Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!sdd.hp.com!spool.mu.edu!uunet!medar!jseymour From: jseymour@medar.com (James Seymour) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware Subject: Re: Adding RAM to the A3000 Keywords: How to Message-ID: <99@hdwr1.medar.com> Date: 2 Apr 91 12:54:40 GMT References: Organization: Medar, Inc. Farmington Hills, MI Lines: 74 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. > Here ya go Rich. I would have emailed it, but this question has come up before. One hopes that everyone who plans on installing ZIP RAM will save this for future reference (of course, I never do!). INSTALLING ZIP (SC)RAM IN YOUR A3000 - Things They Don't Mention The instructions for RAM installation are in the thin book (I don't remember the title) that came with your system. They start on something like page 4-8. There are a couple of things they either don't tell you or are a bit unclear (either that or I didn't read the manual thoroughly :-)). I will attempt to clarify them for you. 1) Go out an buy (or borrow) an anti-static wrist-band and *use* it! I cannot emphasize too greatly how pernicious static can be. You don't have to feel it for damaging static to be present (and ruin your investment!). For the price, the insurance is well worth it. 2) Before attempting to remove the "platform" that has the drives and power supply on it (as described in the manual), remove the expansion board (the vertical board with slots to the left of the "platform". 3) Unless they moved it, the jumper mentioned in the manual (for "setting the RAM size) is near the center of the main PC board (you shouldn't need to mess with this if you are installing 256*4 parts - as per the manual). 4) Unless they changed the board, the orientation of the FAST RAM is with pin 1 pointed toward the center of the main PCB (to the left, if you're facing the front of the computer). The pictorials of the RAM location were not clear in my manual. As an aid, I developed this: FAST RAM Physical Locations (ZIP) in A3000 socket number "bank.number" u881 u879 4.8 4.6 u873 u871 3.8 3.6 u865 u863 2.8 2.6 u857* u855* 1.8* 1.6* u880 u878 4.7 4.5 u872 u870 3.7 3.5 u864 u862 2.7 2.5 u856* u854* 1.7* 1.5* u877 u875 4.4 4.2 u869 u867 3.4 3.2 u861 u859 2.4 2.2 u853* u851* 1.4* 1.2* u876 u874 4.3 4.1 u868 u866 3.3 3.1 u860 u858 2.3 2.1 u852* u850* 1.3* 1.1* Double-check this against your manual, but it's correct for mine. I have marked the locations that comprise the first bank. You can see how the other banks follow. A last note: when re-assembling your A3000, make *sure* that you have the vertical expansion slots board correctly and fully inserted. The A3000 will not work well (or at all) if this is not done. Hope this helps and good luck. -- Jim Seymour | Medar, Inc. ...!uunet!medar!jseymour | 38700 Grand River Ave. jseymour@medar.com | Farmington Hills, MI. 48331 CIS: 72730,1166 GEnie: jseymour | FAX: (313)477-8897