 1989 BOB.PUFF at 18:28 EDT Another bit to consider using is the OS ROM/RAM bit... The bit for the diagnostics gets tricky when using the standard OS, but is easily used with the Ultra Speed + OS, for example. Bob ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 14 Sat Jun 10, 1989 N.HUNTER at 19:49 EDT HELP AGAIN!!! SCOTT PETERSON'S 320K XE UPGRADE INSTRUCTIONS HAS A FLAW. IT INSTRUCTS YOU TO BEND ALL PINS UP EXCEP T FOR PIN NUMBERS 8 AND 16 ON THE 74LS158 AND THE CO25953 (ATARI CUSTOM CHIP), HOWEVER LATER IN THE INSTRUCTIONS IT INSTRUCTS YOU TO PIGGYBACK AND SOLDER PINS ONE AND 16. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHICH IS TO BE USED.....PINS 8 AND 16 OR PINS 1 AND 16. I TRIED BOTH WAYS AND THE 8 AND 16 ALLOWE ME TO BOOT, HOWEVER, WHEN USING MYDOS 4.50 WITH THE RAMDISK ENABLED THE DIRECTORY SHOWS GARBAGE. ALL CONNECTIONS WERE VERIFIED UP TO THE PIN PROBLEM. ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS???? THANKS IN ADVANCE..... ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 15 Sat Jun 10, 1989 BOB.PUFF at 21:45 EDT you want to let pins 8 and 16 of the added chip make contact with the CO25953 chip, as these are the two power pins. You don't want to bend or desolder any pins on the CO25953 chip; just the one you are adding. Also remember MYDOS does not format your RAMdisk when booted , so you probably will see junk until you format the ramdisk. Use a memory test program after you complete the upgrade to verify that it indeed is working. If you don't have one, I can find/upload one here. Bob ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 16 Fri Jun 23, 1989 J.PAYNE1 at 00:17 EDT DOES ANYONE KNOW OF A 320K UPGRADE FOR 800XL? I'M THINKING SERIOUSLY OF A RAMBO, BUT IT HURTS ME TO THINK OF THROWING AWAY 64K WORTH OF PERFECTLY GOOD CHIPS. THANKS!! ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 17 Fri Jun 23, 1989 BOB.PUFF at 01:57 EDT Hi J, Yes there IS a 320K upgrade for the 800XL available... Call Computer Software Services at (716) 586-5545 for more info... Bob ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 18 Tue Jun 27, 1989 J.PAYNE1 at 00:09 EDT THANKS BOB-ILL DO THAT. BTW- BOBTERM 1.1 IS GREAT. THANKS MUCH. JOHN ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 19 Thu Aug 24, 1989 J.FURUKAWA at 03:18 PDT I have all the hardware to a 64K upgrade to the 600XL, problem is that the instructions on installing it are lost in space somewhere. All it includes is a pair of 18 pin dram chips, a single wire, and something that looks like a jumper. Anybody know anything about this upgrade? ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 20 Thu Feb 08, 1990 K.ALOESSL at 00:05 EST does anyone have the upgrade for the 600xl? I need the instructions for the upgrade useing the 4464 (64k by 4) chips. I have done several to the 600xl using the 4416 chips, and they work great, but I really need the 4464 version. Thanks, K.A.L. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 21 Tue Mar 27, 1990 M.SCHOEDEL at 23:25 EST I'm having the same trouble with my XE upgrade that N.HUNTER was having. I use SpartaDOS in mine. Doesn't the ramdisk automatically format when you load in the handler? That's all I did when it was a normal XE, and it never gave me any trouble. Also, when I ripped out half of the upgrade to test it out and find out what the trouble was, (I was doing a 576K), I might have fried my PIA, because nothing happened. The screen stayed black and the drive didn't load in. Damn! Any help/suggestions would be most appreciated. THanks Michael ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 22 Wed Mar 28, 1990 DATAQUE.1 [Chuck] at 16:18 EST Michael S. PIAs are pretty rugged... I would suspect a solder joint or short elswhere.... it only takes one little short/open on the data or address bus to keep you out of business. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 23 Wed Mar 28, 1990 M.SCHOEDEL at 22:50 EST I'll have to dig out my magnifier and take a look. Maybe check pads and ttraces, too. Right now I'm pretty disgusted with the whole thing, and when I get like that, I need to walk away from it for a little while. Damn! I was going to use it to run a BBS, too. "sigh" Well, maybe someday... ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 24 Thu Mar 29, 1990 BOB.PUFF at 01:03 EST If you ever decide to chuck it (apologies to DCBC), I can always use scrap parts... :-) Bob ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 25 Mon Apr 09, 1990 M.SCHOEDEL at 18:49 EDT Okay, Bob, here'S one for you. What's wrong with an unmodified 800XL that only shows 40K of ram when you run the built in diagnostic test? Is it a bum ram chip, a bad MMU, a PIA gone bad??? Inquiring minds want to know. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 26 Mon Apr 09, 1990 DATAQUE.1 [Chuck] at 21:55 EDT sounds like either a cartridge is plugged in, or the internal basic is enabled. something is deselecting the RAM more than likely. if neither of the above is true... then there could be something wrong with the PAL (aka MMU) or the connections that lead from it to the cartridge port. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 27 Tue Apr 10, 1990 BOB.PUFF at 20:19 EDT Don't forget to hold OPTION when booting. Sometimes its those simple things that are easiest to overlook! Bob ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 28 Wed Apr 11, 1990 M.SCHOEDEL at 22:56 EDT The MMU is one of the thingd I susspect. A lso, the top 74LS158 is one that was replaced when I built a Buchholtz. The original chip died after Install upgrade, and I tore that out. Well, time to dig out the old SAMs. Anyone hhave a SAMs for the 130XE that they could zerox for me? I'd rather pay for photocopy that order one for full price and wait three weeks for delivery. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 29 Thu Apr 12, 1990 TOM.ROBINSON at 01:39 EDT Hmm -- that'd be a neat way to save money if it was legal, eh? ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 30 Tue Apr 24, 1990 J.FURUKAWA at 04:22 PDT To K.ALOESSL Are the RAM chips you're looking fro the ones with 18 pins? If so, I have them and since I don't have a 600XL handy you're welcome to them. Just have a question. Where can I find a 48K ram board for my 400!!!! Thanks. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 31 Mon May 21, 1990 K.ALOESSL at 22:19 EDT Thanks for the come back, but do to the drop in popularity of the XT clones, the 4464 drams are very easy to come by. What is nearly impossible to find is the instructions how to do a 600XL to 64K modification. Again, I have done many with the (8) 4416 chips, but would like to try the 4464 mod. I have been told that some of the 4416 chip mods emit too much RF do to the wire length. Thanks a lot, K.A.L. /s ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 32 Sat Sep 08, 1990 R.GORANSON2 [HACKSAWXL] at 00:58 PDT Hi, I have come up with something that even has me amazed. It is a upgrade that you can slap onto your rambo or newell upgrades and you can than expand up to 2.0?? megs (whatever 16*128 is). I have come up with a way to use the diagnostic bit, OS select bit, and basic bit of the PIA to bank memory without losing compatibility. Well it looses a little. Any program that tries to enable/disable OS or BAsic while accessing a extended back won't work but that is all I have found so far It is in two parts. The upgrade control chips and the chips that sort of fool the computer into thinking that $d301 is sort of two memory location. I have the second part bug ffree but I am waiting on some 256k ram chips before I will stick it up here. I think I got the above numbers right anyway. see you around. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 33 Sat Sep 08, 1990 MARTY.A [RT*SysOp] at 08:36 EDT hmmm... Sounds interesting! What about having a 2meg ramdisk internal? ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 34 Sat Sep 29, 1990 M.SCHOEDEL at 15:12 EDT Hmmmm.... As a SysOp looking for more space, you've definately got my interest. Do you plan on making a ramdisk handler for it? How about a ramdisk that supports BASIC-XE? Keep us posted*s ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 35 Tue Oct 23, 1990 DAN.KNAUF at 03:35 PDT Has anybody done a 1 meg (or larger) upgrade to a 130XE using a 1 meg SIMM board? If so, how 'bout sharing how it's done? If not, how 'bout one of you hardware experts coming up with a 'how to'? Seems like using one of these boards would suck less power and be easier to do than all that piggy-backing. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 36 Tue Oct 23, 1990 DATAQUE.1 [Chuck] at 17:12 EDT Dan, I have been kicking around using the 1mbx8 and 4mbx8 idea for native dram for the t816, but it wouldnt be too hard to slap one on the base 64k, mainly just dividing down the refresh count again is the only real change from a 256k, other than the physical differences. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 37 Tue Oct 23, 1990 DAN.KNAUF at 18:43 PDT Hi Chuck. Could using a 1mx8 board be as easy as moving the chip select lines on a Peterson upgrade to some address pins on the simm? Or could it be done with less than the 5 support chips that the Peterson method requires? ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 38 Tue Oct 23, 1990 DATAQUE.1 [Chuck] at 22:46 EDT I am not familiar with the 'peterson' upgrade you mention. I would think it would take 1-2 more chip(s) than the 256k upgrades. The 1mx8 simm would otherwise be the same as using 8 seperate 1mx1 chips, as that is all that is on the board. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 39 Wed Oct 24, 1990 MARTY.A [RT*SysOp] at 03:56 EDT uh.... 2 "extra" control chips... ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 40 Wed Oct 24, 1990 DAN.KNAUF at 04:36 PDT The Peterson upgrades all use 256k chips. For the 1 meg version, You gotta piggyback 32 of them. You wind up with one row two chips deep and one row three chips deep. That version also takes 5 support chips. I don't know of anybody ever releasing a text file describing how to use 1 meg chips. We follow-the-directions idiots aren't too capable of figuring out that much for ourselves. :) Dan ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 41 Wed Oct 24, 1990 DATAQUE.1 [Chuck] at 15:37 EDT Dan, where can I take a gander at this file you are refering to? is this known to work? or is it the one that is flakey? Is it here on GEnie? anyway, you get me the file (or point it out) and I will scan it, and try to generate a 'by the book' 1mx8 simm version. ok? ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 42 Wed Oct 24, 1990 DAN.KNAUF at 23:22 PDT Chuck, download file #'s 371, 999, and 1030. This will give you all three Peterson upgrades for the 130XE - 320k, 576k, and 1 meg. File # 1070 is a longer version of the 576k upgrade. Not sure what the difference is. Also note that the 1 meg upgrade assumes that you already have the 576k one installed. Dan ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 43 Thu Oct 25, 1990 DATAQUE.1 [Chuck] at 20:18 EDT dan, ok, I will d/l that set, and scan them to see what the scoop is. Chuck ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 44 Sat Oct 27, 1990 ALEXANDRI at 06:22 EDT Has anyone ever written a file on how to make your own Axlon compatible memory upgrade for the 800? Juan ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 45 Sat Oct 27, 1990 DATAQUE.1 [Chuck] at 09:00 EDT Juan, I have a sheet here, but nothing in a text file. Chuck ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 46 Sat Nov 03, 1990 ALEXANDRI at 01:16 EST Chuck, Do you mean just the specs for one? I was wondering because I have one and would love to add one to my 400, it's just sitting in it's box, and if my 800 ever needs fixing, I don't know how I would get along on just 48K. For however long it would take to fix the 800. Well, if you ever come across a text file that really does a good job of explaining the steps, could you upload it? Anyone? Juan ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 47 Sat Nov 03, 1990 DATAQUE.1 [Chuck] at 11:13 EST The one I have is for the 800. It wouldnt work out on the 400, since It assumes you have 3 memory boards, and the middle one is the one modified to 256k (so the banked memory ends up at $4000- $7fff like the XE). Since there is only one slot on the 400, It would be a major chore to do it, since you would have to somehow add memory at least from $0000-$3fff. If you didnt, and changed banks, your OS vars and stack would be switched out (since the banked RAM would end up from $0-$3fff). ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 48 Sun Nov 11, 1990 J.MCWILLIAM3 at 01:27 EST Newell Industries just put out a 1 meg upgrade for either the 800XL or the 130XE, using 1 megabit chips (8 of them of course) You plug his board into one of the RAM sockets, and plug the RAM chip into his board, and then run about 24 wires to the PC board, at least on the 800XL. I assumed he meant that the 1 meg chips go into the 64K RAM chip sockets, except for the one that goes on the Newell board itself. He says it's 130Xe compatible, works with Spartados 3.2d and the X-cart. It's shipped with MYDOS of course. Uses $d301 for banking, you have to hard wire BASIC with a switch to turn it on/off, since he uses the BASIC enable bit. $50.00 for either one from B&C Computervisions. Have to specify 800XL or 130XE. Doesn't include the RAMS. I was tempted to order one, but since these days I can't manage soldering two ends of the same resistor together properly, I figured 24 wires was quite a job. I'll get my 1 meg MIO fixed first instead. But I am interested in anyone who gets one, especially to see if it will work with the Turbo816 installed in the same machine. Comments, questions, Ideas?? This sounds like a pretty decent product. Here I thought Newell wasn't gonna put anything new out on the market for the 8 bits. Was I wrong. Jeff ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 49 Sun Nov 11, 1990 MARTY.A [RT*SysOp] at 01:43 EST hmmm... Sounds like an interesting product. Guess I need to pick up a few 800XLs to start playing with again! ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 50 Sun Nov 11, 1990 CRAIG.S.THOM [RT*SysOp] at 20:36 EST I doubt the RAM chips go in the existing ram sockets. Not enough pins. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 51 Mon Nov 12, 1990 DATAQUE.1 [Chuck] at 00:44 EST Yeah, the 1mb RAMs are 18-pinners, and it would be a hassle to work them into the sockets, since the old Vcc ends up where the new CAS is (if I remember right). Using a SIMM module, you would not have nearly that many wires to play with, and I would rather do it that way, since it is more compact too. Chuck ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 52 Thu Nov 15, 1990 DAN.KNAUF at 19:44 PST Heh, I'm waiting Chuck.... ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 53 Thu Nov 15, 1990 J.MCWILLIAM3 at 23:37 EST Okay, then the 1 meggers must go on the Newell board, but why mess with the 64K rams still then? He said it plugs into one ram socket and the ram chip plugs back into his board. must be a pretty big board too to support the driver IC's and the RAMS. another reason to go to a PC case. jeff ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 54 Sat Nov 17, 1990 DAN.KNAUF at 07:11 PST The upgrade is probably 1088k and the 64k chip is used for the first 64k bank in the computer. The Scott Peterson 1 meg upgrade for the 130XE uses the main bank of 64k chips plus 32 256x1 ram chips. The end result is one row of ram chips 2 deep and one row 3 deep. Lotsa piggy-backing, but it works good. :) ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 55 Sun Nov 18, 1990 RON.HOFFMAN at 14:16 PST Has anyone used the DAn Schmidt upgrade for 512 and had it work. Have a friend that has installed and it does not work. He has used the new change and it still does not work. Does anyone have an idea. What it does is go funny when you get to about 1600 or 1700 sec. free. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 56 Sun Nov 18, 1990 BOB.PUFF at 17:48 EST Hi Ron, Nope, the 512k xl upgrade is _NOT_ reliable. The only way to do it is use the XE memory management chips (costly), then do a "576k XE" type upgrade. Bob ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 57 Sun Nov 18, 1990 ERROR.170 [M.E.Roberts] at 20:09 MST Bob> After talking to everyone about the 512k XL upgrade during the RTC I decided to scrap it. Not before I bought all the chips, sockets, etc., however. Decided to do the 576XE. Is that reliable? The problem is I have a CSS 130XE. After looking inside (while removing the Utra Speed+ OS to put into the XL) I noticed that the CSS upgrade is NOT the same as the Peterson 320XE mod. Any advice on changing from the CSS mod to the Peterson mod so I can do the Peterson 576XE? Unless I'm missing something the differences seem to be: - pins 15 and 16 connected and wired to the unknown chip (with the writing sanded off) - unknown chip piggybacked on top U20 vs a 74LS158 - a bunch of jumper wires going from various chips to the motherboard My main concern is all these jumper wires. It looks like a Korean electronics "technician" repaired it. :) Can I just remove the jumpers and go from there or does it mean my computer was repaired? Also does the CSS mod cut any traces? ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 58 Sun Nov 18, 1990 DAN.KNAUF at 20:39 PST M.E., There is a 256k/512k upgrade board put out by Tom Lawless that is suppose to be a good one. Last I heard, he charged $10 for it. I believe that if it is available you can probably get it through the Seattle Puget Sound Atari Enthusiasts user group. I have one of the boards, but don't want to part with it. If you are really interested, I can check on current price and availability for you. Let me know one way or the other. BTW, the board comes with complete docs for adding the upgrade to an 800XL or a 1200XL. No chips are included. If the price is still $10, it is really a great deal. Dan ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 59 Sun Nov 18, 1990 ERROR.170 [M.E.Roberts] at 23:06 MST Dear Dan, It sounds pretty good. I guess I could swap the Ultra Speed+ back into the 320. What kind of ramdisk drivers are available? It HAS to work with SpartaDOS X and SpartaDOS 3.2d. I don't need any other DOS on that particular computer. Actually if I can find out how to chnage my CSS 130XE mod into a Peterson 130XE I'll probably go with the 576XE. If I can't unCSS my XE then I have an option left as far as upgrading the XL. +Mike+ ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 60 Mon Nov 19, 1990 H.LESTER1 [Hiram] at 22:44 CST Well, it is nice to know that the 512k upgrade is not reliable after building one and trashing my machine. I built a 256k 800XL and had it working perfectly. I upped it to 512k and could not get it working properly. I "redesigned" it slighty so that the main bank was on the bottom and so that the lines that were used to switch it were the same as other upgrades. This involved the swapping of two pair of wires and made it work with the unmodified RD.COM. I ran Oasis JR. III BBS on it for a while and used the RAMdisk. Every so often it would drop a bit here or there which really screwed some things up. I had massive problems with crashes. I swapped and put my 192k 130XE in and "un-upgraded" it back to 256k. It was STILL flaky and another 800XL that I installed the other set of chips in to make another 256k machine was flaky and would not always boot. I pulled the second one back to 64k so I could run my bbs on it (it still has the 256k board, just 64k DRAMS). My first 256k (512k) XL now will not even boot up! (Argh!!!!!!!!!) Hiram ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 61 Tue Nov 20, 1990 DATAQUE.1 [Chuck] at 16:12 EST That is why I wont release the 1mb upgrade until it is fully tested in an XL and XE. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 62 Tue Nov 20, 1990 BOB.PUFF at 17:06 EST The CSS upgrade does the same thing as the Peterson one. Uses a different chip, but does the same thing. I wouldn't touch anything with your current upgrade. All you need to do to upgrade it to 576k is to multiplex the chip select line going to the extended ram bank from the XE chip. Here's what ya do: 1. Remove R111. (located next to rams) 2. Stack a 74ls138 somewhere, lifting all pins except 8 and 16. 3. Jumper pins 4, 5, and 8 of the added '138. 4. run a jumper from the right pad of R111 to pin 1 of the added 138. 5. Jumper the left pad of R111 to pin 9 of the '138. 6. Stack 256k rams ontop of the existing ones, with pin 15 lifted. 7. Run a wire to all the lifted pin 15s, and go to pin 11 of the added '138. 8. Connect a wire from pin 2 of the '138 to pin 11 of the PIA (6520). Note that this is the 'extra bit' used to access the extra memory. You really should lift this pin from the board, but... :-) If you don't plan on using SpartaDOS and want to be able to turn BASIC on and off, use pin 10 instead. Bob ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 63 Tue Nov 20, 1990 DAN.KNAUF at 19:08 PST And you want me to be one of the testers. Right, Chuck? :-) ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 64 Tue Nov 20, 1990 DATAQUE.1 [Chuck] at 23:33 EST Dan, just how bad do you want to test it? ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 65 Tue Nov 20, 1990 ERROR.170 [M.E.Roberts] at 22:05 MST Bob> Thanks for the upgrade info. Seems pretty straight forward except the last step. It HAS to work with SpartaDOS 3.2d! It would also be nice if it worked with the X cart and with BASIC. A switch somewhere possibly? Will it be compatible with the Sparta RD.COM driver? +Mike+ ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 66 Wed Nov 21, 1990 BOB.PUFF at 18:58 EST Hi Mike, I don't mess with Sparta, but I'm sure there is a RD.COM somewhere for it. Since you need it to work with Sparta, use pin 11. What you can do is this: run a wire from pin 11 of the socket of the PIA to a SPST switch. Ground the other end of the switch. Now you can turn BASIC on and off manually. Bob ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 67 Thu Nov 22, 1990 ERROR.170 [M.E.Roberts] at 00:30 MST Dear Bob, Don't mess with SpartaDOS? Hard to believe, Bob. :) I never liked the name to tell you the truth. Really do like it though. Not much choice when using PRO! though. Used SmartDOS a lot before I got the HD. Before I fire up the soldering iron I'd just like to go over the last part one more time if you don't mind. Here's what I've gotten out of this so far: 1. remove resistor R111 2. piggyback the 138 someplace 3. Jumper the pins on the 138 as instucted 4. pin 1 to the now empty R111 5. pin 9 to the other side of R111 6. Piggy back rams 7. interconnect pin 15 on the rams (Question - would you use sockets on top of the existing 41256's?) 8. 138 pin 2 to PIA pin 11 (on the top side directly to the PIA chip not the socket) 9. go off the bottom of the board from pin 11's pad to a SPST with one side open and the other to ground. (We're leaving pin 11 connected to it's stock trace right?) I assume I leave PIA 14 & 15 soldered together under the board and 15 & 16 jumpered on the top side. I know this is probably boring to the people who can do this blindfolded after a six pack. However I'm the guy who had to trade my 130XE in for parts on an upgraded 130XE after trying to desolder the RAMs with solder wick. Live and learn. Thanks a million Bob. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 68 Thu Nov 22, 1990 DAN.KNAUF at 07:46 PST Yeah, Bob doesn't recognize a FANTASTIC!!! DOS when he sees one. <:*) ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 69 Mon Dec 03, 1990 W.WALKAUSKAS at 23:04 EST I need advice on a RAMBO upgrade. My 800XL has a Rev C pc board made in Hong Kong. U26 and U27 are 74ls258 not 158s. All chips are socketed. Can I procede as usual or is this board not upgradeable? I have done the Peterson 320 upgrade and one prior RAMBO. Any explanation of the differences in chips would be appreciated. Thanks, Bill Walka. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 70 Tue Dec 04, 1990 DATAQUE.1 [Chuck] at 19:12 EST The only difference between the 158 & 258 is the latter is a tri-state device rather than a two state. The output enable(258)/gate(158) is tied active(low) all of the time, so there is absolutely no difference in this application. You can proceed with your upgrade with no alterations. Chuck ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 71 Wed Jan 02, 1991 ERROR.170 [M.E.Roberts] at 21:29 MST Dear Bob, Just thought I'd let you know that my CSS/Puff 576XE works great! Thanks for the help. The BASIC switch with the pin 11 on the PIA socket doesn't seem to do anything using SDX or 3.2d. It does switch BASIC in and out but doesn't effect the size of the ramdisks in either position with either DOS. +Mike+ ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 72 Sun Jan 06, 1991 BOB.PUFF at 18:16 EST Hi Mike, Glad ya got it working! Right - the switch should not affect the RAMdisk size. Bob ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 73 Tue Jan 15, 1991 M.SCHOEDEL [ Michael ] at 21:47 EST Bob, didn't you have plans for a 1-meg upgrade for the XE once? Would you ever think about reworking it to use 1-MEG chips instead of all those 256K DRAMs? BTW, how much is the CSS 576K-XE upgrade? Inquiring minds want to know. Michael ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 74 Sat Jan 19, 1991 BOB.PUFF at 00:16 EST Yes, I have done a 1 meg upgrade using 256k rams. Using 1 meg chips means adding refresh circuitry, which gets a little messy. Call on the price for the 576k upgrade. Bob ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 75 Sat Jan 26, 1991 RON.HOFFMAN at 19:47 PST Bob Puff: On the CSS 576K-XE upgrade, does that retain the inboard Basic? Does the 1 Meg? On using 1 meg chips and the circuitry being messy, does staking 256K chips on top of each other start getting messy also? R Hoffman n *s *x x ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 76 Sun Jan 27, 1991 DATAQUE.1 [Chuck] at 10:44 EST A 1m upgrade only requires 1 more chip than the 256k upgrade. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 77 Sun Jan 27, 1991 BOB.PUFF at 23:47 EST Hi Ron, CSS does not offer a 576k upgrade, but if they did, you probably would lose the ability to control BASIC under software. Bob ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 78 Sat Mar 02, 1991 ALEXANDRI at 14:51 EST Hi, I'm missing 2K and don't know where to find it. I have an Axlon 512k upgrade for my 800 and though 16k of it is used to complete the main 48k I should have a 496k RAMdisk. 496k or 3968 SD sectors, actually I have 3952. It has always been like this, I just found out because I did something weird which is over in the MyDos 4.5 TOPic. Well, back to the memory, how do I get those 2k back? Could it be bad chips? If Dream Hunter reads this (I know that he has a Magna upgrade too) could you tell me how many sectors you have if you completely clear out your Ramdisk? I already know that you have a 1 megabyte upgrade. Juan ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 79 Sat Mar 02, 1991 DATAQUE.1 [Chuck] at 23:07 EST If you had bad RAMs, your RAMdisk software wouldnt be smart enough to work around it... I would suspect the 'missing' 2k is overhead which is used by the DOS you are using. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 80 Sun Mar 03, 1991 ALEXANDRI at 05:51 EST ok. It kind of gave me a heart attack. I use MyDos 4.53/3. Would there be a difference between versions of Dos? MyDos 4.3a was the same, and 4.50. Any one if Magna Systems is still in business? I called this afternoon and noone picked up the phone, although it was a saturday. Juan ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 81 Sun Mar 03, 1991 CRAIG.S.THOM [RT*SysOp] at 07:23 EST Don't forget that the directory and VTOC will take up space. 2K sounds like reasonable overhead for something that size. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 82 Mon Mar 04, 1991 ALEXANDRI at 05:58 EST I forgot about those things, silly me! I would like to know if any one can give me info on the following company, Magna Systems 147-05 Sanford Ave, Suite 4E Flushing, NY 11355 This is the company I bought my upgrade from and I'd like to expand it to a full meg. (maybe it's owners or a former worker is hanging around some where?) Juan ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 83 Sat Apr 20, 1991 J.MCWILLIAM3 at 00:14 EDT The Newell 1088K Review by Jeff McWilliams Before acquiring a 1 meg plus 800XL, with memory busting out of the seams everywhere, my 800XL had a RAMBO XL 256K upgrade in it. I was happy with it because along with that I owned an ICD 1 meg MIO board. My main storage media are 720K 3.5" disks, via the Innovative Concepts modification for my single XF551 disk drive. The 1 meg RAMdisk in the MIO was important to me, because without it, it was very difficult to back up those 720K disks with only one drive. A special sector copier would have been okay if I had wanted to do sector copies, but such was usually not the case. By backing up the disks file by file, not only would I get an emergency back up of the disk, but the new disk was also unsegmented. That meant that unlike the original which could have files scattered in pieces all over the disk, the backup has each file stored one right after the other. This helps to increase the disk access speed, because the disk drive doesn't spend all its time searching the different sections of the disk looking for the file. Some people wouldn't bother with worrying about disk segmentation unless it were on hard disk where things can really get messed up. Call me finicky. Onto the Newell 1088K... When I deciced to install the Turbo816 16 bit card into my 800XL, I discovered my 800XL no longer liked talking to the MIO. There are some problems with the Parallel Bus after wiring in the T816 upgrade. Determined to stick with the new 16 bit processor, I decided to dump the MIO, and sent my 800XL to Newell Industries to have them install the 1088K upgrade they offer. The board measures approximately 3.5" by 2 3/4". A little smaller than those 720K floppies. The board holds the 8 1 meg RAM chips, plus 8 logic chips. There is a small cable attached to the board that plugs into the first 64K RAM chip socket on the computer. The 64K RAM chip is moved onto a socket on the Newell board. In addition are two 14 conductor ribbon cables connected to the Newell board. These attach to various sites on the 800XL motherboard as well. That's about 28 connections to wire. I'm not the greatest on keeping my wiring straight, which is why I had Newell Industries wire in the upgrade for me. There are three variations to the wiring that will give you different degrees of compatibility with the 130XE. Mine is wired so that both the CPU and ANTIC chip can see the extra memory. In exchange, my internal BASIC is now wired to a toggle switch; it's no longer software selectable. The Newell 1088K package comes with a modified version of MYDOS, version 4.5 M1. This version allows the access of 1 full megabyte of RAMDISK. It also contains a sector copying program that utilizes all that memory to copy up a 720K disk in a single pass. If you're a SpartaDOS fan, you'll be pleased to know that there is 1 meg ramdisk driver on GEnie that will work with SpartaDOS 3.2d and the Newell 1088K upgrade. SpartaDOS X automatically recognizes the extra memory, and will report 64 banks free when the "MEM" command is entered at the DOS prompt. There are a few problems that I've encountered using the Newell 1088K. Most seem to center around the use of the SpartaDOS X cartridge. The first problem occurs upon booting up the computer. Often it will fail to boot properly, and you have to power down and try again. I've also encountered frequent lock-ups when trying to format a disk using the "FORMAT" commmand of SpartaDOS X. Let me just repeat what I said earlier about my 800XL though. It has a Turbo816 board installed into it. In addition, it also has a Transkey keyboard interface which allows me to type on this really nice Northgate keyboard. That's quite a bit of hardware wired into one computer. I can't prove the Newell 1088K is causing the problems, although they didn't happen when the RAMBO XL was in its place. It could be a mixture of the Turbo816 and the Newell 1088K that is causing the problem. Remember the MIO that didn't like the T816? Currently, I'm not willing to try removing the Turbo816 to find out which upgrade may be the culprit. I'd have more luck fixing a wristwatch with a cutting torch than I would digging into my computer with a soldering iron. I do plan on talking to both Newell Industries and Dataque Software, maker of the T816 board, to see if there may be a conflict between the two upgrades I have in the computer. I am glad I have the 1088K. There are a few kinks here and there; otherwise it works as promised. Just after I got the computer up and running I decided to back up my main SpartaDOS X work disk, which contains that endless list of .COM files half of which I hardly ever use. I found six files which were bad due to errors on the disk. Luckily those were on an older backup, so I restored them promptly after fixing the bad disk. The Newell 1088K is available for the 130XE, the 1200XL, the 800XL, and 65XE. To my knowledge, it is the only commercially available 1088K upgrade for the Atari 8 bits. I also believe it is the only upgrade that will take a 1200XL beyond 256K. If you're still not satisfied with 1088K, with slight modification you can install 4 meg RAMS into the Newell 1088K and have a 4096K monster. For the price of the 4 meg DRAM chips though, you'd be better off purchasing a hard drive setup if possible on your system. That would depend on which model computer you have. The 1088K cost me $49.95. Installation cost $40.00. You can supply your own 1 meg DRAMS or have Newell Industries supply them. Call for current prices on the RAM chips. Newell Industries, P.O. Box 253, Wylie, TX, 75098. Phone 214-442-6612. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 84 Sat May 11, 1991 R.GORANSON2 [HackMan] at 12:08 PDT We'll everyone after a leave of absence I am back and hacking away at everything at sight. I have finally decided to set down and document all of these gizmos that I have been building for my 800xl and hopefully will be uploading them all here soon. I have come up with a simple two chip modification that you can install in you memory upgrade that bank selects in the $d301 that will allow you access to basic, OS on/off and diagnostics without a switch even when you are using those bits for a memory upgrade. ALL I use is a 7404 chip and a 74ls373 a transparent data latch. It is so simple that I can&t believe that no one has come up with this before. I am currently using this little circuit with my own do it yourself 512k ram upgrade soon to be 768k ram upgrade, and maybe soon 2M. The only thing is that my ramupgrade uses 256k chips and builds off of a newell industries 256k or a rambxl. I mean stacking 256k ram chips 8 high to get 2 full megs?!? I don't know if I will go that far as my BBS doesn't need that kind of space. (8high x 8long = 64 256k ram chips, geez!!) anyway my little ramupgrade uses the circuit with the 74ls373 and the 7404 to free up the OSbit,basic bit, and diagnostic bit so I can use them to bank select memory, then I just have another circuit added on with a 74f02 and a 74f138 to decoded the three bits to bank select 8 banks of 256k chips. I only use 3 latches of the 74ls373 so I am thinking of going with its baby brother that only has 4 latches to makes things smaller. I will have the documentation on the two chip modification to make diffrent ram upgrades able to switch all 3 bits off and on probably next week. WHat the two chips do is only allow the os bit,basic bit, diag. bits, to change when bit 5 is high. And when bit 5 goes low it latches the 3 control bits before they change. That means that you can select basic on/off, os on/off, and diag on/off if you have bit 5 is high (your are not using extended ram.) And if bit 5 is low,(you are using extended ram.) then you can not switch any of the three bits. The only thing I am wondering about, does any software try to turn OS roms off/on while the extended ram is enabled?? Such as MTOS or SNAPSHOT??? Anyway see you guys around. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 85 Tue May 21, 1991 M.SCHOEDEL [ Michael ] at 21:51 EDT Sounds interesting. Are you going to upload this stuff to the library? ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 86 Sat Jun 15, 1991 G.BRUNER at 11:45 PDT WOW! 8 X 8 256K ram chips. Boy I would hate to have to replace a bad chip in there somewhere! That would be a real bummer to troubleshoot if it wouldn't work when first turned on. As for that newell 1088K upgrade, what about 1400XL or 1450XLD? Right now my 1400XL has 320K with a added XL to XE compatiablity mod for the special ANTIC/CPU modes. Does the newell 1088K support those special modes? ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 87 Sat Jun 22, 1991 J.MCWILLIAM3 at 06:25 EDT It is supposed to be 130XE compatible yes, but it won't install into a 1400xl 1450xld to my knowledge anyway. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 88 Thu Aug 08, 1991 D.BENDER at 22:18 EDT I hope someone can help me. I just upgraded my 800xl and 130xe and now they cannot get a correct directory or write correctly to my hard drive. when I have both my R-Time 8 and SpartaDOS X cart plugged in. If I remove eather cart. they both work fine. I think that with the Ram the parallel bus is over loaded and losses data. The 800Xl uses the RAMBO XL upgrade and the 130XE uses the Peterson 320K upgrade. Both computers worked fine before I did the upgrades and work fine if I only use one cart. I'm using a 1Meg. MIO and all the RAM tests check out OK. D.BENDER ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 89 Fri Aug 09, 1991 CRAIG.S.THOM [RT*SysOp] at 07:35 EDT Sounds like a bus noise problem with the computer, which happens with 130XEs from time to time. Best bet is to call ICD tech support between 10 and 2 central and ask for Howard. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 90 Tue Aug 13, 1991 J.MACLACHLAN [JIM MAC] at 20:53 EDT Hi, I have a 600XL and would like to get a memory upgrade, but have never heard of one for it. 16K is a real bummer. Even 48K would be nice. Is there an upgrade out there? Thanks, Jim ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 91 Tue Aug 13, 1991 DATAQUE.1 [Chuck] at 22:06 EDT there are several 600xl upgrades. Innovative Concepts (GEnie address is 'IC') offers one I think, as does B&C and Best. It does take some soldering. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 92 Thu Aug 15, 1991 J.MACLACHLAN [JIM MAC] at 20:42 EDT Thanks, Chuck. I'll E-mail and ask. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 93 Sat Aug 17, 1991 D.BENDER at 09:31 EDT This is what ICD said to to to correct the problems I was having with my upgraded 130XE, 800XL and my MIO board. They said to replace ICs U28 and U29 they are the line drives to the SCSI port. This repair has corrected most of the problems I had but I still get an error reading the Directory once in a while. D.BENDER ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 94 Sat Sep 07, 1991 S.LIDDICK [CHAMELEON] at 02:08 EDT HELP....HELP!!! A few years back I purchased a 1450XLD motherboard. I then sent the rascal to CSS for a possible 320K upgrade. After several attempts and six plus months, they sent it back with an upgrade they said worked. Todate I have been unable to get the unit to stay up for more than 30 seconds. So.....I took out thier upgrade and installed the one I found here on Genie. Now the unit won't come up at all; believe me I have checked and rechecked all the connections. I have even custom fitted an IBM PC junior power supply as suggested by CSS Simptoms: the 1450 comes on, but the screen only has 7 or 8 very light vertical lines. Before I removed the CSS upgrade the screen would come up normally and then after 30 seconds - fragment and disappear. Can anyone give me any suggestions?!?!?!? PS: I have already tried swapping chips - no luck, no change. Thanks for all your help . . . .The CHAMELEON ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 95 Tue Sep 17, 1991 G.BRUNER at 01:36 PDT Dear J.Maclachlan (Jim Mac), There is now availiable a 64K memory upgrade for your 600XL that requires no soldering or opening up your computer. It is called the Atari 1064. It was a product that Atari was going to market but never did. But now you're in luck. Both Best Electronics and B&C Computervisons in California sell the 1064's. It is a nice little device, plugs in thru the parallel buss on the back of the computer. Rugged construction and matches the computer. I highly recommend it! It is about the easiest upgrade to do next to SIMMS. They sell for about $29 to $30. Glenn Bruner ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 96 Sat Sep 21, 1991 J.FURUKAWA [SHMOGI] at 04:59 PDT Jim - I remember when my friend first bought his 600XL back in oh... 84 was it? Then he ran out of memory and when he couldn't wait for the Atari upgrade, he bought the MPP one. It was great, everything work and the world was a happy place. But that extra piece was still a small irritation. I would say go for the internal upgrade. It requires just minor soldering and has nothing hanging out of the case. Just my opinion of course. Hey! In fact, I got one lying around here doing nothing! Want it?! I'll send it to you for the small cost of $15 of GEnie gift of time. :) End of line. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 97 Sat Sep 21, 1991 J.MACLACHLAN [JIM MAC] at 13:30 EDT Thanks, both of you. As the computer will be for the kids, I agree that the internal upgrade is probably the way to go. Sure, Shmogi, I'll take it. How do we go about it? Please E-mail me the details. Jim J.MacLachlan ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 98 Sun Sep 29, 1991 BOB.PUFF at 20:04 EDT Scott, I was the one that worked on your 1400XL motherboard, and I seem to remember having to do a couple special things in there. Mistake #1 was ripping the upgrade out, as probably one of those jumpers was needed. Mistake #2 was not paying for the work we did. But I'm willing to put that behind us and help you out if you want. Bob ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 99 Thu Jul 09, 1992 G.SAUNDERS4 [glenn] at 03:58 EDT I'd like to know where to find the MAGMA ram carts. They were made by a CANADIAN company that may still be in business Any info would be appreciated. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 100 Mon Aug 03, 1992 D.MCNAIR2 [Tom Mcnair] at 02:52 EDT Hi, Need help! My son is just getting to the age where he likes to play on the "puter" (Likes Airball the best). This is great but he is a tad hard on the 800XL (pulls out the cart without turning it off and stuff like that). What I'd like to do is upgrade the old 400 I have sitting in the closet to 48K, with all the games on disk it would make a great game machine for him. I've looked through the library and there is plenty of talk about upgrading a 400 but no actual directions. I'd appreciate if someone had an old file with directions or a source that sales them would U/L them here. Thanks. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 101 Mon Aug 03, 1992 B.MARCUM [Bill] at 23:52 EDT B&C Compters or American Technavision may still have the 48K boards for the 400. If they do, it should cost under $20, but you do have to solder a few wires to install the board. You can call B&C at 408-986-9960 or American Technavision at 800-551-9995. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 102 Sun Aug 09, 1992 R.WILMOTT [Ray] at 14:36 EDT Just a comment about the 48k 400 upgrade. Bill mentioned that you "do have to solder a few wires to install the board". It's been a long time since I've touched a 400, but it was my first Atari. And I know that I upgraded it from 16k to 32k about 6 months after I got it ('81)...without soldering anything. All I had to do was open it up, remove the old memory board and plug in the new one. I would think that a 48k board would be the same...so why the need to solder? -Ray ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 103 Wed Aug 12, 1992 DATAQUE.1 [Chuck] at 20:03 EDT there are control/address lines involved in supporting 48K, which are not needed when 32K or less RAM is available. The ones I upgraded to (actually 64K was present on the board, so a little tinkering would allow 52K) above 32K was no major work. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 104 Mon Aug 17, 1992 J.FURUKAWA [Shmogi] at 08:34 EDT oh? How do you get the board to address 52K? End of line. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 105 Mon Aug 17, 1992 D.MCNAIR2 [Tom Mcnair] at 21:42 EDT I wanted to thank those that helped me with 400 memory expansion, especially Roger Meston who sent me an article and schematics. I was able to get everything I need but the memory chips! No store in boise carried them! I first tried Radio Shack (I called 2 of them and neither knew what a 64K DRAM was... can you believe that?). Anyway, I'm wondering if any of you people that have upgraded your 800XLs and still have your old DRAMS would be interested in selling them??? The only place in town that had any was selling them for .95... That sound about right? Please EMAIL me if you have any! Thanks! ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 106 Fri Aug 21, 1992 ANIMATSURI [Atarian] at 09:00 EDT I don't know how the 52K thing was done but CSS had a upgrade that did just that: tacked on an extra 4K to your 48K 800 so it could run some special programs that they wrote. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 107 Wed Nov 04, 1992 P.SUNGENIS1 at 19:12 EST First message in here in a while, but here goes: I'm looking for a simple way to determine whether an upgrade supports the ANTIC chip through software. The one method I thought would work -- setting the ANTIC bit on a read-back to see if it was selecting a different bank than the one I wrote the test data to, but for some reason it ISN'T WORKING. Any suggestions?? ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 108 Wed Nov 04, 1992 G.SAUNDERS4 [glenn] at 22:14 EST How about a list of programs that NEED antic banking to see whether it is worth fooling with or not? Plus, let's say you add memory to an XE. Does just the first 64K support ANTIC banking or will all additional ram support it??? ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 109 Wed Nov 04, 1992 P.SUNGENIS1 at 23:24 EST I asked, because my program PabQwk currently requires it, but in the next version, I've found a way around it. The ANTIC mode is still better/faster/more memory available, though, so I'd like to see if a computer can give ANTIC access when the program is run, and go to the non-ANTIC mode if not. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 110 Fri Nov 06, 1992 B.MARCUM [Bill] at 23:09 EST You might just have to write a program that sets up two different screens, aone telling the user to press "A", and the other telling him/her to press "B". ------------ REPly ?