1200 RAM Upgrade

[mancity]

Hi guys,

I was looking for some information on upgrading the RAM in my 1200 please.

From what I can see on wikipedia, it looks like every model of 1200 made can have 8mb of RAM added in the trap-door inder the machine. IOs this correct and what type of RAM is it? 72-pin SIMM?

I know you can get accelerators etc and add even more RAM up to I think 256mb, but I just want to upgrade my 1200 stock machine abit to if I can just add 8mb underneath it will do me nicely.

[jiffy]

Originally Posted by mancity

Hi guys,
From what I can see on wikipedia, it looks like every model of 1200 made can have 8mb of RAM added in the trap-door inder the machine. Is this correct and what type of RAM is it? 72-pin SIMM?

It is correct that you can add 8 MB to any A1200 in the trapdoor expansion port. Adding fast ram on average doubles the speed of an A1200, making it about 4 times as fast as an A500.

You are wrong in assuming it is anything like a simm: the A1200 (like the A500 and A600) uses a dedicated expansion board, only compatible with the A1200. Some of these boards use simms, though, mostly of the 72-pins type. Most of them have the RAM-chips soldered on the board itself.

You can not interchange ram boards between the A500, A600 and A1200 as (amongst others) they all use different connectors.

Adding more than 4 MB to an A1200 without using an appropriate turboboard disables your PCMCIA-port.

[mancity]

Originally Posted by jiffy

It is correct that you can add 8 MB to any A1200 in the trapdoor expansion port. Adding fast ram on average doubles the speed of an A1200, making it about 4 times as fast as an A500.

You are wrong in assuming it is anything like a simm: the A1200 (like the A500 and A600) uses a dedicated expansion board, only compatible with the A1200. Some of these boards use simms, though, mostly of the 72-pins type. Most of them have the RAM-chips soldered on the board itself.

You can not interchange ram boards between the A500, A600 and A1200 as (amongst others) they all use different connectors.

Adding more than 4 MB to an A1200 without using an appropriate turboboard disables your PCMCIA-port.

Ok,

I need my PCMCIA slot for my Compact Flash HD so I will get just 4mb RAM then, but are you saying the way to upgrade RAM in a 1200 is different on some models depending on the system board fitted within the machine?

[ajk]

It is not dependent on the revision of the A1200, but A500 and A600 memory expansions are completely different, so you can't use those.

[mancity]

So if I get a 4mb RAM upgrade off e-bay which says it is for the Amiga 1200 then I should be completely fine and it will just go into the trapdoor expansion bay?

[ajk]

Yep

[mancity]

That's brilliant, thank you

[ajk]

Just thought of one thing that is not maybe yet clear; there are also RAM expansions for the A600/A1200 that plug in the PCMCIA slot. You don't really want these for the A1200, they are very slow, and of course then you can't have anything else in the PCMCIA slot. So only get a board that goes into the trapdoor slot as discussed.

Also do keep an eye on the price. I had a quick look on ebay and saw an 8 MB RAM board for over $140; for that kind of money you can already get a proper accelerator with 64 MB of RAM etc. so consider your options before buying.

[mancity]

Originally Posted by ajk

Just thought of one thing that is not maybe yet clear; there are also RAM expansions for the A600/A1200 that plug in the PCMCIA slot. You don't really want these for the A1200, they are very slow, and of course then you can't have anything else in the PCMCIA slot. So only get a board that goes into the trapdoor slot as discussed.

Also do keep an eye on the price. I had a quick look on ebay and saw an 8 MB RAM board for over $140; for that kind of money you can already get a proper accelerator with 64 MB of RAM etc. so consider your options before buying.

Just bought a 4mb RAM for the trapdoor for £4.5 (free postage) off e-bay .

Just thinking though, If the system locks out the PCMCIA slot on WB 3.1 when there is more than 4mb RAM, then if I bought a 4mb RAM, surely this would cause the lock-out as the system already has 2mb installed, meaning id have 6mb? Or is it only when you ADD more than 4mb, therefore meaning I can have 6mb?

[Jope]

The 2MB you already had is chip RAM, the 4MB you're adding to the trapdoor is fast RAM.

You can think of chip RAM as graphics mem, even though that is not an entirely accurate description, since it is also general purpose RAM as you have noticed.

Only the amount of installed fast RAM affects the PCMCIA slot.

[seuden]

Originally Posted by mancity

Just bought a 4mb RAM for the trapdoor for £4.5 (free postage) off e-bay .

£4.50? That's a very good buy if it's the right ram.

[mancity]

This is what I got - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1407330307...84.m1439.l2649

Is that correct? It says for Amiga 1200...

[seuden]

It's not the right upgrade. It'll fit accelerator boards only.

This is what you're looking for.

Bearing in mind that £89.99 + delivery is quite expensive in my opinion.

[mancity]

Bugger!

Im not paying that much! lol.

When im searching e-bay, what am I looking for then? Just Amiga 1200 RAM and looks like a system board rather than a SIMM? Or are there some specific words to look for? That listing doesn't say 'trap-door' anywhere...

[seuden]

I'd recommend you create a thread in EAB's marketplace forum with the title something like "WTB: A1200 trap door ram expansion". Then head over to AmiBay, sign up and do the same there. Then your best bet is to be patient and eventually someone will pipe up with one at a decent price. I'd expect to pay in the region of around £40 + carriage.

Bear in mind I've not bought or sold Amiga stuff for sometime so someone else around here may be able to give you better advice.

Couple of other sample's of eBay listings.

1

2

That's what you want to be searching for but bear in mind that on eBay, they'll be overpriced the majority of time.

[mancity]

Ok thanks alot mate, really appreciate your help.

Hope you get beat Monday

[seuden]

Originally Posted by mancity

Ok thanks alot mate, really appreciate your help.

Hope you get beat Monday

No worries and the feeling is mutual!

[mancity]

Would one of these be a good option? - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AMIGA-A120...item5d333b2aec

I dont need the slot on the side Amiga as im not interested in wife internet.

Just wondering do they speed up the machine...

[kipper2k]

Building something like this would be a fun challenge for me. Are the onboard I/C's custom or stock chips that can be obtained still ?

edit; referring to...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/A1200-8Mb-...#ht_3066wt_855

[seuden]

Originally Posted by mancity

Would one of these be a good option? - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AMIGA-A120...item5d333b2aec

I dont need the slot on the side Amiga as im not interested in wife internet.

Just wondering do they speed up the machine...

They do speed it up but for that price you'd be better waiting for a trap door expansion. I know it's difficult to hold back but with some time you will get a better option at a better price.