#SIMM's for 4000 ?
9 messages in this thread
Will be saving up to eventually get an Amiga 4000 (By then Commodore will be
touting the 8000!)
Would like some info' on the memory capacity of the 4000. QUESTIONS:-
1). How much memory comes with the "standard" machine. In what form is that
memory… chips or SIMM's ? What capacity are the SIMM's.. 1 Meg ?
2). How much can I add in SIMM's – either on delivery or afterwards ? Are these
a form of SIMM which can be readily obtained – rather than some "special" SIMM
unique to Commodore ? What is the street price of the SIMM's used ?
I don'y want to be caught out as I have been with GVP – where I cannot increase
the memory SIMM's – as they are no longer available.
Regards, HILARY.
The std A4000/040 comes with 6M RAM (2MB CHIP, 4MB FAST). There are
3 more std 72 pin SIMM slots to which you can add up to 3 more 4M
SIMMs for a total of 18MB onboard. (Note: these are 32 bit wide
SIMMs, so older SIMMs from PC probabbly won't work. I believe they
are compatible with newer 32 bit PC SIMMs, though.) The SIMMs mount
at an angle, so the SIMMs need to be front-mounted only, they can't
have chips on both sides of the SIMM card. Installation is
straightforward. If you don't have any cards installed, you just
remove one screw, pop off the case (none of the connectors have to be
removed), and put the SIMMs into the 3 sockect that are clearly
visile at the left front of the motherboard. I got my SIMMs from
Memory World for aout $139 for 4MBx80ns SIMMs. The price might have
gone up due to price gouging in the RAM market in recent months.
There are also 3rd party boards like the Fastlane Z3 SCSI controller
card that allow you to expand up to another 256MB (using 16MB SIMMs).
The Z3 board should be fast enough to use for realtime playback of
anims from the Toaster. (Some older memory boards are appearantly too
slow, and can't playback Anims at 30fps)
I think that were a little better off with the 4000 than with any of
the older GVP products when it comes to 'easy' RAM expansion. :^) (A
GVP A3000/040 owner [$179/1MB SIMM!!]) Erik Flom
Thanks for all the info' Erik. As I understand your reply, there are 2 Megs of
"basic" RAM on the motherboard, and one of the four SIMM slots occupied by a 4
Meg 32 bit SIMM. That leaves 3 empty SIMM slots for us to pour money into ?
Right?
Can I add just ONE 4 Meg 32 bit SIMM … if I want to? Or do I somehow have to
fill all the empty slots ?
When the great day comes when I can afford the 4000 – and it arrives (Oh! Happy
day), I will of course pop in the new Toaster. It seems to like about 10 Megs
of RAM, so as a first outlay I will just need ONE additional 4 Meg SIMM. At
$139 for 4 Megs of 32 bit RAM is not too bad. As I hoodwink and cheat more
video clients, I will be able to add more.
Incidently, understand the 4000 comes with a IDE type hard drive. Is there any
reason why I cannot transfer my GVP SCSI card/drive to the 4000 ?
All the best – and thanks, HILARY.
You've got it straight.
You can put as many SIMMs in as you wish. It'll auto-detect the extra
SIMMs and just make them part of RAM – no jumpers need be changed. (You
_cannot_ mix 1MB & 4MB SIMMs, though.)
As for the GVP SCSI, I don't see why you couldn't put in in your 4000, but
you might want to check with GVP. (I've got the 2091 ($65) in it until I
can afford a card with SCSI-III & RAM expansion.)
BTW, you _are_ aware that it takes an additional 7MB to render out
MedRes Toaster Anims? And, that this means only the simplest scenes
will render out in MedRes on a 4000 w/ 18MB of RAM? Just something to
be aware of….
Hilary,
Unfortunately, as far as I know the only A2000 hard drive controller card
that will work in the A4000 is the A2091. (These are available cheap — I
got one at Devine for about $75 or so.)
There are more expensive SCSI-2 cards available such as the A4091; depends
if speed's an issue or not.
Denny: there's another issue. The A4091 doesn't work, unless you want to hang
out at bus stops. Fastlane Fast SCSI-II DMA controller from Advanced Systems &
Software, that's the ticket. Call Larry Lyons at 214-239-2000
Chris
Hilary,
I recently had a customer upgrade from a 2000 with a GVP Ram & SCSI card
to a 4000. We just moved it over and it worked fine.
Jim
Thanks Jim. I had a suspicion that a SCSI card/hard drive would run in the
4000. Now I have to be patient – save up – and perhaps get the 4000.
Regards, Hilary.
Hilary:
why use an IDE or a non-Fast SCSI-II with the 4000 when you can call Larry
lyons at Advanced Systems and Software 214-239-2000 for the Fastlane that has
DMA up to 256Mb. With this proper controller you can hoodwink and cheat more
video customers faster and more efficiently.
Chris