Possible to modify an ACA 1220-16 card to 68030?

zyonee · 02 May 2014, 21:57

Hi, people.

I've ordered an ACA 1220-16 card. It holds a 16 MHz 68020 and 128 MB of RAM. What I'm wondering is if the empty socket on the card, labeled "68(EC)030" can be used to solder on a 68030 (EC or regular) and make it work or if several other hardware mods would be required. I'm not eager to start doing it on my newly purchased card, I'm mostly curious if somebody happens to know if it's even possible.

My guess is they mass produced the same card but have made changes in other parts such as controller chips, crystal, etc. on the ACA-1230 cards.

More info about the card can be found here.

Paul_s · 02 May 2014, 23:12

the board is the same as that used with the ACA-1232 I believe.

The main problem you'd have is with the firmware/burstmode support (it would run slower). There's also the possibility of other modifications being required.

I was looking round for an ACA-1220 myself - http://www.vesalia.de/ seem to have a wider range of models available (upto 33MHz 68020) although the cost is almost similar to that of the ACA-1232.

crasbe · 03 May 2014, 15:02

You'd need to have a different content programmed to the CPLDs, so it's useless.

You could indeed buy the cheapest ACA1232 and solder a new processor onto it for the cost of warranty.

zyonee · 04 May 2014, 12:10

Thanks for the information, guys. I did order the 1232-25 at first, but they were out of stock so I was offered the 1232-40. Problem is it was even more expensive, and since I'm mostly after the RAM, I went for the 1220-16 instead. It's cheaper. Won't try to modify that one, I guess.

Still, interesting to get some feedback on the question.

tom256 · 13 May 2014, 22:18

You can try upgrade CPU to 020/33MHz and overclock card. 020 is about 10% slower than 030 with the same clock.

Forget about replacing CPU. You will need to replace firmware which is not avaible. Only individual Computers can do this.

@Edit

MC68030 should be possible - but no burst mode will be avaible for MC68030.

duga · 13 May 2014, 22:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom256

You can try upgrade CPU to 020/33MHz and overclock card. 020 is about 10% slower than 030 with the same clock.

Forget about replacing CPU. You will need to replace firmware which is not avaible. Only individual Computers can do this.

According to http://wiki.icomp.de/wiki/ACA1232#ACA_12xx_Benchmarks the 020 is slightly faster on reading but 20% slower in writing to memory.

02 May 2014, 21:57	#1
zyonee Registered User Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Stockholm / Sweden Age: 43 Posts: 27	Possible to modify an ACA 1220-16 card to 68030? Hi, people. I've ordered an ACA 1220-16 card. It holds a 16 MHz 68020 and 128 MB of RAM. What I'm wondering is if the empty socket on the card, labeled "68(EC)030" can be used to solder on a 68030 (EC or regular) and make it work or if several other hardware mods would be required. I'm not eager to start doing it on my newly purchased card, I'm mostly curious if somebody happens to know if it's even possible. My guess is they mass produced the same card but have made changes in other parts such as controller chips, crystal, etc. on the ACA-1230 cards. More info about the card can be found here.

13 May 2014, 22:18	#5
tom256 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Poland Posts: 159	You can try upgrade CPU to 020/33MHz and overclock card. 020 is about 10% slower than 030 with the same clock. Forget about replacing CPU. You will need to replace firmware which is not avaible. Only individual Computers can do this. @Edit MC68030 should be possible - but no burst mode will be avaible for MC68030. Last edited by tom256; 13 June 2014 at 00:45.

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02 May 2014, 23:12	#2
Paul_s Stuck in the 80s Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Amigaville Age: 43 Posts: 3,291	the board is the same as that used with the ACA-1232 I believe. The main problem you'd have is with the firmware/burstmode support (it would run slower). There's also the possibility of other modifications being required. I was looking round for an ACA-1220 myself - http://www.vesalia.de/ seem to have a wider range of models available (upto 33MHz 68020) although the cost is almost similar to that of the ACA-1232.

03 May 2014, 15:02	#3
crasbe Registered User Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Germany Posts: 38	You'd need to have a different content programmed to the CPLDs, so it's useless. You could indeed buy the cheapest ACA1232 and solder a new processor onto it for the cost of warranty.

04 May 2014, 12:10	#4
zyonee Registered User Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Stockholm / Sweden Age: 43 Posts: 27	Thanks for the information, guys. I did order the 1232-25 at first, but they were out of stock so I was offered the 1232-40. Problem is it was even more expensive, and since I'm mostly after the RAM, I went for the 1220-16 instead. It's cheaper. Won't try to modify that one, I guess. Still, interesting to get some feedback on the question.

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