PCMCIA and RAMCard problem

tomcat666 · 09 November 2003, 13:23

Hi!

I am trying to fix a problem with a friends A1200... anyway :

The A1200 has a RamCard which can take up to 8 MB of memory. It has jumpers to configure it (1,2,4 or 8 Mb) and it has 2 SIMM slots for the memory.

I have upgraded it so it uses 8Mb memory now (I can do this with either 2x4Mb or 1x8Mb) - it works perfectly well - tried with several different Memory Testers and all report NO erros.

However the problem starts when I insert my PCMCIA Ethernet card. As soon as I do this the upper 4Mb of memory show errors all over the place. I.e. even if the test is running and I insert the card the errors start popping up, if I remove the card then they go away immediately. Basically the lower 4Mb is still OK, but the upper 4Mb (adress 60000h->) is not working properly.

If I want to use the PCMCIA I basically have to do NOFASTMEM command or open the amiga trapdoor, take out the card and configure it to 4Mb only... but that is WAY too much hassle

(

Anyone knows what might cure the problem I am having with this computer ? I would like my friend to use whole 8 MB and use the PCMCIA ethernet card if that is possible.

Best regards,
Tomaz

barkingboy · 09 November 2003, 15:29

It is a common problem that many RAM boards conflict with the PCMCIA port when more than 4MB fast RAM is installed.

I have this problem with my board, although I am sure that the PCMCIA port just does not work at all if I jumper the board to use all 8MB.

There are some boards that are "PCMCIA friendly" and do not have the conflict problem as I believe they re-map the PCMCIA memory space.

If there is a software solution to this I would also be interested!

ElectroBlaster · 09 November 2003, 19:24

Dont think ive ever seen a solution other than to back off and use only 4megs or buy another card that doesnt conflict!

tomcat666 · 09 November 2003, 20:41

Really ? No software solution to make PCMCIA memory map to some other place ? Would be a shame

Just checked the aminet and couldn't find anything

ElectroBlaster · 09 November 2003, 20:44

Ive never seen anything m8

i could root thru my old collection of aminet cd's but i doubt i will find anything!

RetroMan · 09 November 2003, 20:50

Nope, there is NO workaround for this hardware problem

Only solution would be, to buy another ram expansion or better an accelerator card, that does not affect the PCMCIA Slot above 4MB ram !!

tomcat666 · 09 November 2003, 22:39

Thanx all for the info on this. Some things just can't be fixed... even on Amiga

utri007 · 10 November 2003, 19:58

It requires MMU, it means, some of 030 cards will work, all 040 and 060 cards.

tomcat666 · 10 November 2003, 21:10

The RAM expansion doesn't have a CPU on it... it does, however, have an extra slot for a (square) chip and some more empty sockets... no idea what that is for...

RetroMan · 10 November 2003, 21:24

Quote:

Originally posted by tomcat666
The RAM expansion doesn't have a CPU on it... it does, however, have an extra slot for a (square) chip and some more empty sockets... no idea what that is for...

It´s for a FPU

tomcat666 · 11 November 2003, 08:35

Blah, no need for that really :-)

OK, the friend decided to have 8 Mb and when he wants to copy stuff from PC via PCMCIA etherned he will boot with nofastmem and just copy in CLI over

did him a nice script that runs MIAMI and everything so it is pretty straight-forward. Too much difference between 4 and 8 Mb of FastRam

Again, thanks to everyone for help. Atleast I know I shouldn't look for any software fixes anymore...

09 November 2003, 13:23	#1
tomcat666 Retro Freak Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Slovenia Age: 51 Posts: 1,647	PCMCIA and RAMCard problem Hi! I am trying to fix a problem with a friends A1200... anyway : The A1200 has a RamCard which can take up to 8 MB of memory. It has jumpers to configure it (1,2,4 or 8 Mb) and it has 2 SIMM slots for the memory. I have upgraded it so it uses 8Mb memory now (I can do this with either 2x4Mb or 1x8Mb) - it works perfectly well - tried with several different Memory Testers and all report NO erros. However the problem starts when I insert my PCMCIA Ethernet card. As soon as I do this the upper 4Mb of memory show errors all over the place. I.e. even if the test is running and I insert the card the errors start popping up, if I remove the card then they go away immediately. Basically the lower 4Mb is still OK, but the upper 4Mb (adress 60000h->) is not working properly. If I want to use the PCMCIA I basically have to do NOFASTMEM command or open the amiga trapdoor, take out the card and configure it to 4Mb only... but that is WAY too much hassle ( Anyone knows what might cure the problem I am having with this computer ? I would like my friend to use whole 8 MB and use the PCMCIA ethernet card if that is possible. Best regards, Tomaz

10 November 2003, 19:58	#8
utri007 mä vaan Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Finland Posts: 1,653	PCMCIA friendly It requires MMU, it means, some of 030 cards will work, all 040 and 060 cards.

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09 November 2003, 15:29	#2
barkingboy Zone Friend Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: UK Posts: 151	It is a common problem that many RAM boards conflict with the PCMCIA port when more than 4MB fast RAM is installed. I have this problem with my board, although I am sure that the PCMCIA port just does not work at all if I jumper the board to use all 8MB. There are some boards that are "PCMCIA friendly" and do not have the conflict problem as I believe they re-map the PCMCIA memory space. If there is a software solution to this I would also be interested!

09 November 2003, 19:24	#3
ElectroBlaster Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Exeter, Devon, UK Age: 49 Posts: 1,705	Dont think ive ever seen a solution other than to back off and use only 4megs or buy another card that doesnt conflict!

09 November 2003, 20:41	#4
tomcat666 Retro Freak Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Slovenia Age: 51 Posts: 1,647	Really ? No software solution to make PCMCIA memory map to some other place ? Would be a shame Just checked the aminet and couldn't find anything

09 November 2003, 20:44	#5
ElectroBlaster Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Exeter, Devon, UK Age: 49 Posts: 1,705	Ive never seen anything m8 i could root thru my old collection of aminet cd's but i doubt i will find anything!

09 November 2003, 20:50	#6
RetroMan Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Germany Age: 51 Posts: 3,704	Nope, there is NO workaround for this hardware problem Only solution would be, to buy another ram expansion or better an accelerator card, that does not affect the PCMCIA Slot above 4MB ram !!

09 November 2003, 22:39	#7
tomcat666 Retro Freak Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Slovenia Age: 51 Posts: 1,647	Thanx all for the info on this. Some things just can't be fixed... even on Amiga

10 November 2003, 21:10	#9
tomcat666 Retro Freak Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Slovenia Age: 51 Posts: 1,647	The RAM expansion doesn't have a CPU on it... it does, however, have an extra slot for a (square) chip and some more empty sockets... no idea what that is for...

11 November 2003, 08:35	#11
tomcat666 Retro Freak Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Slovenia Age: 51 Posts: 1,647	Blah, no need for that really :-) OK, the friend decided to have 8 Mb and when he wants to copy stuff from PC via PCMCIA etherned he will boot with nofastmem and just copy in CLI over did him a nice script that runs MIAMI and everything so it is pretty straight-forward. Too much difference between 4 and 8 Mb of FastRam Again, thanks to everyone for help. Atleast I know I shouldn't look for any software fixes anymore...

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