SukkoPera's Open Source Hardware: A500/A600 Chip/Fast RAM Expansions

[SukkoPera]

You might be interested in knowing that I have made an open hardware RAM expansion for the A600 similar to PeteAU's for the 500. It uses SOJ-40 RAM and is chip RAM only, with optional RTC.

It's an open design, the project is on github: https://github.com/SukkoPera/OpenAmiga600RamExpansion

I am also selling PCBs and component kits on AmiBay: http://www.amibay.com/showthread.php...ion-with-Clock



On my github repo you will find more open hardware for the Amiga,
C64 and C16. More stuff will be released soon. Enjoy!

[SukkoPera]

Those who had a look at my repository in the last few days might have noticed that I have also released 4/8 MB Fast RAM Expansions for the A500 and A600 (and maybe A2000).

These use the same SOJ-42 chips as PeteAU's trapdoor expansion and are Open Hardware. They are available here:
- https://github.com/SukkoPera/OpenAmi...stRamExpansion
- https://github.com/SukkoPera/OpenAmi...stRamExpansion

[katarakt]

Great work SukkoPera

Jensma has done an A600 Ramexpansion for chipram last year which is open hardware too. But, better have two similar products instead nothing

Your A600 fast ram version is really great...why haven't you placed some holes for screws like the ACA620EC

I have an ACA620EC and have fixed it to the board with 2 screws. I highly recommend to add two holes in your design. One is directly near the CPU socket and the other one on opposite of the board. If you want to do that on your PCB it would be really really great and we get an excellent option. Without mounting holes it's not so good IMHO.

edit: Oh sorry, i've just seen you've added a screw hole....excellent ...still can be optimized with second screwhole on the opposite

[EzdineG]

Originally Posted by SukkoPera

Those who had a look at my repository in the last few days might have noticed that I have also released 4/8 MB Fast RAM Expansions for the A500 and A600 (and maybe A2000).

These use the same SOJ-42 chips as PeteAU's trapdoor expansion and are Open Hardware. They are available here:
- https://github.com/SukkoPera/OpenAmi...stRamExpansion
- https://github.com/SukkoPera/OpenAmi...stRamExpansion

Thank you for your contributions to the community!

[RoC]

Thanks for keep on designing new open hardware for our community. Keep up the good work.

[SukkoPera]

@katarakt: I saw Jensma's project when mine was already complete, so I thought I'd just go ahead and share it anyway. Plus he doesn't share the Kicad (or whatever) project, so if you want to tinker with it you must redraw the schematics from scratch.

As for the A600 Fast RAM: yes, there's a single screw hole as the board is rather small and doesn't extend enough to reach the other holes. I think you can easily make up a "bracket" with some plastic if you want to secure it to more holes.

[solidcore]

Nice work . Great to see some source released to the community.

[malko]

@SukkoPera : Even if I only use WinUAE now, thank you for this !
'BitD' the 8MB I bought for my A2000 was so expensive (it killed to death my wallet ) that it's a pleasure to see that cheap extension are existing now for the ones still using the real hardware .

[sampedenawa]

Great job as your usual Sukkopera !
Your whole bunch of projects is a must for every Amiga addicted !

[project23]

I have some of Kai's boards on order to play around with, but might give this 8mb board a go as well...

Is there a BOM about? I think it uses pretty much the same ram chips as Kai's version, but i'm unsure about the rest?

John

[SukkoPera]

Of course there is, just see the github project page under Releases.

[project23]

Originally Posted by SukkoPera

Of course there is, just see the github project page under Releases.

Ah crap of course... sorry i'm used to seeing them in the readme for the project.

Thanks!

John

[SukkoPera]

Can a mod please change the thread title to:

SukkoPera's Open Source Hardware: A500/A600 Chip/Fast RAM Expansions

? Thanks.

[Jope]

Done

[SukkoPera]

Thanks Jope .

[project23]

Sukko I noticed you asking on TF's forum about the TF530 with fastmem.

EDIT:
It seems I may have misunderstood the situation with the kipper cards. I could have sworn that some time last year they got the 4mb cards working with the 530 but maybe they were talking about the 534 all along?

By the way the TF534 sources were released a few days ago if you fancy building that. It puts the fastmem in Z3 space so all Z2 cards work fine.

Cheers,

John

[project23]

Hey again Sukko... Gunna spin some of your boards I think as Kai's has an incorrectly sized 68k socket. I'll be happy to help how I can with the 530

Maybe I was wrong about the kipper2k cards?

[SukkoPera]

Well, Stephen's reply actually surprised me... So what have we been discussing for months in that whole thread??? Anyway mine was essentially an effort to see if there was another firmware around. I think I can patch the current one and do some more testing though.

Anyway, I have added pics of my boards in the first posts, as you can see they have been tested successfully. I have some PCBs left for the A500 card if you're interested, PM me in case.

[project23]

Originally Posted by SukkoPera

Well, Stephen's reply actually surprised me... So what have we been discussing for months in that whole thread???

*smirk* I know. I know. I was confused myself, because in the original TF530 thread they're talking about trying to get it working, but then the conversation sorta shifts to the TF534 and its difficult to tell which one they're talking about.

The bottom line is that with the 530 at 00200000, provided an extra 4mb is addressed at 00600000 it should work, right?

Have you got it working with addmem at all? The non-autoconfig version?

I was reading that kipper2k's card lacked some important CPU lines required for proper autoconfig? So maybe once you get into the nitty gritty of it, its just a whole can of worms.

Originally Posted by SukkoPera

Anyway, I have added pics of my boards in the first posts, as you can see they have been tested successfully. I have some PCBs left for the A500 card if you're interested, PM me in case.

Definitely. As i said i'm currently building the TF534 and we know that it should work with that for the full 8mb, so we can test that at least. You should spin some 534 boards now that they're public and throw one together - its a much better board.

I'll drop ya a PM!

Cheers,

John

[sampedenawa]

Originally Posted by project23

*smirk* I know. I know. I was confused myself, because in the original TF530 thread they're talking about trying to get it working, ....
John

Dears, would you kindly link me to the discussion you are talking about ? I would be interested in reading, but can't easily find it. Thanks !