OpenAmiga500FastRamExpansion

OpenAmiga500FastRamExpansion

OpenAmiga500FastRamExpansion is an Open Hardware 4/8 MB Fast RAM Expansion for the Commodore Amiga 500 Computer.

Summary

Most low-end Amiga models only came with Chip RAM. "Big Box" models allowed for a different type of memory to be installed, known as Fast RAM, where fast means that it's dedicated to the main processor, so that it doesn't have to compete with the other chips in order to gain access to it (as is the case with Chip RAM). While both Chip and Fast RAM are limited in size, you can have at least a few MB of the latter on all Amigas (usually up to 8), while the former can never exceed 2 MB.

OpenAmiga500FastRamExpansion will allow you to add 4 or 8 MB of Fast RAM to your Amiga 500. This way you will be able to run more applications at once and more quickly. If you combine it with a chip RAM expansion, you will also be able to run almost all games supported by WHDLoad, pushing your Amiga to its limits.

OpenAmiga500FastRamExpansion is basically a clone of a RAM expansion produced by Kipper2K a few years ago, based on an earlier design by lvd/NedoPC. He has since stopped producing and selling these cards and I thought it was a pity that he didn't open his designs and actually took all of them down, as this card is quite cheap to build and really useful. So I set about recreating it from scratch.

Memory Compatibility

The required RAM Type is 16 Mbit (1M×16) DRAM in the SOJ-42 package with up to 70-80 ns access time. It is 5v-only DRAM (not SD(!)RAM) often found in old 72-pin SIMMs, EDO chips might work or not. All chips having 8160 in their part number should be OK.

RAM chips can either be soldered directly to the board or installed in sockets. While soldering the chips might not be trivial for the unexperienced, sockets for the SOJ-42 package are hard to find and not really easier to solder either, so the choice is up to you.

Assembly and Installation

Normally it is not necessary to mount all the decoupling capacitors. I usually skip C4, C5, C9, C12, C15 and C18. Maybe C1 can be left out as well if you have a good power supply, your choice. R4 must be chosen according to the particular led you will be using for LD1. Actually you are free to skip LD1 and R4 altogether, if you hate power LEDs.

After everything has been soldered, you will need to program the CPLD. Whenever you do so, make sure to carefully remove the board from your Amiga, or you might risk damaging it. You can find the firmware here, along with instructions on how to flash it. You can provide power through the pads of C1 if you need to do so.

Make sure to use the correct firmware version, according to how many chips you soldered on the board! For the 4 MB version, solder U7 and U8 only and use the dedicated firmware.

When assembly is complete, open your A500 and remove the top shield. Carefully remove the CPU (largest chip at bottom left of the board), using a chip extractor or a small flat screwdriver, taking care not to break/bend any pins. Plug it on the board, matching the orientation, and plug the whole board in the CPU socket.

Before reassembling your case, I recommend to run SysTest/Amiga Test Kit. Use the Memory option (F1), it must show 4/8 MB of Fast RAM. Then start the Memory Test (F1 again) and let it run for 50-100 rounds: if it doesn't find any errors, you are probably good to go. If you get any errors, check your solder joints, starting from actual the RAM chips, as the SOJ package is not very hand-soldering-friendly.

Firmware

If you are using Kickstart 2.x or higher you should use the latest V2 firmware here noting that it requires an ATF1504AS rather than the older version's ATF1502

If you are using Kickstart 1.3 you will need to use the V1 Firmware here

V2 Firmware new features

Thanks to two new features this board is compatible with other autoconfig devices and should no longer cause any conflicts

• Autoconfig snooping - This board will configure itself after every other Autoconfig device
• Autosizing - The firmware will shrink the configured size automatically to make it fit within the remaining free memory pool (8M/4M/2M/1M).

V1 Firmware Limitations

The V1 Firmware for OpenAmiga500FastRamExpansion only has a partial implementation of the AutoConfig protocol. This has the following consequences:

• On the A500 it will only work if nothing is connected to the side expansion port (or if whatever is connected does NOT use AutoConfig).
• On the A2000 it will only work if nothing is installed in the Zorro expansion slots (again: or if whatever you installed there does not use AutoConfig).
• On the CDTV it just won't work (since the DMAC uses AutoConfig and is built-in.)

Because of these limitations it is recommended to use the new Firmware where possible, this will allow your board to coexist with other Autoconfig devices. If you cannot use the V2 firmware for some reason (i.e you use Kickstart 1.3) then the only way to get around these limitations is flashing an alternative firmware on the board which does not use AutoConfig, but then you will have to add the RAM manually in Workbench, using the addmem utility. More on this soon.

License

The OpenAmiga500FastRamExpansion documentation, including the design itself, is copyright © SukkoPera 2019.

OpenAmiga500FastRamExpansion is Open Hardware licensed under the CERN OHL v. 1.2.

You may redistribute and modify this documentation under the terms of the CERN OHL v.1.2. This documentation is distributed as is and WITHOUT ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES whatsoever with respect to its functionality, operability or use, including, without limitation, any implied warranties OF MERCHANTABILITY, SATISFACTORY QUALITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE or infringement. We expressly disclaim any liability whatsoever for any direct, indirect, consequential, incidental or special damages, including, without limitation, lost revenues, lost profits, losses resulting from business interruption or loss of data, regardless of the form of action or legal theory under which the liability may be asserted, even if advised of the possibility or likelihood of such damages.

A copy of the full license is included in file LICENSE.pdf, please refer to it for applicable conditions. In order to properly deal with its terms, please see file LICENSE_HOWTO.pdf.

The contact points for information about manufactured Products (see section 4.2) are listed in file PRODUCT.md.

Any modifications made by Licensees (see section 3.4.b) shall be recorded in file CHANGES.md.

The Documentation Location of the original project is https://github.com/SukkoPera/OpenAmiga500FastRamExpansion/.

Support the Project

Since the project is open you are free to get the PCBs made by your preferred manufacturer, however in case you want to support the development, you can order them from PCBWay through this link:

You get my gratitude and cheap, professionally-made and good quality PCBs, I get some credit that will help with this and other projects. You won't even have to worry about the various PCB options, it's all pre-configured for you!

Also, if you still have to register to that site, you can use this link to get some bonus initial credit (and yield me some more).

Again, if you want to use another manufacturer, feel free to, don't feel obligated :). But then you can buy me a coffee if you want:

Thanks

• lvd for the initial design and the support he gave me during development
• Kipper2K for making his boards
• majinga for helping with the testing