CompuServe Thread

#My Fat Agnus Upgrade

13 messages in this thread
#50167From: Paul MacDonaldMay 24, 1989 9:25 PM
<continuation> out of the socket. Time = :03 5. I inserted the "Fat Agnus" chip applying finger pressure evenly across the top until it was snug in the socket. Time = :01 6. I moved the jumper at J101 from the middle/right pins to the middle/left pins. Time = :01 7. I took a sharp knife (blade on my Swiss Army knife) and carefully cut the trace between the two pads at J500. I used a very short sawing stroke. Since it was impossible to get a visual indication of whether or not the trace was severed, I check the continuity between the two pads with an Ohm meter. The indication was that the trace was severed. Time = :03 8. I replaced the power supply and device deck reattaching the floppy cable to the mother board. Replaced the 7 screws, performed a visual check of all cabling, and reattached the case (5 screws). Time = :04 9. I booted and voila! A meg of chip ram. Total time for the upgrade was 16 minutes. Regards, Paul
#50216From: Don Curtis/SYSOPMay 25, 1989 12:48 AM
Paul, One caution….there was a message posted on UseNet a while ago that the "r" option to SetPatch was case sensitive and MUST be in lower case to work. That was the original version of SetPatch, later versions may not be case sensitive. Don
#50297From: Paul MacDonaldMay 25, 1989 11:20 AM
Thanks Don. It appears to be working okay (I was using lowercase). I haven't been receiving USENET info for a few months now. Some gateway issue at the office. Regards, Paul
#50700From: Karl SparklinMay 27, 1989 6:00 PM
Don, What's this "r" option supposed to do? I haven't made any such alteration yet, and am wondering what's going to explode. <grin> Karl
#50705From: Thomas HoladayMay 27, 1989 7:29 PM
I don't know but I've been told SetPatch -r or RAD: won't hold.
#50898From: Richard Rae/SYSOPMay 28, 1989 9:35 PM
Geez, did anybody else see that black dog run through here? 8) (Nicely done, Thomas; nicely done!) Rick
#50774From: Don Curtis/SYSOPMay 28, 1989 2:27 AM
Karl, Read page 2.26 of the v1-3 manual. The "r" MUST be in lower case. Don
#50797From: Karl SparklinMay 28, 1989 9:56 AM
Don, OK, got it. For some reason, I was thinking that Setpatch was another PD utility, since its function reminds me of that kind of thing, and that I had no docs on it. Duhh. I will add the -r immediately. I guess I never missed it since I don't use RAD:. Karl
#50698From: Karl SparklinMay 27, 1989 5:59 PM
Paul, After installing the Obese One last night, I'd like to add a few things: 1) There appears to be a variation in the captive force between Agnus and her socket, between machines. A friend reported that his "popped out" pretty easily, and another said that he broke a jeweler's screwdriver trying to get his out. Mine was close to the latter. Before she finally ejected, there was the sound of crunching ceramic as the "special tool" tried to apply many pounds of force to a VERY tiny area on each corner of Agnus's underside under the tool's pins. I am convinced that if the chip hadn't yielded when it did, another second or two would have seen a broken socket, a busted tool, a fractured Scrawny Agnus, or several of the above. I work with IC's and sockets every day, and feel comfortable working with them up through PGA's. But I would not have attempted this if I had known how tight my particular socket was. I want to caution Amiga owners that there is a definite RISK here! If the socket in your machine is as tight as mine is, you could indeed do expensive damage to your machine. If it is as easy as Paul's seems to be, it is no harder an upgrade than the 1.3 chip was. 2) The cut that must be made to J500 is NOT in an isolated area. Raceways run past it immediately above and below the area, leaving scarcely more than 1/8" to scratch through the jumper. Be very careful and have <continued>
#50699From: Karl SparklinMay 27, 1989 5:59 PM
<continuation> plenty of light available. A continuity check is strongly recommended to no when to stop cutting, as Paul did. It's nice having the extra chip ram. I hope everyone gets theirs as soon as possible. Karl
#50811From: Ed CruseMay 28, 1989 12:30 PM
My local dealer is going out of business so I don't have a source of Commodore products locally. What's the best mail order to get FAT AGNUS, and how much does she cost. Is FAT AGNUS a product that is easily available, or is it a product that Commodore let out in small quantities? Thankyou. Ed
#50988From: Karl SparklinMay 29, 1989 8:55 AM
Ed, Commodore just released the Fatter Agnus chip to the general public, and supply is still catching up with demand. Apparently, if you're buying a new machine, it's relatively easy to get one with the new chip in it, but parts for upgrading present machines are still scarce. There's supposed to be a large shipment delivered from MOS Tech to Commodore this week or next, so I'd just hang around here to see what people report. Good luck, Karl
#51061From: Ed CruseMay 29, 1989 5:15 PM
Thanks