Checkmate 1500 zorro slot

Signman · 31 October 2023, 16:32

I have the original larger Checkmate 1500 case with an A500 board installed. Twice I have had issues with zorro cards (2 and 3) with it. Recently bought a Freeway Triton usb card and will not completely work with it in any Zorro mode. Usually show the desktop Icon but no contents. (Yes, I selected show contents). Installed in my 4000 and works flawlessly.

In the past< the same with the Buddha Ide card which Jens has said there would be issues.

It’s not a big deal but it would be nice to utilize it but just asking if anyone has resolved or even seen these issues. I am told the Aca 500 plus works well with it.

FlynnTheAvatar · 31 October 2023, 17:30

The Zerro slot is a bit special. I tried to use an ACA 500 Plus with it, and no, it does not work well. At least not with the CPU running > 21 MHz. There is a hardware "fix" that should improve the reliability, but it did make little to no difference with my ACA 500. I put a Vampire V2 in the Checkmate case instead. But that will not give you USB, unfortually.

Signman · 31 October 2023, 18:14

I should add that I am using a Pistorm with it.
What is the hardware fix you speak of?

FlynnTheAvatar · 31 October 2023, 20:07

Sorry, I do not find the source of the fix at the moment. Some instability was accounted to the fact that the ground layer runs arounds the zero slots. To get a better GND connection, it was suggested to solder some patch wires from the GND connections above the Zero slots directly below the slots.

btp · 02 November 2023, 09:10

If I recall correctly, PiStorm doesn't play nice with Zorro cards since it lacks bus arbitration. What happens if you test with the 68K CPU?

Jope · 02 November 2023, 12:52

Only DMA cards require bus arbitration, so basically if you're thinking of cards that one can commonly encounter, the A2091 and GVP SCSI cards will be problematic. The vast majority of Zorro cards are not DMA.

alexh · 02 November 2023, 14:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jope

The vast majority of Zorro cards are not DMA.

The Freeway Triton USB Zorro card says that it is PIO and not DMA

Orionis5 · 03 December 2023, 19:56

Shame Checkmate 1500 was only designed to support A500 cards which is not that logical, since cards working on A500 are rare. A1200 would be better.

31 October 2023, 16:32	#1
Signman Registered User Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Michigan Posts: 387	Checkmate 1500 zorro slot I have the original larger Checkmate 1500 case with an A500 board installed. Twice I have had issues with zorro cards (2 and 3) with it. Recently bought a Freeway Triton usb card and will not completely work with it in any Zorro mode. Usually show the desktop Icon but no contents. (Yes, I selected show contents). Installed in my 4000 and works flawlessly. In the past< the same with the Buddha Ide card which Jens has said there would be issues. It’s not a big deal but it would be nice to utilize it but just asking if anyone has resolved or even seen these issues. I am told the Aca 500 plus works well with it.

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31 October 2023, 17:30	#2
FlynnTheAvatar Registered User Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Germany Posts: 46	The Zerro slot is a bit special. I tried to use an ACA 500 Plus with it, and no, it does not work well. At least not with the CPU running > 21 MHz. There is a hardware "fix" that should improve the reliability, but it did make little to no difference with my ACA 500. I put a Vampire V2 in the Checkmate case instead. But that will not give you USB, unfortually.

31 October 2023, 18:14	#3
Signman Registered User Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Michigan Posts: 387	I should add that I am using a Pistorm with it. What is the hardware fix you speak of?

31 October 2023, 20:07	#4
FlynnTheAvatar Registered User Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Germany Posts: 46	Sorry, I do not find the source of the fix at the moment. Some instability was accounted to the fact that the ground layer runs arounds the zero slots. To get a better GND connection, it was suggested to solder some patch wires from the GND connections above the Zero slots directly below the slots.

02 November 2023, 09:10	#5
btp Registered User Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Greece Posts: 151	If I recall correctly, PiStorm doesn't play nice with Zorro cards since it lacks bus arbitration. What happens if you test with the 68K CPU?

02 November 2023, 12:52	#6
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,944	Only DMA cards require bus arbitration, so basically if you're thinking of cards that one can commonly encounter, the A2091 and GVP SCSI cards will be problematic. The vast majority of Zorro cards are not DMA.

03 December 2023, 19:56	#8
Orionis5 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Maribor Posts: 61	Shame Checkmate 1500 was only designed to support A500 cards which is not that logical, since cards working on A500 are rare. A1200 would be better.

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