Amiga 500 RAM Expansions

Lorfarius · 11 March 2010, 15:57

Not a problem as such but not sure where this was meant to go besides the Hardware section so I'll post it anyway! Been spending sometime reading through a load of old issues of Amiga Format and noticed a few adverts (yes I know I'm quite sad reading ads for stuff no longer available after 18 years!) for 8MB upgrades for the Amiga 500.

Now I have never seen or even heard of these before and have no idea just how useful 8MB would even be on a standard A500. So what are your thoughts? Does anyone have experience with such pieces of kit?

TCD · 11 March 2010, 16:01

This would be one way to achieve 8 MB : http://www.amiga-resistance.info/bbo...cat=46&id=2107
It always depends on what you want to do with your Amiga, but I would say that it doesn't make much sense to invest in something like that for an A500

Peter · 11 March 2010, 16:07

What an opportunity for me to show off my Cortex RAM Expansion...!!

Click to see...

Lorfarius · 11 March 2010, 16:08

Sorry didn't make it clear I'm not looking to use it as an upgrade. Quite happy with an 8MB A1200

Just curious how it worked and the benefits.

Paul_s · 12 March 2010, 10:38

I guess it's for the same reason some would put 8MB into a 1200!

although probably pointless in this day and age with the 500 unless you are running WHDLoad?

Obviously it made it quicker than stock and for running applications such as DPaint etc. Useful to have if running a HDD. Stock 1MB would easily run out with Workbench loaded.

redblade · 12 March 2010, 10:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorfarius

Been spending sometime reading through a load of old issues of Amiga Format and noticed a few adverts (yes I know I'm quite sad reading ads for stuff no longer available after 18 years!) for 8MB upgrades for the Amiga 500.

Hehe I do the same thing and wish i had the $$$ back in the day. Sux tho cos I was 8 although was happy with my 512k Ram expansion and my cousions External Disk Drive.

deicidal · 12 March 2010, 11:24

I have a 1.5mb a500 board, problem been the daughter baord that goes in the gary slot has 2 of the pins missing anyone got any suggestions on posible fixing it or should i just bin it.

Loedown · 12 March 2010, 11:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by deicidal

I have a 1.5mb a500 board, problem been the daughter baord that goes in the gary slot has 2 of the pins missing anyone got any suggestions on posible fixing it or should i just bin it.

Take a photo and I'll tell you how to fix it.

deicidal · 12 March 2010, 11:57

Cheers Loedown

Will get a pic taken after the weekend as im away until them.

whiteb · 12 March 2010, 13:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by deicidal

Cheers Loedown

Will get a pic taken after the weekend as im away until them.

I have an A500 4MB expansion in my A500.

mombasajoe · 12 March 2010, 14:10

I´ve got an AlfaPower controller with 8mb FastRam (-> sig). Some games like Settlers (8mb? only partially) or Biiing! run better with more FastRam. Things like DPaint or large HDs (many icons, subdirs etc.) etc. would run better with expanded Chip RAM, not Fast RAM. So on a stock A500 I would not say that such an 8 MB expansion makes much sense. Maybe I am wrong.

cosmicfrog · 12 March 2010, 14:54

I remember using a video digitizer on an A500, the extra 8meg made life so much easier and faster

rkauer · 14 March 2010, 05:09

My A500 have 1+4Mb and works pretty good with HD-installed games (I don't use WHDLoad in this machine).

Currently it is using a 2Gb SCSI drive and an external SCSI CD-ROM. CDTV titles rocks in this machine! Yay!

All it miss is an ECS Denise and maybe 2Mb Chip RAM, but I don't want to pay silly prices for a Megachip/Mini Megi Chip.

Perfect retro OCS machine, it can run WHDLoad. But I have my A600 and 1200D for this.

deicidal · 16 March 2010, 22:18

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Loedown

Take a photo and I'll tell you how to fix it.

rkauer · 17 March 2010, 00:25

That's an easy fix: locate a rounded pin socket and replace the broken pin.

Since you didn't show your location in the user profile it's hard to indicate someone local to help you.

Zetr0 · 17 March 2010, 00:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by deicidal

Attachment 24624

easy fix chap,

if you are in the UK you could send it me and just pay for return postage =D

Or I can send you some bits to solder on yourself.

________________

It looks as though the bottom row of pins can come off, if soo I can just send you some pin-strips for postage so you can just replace them.

although if its like rkauers 1.5mb upgrade that I have here in a box to go (this week I hope) then you would need some soldering.

so have a check and let me know how I can best help.

deicidal · 17 March 2010, 12:25

Thanks for the advice, am in the UK. I will probably have a look into to it and see if want to have a go at doing it myself if not Zetro I will take you up on your nice offer

.

Zetr0 · 17 March 2010, 12:50

@deicidal

sounds like a plan!

just hit me up on PM if you need owt =D

11 March 2010, 15:57	#1
Lorfarius Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Glossop/UK Posts: 532	Amiga 500 RAM Expansions Not a problem as such but not sure where this was meant to go besides the Hardware section so I'll post it anyway! Been spending sometime reading through a load of old issues of Amiga Format and noticed a few adverts (yes I know I'm quite sad reading ads for stuff no longer available after 18 years!) for 8MB upgrades for the Amiga 500. Now I have never seen or even heard of these before and have no idea just how useful 8MB would even be on a standard A500. So what are your thoughts? Does anyone have experience with such pieces of kit?

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11 March 2010, 16:01	#2
TCD HOL/FTP busy bee Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Germany Age: 46 Posts: 31,613	This would be one way to achieve 8 MB : http://www.amiga-resistance.info/bbo...cat=46&id=2107 It always depends on what you want to do with your Amiga, but I would say that it doesn't make much sense to invest in something like that for an A500

11 March 2010, 16:07	#3
Peter Still an Amiga user Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Kent Age: 55 Posts: 2,715	What an opportunity for me to show off my Cortex RAM Expansion...!! Click to see...

11 March 2010, 16:08	#4
Lorfarius Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Glossop/UK Posts: 532	Sorry didn't make it clear I'm not looking to use it as an upgrade. Quite happy with an 8MB A1200 Just curious how it worked and the benefits.

12 March 2010, 10:38	#5
Paul_s Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Amigaville Age: 46 Posts: 3,336	I guess it's for the same reason some would put 8MB into a 1200! although probably pointless in this day and age with the 500 unless you are running WHDLoad? Obviously it made it quicker than stock and for running applications such as DPaint etc. Useful to have if running a HDD. Stock 1MB would easily run out with Workbench loaded.

12 March 2010, 11:24	#7
deicidal Registered Insane Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ununited Kingdom Posts: 792	I have a 1.5mb a500 board, problem been the daughter baord that goes in the gary slot has 2 of the pins missing anyone got any suggestions on posible fixing it or should i just bin it.

12 March 2010, 11:57	#9
deicidal Registered Insane Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ununited Kingdom Posts: 792	Cheers Loedown Will get a pic taken after the weekend as im away until them.

12 March 2010, 14:10	#11
mombasajoe Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: D Age: 49 Posts: 528	I´ve got an AlfaPower controller with 8mb FastRam (-> sig). Some games like Settlers (8mb? only partially) or Biiing! run better with more FastRam. Things like DPaint or large HDs (many icons, subdirs etc.) etc. would run better with expanded Chip RAM, not Fast RAM. So on a stock A500 I would not say that such an 8 MB expansion makes much sense. Maybe I am wrong.

12 March 2010, 14:54	#12
cosmicfrog The 1 who ribbits Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: leek, Staffs, UK Age: 56 Posts: 3,557	I remember using a video digitizer on an A500, the extra 8meg made life so much easier and faster

14 March 2010, 05:09	#13
rkauer I hate potatos and shirts Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sao Leopoldo / Brazil Age: 58 Posts: 3,482	My A500 have 1+4Mb and works pretty good with HD-installed games (I don't use WHDLoad in this machine). Currently it is using a 2Gb SCSI drive and an external SCSI CD-ROM. CDTV titles rocks in this machine! Yay! All it miss is an ECS Denise and maybe 2Mb Chip RAM, but I don't want to pay silly prices for a Megachip/Mini Megi Chip. Perfect retro OCS machine, it can run WHDLoad. But I have my A600 and 1200D for this.

17 March 2010, 00:25	#15
rkauer I hate potatos and shirts Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sao Leopoldo / Brazil Age: 58 Posts: 3,482	That's an easy fix: locate a rounded pin socket and replace the broken pin. Since you didn't show your location in the user profile it's hard to indicate someone local to help you.

17 March 2010, 12:25	#17
deicidal Registered Insane Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ununited Kingdom Posts: 792	Thanks for the advice, am in the UK. I will probably have a look into to it and see if want to have a go at doing it myself if not Zetro I will take you up on your nice offer .

17 March 2010, 12:50	#18
Zetr0 Ya' like it Retr0? Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: United Kingdom Age: 49 Posts: 9,768	@deicidal sounds like a plan! just hit me up on PM if you need owt =D

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