wyant@eplrx7.UUCP (wyant) (10/13/89)
We have recently acquired a hard disk and several software utilities
for our 1 MB Atari 1040ST (at the recent WAACO). This has us wondering
about the the possibilities for a RAM upgrade, perhaps to 2.5 MBytes.
The prices which we have seen for such an upgrade vary by quite a bit,
being between $305 and over $400 (US). So, now a list:
A) Is such a RAM upgrade desirable? Our Atari serves both for games
and desktop publishing. The utilities/accessories might be expected to
occupy up to 0.25 MBytes.
B) What is the difference between the solderless and conventional
upgrades? Is a solderless upgrade merely a DRAM swap?
C) What about the extra heat generated by all those RAM's in such a
small (ST) box? Is it substantially greater than for the standard 1 MB?
D) Do you have any recommended places for us to consider having such
an upgrade performed? Do they perform an infant mortality test?
Since this is probably a frequently recurring question, a mail reply
might be best. Thank you for your comments to these questions and the
general issue of memory upgrade for the ST.
Patrick Wyant
Wilmington, DE
*!uunet!eplrx7!wyant
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The UUCP Mailerhcj@lzaz.ATT.COM (HC Johnson) (10/13/89)
In article <868@eplrx7.UUCP>, wyant@eplrx7.UUCP (wyant) writes: > > We have recently acquired a hard disk and several software utilities > about the the possibilities for a RAM upgrade, perhaps to 2.5 MBytes. > being between $305 and over $400 (US). So, now a list: $305 or so for 1) a board and 2) 16 1-meg drams sounds good. > > A) Is such a RAM upgrade desirable? Our Atari serves both for games > and desktop publishing. The utilities/accessories might be expected to > occupy up to 0.25 MBytes. I would think extra mem would be particularly useful for DTP. I run MINIX-ST it it loves extra RAM. > > B) What is the difference between the solderless and conventional > upgrades? Is a solderless upgrade merely a DRAM swap? > solderless uses 1) a pass-thru socket to pick up most signals from the video shifter. 2) a press on thing to pick up signals from the MMU. solder: you get to locate and tack down lots of wires. DRAM is not swapped. .5 meg stays used, .5 meg is lost. the board adds 2 meg in 16 1 meg DRAMS. > C) What about the extra heat generated by all those RAM's in such a > small (ST) box? Is it substantially greater than for the standard 1 MB? > DRAMS are cool running -- I've seen no difference. > D) Do you have any recommended places for us to consider having such > an upgrade performed? Do they perform an infant mortality test? > Most places supply a board and a phone number. You supply the DRAMS and install it. Its pretty easy for solderless. Howard C. Johnson ATT Bell Labs att!lzaz!hcj hcj@lzaz.att.com
pnh@morocco.osf.org (unknown) (10/13/89)
I upgraded my 520ST to 2.5 meg using an AERCO (Austin, Texas) upgrade board. I first upgraded from 512K to 1Meg, doing the upgrade myself w/ no problem at all. After the second upgrade to 2.5Mg, I did have some problems with the system which I attributed to overheating. I leave the cover somewhat looser than before and everything's ok so far. Bear in mind this is a 520ST--not much room for expansion!