CDTV Upgrades

Arnie · 14 July 2013, 11:43

I've recently bought a CDTV, great piece of kit, however upgrading is a pain.

I have upgraded the kickstart to 3.1 and the extended roms to 2.30.

So far so good.

Now I would like to upgrade the memory.
I have read through the entire thread over at amibay for Kipper2k's fastmem upgrade and it looks like it may not work with the CDTV

The mini megachip 2mb upgrade is rarer than a sober Gascoigne, so I had thought about "piggy backing" the chip ram ala A500 mod but, I'm not sure where to get the 2 signals from or if it would work at all.

Also I've been looking at the Ide68k solution for adding a harddrive, can you still buy one of these?

Any ideas or links for solutions greatly received.

Thanks,

Arnie.

amiman99 · 14 July 2013, 20:10

My CDTV is same configuration as yours and here are my findings:
I have tried kippers 8MB RAM upgrade and is not fully compatible. The ram is recognized and the system boots, BUT it will not recognize the CDROM, therefore not boot any games, or for that matter see the CDROM drive.
It's possible that the CDROM controller is using same address space, but I have not verify that.
Maybe someone can test kippers 4MB RAM upgrade, maybe that one works.

As far as memory upgrades, I have TOM THUL's (I think that's his name edit:***yes it is***) 4MB RAM upgrade, which is NOT autoconfig and it works fine with CDTV.
To access the RAM you need a small command, something like addram, in the startup-sequence.

Arnie · 14 July 2013, 20:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by amiman99

My CDTV is same configuration as yours and here are my findings:
I have tried kippers 8MB RAM upgrade and is not fully compatible. The ram is recognized and the system boots, BUT it will not recognize the CDROM, therefore not boot any games, or for that matter see the CDROM drive.
It's possible that the CDROM controller is using same address space, buy I have not verify that.
Maybe someone can test kippers 4MB RAM upgrade, maybe that one works.

As far as memory upgrades, I have TOM THULE's (I think that's his name) 4MB RAM upgrade, which is NOT autoconfig and it works fine with CDTV.
To access the RAM you need a small command, something like addram, in the startup-sequence.

Hmm, Interesting.

I have had contact with limboy777 over at amibay and he confirmed that the 8mb board does work but you can't close the lid.

Anyone else had any issues with kippers 8mb board?

@amiman99

I would definitely prefer to use the CD-Rom, have you any contact details for TOM THULE?

Toni Wilen · 14 July 2013, 21:02

IMHO non-autoconfig RAM is not that good idea, all system structures allocated during boot will still be allocated from chip ram instead of fast ram. I guess problem is CDTV DMAC autoconfig which gets blocked by the board. (Can be confirmed by checking if showconfig or artm or any other system utility show CDTV autoconfig "board" at E90000) or it does not support DMA which CD data transfer use. (Expensive/rare) 8M Elbox RAM board works.

Quote:

The mini megachip 2mb upgrade is rarer than a sober Gascoigne, so I had thought about "piggy backing" the chip ram ala A500 mod but, I'm not sure where to get the 2 signals from or if it would work at all.

You need 2M PAL Agnus which seems to be as rare as PAL megachip. CDTV comes with 1M Agnus.

Arnie · 14 July 2013, 21:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toni Wilen

You need 2M PAL Agnus which seems to be as rare as PAL megachip. CDTV comes with 1M Agnus.

I have the 2mb agnus and the super denise + 2 512k ram chips from a 500plus.

All I need is the know how and the bottle.

cpiac64 · 14 July 2013, 21:10

my cdtv use megachip and 4mega fast on diagnostic connector like lymboy777, i can test 4 mega from kipper and 4 mega from tomthul

ide68k is a good idea

next month i want release a ide68k plus 68010 at 14mhz

Toni Wilen · 14 July 2013, 21:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arnie

I have the 2mb agnus and the super denise + 2 512k ram chips from a 500plus.

All I need is the know how and the bottle.

Compare schematics?

(Differences does not seem to be too big)
A500+ has 8 chips (256k*4), not 2.

Arnie · 14 July 2013, 21:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toni Wilen

A500+ has 8 chips (256k*4), not 2.

Oops, has the CDTV the same as the A500plus, only 4 (256*4), maybe I read it wrong.

EDIT: Just read it again and it was for a A600 which could work for the A500

amiman99 · 14 July 2013, 21:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arnie

@amiman99

I would definitely prefer to use the CD-Rom, have you any contact details for TOM THULE?

His name is Tom Thul at Amibay, here is a link to his sale thread:
http://www.amibay.com/showthread.php...highlight=thul

Arnie · 14 July 2013, 22:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by amiman99

His name is Tom Thul at Amibay, here is a link to his sale thread:
http://www.amibay.com/showthread.php...highlight=thul

hmmm, no new posts since nov 2012. I'll pm him for details.

Arnie · 20 July 2013, 17:13

Update, I tried the 2mb Agnus from a 500+ (8375r0), and it didn't work???

Is there something else I need or is it because I only have 1mb chip ram?

I tried the 8372a from the CDTV in the a500+ and that wouldn't work either.

Jope · 20 July 2013, 18:56

The 2MB Agnus is not pin compatible with the older Agnuses! Not a good idea to try.

Only the 512 and 1MB Agnuses are interchangeable.

Arnie · 21 July 2013, 09:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jope

The 2MB Agnus is not pin compatible with the older Agnuses! Not a good idea to try.

Only the 512 and 1MB Agnuses are interchangeable.

Oh well, both machines and chips are working fine, so no damage done.

It must be possible somehow, the megachip manages it. I wonder if it's a (not so) simple task of swapping pins?

Jope · 21 July 2013, 09:40

Yes, that is exactly why the megachip exists. And yes, it's just as simple as that.

If you were to do the pin swapping at the motherboard, then you're looking at a difficult job. The megachip style daughter board approach is the one you should be aiming for.

So basically.. Buy a megachip.

alexh · 21 July 2013, 11:11

There is a guide on the Aminet to show how to "make your own" 2MB Agnus hack without a MegaChip.

http://aminet.net/search?query=2+agnus+board

Arnie · 21 July 2013, 21:15

There is a megachip on e-bay, is it worth £75?

roy bates · 22 July 2013, 01:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arnie

There is a megachip on e-bay, is it worth £75?

only if thats what you want to pay.

Jope · 22 July 2013, 07:03

Yeah.. I guess you're asking whether that's its going price? It is in the ball park.

alexh · 22 July 2013, 10:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arnie

There is a megachip on e-bay, is it worth £75?

If you are going to spend some money then you really want a 2MB FastRAM upgrade rather than a 1MB ChipRAM upgrade.

http://www.amiga-shop.net/product_in...roducts_id=552

Arnie · 22 July 2013, 12:43

Looking at the prices I may be better off with the chip ram upgrade and either wait for kippers ram upgrade or the zeus68k.

14 July 2013, 11:43	#1
Arnie R.I.P Smudge 18-08-16 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Leicester/UK Age: 66 Posts: 3,968	CDTV Upgrades I've recently bought a CDTV, great piece of kit, however upgrading is a pain. I have upgraded the kickstart to 3.1 and the extended roms to 2.30. So far so good. Now I would like to upgrade the memory. I have read through the entire thread over at amibay for Kipper2k's fastmem upgrade and it looks like it may not work with the CDTV The mini megachip 2mb upgrade is rarer than a sober Gascoigne, so I had thought about "piggy backing" the chip ram ala A500 mod but, I'm not sure where to get the 2 signals from or if it would work at all. Also I've been looking at the Ide68k solution for adding a harddrive, can you still buy one of these? Any ideas or links for solutions greatly received. Thanks, Arnie.

14 July 2013, 20:10	#2
amiman99 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: San Antonio, TX USA Age: 50 Posts: 1,185	My CDTV is same configuration as yours and here are my findings: I have tried kippers 8MB RAM upgrade and is not fully compatible. The ram is recognized and the system boots, BUT it will not recognize the CDROM, therefore not boot any games, or for that matter see the CDROM drive. It's possible that the CDROM controller is using same address space, but I have not verify that. Maybe someone can test kippers 4MB RAM upgrade, maybe that one works. As far as memory upgrades, I have TOM THUL's (I think that's his name edit:*yes it is) 4MB RAM upgrade, which is NOT autoconfig and it works fine with CDTV. To access the RAM you need a small command, something like addram, in the startup-sequence. Last edited by amiman99; 14 July 2013 at 21:55.*

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14 July 2013, 21:10	#6
cpiac64 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Italy Posts: 1,136	my cdtv use megachip and 4mega fast on diagnostic connector like lymboy777, i can test 4 mega from kipper and 4 mega from tomthul ide68k is a good idea next month i want release a ide68k plus 68010 at 14mhz

20 July 2013, 17:13	#11
Arnie R.I.P Smudge 18-08-16 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Leicester/UK Age: 66 Posts: 3,968	Update, I tried the 2mb Agnus from a 500+ (8375r0), and it didn't work??? Is there something else I need or is it because I only have 1mb chip ram? I tried the 8372a from the CDTV in the a500+ and that wouldn't work either.

20 July 2013, 18:56	#12
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,900	The 2MB Agnus is not pin compatible with the older Agnuses! Not a good idea to try. Only the 512 and 1MB Agnuses are interchangeable.

21 July 2013, 09:40	#14
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,900	Yes, that is exactly why the megachip exists. And yes, it's just as simple as that. If you were to do the pin swapping at the motherboard, then you're looking at a difficult job. The megachip style daughter board approach is the one you should be aiming for. So basically.. Buy a megachip.

21 July 2013, 11:11	#15
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 14,448	There is a guide on the Aminet to show how to "make your own" 2MB Agnus hack without a MegaChip. http://aminet.net/search?query=2+agnus+board

21 July 2013, 21:15	#16
Arnie R.I.P Smudge 18-08-16 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Leicester/UK Age: 66 Posts: 3,968	There is a megachip on e-bay, is it worth £75?

22 July 2013, 07:03	#18
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,900	Yeah.. I guess you're asking whether that's its going price? It is in the ball park.

22 July 2013, 12:43	#20
Arnie R.I.P Smudge 18-08-16 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Leicester/UK Age: 66 Posts: 3,968	Looking at the prices I may be better off with the chip ram upgrade and either wait for kippers ram upgrade or the zeus68k.

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