Question: Memory Expansion on A600

[gtrmn01]

Hello all Amiga exthusists. I have a few questions about memory expansion for an A600.

Q1: I just purchased a A600 with 1MB and a PCMCIA 4MB expansion card. So I would assume that I still have the trapdoor to add another expansion board if needed? I though I read somewhere that you can't use the trapdoor and PCMCIA slot at the same time?

Q2: Here is the real noobie question... what is the difference between Chip and Fast memory? Doesn't it all just get used as needed? What is better to have more of?

Thanks to all for a great resource of information. Just reading through some of these threads has been invaluable in answering some of the most simplest(to same!) problems.

gtrmn01

[fc.studio]

Q1: Yes, you do. Your A600 will have 2 MB CHIP RAM (1 as standard + 1 from trapdoor) and 4 MB FAST RAM (from PCMCIA port).
Q2: CHIP is for gfx and sound (and for CPU if you have not any FAST), FAST is for CPU only. On adding FAST memory your Amiga will be faster! Unfortunately CHIP RAM can be max 2 MB (A500+, A600, A1200).

[rkauer]

Originally Posted by gtrmn01

Hello all Amiga exthusists. I have a few questions about memory expansion for an A600.

Q1: I just purchased a A600 with 1MB and a PCMCIA 4MB expansion card. So I would assume that I still have the trapdoor to add another expansion board if needed? I though I read somewhere that you can't use the trapdoor and PCMCIA slot at the same time?

Wrong! When you have an expansion memory with more than 4Mb on the Amiga A1200 then the PCMCIA will stop working. A600 will not suffer from this issue since its trapdoor accept only 1Mb.

Q2: Here is the real noobie question... what is the difference between Chip and Fast memory? Doesn't it all just get used as needed? What is better to have more of?

Chip memory is shared for all custom chips on the Amiga, so any data stored in there will be directly accessible for audio and video. Fast RAM is only accessible directly for the CPU.

Thanks to all for a great resource of information. Just reading through some of these threads has been invaluable in answering some of the most simplest(to same!) problems.

gtrmn01

No need to thank. We all where n00bs some day.

[edit] Damn!

F.C.Studio beat me to it.

[coze]

Originally Posted by fc.studio

Unfortunately CHIP RAM can be max 2 MB (A500+, A600, A1200).

not only for those, for all amigas (A3000, A4000, A2000, whatever).

as a rule of thumb, you want to max out your chip ram at 2 mb. You can do it via your trap door very easily.

And with your precious 4 mb PCMCIA SRAM, you already have maxed out your A600 RAM expanding options.

You can search for Zetro's A608 project, but I'm afraid the next production run has already sold out.

[fc.studio]

Originally Posted by coze

not only for those, for all amigas (A3000, A4000, A2000, whatever).

You are right, but my reference was about Amiga models with a trapdoor slot.