How to test a Cirtech plusRAM card

For my Saturn 128K clone I used Locksmith v7.0 rev.B: https://youtu.be/GoDgwHU_Oq4

(You should not see any errors like the ones in the video. I was getting these errors because of incorrect F8 ROM placement on my 16K language card.)

LOCKSMITH_V7_REV_B.zip

I can't find a lot of information on that card other than it plugs into a regular slot and not the AUX slot on a //e.  Memory cards either use one of two bank switching methods, the one used by the Saturn style cards as mentioned by CVT or the style used by the Apple (slinky) card or the AE RAMFactor.

Apple II Documentation Project has a pic and a copy of the magazine ad for it, but that's about it.

https://mirrors.apple2.org.za/Apple%20II%20Documentation%20Project/Interface%20Cards/Memory/Cirtech%20PlusRAM%20II/

Locksmith will test the Saturn style cards, but I am not sure if it knows about cards > 128k.  Someone else might know that.  I think if the card uses the other method a different test program will probably be needed.  I might be inclined to try the AE RAMFactor software to see what happens.

Actually I also found this, maybe it will help:

https://mirrors.apple2.org.za/Apple%20II%20Documentation%20Project/Interface%20Cards/Memory/Cirtech%20Flipper/Disk%20Images/

martind wrote:

I finally managed to get the disk image over to my Apple II.

Unfortunately, the Locksmith utility also does not detect the plusRAM card, I'm starting to think that the card could be faulty.

Just seen your message about the Cirtech disk, thanks, I'll give it a go

It may not be faulty, it may just not be compatible with the Saturn type RAM card that Locksmith knows about.  If you boot ProDOS does it create a RAM drive on the card?  The Apple "slinky" card I have can do that.

martind wrote:

I have a bit of good news.  I have restarted ADTPro as I wanted to make the ADTPro boot disk and I can see the RAM card when it asks me which drive I want save the image to.

That means it is probably compatible with the Apple "Slinky" type card.  And probably works, although you might want to run a RAM test on it to make sure all the chips are good if you can find one.

martind wrote:

I've been able to successfully take an image of ProDOS on to the plusRAM card and boot from it, so it does show the card is working.  It would be nice though if there was a utility that could test the RAM chips for errors, I tried the AE RamMaster utility, but it does not detect the card.

Slinky-type RAM cards from Apple and AE have a test built into the firmware at $Cx0A, where x is the number of the slot it's installed in.  If ProDOS is automatically detecting your card then it's probably a 'slinky' type of card, so it's worth trying the firmware's test routine. 

Here are commands that work  with Applied Engineering's RamFactor card and Apple's Apple II Memory Expansion card.  If your card is compatible, these commands ought to work:

Assuming a 'slinky' memory card installed in slot 2, you can test it from BASIC or from the monitor:

• In BASIC, the command would be:   CALL 49162+256*(2)
• In the monitor, the command would be:  C20AG

If the card is installed in slot 4, replace the (2) with a (4) so the commands would be:

• In BASIC:     CALL 49162+256*(4)
• In the monitor:    C40AG

Here's what that looks like with an Apple II Memory Expansion Card in slot 2:

capture95.png

capture96.png

Hi just got my card out of cold storage and started to work with it.

I was lucky when I got this that I got the user manual and master disk.

PM me if you want a digital  copy of either manual or disk which is supplied as a two side recorded 5.25 floppy.

HI  

plus ram self test from manual gives command from Basic

slot 1 call 49418

slot 2 call 49674

slot 3 call 49930

slot 4 call 50186

slot 5 call 50442

slot 6 call 50698

slot 7 call 50954

Test run unitil escape key pressed . Fail code if error is displayed after each failed pass.