RAM Upgrade for a 520ST

Upgrade your RAM from ST to Falcon.
Post Reply
Colleton
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Mar 05, 2020 11:04 pm

RAM Upgrade for a 520ST

Post by Colleton »

I have a nice 520ST with TOS 1.04 that I'd like to upgrade the memory on.

I plan on using the Exxos ST/F/M / MEGA ST-RAM 4MB UPGRADE [0035] upgrade, but am lost as to which of the 3 cables I should get.

I'm attaching a pic of my motherboard so that layout can be seen. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
Attachments
520st_mobo_sm.jpg
520st_mobo_sm.jpg (107.87 KiB) Viewed 5167 times
User avatar
rubber_jonnie
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10472
Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
Location: Essex
Contact:

Re: RAM Upgrade for a 520ST

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Locate the MMU, which as I recall is the furthest left PLCC socket on your mainboard, and measure the distance to the Shifter which is in the tin can on the right hand side, then use that measurement to judge the cable size you need, without the cable being under tension when installed.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
User avatar
exxos
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 23498
Joined: Wed Aug 16, 2017 11:19 pm
Location: UK
Contact:

Re: RAM Upgrade for a 520ST

Post by exxos »

https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/ All my hardware guides - mods - games - STOS
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/ - All my hardware mods for sale - Please help support by making a purchase.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1585 Have you done the Mandatory Fixes ?
Just because a lot of people agree on something, doesn't make it a fact. ~exxos ~
People should find solutions to problems, not find problems with solutions.
User avatar
rubber_jonnie
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10472
Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
Location: Essex
Contact:

Re: RAM Upgrade for a 520ST

Post by rubber_jonnie »

As it happens, I will probably be upgrading mine later today.

I have a 30cm cable as it was originally intended for one of my Megas, which I got fixed, so I can confirm if it's longer than you need.

I'd suspect as @exxos says, 20cm is going to be enough.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
User avatar
rubber_jonnie
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10472
Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
Location: Essex
Contact:

Re: RAM Upgrade for a 520ST

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Just opened mine up, 20 cm it is.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
User avatar
rubber_jonnie
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10472
Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
Location: Essex
Contact:

Re: RAM Upgrade for a 520ST

Post by rubber_jonnie »

This is it fitted to mine with a 30cm cable, once again confirming the 20cm option.

I did remember the MMU position incorrectly though, it's the chip here you can see the MMU adaptor on top of (Unsurprisingly!), the other, towards the left, being the GLUE.

Fitted.jpg
Fitted.jpg (145.66 KiB) Viewed 5124 times
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
Colleton
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Mar 05, 2020 11:04 pm

Re: RAM Upgrade for a 520ST

Post by Colleton »

Awesome, great info. Thanks everyone!
User avatar
rubber_jonnie
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10472
Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
Location: Essex
Contact:

Re: RAM Upgrade for a 520ST

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Colleton wrote: Sun May 03, 2020 1:26 pm Awesome, great info. Thanks everyone!
No problem and good luck.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
Colleton
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Mar 05, 2020 11:04 pm

Re: RAM Upgrade for a 520ST

Post by Colleton »

Received the 4MB MMU ram upgrade this weekend, and got it installed in my 520ST this afternoon. Everything went very smoothly, no problems at all.

Also installed a blitter in my STFM. It was a busy day today.
Attachments
4mb_ram.jpg
4mb_ram.jpg (115.57 KiB) Viewed 5036 times
User avatar
rubber_jonnie
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10472
Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
Location: Essex
Contact:

Re: RAM Upgrade for a 520ST

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Colleton wrote: Mon May 18, 2020 4:33 am Received the 4MB MMU ram upgrade this weekend, and got it installed in my 520ST this afternoon. Everything went very smoothly, no problems at all.

Also installed a blitter in my STFM. It was a busy day today.
Good job sir, it's a very nice upgrade.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
Post Reply

Return to “RAM UPGRADES”