Gvp 030 a1200

[JLPedro]

Made a bid on this ebay item and now i have a doubt.... does this acelerator only acepts special GVP 62 pin ram?? or does it uses 72 pin edo ram?
If i win and it only acepts special ram from gvp it will be for sale very soon again...

item:

http://cgi.ebay.ie/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...m=220253784941

[Zetr0]

@JLPedro

The Item is a GVP Jaws II 030@40 (no FPU)

Alas my friend I can confirm that the GVP uses special GVP 64pin SIMMS, (these are NOT the same as the APPLE 64pin SIMM standard)

the GVP 030 has two SIMM types available for it (if you are lucky to find them) the 4MB and the 16MB (the latter very elusive)

The max memory of the card is 32MB in 2x 16MB SIMMS, you cannot Combine 4MB and 16MB sticks.

On another note, to use the card under Kickstart 3.1 you will need to update the firmware...

this is done by removing the memory and then installing the card, then using the firmware updater on the disk to, update the firmware, once done, turn off the machine and add the memory.

more info and drivers here

I hope that one day i can get my mitts on one of the 4mb or 16mb simms sticks so I can make my own batch

[Additional]
If i had an expert opinion, I would say that this is perhaps the worst 030 cards to buy for the A1200, there are many other variants that offer not only cheaper memory, but also MORE memory. I would not pay any more than £55 for the 40mhz version, upto £65 if it is the 50mhz version (all including and FPU) without FPU i would not recomend paying anymore than £45

[JLPedro]

Upgrade the firmware? how would i do it, and were to get the firmware? Is it very dificult to get a 16mb mem stick for this card?
I don't expect to to win (biding was an instinct as there was no bidings yet, only after doingit i realized the memory format (gvp simms look like 72pin edo rams...), but if i win and can't get a 16mb gvp simm i will sell it.

[Zetr0]

@JLPedro

indeed, they do look standard, but alas there not, the memory controller is very ARCHAIC to say the lest.

Memory as you know is organised as a matrix of cells now... this matrix arrangement has 3 differing types.

Square Matrix (like a map)

Fat Matrix ( like a rectangle )

Thin Matrix ( Like Door )

Now an intelligent memory handler would be able to PROBE the simm for size, and then do three tests to ascertain the Memory Matrix format, unfortunately back in the day was very expensive micro-controlling and so, a static expectance of matrix type was adopted...

GVP 64pin SIMS use a FAT matrix memory cell structure and from this auto organize the memory for use, its only when it uses two banks of memory one could see it as a square, but even then its not a REAL contiguous block.

this is from what i have managed to study atleast.

Getting 16MB ram SIMMS for it will prove VERY difficult, I know of nowhere to get them, and if you manage to, the price will be very prohibitive!

I have asked on AmiBay if anyone wants to donate me a 4MB or 16MB 64pin GVP SIMM for me to dismantle, this way i can have clone boards manufactured and just populate them with the common chips.

we shall see

[Buleste]

Just found this. Basically SoftHut have managed to get someone to make GVP simms for them and the 16MB variety cost US$99.95.

Looks like they only have 4MB simms left for US$34.95. Here.

[Zetr0]

hmmm good luck with sofftware hut, alas i have very little good to say about them to be honest.

[Harrison]

I've heard a lot of bad things about Software hut too. Most of the products they have advertised on their site are not actually in stock for one.

[JLPedro]

Got outbid on the card, my highestbid was 45 euros, will wait for some other card compatible with 72pin edo rams (if someone was one and wants to get rid off it, please PM).

[JLPedro]

Anyone with a 030 A1200 accelerator without ram to sell?

[Harrison]

May I suggest you join our http://www.amibay.com site. It is a dedicated to Amiga and other retro hardware and software selling. You can place a wanted advert on there. Someone should be able to help you out. There is a Blizzard 1230 MK4 for sale on AmiBay at the moment as well if you can afford it.