#Expanding 2000?
15 messages in this thread
I'm getting pretty frustrated with a problem I'm having with my 2000. I
purchased it during the trade-in and later bought an adapter to let me use my 2
meg Starboard in it. All was fine with that memory card until I purchased the
Commodore 2090 HD controller, then I kept getting guru's. Fine, I thought,
basically this Starboard adapter is a kludge anyway, it must be conflicting
with the HD controller. I then purchased a blank Micron 2meg board and moved
all my RAM to it, thinking that would take care of the problem. Wrong! I have
never succeeded in getting them to reside in the same computer happily, though
each will work alone. The trouble is, I need them both. The Guru numbers are
either 3's or 4's, and one address (00200B28) has failed 4 times. Has anyone
out there experienced anything remotely similar, and have you a solution to
this problem? I hope so, it's really starting to bug me.
Keith
Er, this is just a guess (since I wrote MicroBotic's memory test program and
don't have a StarBoard adapter). The 2090 has had some small problems with
memory transfers in large blocks. It is also possible that your "Fat Agnus" is
loose in its socket (happens all the time in A500s). Try re-seating the Agnus
chip (just press it down) and try again. If that doesn't work, I'm stuck. You
could always call Redmond or his crew at MicroBotics. They're usually pretty
good at responses. Tell 'em I sent ya!
[O O] Rick Stevens
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V
Thanks Rick, your clue about the large transfers is right on target, it happens
more frequently when doing large amounts of I/O. I pressed Agnes back into her
socket just the other day, but maybe I need to try that again. Since everyone
seems to be pointing the finger at the 2090, I wonder if there is a fix
available/in the works for that controller?
Walll, there IS a new set of driver software I hear. I think it may even be
somewhere in the DLs here. Check with ye ol' Sysop about that. Also remember,
the MicroBotics adapter basically makes the A2000's Zorro bus look like th old
A1000 expansion connector, which was always suspect. Maybe Redmond's technical
gurus did their job too well?
Ho Ho Ho Hoooooo!
[O O] Rick Stevens
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V
Join the club, Keith. I've had the same problem. I have gotten around
it by putting the 2090 in the first slot (closest to the CPU slot and drives)
and the Starboard as far away as possible. This stinks 'cuz the Starboard
mated to the adaptor takes up not one, not two, but THREE slots! Anyway, try
moving the boards around.
The fact that the Micron has the same problem points the finger squarely
at the 2090. Geez! I sure hope the 2090A isn't broken too <nod in Ben's
direction> and we can upgrade.
Wait a minute. You moved the Starboard chips to the Micron. Are the
chips on the Starboard socketed? I can't remember. — Art
I'm using the 2090 with the CBM 2 meg board. They are right next to each other
and they work correctly.
Er…. why are you nodding at _me_ ??? I didn't have anything to do with the
2090 or the 2090a… or anything else about the a2000, for that matter – so,
porque?? –Ben–
I think it was because he said that the 2090 was broke.
Henry has got it right. "Broke." Things work or they are broke. Statements are
truth or they are LIES. It's a binary world, eh? <grin> — Art
Art,
I'm using the 2090 and two Micron 2 meg boards without any problems. I
suspect you have a problem with that specific 2090, a slot, or something else
that might affect things in the combinations you tried.
-larry
Yah… That's what I figure. If we accept that the tolerances on the 2090
are marginal to begin with… then the fact that, at some level, no two 2090s
are alike it is easy to believe any particular unit could be troublesome.
After all, some A1000s has bus expansion problems and some didn't. — Art
I have a 2090 & a 2052 (CBM 2 Meg Card) that have worked flawlessly since day 3
the 2090 is in the first slot (closest to the drives) and the 2052 is in the
next slot. No troubles. (connected the 2090 to a ST-251). Get the HDDISK 34.4
from the libs.
Larry
Well I'm glad to hear I'm not alone, though sorry to hear you have the same
problems…. Yes, the RAM is moved to the Micron board, and I have tried them
in all sorts of different configurations, but can't find one that's stable. The
2090 is beginning to look less and less useful, and I'm beginning to think like
Ben about Commodore…….
Keith
Keith,
Put the 2 boards as far apart as possible. Preferably the 2090 in the
rightmost slot (by the drives) and the memory in the leftmost Amiga slot.
That's been know to cure problems like yours.
Don
I've had it in that configuration before and it's still not very stable. My
current hopeful fix is massive shielding between the HD card and the memory
card, so far it's working……. now I've probably jinxed it. 🙂
Keith