Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!wuarchive!uunet!ncrlnk!ncrwic!wsuiar!mwjester
From: mwjester@wsuiar.uucp (loki)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st.tech
Subject: Re: Zubair Z-Ram
Message-ID: <377.271356aa@wsuiar.uucp>
Date: 10 Oct 90 22:13:14 GMT
References: <3107@ryn.esg.dec.com>
Organization: Wichita State Univ., Wichita KS
Lines: 34

In article <3107@ryn.esg.dec.com>, rost@aqua.dec.com (BRost) writes:
> Hello!
> 
> I was wondering if anyone would care to comment on the Zubair Z-RAM memory
> upgrades for the ST.  In particular, I have a 520STFM and would like to upgrade
> to at least 1 meg, but having 2.5M for under $300 is tempting.  Also, it
> appears from the ads that it is a "solderless" instal, is there any difficulty
> in replacing the clips with hard solder connections?

I just installed a Z-RAM upgrade in my 1040ST.  Installation was extremely
easy - pull the video shifter chip, plug in the ZRAM board, plug the chip into
the ZRAM, and plug the connector at the end of the ribbon cable into the
Atari MMU.  I bought the unpopulated board from E. Arthur Brown for $115,
and the chips from Microprocessors Unlimited for $208 (32 of them).

One of the nice things about the ZRAM upgrade is that the same board will
work with any ST, as the MMU connection is on a cable.  The Tech Specialists
upgrade (one of which I have installed in a 520ST) has the MMU connector
on the main board, and the shifter connection on a cable, so it is highly
dependent on motherboard layout.

Downside: the RF shield (that big piece of sheet metal) will not fit over
the ZRAM board, so you either have to do without or cut out a piece with
tinsnips.  No big deal, but you are no longer class B, and you can't run
the ST at home legally (FCC class B deals with residential environments).

Overall, I *love* it.

BTW, the design does *not* lend itself to soldering - this is pretty much
true of anything connecting to the MMU, I think.

Hope this helps!

Max J.