Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!decwrl!sun!ansel!lockwood
From: lockwood%ansel@Sun.COM (Jim Lockwood)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: Memory upgrade shortens life expectancy???
Summary: Unmodified STs consume power supplies, too.
Keywords: memory upgrade st terminal power supply
Message-ID: <98975@sun.Eng.Sun.COM>
Date: 14 Apr 89 00:16:06 GMT
References: <5751@brspyr1.BRS.Com>
Sender: news@sun.Eng.Sun.COM
Lines: 34

In article <5751@brspyr1.BRS.Com>, tim@brspyr1.BRS.Com (Tim Northrup) writes:
> So, I called the local service center and explained that I had a problem with
> my ST; the person I talked to asked if I had a memory board upgrade and when
> I said yes, she said she didn't want to see it.
> 
> THEN she said that she had seen "a lot" of ST's with fried main logic boards
> and some power supplies after about 18 months of using an upgrade board, and
> that the only corrective action is total replacement of the CPU.  She said to
> save the $30 that it would cost to have them open the case and find this out.
> 
> Is this that common?  Can something be done to prevent it?  Is there some "safe"

I have a 520ST that does not have a memory upgrade.  However that has
not prevented it from consuming three power supplies within a year and
a half.  It is now on its fourth supply.   At nearly $50 a pop 
through San Jose Computer, what I buy when/if the fourth supply dies
won't be another power supply.

All the power supplies seem to have a production date code on them and all
of the ones that have died have been in the 8530 - 8535 range.  The one it
now has has an earlier date code (maybe 8517, but I don't recall). This
supply is larger than the other three and has greater provisions for cooling
air flow.  This latest supply has lasted the longest of the four.

My opinion is that the later dated supplies may be prone to early failure
because of reduced cooling.  There may be other differences that could
account for a reduced MTBF, but I haven't taken this newest (oldest?) 
supply apart to check (If it ain't broke....).

Anyone at Atari care to comment?

Jim Lockwood
lockwood@ansel.sun.com
415-336-4116