CompuServe Thread

Amiga User Forum · Amiga Hardware

3000 Memory Illusion

5 messages in this thread

#153261From: Shawn RandolphJun 20, 1994 9:04 PM

Hello all, I was using SYSINFO on my 3000 and noticed that its memory is configured a little strange and I thought I would ask the great CIS oracle for any opinion. SYSINFO reported back that I have 4MB contigous 32bit RAM and only 1MB Chip RAM. This is eventhough SYSINFO reports back I have a 2MB Agnus installed. Is this an optical illusion or does my 3000 really only have 1MB Chip memory?? I thought all 3000's came with 2MB Chip RAM or am I getting that mixed up? Any opinions welcome. Thanks 🙂 Shawn Silent Paw Productions

#153264From: Robert GriffithJun 20, 1994 9:38 PM

Shawn, That is correct, the A3000 has two memory locations one for 24 bit ram and one for 32 bit ram. The 2MB Agnus uses the 24 bit ram, the cpu uses both. If you got the 5 Mag A3000 it came with 1 Mag of 24 bit ram and 4 Mag of 32 bit ram. All you need to do is install the other Meg of 24 bit ram and you will have the 2 Megs of chip ram. there might also be a connector on the inside to tell the Agnus that the ram is installed. "Long Live The Amiga" // Robert Griffith \X/

#153266From: Shawn RandolphJun 20, 1994 9:46 PM

Thanks for the reply, So it works like the 4000 in some ways except for the funny RAM. However, either its late or I am confused, the Agnus reports 2MB but that doesn't appear to be what SYSINFO shows under MEMORY. Is it that the potential graphics memory can be 2MB and the Agnus has nothing to do with it any more? Working with the 2000 for so long has given me a slanted view of whats happening inside. Also our work with our prototype never exceeded 5MB so I never needed to look into his before. It was just a sheer fluke that I was in SYSINFO and hit MEMORY. My first reaction was "What the !@###???." Thanks 🙂 Shawn Silent Paw Productions

#153276From: Robert ComerJun 20, 1994 10:17 PM

It's legal to have a 2MB Agnus, and still only have 1MB of Chip… All 3000's, as far as I know, came with a 2MB Agnus, but very few actually came with 2MB of Chip ram. Bob Comer — AmigaDOS and OS/2, the only way to compute! Cheyenne, Wyoming U.S.A.

#153294From: Robert GriffithJun 21, 1994 1:31 AM

Shawn, Your A2000 did not have a 32 bit buss in it, so the Agnus used the same memory as the cpu. When you check SYSINFO DMA/GFX it is reporting the size of your Agnus, not the avalible chip memory. Your available chip memory is displayed on page 2 of the memory information test. "Long Live The Amiga" // Robert Griffith \X/