More RAM for Blizzard 1230/IV - how to identify SIMMs?

[Andymiga]

I have a Blizzard 1230 Mk IV with 16 MB of RAM on it.

I'm going to the local flea market tomorrow and I know they have loads of old SIMM modules ... and I'd like to get some memory for the accelerator.

I guess I'll get a 32 or 64 MB module - AFAIK 128MB SIMMs are a bit large and don't fit that well. Besides, 32MB should be plenty for WHDLoad (right?).

Now, as I understand it, ideally I should get a 72-pin FPM (Fast Page Mode) 60ns SIMM, single sided with no parity. Is this right?

The problem is that I am unable to identify such a SIMM.

I know how to identify these:
+ 72-pins (well, easily counted ;-).
+ no parity (has 8 memory chips, not 9).
+ 60ns usually means a "6" at the end of the "code" on the chip.
+ single-sided means there's chips on only one side of the PCB.

But the problem is, how do I identify the size of the memory itself?

And what about FPM/EDO? How do I tell the difference?

I tried Google, but only came about some vague info on identifying, and it was all for PCs so I thought it's best to ask here because the SIMMs are for an Amiga accelerator.

Any advice would be welcome

[rkauer]

EDO RAM can be used, but the card will not take advantage of. Same for the SIMM with/without parity, the accelerator will work, just not use the parity chip.

To tell the difference, only counting the number of chips on the board and taking note of the chips on the SIMM and use a datasheet.

[DoogUK]

fast page simms are typicaly 70ns, edo is 60ns but either will do

[Anemos]

32MB should be plenty for WHDLoad (right?).

yep but best is 64MB,some big games need more ram to run fine from HD install (except WHDload) like Beneath steel sky CD32.
so.. i have same accelerator im using 64Mb edo 60ns now, but run whit out problem,also with 32mb edo 60ns,16mb 70ns ect..

[amigakit.com]

We stock 64MB for Blizzard 1230 here:

http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/...roducts_id=781

[rkauer]

Total Chaos AGA needs 26Mb of RAM just for itself, so anything more than 32Mb is recommended.

Also if you use render applications, the more memory you have, the better!

[Andymiga]

Ok ... I now have three SIMM modules that show as ~32MB on the Workbench top bar, SysInfo and AIBB when I plug them into the accelerator.

AFAIK, this Blizzard 1230 Mk IV auto-configures the memory so I don't need to set anything via software. That also means that the modules are all 32MB (and not something else but the board just sees them as 32MB), right?

I set the RAMSPEED jumper for the memory to run at 60ns.

I removed the MAPROM jumper, to load the Kickstart in FastRAM.

But how do I test that the memory modules are 100% OK and free of errors? I have AIBB (v6.5) and SysInfo (v3.24) but I think they just test the memory for speed, not errors?

Thanks for all the help, much appreciated

edit: Ok, I found a few dozen apps pertaining to memory testing on Aminet (I really should learn to use Aminet regularly).

Any suggestions on which memory tester is thorough and tests all memory?

[hit]

StingRay wrote a memtest at a1k.org forum:
http://www.a1k.org/forum/showthread.php?t=11986&page=5
(look for memtest.pdf attachements, and rename to memtext.exe )
Ville9 has made some aditions to stingrays last version. ( http://www.a1k.org/forum/showpost.ph...6&postcount=93 ).

[Hungry Horace]

Andymiga, i hope you didnt pay too much for them! i only paid about £10 for my 128meg simm in my blizzard, so it can be worth bargain hunting! (which, if you were getting them at the flea-market, i suspect you have!)

mine is the 'large' kind however, and it only fits in the simm socket which is part of the additional scsi socket. perhaps this is something you'll want to get so you can add a 2nd one of those 32meg simms.

[Andymiga]

Originally Posted by Hungry Horace

Andymiga, i hope you didnt pay too much for them! i only paid about £10 for my 128meg simm in my blizzard, so it can be worth bargain hunting! (which, if you were getting them at the flea-market, i suspect you have!)

mine is the 'large' kind however, and it only fits in the simm socket which is part of the additional scsi socket. perhaps this is something you'll want to get so you can add a 2nd one of those 32meg simms.

Thanks, Hungry Horace --- yes, my intention was to go to the flea market but I noticed I already had some SIMMs at home that came with the accelerator cards I acquired recently. I have three 32MB SIMMs and one 16MB now. So, I skipped the flea market trip.

I'd like to test the SIMMs but haven't been able to because my daughter (6 years old) has been playing Superfrog for hours!

I'll try to test them and sell the other accelerator with one of the 32MB SIMMs. I guess memory modules don't break that easily but I don't want to sell a module that hasn't been tested!

I'm still looking for a 64MB or 128MB SIMM (although I guess the latter ones are quite hard to find) and a 50MHz 68882 FPU as my Blizzard hasn't got one (as we all know an FPU is sooooo important when playing games )...

[Fingerlickin_B]

Originally Posted by Andymiga

I'm still looking for a 64MB

Go here for 64MB 60ns speed SIMM:
http://www.amigamaniac.com/

I'm using his memory with my 1230 mkIV & it works great!

PZ.

[Andymiga]

Originally Posted by Fingerlickin_B

Go here for 64MB 60ns speed SIMM:
http://www.amigamaniac.com/

I'm using his memory with my 1230 mkIV & it works great!

PZ.

Thanks Fingerlickin_B - that looks good. So you confirm it fits into the 1230 Mk IV even with the trapdoor closed?

I'll get that one if I don't find a cheaper one at the flea market I frequent.

[Fingerlickin_B]

Yep, fits perfectly with no clearance issues

PZ.

[prart]

Originally Posted by Fingerlickin_B

Go here for 64MB 60ns speed SIMM:
http://www.amigamaniac.com/

I'm using his memory with my 1230 mkIV & it works great!

PZ.

yes, I can confirm that - i`ve just recived my package. they are really new and are working great.

Hello.
Would somebody be able to answer this?

This kind (server) RAM useful to Blizzard 1230-1260 cards? 128 MB OK?
http://www.memoryten.com/pc/A3830-60001/Proprietary-HP/
All SIMM kind is here:
http://www.canadaram.com/SIMMs.htm

The normal unbuffered 128 mb RAM more expensive, 30 EUR:
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...=STRK:MEWNX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Memory-128mb-S...item53ddb2afa8

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/128-MB-SIMM-ME...201758674QQcmd

I asked because of this, that this server RAM good, or not good for Blizzard card? This is only 15 EUR:
http://cgi.ebay.de/128MB-72p-60ns-HP...item4838539e19

Did somebody use one like this already once?
This on 72 pin, EDO, SIMM, 128 MB, 60 ns.
Blizzard cards handle at most 128 MB of memory, 50-70 ns.
There is nothing in the instruction book of Blizzard cards, the buffered or unbuffered from memories.

[asm1]

Be VERY careful with HP ram. I got what I thought was a 128MB EDO simm. it turned out to be a "printer" chip or something similar.... plugged it in and it drew too much current and cooked my motherboard now it had an extra round chip on the front of the module, which apparently is for printers, and the chips in the pictures above dont have this.. but I'd still be wary.

Blizzards can support 256MB.... 128MB on the card and 128MB on the Scsi kit if you have it.

Andrew

[rkauer]

The 128Mb module that I used in my Microbotics 1230XA was a HP brand. But it don't have electrolytic capacitors on it.

Anyway, Memoryten is a well known specialized seller. Ask them if the SIMM is jedec compliant and 5V.

First Ebay link (Germany) is a valid memory. Second (UK) is valid too (albeit expensive). Third link is from the same seller but is cheaper. Last German one looks like an incompatible unit.

As a rule of thumb, any module with a round-shaped chip (or squared one) in the middle of the SIMM, and/or with electrolytic capacitors, and/or marked as ECC (buffered) is no good.

This OK? NEW 30 EUR!
http://cgi.ebay.de/1x-128MB-128-MB-m...item19b7e6870e

[Jope]

Looks better.

[rkauer]

Originally Posted by Blizzard128MB

This OK? NEW 30 EUR!
http://cgi.ebay.de/1x-128MB-128-MB-m...item19b7e6870e

Perfect! Best one I saw 'till now.

It is a 5V module, 60ns and very low profile, which in turn is perfect to fit in the tight space of Blizzard accelerators.