How to max out a Microbotics MX-1230XA?

Photon · 05 September 2009, 22:48

Took a pic of this card for A1200 trapdoor expansion.

Not a "problem" per se, everything works fine and SysInfo says my A1200 is slightly faster than an A3000, so it's OK. Just need advice on how to max it out.

Is the XC68030RC33B a full 68030 or an EC030?

Do I need a higher spec CPU chip before I can replace the 33MHz crystal with something faster?

1) What's the highest I can go?
2) What do I need to get there?
3) Can you sell it to me?

Or better yet, sell me a Blizzard 060 board

Offers and advice welcome as always.

Edit: now it even has the word 'pic' linked to the pic

Zetr0 · 06 September 2009, 01:37

@Photon

as Alexh would say "its been said before"

the XC ( Pilot / eXperimental Controller )
Full MPU / FPU

the EC ( Embeded Controller)
No FPU and No MMU

the LC ( Low Cost )
Has MMU but No FPU

the MC (Millitary Certified)
Has MMU and FPU and will run at the given frequencey as a MINIMUM under stress

The XC series, really dont clock very well my friend, the best thing to get would be MC based controller as these clock up very well =)

rkauer · 06 September 2009, 02:01

As a previous owner of one of those babies, I recommend to change the CPU for a MC68030RC50 and install a 56MHz crystal (maximum overclock for this particular accelerator).

With a companion 68882RC50 clocked at the same speed and a 60ns 128Mb SIMM this accelerator is the best you can get without a SCSI controller.

8bitbubsy · 11 September 2009, 23:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkauer

As a previous owner of one of those babies, I recommend to change the CPU for a MC68030RC50 and install a 56MHz crystal (maximum overclock for this particular accelerator).

With a companion 68882RC50 clocked at the same speed and a 60ns 128Mb SIMM this accelerator is the best you can get without a SCSI controller.

Hey

I have this acc with a MC68030RC50B CPU + 50MHz oscillator...
Where can I buy a 56MHz oscillator for it? Seems difficult to find..
Also, where to find a cheap 68882RC50 FPU for it?

Charlie · 11 September 2009, 23:28

Ooo, no 56mhz Osc on Digikey

Did spot a 55mhz one on Futurlec - phew!

To my knowledge all 68882's will get to 50mhz regardless of what the package says... Maybe 55mhz too..?

8bitbubsy · 11 September 2009, 23:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie

Ooo, no 56mhz Osc on Digikey

Did spot a 55mhz one on Futurlec - phew!

To my knowledge all 68882's will get to 50mhz regardless of what the package says... Maybe 55mhz too..?

Great! I was just about to buy some caps from futurlec as well. Thanks, I'll let you know if it works with my acc.

rkauer · 12 September 2009, 05:08

Your mileage will vary, I used a 52MHz crystal on mine (didn't found a 56MHz unit)...

But a very close friend of mine was lucky enough to found a 56kkHz one. Damn bastard*!

*He didn't sold the crystal to me!

8bitbubsy · 12 September 2009, 07:06

Hmm do you think overclocking it (MC68030RC50B) to 55Mhz is safe..? I mean, it will shorten the life span, but massively or "meh, just a little"?

Off-topic:

The Futurlec order got shipped already, I ordered just some hours ago...

Charlie · 12 September 2009, 11:40

'The candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long...'

Probably true enough though FWIW I've been overclocking all sorts of computers since the dawn of time and I've not had a CPU go on me yet. (cue a sudden melt-down in the 'study')

At the risk of teaching grandmother to suck eggs:
-Keep that CPU as cool as possible (Heatsink +/- fan).
(yes, the construction of the '030 makes this less than efficient)
-Work your way up a range of crystals. When it gets unstable, return to the previous fastest crystal you used.
-Watch out for static!

All should be fine.

*Edit*
-Nice, fast, RAM helps
-Keep fondling your card's logic chips: These will start to heat too - frying the CPU will ruin your day but frying the custom-logic will result in the accelerator being fubar!

8bitbubsy · 12 September 2009, 16:52

My 030 never made much heat at all. I can watch heavy demos with the trapdoor on!
As for the RAM, I use 60ns 32MB

fast enough.

rkauer · 12 September 2009, 21:43

Just set the memory as 70ns on the flash utility who comes with the card and don't worry.

8bitbubsy · 13 September 2009, 02:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkauer

Just set the memory as 70ns on the flash utility who comes with the card and don't worry.

What... Why? 70ns is slower

rkauer · 13 September 2009, 03:37

You are running an overclocked board, hence the "slow" software set: to match real clock on the memories.

8bitbubsy · 13 September 2009, 17:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkauer

You are running an overclocked board, hence the "slow" software set: to match real clock on the memories.

Ah, I see. I'll do that.

Photon · 14 September 2009, 01:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkauer

As a previous owner of one of those babies, I recommend to change the CPU for a MC68030RC50 and install a 56MHz crystal (maximum overclock for this particular accelerator).

With a companion 68882RC50 clocked at the same speed and a 60ns 128Mb SIMM this accelerator is the best you can get without a SCSI controller.

Thx 8)

Is there usually a problem using a SIMM from a slaughtered PC? My oldest in the shed has started limping and looking pale.

I didn't think this old card supported it, how is the other 120MB mapped and used?

8bitbubsy · 14 September 2009, 03:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Photon

Thx 8)

Is there usually a problem using a SIMM from a slaughtered PC? My oldest in the shed has started limping and looking pale.

I didn't think this old card supported it, how is the other 120MB mapped and used?

128MB is the max this card can handle... It works very well.

I remember I bought some new SIMMs from ebay which my 486 refused to boot with.. However, my M1230XA handled them just fine.

Lovely acc!

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkauer

Just set the memory as 70ns on the flash utility who comes with the card and don't worry.

If I overclock my acc to 55Mhz (crystal), and set the RAM speed to 70ns, what RAM speed do I *actually* get..? 60ns? Slower?

rkauer · 14 September 2009, 19:30

60ns memory works at ~17Mhz (16.666666MHz), overclocking the board to 55MHz means 10% over the normal speed.

70ns units runs at ~14.3, which in turn will become ~15.7MHz after the overclock, not much under the regular 16.6MHz of the original clock.

BTW: the MBX card works like a champ if the A1200 have 3.1 ROM (auto-configuring the amount of memory). If the Amiga just have the original 3.0 ROM you must add a program line on the startup-sequence to attach the accelerator's memory to the Amiga.

Photon · 14 September 2009, 22:01

Well, I'm using SetXA ADDMEM (iirc), if it's the usual driver you mean? Or something extra? I'll have a gander at the manual.

8bitbubsy · 14 September 2009, 22:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Photon

Well, I'm using SetXA ADDMEM (iirc), if it's the usual driver you mean? Or something extra? I'll have a gander at the manual.

If you get Kickstart 3.1, it maps the memory automatically... Then you get a bit more Chip RAM available, as it doesn't need to load SetXA addmem.

Photon · 14 September 2009, 23:04

*blinks at SysInfo startup screen* Well, ofc I should have a proper A1200 kick 3.1

Is this what I want?

And this?

They didn't have any 55MHz crystals or CPUs on the site tho. Maybe I should post on Amibay? Maybe someone has what I want here?

05 September 2009, 22:48	#1
Photon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Eksjö / Sweden Posts: 5,602	How to max out a Microbotics MX-1230XA? Took a pic of this card for A1200 trapdoor expansion. Not a "problem" per se, everything works fine and SysInfo says my A1200 is slightly faster than an A3000, so it's OK. Just need advice on how to max it out. Is the XC68030RC33B a full 68030 or an EC030? Do I need a higher spec CPU chip before I can replace the 33MHz crystal with something faster? 1) What's the highest I can go? 2) What do I need to get there? 3) Can you sell it to me? Or better yet, sell me a Blizzard 060 board Offers and advice welcome as always. Edit: now it even has the word 'pic' linked to the pic Last edited by Photon; 06 September 2009 at 16:11.

12 September 2009, 11:40	#9
Charlie . . Mouse . . Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Nowhere Age: 55 Posts: 1,792	'The candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long...' Probably true enough though FWIW I've been overclocking all sorts of computers since the dawn of time and I've not had a CPU go on me yet. (cue a sudden melt-down in the 'study') At the risk of teaching grandmother to suck eggs: -Keep that CPU as cool as possible (Heatsink +/- fan). (yes, the construction of the '030 makes this less than efficient) -Work your way up a range of crystals. When it gets unstable, return to the previous fastest crystal you used. -Watch out for static! All should be fine. Edit -Nice, fast, RAM helps -Keep fondling your card's logic chips: These will start to heat too - frying the CPU will ruin your day but frying the custom-logic will result in the accelerator being fubar! Last edited by Charlie; 12 September 2009 at 11:59.

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06 September 2009, 01:37	#2
Zetr0 Ya' like it Retr0? Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: United Kingdom Age: 49 Posts: 9,768	@Photon as Alexh would say "its been said before" the XC ( Pilot / eXperimental Controller ) Full MPU / FPU the EC ( Embeded Controller) No FPU and No MMU the LC ( Low Cost ) Has MMU but No FPU the MC (Millitary Certified) Has MMU and FPU and will run at the given frequencey as a MINIMUM under stress The XC series, really dont clock very well my friend, the best thing to get would be MC based controller as these clock up very well =)

06 September 2009, 02:01	#3
rkauer I hate potatos and shirts Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sao Leopoldo / Brazil Age: 58 Posts: 3,482	As a previous owner of one of those babies, I recommend to change the CPU for a MC68030RC50 and install a 56MHz crystal (maximum overclock for this particular accelerator). With a companion 68882RC50 clocked at the same speed and a 60ns 128Mb SIMM this accelerator is the best you can get without a SCSI controller.

11 September 2009, 23:28	#5
Charlie . . Mouse . . Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Nowhere Age: 55 Posts: 1,792	Ooo, no 56mhz Osc on Digikey Did spot a 55mhz one on Futurlec - phew! To my knowledge all 68882's will get to 50mhz regardless of what the package says... Maybe 55mhz too..?

12 September 2009, 05:08	#7
rkauer I hate potatos and shirts Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sao Leopoldo / Brazil Age: 58 Posts: 3,482	Your mileage will vary, I used a 52MHz crystal on mine (didn't found a 56MHz unit)... But a very close friend of mine was lucky enough to found a 56kkHz one. Damn bastard! He didn't sold the crystal to me!

12 September 2009, 07:06	#8
8bitbubsy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Norway Posts: 1,708	Hmm do you think overclocking it (MC68030RC50B) to 55Mhz is safe..? I mean, it will shorten the life span, but massively or "meh, just a little"? Off-topic: The Futurlec order got shipped already, I ordered just some hours ago...

12 September 2009, 16:52	#10
8bitbubsy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Norway Posts: 1,708	My 030 never made much heat at all. I can watch heavy demos with the trapdoor on! As for the RAM, I use 60ns 32MB fast enough.

12 September 2009, 21:43	#11
rkauer I hate potatos and shirts Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sao Leopoldo / Brazil Age: 58 Posts: 3,482	Just set the memory as 70ns on the flash utility who comes with the card and don't worry.

13 September 2009, 03:37	#13
rkauer I hate potatos and shirts Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sao Leopoldo / Brazil Age: 58 Posts: 3,482	You are running an overclocked board, hence the "slow" software set: to match real clock on the memories.

14 September 2009, 19:30	#17
rkauer I hate potatos and shirts Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sao Leopoldo / Brazil Age: 58 Posts: 3,482	60ns memory works at ~17Mhz (16.666666MHz), overclocking the board to 55MHz means 10% over the normal speed. 70ns units runs at ~14.3, which in turn will become ~15.7MHz after the overclock, not much under the regular 16.6MHz of the original clock. BTW: the MBX card works like a champ if the A1200 have 3.1 ROM (auto-configuring the amount of memory). If the Amiga just have the original 3.0 ROM you must add a program line on the startup-sequence to attach the accelerator's memory to the Amiga.

14 September 2009, 22:01	#18
Photon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Eksjö / Sweden Posts: 5,602	Well, I'm using SetXA ADDMEM (iirc), if it's the usual driver you mean? Or something extra? I'll have a gander at the manual.

14 September 2009, 23:04	#20
Photon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Eksjö / Sweden Posts: 5,602	blinks at SysInfo startup screen Well, ofc I should have a proper A1200 kick 3.1 Is this what I want? And this? They didn't have any 55MHz crystals or CPUs on the site tho. Maybe I should post on Amibay? Maybe someone has what I want here?

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