Trying to identify RAM upgrade.

Upgrade your RAM from ST to Falcon.
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stephen_usher
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Trying to identify RAM upgrade.

Post by stephen_usher »

I had a 2MB RAM upgrade fitted by Third Coast Technologies to my 520STM back in 1989 and I would like to identify the manufacturer and determine just what I need to do (other than populate the other half of the board with 1Mbx1 chips) to bring the machine up to 4MB.

There don't look to be any jumpers so I'm guess it that it's merely a case of disabling the internal RAM.

Anyway, here are the pictures of the main RAM board:

IMG_1575.jpg
IMG_1575.jpg (219.55 KiB) Viewed 4681 times
IMG_1576.jpg
IMG_1576.jpg (140.51 KiB) Viewed 4681 times

P.S. I do have the instruction manual supplied with it somewhere but it's an n'th generation photocopy and is/was a completely unreadable mess.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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stephen_usher
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Re: Trying to identify RAM upgrade.

Post by stephen_usher »

I've now found the original installation manual for the memory upgrade in my Dad's loft.

From one of the the third or more generation photocopies of tha picture I can see the names "Masse-Kabel-Klemme", which I guess is the original manufacturer.

I'm still none the wiser about this upgrade.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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HigashiJun
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Re: Trying to identify RAM upgrade.

Post by HigashiJun »

stephen_usher wrote: Mon May 03, 2021 10:44 pm I've now found the original installation manual for the memory upgrade in my Dad's loft.

From one of the the third or more generation photocopies of tha picture I can see the names "Masse-Kabel-Klemme", which I guess is the original manufacturer.

I'm still none the wiser about this upgrade.
Massekabel Klemme means earth cable clamp in German, so it is definitely not the original manufacturer's name. ;)

I have never seen this kind of RAM upgrade for the STM...
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stephen_usher
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Re: Trying to identify RAM upgrade.

Post by stephen_usher »

Here are picture of the installation “manual” which came with the upgrade. I doubt anyone successfully installed it using these...

D431A34B-91F4-43B4-B4BA-39289CB1C36F.jpeg
D431A34B-91F4-43B4-B4BA-39289CB1C36F.jpeg (532.84 KiB) Viewed 3391 times
B6292282-15A2-4DD0-8687-46FC8F37F04F.jpeg
B6292282-15A2-4DD0-8687-46FC8F37F04F.jpeg (582.37 KiB) Viewed 3391 times
2240E633-D0B0-42A4-910B-E00D8DB2565E.jpeg
2240E633-D0B0-42A4-910B-E00D8DB2565E.jpeg (550.96 KiB) Viewed 3391 times
8DF3DE6B-33A2-4A08-AFD9-05FA3014353F.jpeg
8DF3DE6B-33A2-4A08-AFD9-05FA3014353F.jpeg (634.92 KiB) Viewed 3391 times
5721033D-4672-4911-9C26-49450706301A.jpeg
5721033D-4672-4911-9C26-49450706301A.jpeg (317.68 KiB) Viewed 3391 times
5B35BC80-2911-4941-878D-A21621FC966E.jpeg
5B35BC80-2911-4941-878D-A21621FC966E.jpeg (297.62 KiB) Viewed 3391 times
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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HigashiJun
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Re: Trying to identify RAM upgrade.

Post by HigashiJun »

It seems that Third Coast Technologies was not only the company which had fitted the RAM expansion but also its manufacturer.

They were apparently making HDD drives and memory upgrades for the STs.

http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/ ... -Atari-ST/

https://www.ataristsales.co.uk/shop/sys ... ed-tested/

I guess the "manual" was a pleasure to read...

:D
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stephen_usher
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Re: Trying to identify RAM upgrade.

Post by stephen_usher »

Third Coast Technologies was a big ST seller in the UK and did indeed build quite a bit of stuff, including hard disk enclosures (using ICD adapters internally). My first hard disk was a 27MB Seagate in a Third Coast encosure (with a *VERY* noisy fan).

However, this upgrade is unlikely to have been designed and manufactured by them, especially as the pictures have German text and Third Coast was a Brtish company.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
Steve
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Re: Trying to identify RAM upgrade.

Post by Steve »

I bet @frank.lukas knows who made it :)
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frank.lukas
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Re: Trying to identify RAM upgrade.

Post by frank.lukas »

I have no idea. At that time there were a large number of maker companies in germany for Atari accessories and stuff.

The memory expansion can be measured quite easily ...
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