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From: wrd@tekigm2.UUCP (Bill Dippert)
Newsgroups: net.micro.atari8
Subject: 256K Upgrades
Message-ID: <738@tekigm2.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 11-Jun-86 01:32:22 EDT
Article-I.D.: tekigm2.738
Posted: Wed Jun 11 01:32:22 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 14-Jun-86 06:34:44 EDT
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton, OR
Lines: 40

Having just successfully completed converting one of my 1200XL's to a 1200XLE
(256K upgrade) and converting an 800XL a month ago, I found some interesting
things out:

1) Wes Newall's instructions for the 800XL are great (version 2 or version 3
   instructions -- version 1 are not so hot)  version 2 has the diagram 
   showing the board layout for the 800XL and version 3 has the layouts for
   both 800XL and 1200XL boards.

2) The 800XLE goes smoothly and quickly

3) The 1200XLE does not particularly go smoothly.  Two problems.  First is
   additional jumpers and run cutting, Atari board runs are tough to cut
   and he does not show where they are, you must ring them out with an
   ohm meter.  Secondly, there is no room for the board under the shield.
   My solution was to cut a section of shield out and resolder it using
   some brass angle shapes purchased at a model railroad hobby shop.
   The section moved upwards about 3/8" and must be at the back half
   of the computer to clear the upper keyboard half.  
   I would suggest drilling 1/8" holes in the same pattern as the rest of
   the shield to help cool the Newell board.  

4) I still cannot get MYDOS 4.1 to work properly.  It will not run an ANTIC
   magazine disk.  I have heard from several people that MYDOS is extremely
   sensitive and prone to errors, but no one seems to know what to do about
   it.  I still think that the Atari RAMDISK.COM file could be changed to
   allow it to check for 128k or 256k RAM.  


Question:  I have heard of many different upgrades for the 130XE but none
seem to bring it up to the same 256k level.  It would seem to me that there
should be a fairly simple way to bring it from 128K to 256K.  

Second question:  have heard that Atari at the CES Show showed a 1 Meg 130XE.
Does anyone know if this was a prototype or someone's home built 1 Meg variety?
Reason I ask as a local basher has made both a 1 Meg and a 3 Meg version, but
I was hoping that maybe it was about to become a product.  Neil @ Atari --
what about it?

--Bill--