Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!visix!news From: brett@visix.com (Brett Bourbin) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware Subject: Re: Adding RAM to the A3000 Keywords: How to Message-ID: <1991Apr1.164127.2393@visix.com> Date: 1 Apr 91 16:41:27 GMT References: Sender: news@visix.com Reply-To: brett@visix.com (Brett Bourbin) Organization: Visix Software Inc., Reston, VA Lines: 57 In article , andrewsr@u2.rutgers.edu (Rich Andrews) writes: > Hello All! > > I am debating on whether or not to install my Zipp chips in my A3000 > myself. If you have done this yourself, please respond. > > For a little background: I have been ripping apart IBM clones for a > while and am comfortable with replacing bad RAM chips, disk drives, > hard drives, controller cards, etc. > > I have heard that the process with the Amiga is quite involved. In > what way? If I take care to (try to :-) remember where everything > plugs in, would I have any trouble? > > EXACTLY how do the chips fit in the sockets (is there more than one > way?). Do the chips that are in the sockets now give clues on how the > replacements should fit? (I assume that moving the 1Mb of fast to > chip is a simple process). Well, I guess I can answer since this is what I did this weekend. My dealer told me that he should install the chips for me (I bought 8 1x4 MEG chips), but I informed him that I have worked with RAM chips before (although never ZIPP chips). First thing, you must remove the upper drive plate, which means removing all the drives first. There are about 7-8 screws holding this plate in, including one under that harddrive. Once you have the plate unscrewed, disconnect the power bus from the system board and the SCSI and floppy cables from their drives. Next, what I did was move the 1 MEG DRAM chips from FAST memory to CHIP memory. This is the first row of socketed chips on the lower right hand side of the PC board. Next, it is time to install the ZIPP chips. The name on the ZIPP chip should be facing you and the edge with the 45 degree angle should be on the left side of the chip. You must fill a full bank with chips, so if you have 1x4 or 256x4, you will need multiples of 8. Start with the first chip in the lower right ZIPP socket, with the lable ending with "50". What you want to do now is count 4 chip sockets up and install the next chip. Do this for the 4 chips on the left side, and then the same on the right side. You will be filling bank "..50" thru "..57". Be careful inserting the chips, first place them in the socket and press down from both sides with equal pressure until it is firmly in place. MAKE SURE YOU DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME, FOR IT IS VERY HARD TO REMOVE THE CHIPS ONCE INSTALLED WITHOUT BENDING THE LEADS. All in all, it is not a really hard task, you just have to be ready to get down to the system board and work for a few minutes. Oh, and remember to ground yourself and have a clean work area. -- __ Brett Bourbin \ / /(_ /\/ 11440 Commerce Park Drive ..!uunet!visix!brett \/ / __)/ /\ Reston, Virginia 22091 brett@visix.com Software Inc (703) 758-2733