a500 rev 5 1mb chipmem mod... confused - Page 5

PeteAU · 01 December 2016, 05:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by kipper2k

I used my own fastmem board and removed the blob on my expansion board from the _extick jumper (pin 32). I left the agnus 8371 onboard and booted up... here is the results...

So what is the conclusion, some 8371s can address 1MB chip after all? Is that 1MB chip really working stably?
Or maybe just some 8371 date codes; yours is week 15 1988, quite late.

I have a REV5 A500 with 8371 (date:2387) and might try the same.

Jope · 01 December 2016, 08:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeteAU

So what is the conclusion, some 8371s can address 1MB chip after all? Is that 1MB chip really working stably?
Or maybe just some 8371 date codes; yours is week 15 1988, quite late.

I have a REV5 A500 with 8371 (date:2387) and might try the same.

The conclusion is that it will not work with any 8371.

PeteAU · 01 December 2016, 12:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jope

The conclusion is that it will not work with any 8371.

Indeed, the answer lies in a post from 1992: http://www.verycomputer.com/2_1238eb6b2b0dbb8a_1.htm#p3

Starglider 2 · 15 December 2016, 19:35

Hi guys, I modded my 5a in this way, but keep seeing weird errors in certain apps and games that I'm fairly sure are caused by the mod. Often the games are WHDLoad but I'm not blaming that, I assume most of those just access the upper chipmem.

Is anyone able to help me troubleshoot? Here are 2 example errors:

Citadel (memory error):

Behind The Iron Gate (can't see added chipmem):

I get similar errors in about 20% of the games I try. Usually they crash with a hex error message similar to Citadel.

Sinphaltimus · 15 December 2016, 20:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starglider 2

Hi guys, I modded my 5a in this way, but keep seeing weird errors in certain apps and games that I'm fairly sure are caused by the mod. Often the games are WHDLoad but I'm not blaming that, I assume most of those just access the upper chipmem.

Is anyone able to help me troubleshoot? Here are 2 example errors:

Citadel (memory error):

Behind The Iron Gate (can't see added chipmem):

I get similar errors in about 20% of the games I try. Usually they crash with a hex error message similar to Citadel.

It doesn't look like you succeeded with the mod. Your wb title bar is only showing slightly more than 512k graphics. Perhaps you expansion ram is not good?

https://www.facebook.com/SExmortus/p...06970892982775

Cobe · 15 December 2016, 20:32

You should definitely try running them without startup sequence. Your WB eats chip mem. Do you have FBlit and Ftext installed?
Disable df0: and HD partitions that you don't use, addbuffers dh0 -999, add36/44k, avail flush.
And it would be interesting trying to use CD32load on your setup instead of whdload to see if it works. How do you actually have your HD connected to your A500?

Starglider 2 · 15 December 2016, 21:00

I'm sure the reduction to 846KB is just Workbench eating into the 1024KB.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobe

You should definitely try running them without startup sequence. Your WB eats chip mem. Do you have FBlit and Ftext installed?
Disable df0: and HD partitions that you don't use, addbuffers dh0 -999, add36/44k, avail flush.
And it would be interesting trying to use CD32load on your setup instead of whdload to see if it works. How do you actually have your HD connected to your A500?

1. Interesting. When you say "without startup-sequence" do you mean holding down both mouse buttons? If I do that then at the CLI type "WBLoad" it loads nice and fast but when I run the games I get "Unable to open your tool 'WHDLoad'". Is this normal procedure, to run with no startup-sequence?

2. I don't have FBlit and Ftext. Do you recommend?

3. Is there a way to disable DF0: and partitions once my standard WB has loaded or do I have to mod my everyday user-sequence?

4. For your "addbuffers dh0 -999, add36/44k, avail flush" suggestion is that the full line to type into user-startup with no errors?

5. I'll hold off on CD32 for now as I have my WHDLoad games all set up and most of them work.

6. I'm booting my HD off the kipper2k CF Card

Cobe · 15 December 2016, 21:41

1. Yup, holding both mouse buttons. But don't type wbload, the point is not to load WB. Do you have your WHDload in C: ? If not copy it there.

2. You'll gain some free chip mem but probably insufficient to run games that need whole mb of chip mem free.

3. I don't think so. Disable it just for this purpose.

4. Type it manually line by line in CLI after clicking boot without s-s.

addbuffers dh0 -999
add44k
avail flush

[add44k you'd have to download from aminet. And before typing it you should make the cli window thinnest possible. Width doesn't matter. Add44k in PAL mode can crash if you don't resize the window. In NTSC it works...

and then you should try starting the game

whdload dhX:gamesfolder/gamesname.slave preload

emufan · 15 December 2016, 22:58

FBlit and FText on aminet.
insert FBlit followed by FText into the startup-sequence prior to setpatch command.

Starglider 2 · 15 December 2016, 23:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobe

1. Yup, holding both mouse buttons. But don't type wbload, the point is not to load WB. Do you have your WHDload in C: ? If not copy it there.

2. You'll gain some free chip mem but probably insufficient to run games that need whole mb of chip mem free.

3. I don't think so. Disable it just for this purpose.

4. Type it manually line by line in CLI after clicking boot without s-s.

addbuffers dh0 -999
add44k
avail flush

[add44k you'd have to download from aminet. And before typing it you should make the cli window thinnest possible. Width doesn't matter. Add44k in PAL mode can crash if you don't resize the window. In NTSC it works...

and then you should try starting the game

whdload dhX:gamesfolder/gamesname.slave preload

Thanks guys.

1. Yes WHDLoad is in C: but starting it with no startup-sequence still gives the same crashes I was getting before with WB loaded.

2. FBlit seems to work but doesn't help the problem. FText corrupts my text:

4. Doesn't help either, although avail shows over 1000KB free. (Add44k couldn't be found on Aminet etc. so I used Add36k).

emufan · 16 December 2016, 00:23

FText will only work together with FBlit. cannot say much about both. it just makes the workbench more responsive
and frees chip mem. just comment them out in startup-sequence if they dont work - for later tests.
--> and you have to start FBlit followed by FText before setpatch command - gave me alot of headache

#1) i've attached the fblit.cfg by PeterK- from his IconDemo adf.
put it in ENVARC: aka sys:Prefs/Env-Archive/
maybe this works better

screenshots say you use 18.1 of whdload, just get latest 18.2.

strange thing about BehindIronGate - it wants 1028 kb chip, possible only on aga machines or
with such a 2mb megichip hardware for ecs machines. 1028 not 1024...

#2) add44 is included in Karamalz game on aminet ( s/add44 )

Starglider 2 · 16 December 2016, 00:46

Thanks man. Sadly none of this has worked. I tried all the above including WHDLoad 18.2, but still get the address error.

Arnie · 16 December 2016, 01:07

Sadly I have to agree with Sinphaltimus. It looks like the mod isn't working. Most likely the Agnus.

emufan · 16 December 2016, 01:08

too bad - not many options left.
default for Citadel is preload, you can disable this in the Citadel icon information.

Starglider 2 · 16 December 2016, 01:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arnie

Sadly I have to agree with Sinphaltimus. It looks like the mod isn't working. Most likely the Agnus.

Thanks. Solution?

Thanks!!

Arnie · 16 December 2016, 01:13

Try an 8372a Agnus from a CDTV. They work up to 1mb. Ask an expert though, I don't want you to damage your board. Not all Agnus chips have the same pinouts.

emufan · 16 December 2016, 01:14

one of the eab coders should write a little test program.

E-Penguin · 12 January 2017, 22:40

I've just done the chip mem mod on my 6a and that was hairy enough. I'm quite pleased my A500 turned out to be not a rev 5, I don't think I have the dexterity to cut the smaller traces.

Hypotheically, if someone with fat hands and a blunt knife had knicked the solder resist near the ground plane nearby JP7A, such that it's showing copper, should he get out his wife's nail varnish and seal it back up?

Jope · 13 January 2017, 08:21

It's not necessary to seal it up again, but feel free. :-)

Starglider 2 · 14 September 2018, 00:15

Out of interest and for a video the covers this process briefly, when doing this mod, what is "EXTICK" exactly, and what does the mod do?

As per the first post:

"removed the blob on my expansion board from the _extick jumper (pin 32)."

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15 December 2016, 19:35	#84
Starglider 2 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: California Posts: 1,146	Hi guys, I modded my 5a in this way, but keep seeing weird errors in certain apps and games that I'm fairly sure are caused by the mod. Often the games are WHDLoad but I'm not blaming that, I assume most of those just access the upper chipmem. Is anyone able to help me troubleshoot? Here are 2 example errors: Citadel (memory error): Behind The Iron Gate (can't see added chipmem): I get similar errors in about 20% of the games I try. Usually they crash with a hex error message similar to Citadel.

15 December 2016, 20:32	#86
Cobe Registered User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Belgrade / Serbia Age: 41 Posts: 999	You should definitely try running them without startup sequence. Your WB eats chip mem. Do you have FBlit and Ftext installed? Disable df0: and HD partitions that you don't use, addbuffers dh0 -999, add36/44k, avail flush. And it would be interesting trying to use CD32load on your setup instead of whdload to see if it works. How do you actually have your HD connected to your A500?

15 December 2016, 21:41	#88
Cobe Registered User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Belgrade / Serbia Age: 41 Posts: 999	1. Yup, holding both mouse buttons. But don't type wbload, the point is not to load WB. Do you have your WHDload in C: ? If not copy it there. 2. You'll gain some free chip mem but probably insufficient to run games that need whole mb of chip mem free. 3. I don't think so. Disable it just for this purpose. 4. Type it manually line by line in CLI after clicking boot without s-s. addbuffers dh0 -999 add44k avail flush [add44k you'd have to download from aminet. And before typing it you should make the cli window thinnest possible. Width doesn't matter. Add44k in PAL mode can crash if you don't resize the window. In NTSC it works... and then you should try starting the game whdload dhX:gamesfolder/gamesname.slave preload

15 December 2016, 22:58	#89
emufan Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: #DrainTheSwamp Posts: 4,545	FBlit and FText on aminet. insert FBlit followed by FText into the startup-sequence prior to setpatch command.

16 December 2016, 00:46	#92
Starglider 2 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: California Posts: 1,146	Thanks man. Sadly none of this has worked. I tried all the above including WHDLoad 18.2, but still get the address error.

16 December 2016, 01:07	#93
Arnie R.I.P Smudge 18-08-16 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Leicester/UK Age: 66 Posts: 3,968	Sadly I have to agree with Sinphaltimus. It looks like the mod isn't working. Most likely the Agnus.

16 December 2016, 01:08	#94
emufan Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: #DrainTheSwamp Posts: 4,545	too bad - not many options left. default for Citadel is preload, you can disable this in the Citadel icon information.

16 December 2016, 01:13	#96
Arnie R.I.P Smudge 18-08-16 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Leicester/UK Age: 66 Posts: 3,968	Try an 8372a Agnus from a CDTV. They work up to 1mb. Ask an expert though, I don't want you to damage your board. Not all Agnus chips have the same pinouts.

16 December 2016, 01:14	#97
emufan Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: #DrainTheSwamp Posts: 4,545	one of the eab coders should write a little test program.

12 January 2017, 22:40	#98
E-Penguin Banana Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Darmstadt Posts: 1,213	I've just done the chip mem mod on my 6a and that was hairy enough. I'm quite pleased my A500 turned out to be not a rev 5, I don't think I have the dexterity to cut the smaller traces. Hypotheically, if someone with fat hands and a blunt knife had knicked the solder resist near the ground plane nearby JP7A, such that it's showing copper, should he get out his wife's nail varnish and seal it back up?

13 January 2017, 08:21	#99
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,861	It's not necessary to seal it up again, but feel free. :-)

14 September 2018, 00:15	#100
Starglider 2 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: California Posts: 1,146	Out of interest and for a video the covers this process briefly, when doing this mod, what is "EXTICK" exactly, and what does the mod do? As per the first post: "removed the blob on my expansion board from the _extick jumper (pin 32)."

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