I have searched for this, with not much success. I was wondering what are my options for expanding the RAM on my Rom01 IIgs? I already have the 1mb RAM expansion plugged in the expansion slot. I notice that ProDOS 16 uses most of that memory. I would like to have a sizeable RAM drive, but I think the maximum I can have under ProDOS 16 is 384K, and that would eat up ALL of my memory. I am pretty sure the Apple IIe expansions that plug into the 7 expansions slots of the IIe won't work, as, I am assuming they are 8-bit, as opposed to the 16-bit IIgs. I don't see any of the higer capacity boards for sale anywhere, and if so, my guess is they would be high dollar. Am I just stuck with the 1mb expansion? I am sorry to ask so many questions on this board, and I am sure you guys get tired of me posting all the time. I do search before I ask. I am a newbie, and my usual theory is search, and if no luck, "If you don't know, ask someone who does". Thanks in advance for your help.
Jeff
Hello k4lmp,
there are several memoryexpansioncards availiable for the IIGS. The cheapest solution would be the card offered at Briel Computers. It´s a card that can be populated with 1MB SIMM Modules / 70nS speed. That were the SIMM Modules used in the old 386 computers and in some 486 models. The blank card without SIMMs can be ordered for 49 U.S. Dollars. It will be plugged in the auxiliary memory slot of the IIGS at the same place where the 1 MB card is now. If it is full populated it will give you with 4 SIMM-Modules 4 MB of RAM.
sincerely speedyG
I agree that Briel 4mb ram card is a good option. But buy ram separately. I bought rams (4 * 1mb 30 pin 80ns 9 chips parity SIMM) from MemoryTen, which is a lot cheaper than Briel.
The cheapest solution might be to get a ROM 3 motherboard which has 1 MB already on it. Then you'll get a 2 MB GS with your card.
I made my own using a cheap IIgs card and RAM from MemoryTen. I followed the schematic here http://www.apple2pl.us/
I used 1MB 30-pin 80ns 9-chip Parity chips. 2-chip 80ns and 9-chip 70ns did not work .
Hello Jamesk,
your hint is well minded, if you would give this advice to a member that seems to have advanced experience with soldering and ability to work with circuitplans....
if you would have taken a view to the other postings of k4lmp, you would have recognized that he does not seem to be a user with very much experience in hardware-work but rather more being a practical user....
in such a case such advice would in most cases lead up to a ruined memoraycard and probably even a damaged computer, if any mistakes occur during the modification of the card. We try always to give advice to the users, that match as far as possible the level of experience of the user....
In cases where advice can lead to damage the user might probably leave the platform with bad opinion.....
sometimes it makes sense, to first do some closer view to the user and his issue, before passing over advice that may cause damage if mistakes happen - and if experience is probably missing the chance of failing is rather high...
just my opinion....
sincerely speedyG
Thanks for all of the suggestions. I am afraid Speedy is right. I have an electronics background,but, as I get older, my hands are not very steady, and I find myself having to brace them on the workbench when soldering even larger things. I tend to shake quite a bit. I don't have the steadiness to try the project. I think I may order one of the Briel cards in a bit. $49 isn't much to pay, and if I can get the memory for it cheaper than buying the ram from Briel, that would be the way I would go. I love building things, but just don't have the steady hands or the experience on such a project. Thanks everyone for all the help. I really appreciate it much!
Jeff
Hello k4lmp,
i´m sorry to hear that the hands don´t follow up the way they should... i neither made the guess by age nor by handicap... i just - if i try to support someone - first take a look to the account of the user by clicking to his nickname and then by clicking on track.... this enables me to view the list of postings.... and a short scan along the postings usually gives an impression of the tasks a user performs.... if a user posts epecific technical details that leads to the opinion that i am talking with a user, who is very common with the hardware and repair, then i try to match that level with my answer....
if the posting leads me to the view of a user, who is less experienced, then i again try to match up with that experience and probably explain more technical background infos to enable learning the stuff.... but in such a case i of course try to avoid any kind of advice, that could lead up to damage of the users computer ....
it´s just my private opinion that users that contact AF for advice or recommendations expect from us that we should try to keep responsible and try to keep harm away from them.... of course nobody can protect anyone else from bad experience but bad experience might lead to a decession to kick off a pleasurefull hobby and that would be very sad....
the RAMcard from Briel is a good and cheap alternative.... and if you follow up the recommendations by the choice of the SIMMs ( 8 or 9 chip SIMMs with 1MB chips on it and with speed of 80 nanoseconds or 70 nanoseconds shortened -80 or -70 at the end of the typspecification ) that will be allright. 8 chip SIMMs will do, because neither the Briel card nor the AppleIIGS use the so called parity-chip ( the 9th one on the SIMMs with 9 chips ).
sincerely speedyG
just a remark beyond the topic...
if you get the chance to purchase a cheap IIGS or a mainboard from the IIGS with ROM 1 or with ROM 3 that can also save some disappointments....
the ROM 0 version is still a little buggy with graphics and sound... and a lot of those issues have been removed in the later models of ROM1 and ROM3.
Speedy, I really appreciate all the help you and others have given me. I don't know what I would do with my Apple's if it wasn't for this board, it is great. As far as my shakiness, I am not sure what causes it. I am only 44 yrs old, but it has started in the last few years. I think it kinda runs in my family. I am diabetic, and have a few health issues, but, I am able to go to work every day in the telecommunications industry. I have no reason at all to complain. Thanks again to all of you guys for everything.
Jeff (k4lmp)
Jeff and Speedy,
Yup. We belong to the "We have medical problems, but don't let that fool you into thinking that we will give up our favorite pastime" club.
That's one of the reasons I come up here all the time. lol
Speedy has had Heart Problems.
I have Heart Problems and am Diabetic.
Plus we're both Vietnam era vets.
You cannot hang with a better crowd.
Well, add me to the diabetic club. Also, you said you were Vietnam Vets. I would like to thank you very much for your service to our country. It wouldn't be the greatest country in the world, if not for the sacrifice of heros like you both. Thank you very much.
Jeff
k4lmp
Well I'm not a Vietnam vet, I was 17 and still in high school when Saigon fell in 75, but I did serve in the Air Force for 20 years starting in January of 77. On the disease front I've got high cholesterol.
By the way Jeff, did you get your problem with the ram expansion in your GS fixed?
I just went ahead and ordered one of the Briel cards with 4 meg. I figured that was the easiest thing to do, and I am supporting someone who still makes classic computer hardware, which is a good thing. I emailed him, and it should ship this week.
As far as the Vet thing, I appreciate the service of all Veterans. If it wasn't for Veterans, we wouldn't have anything we have, most of all our freedom. That is one thing that I have always shown...appreciation to our men/women in uniform, both past and present. A big thanks to you all.
Jeff
k4lmp
I finally got my Briel 4megGS card, and it works great. I was actually able to play Wolfenstein, which I couldn't before. I wasn't sure, but had figured there wasn't enough memory before. I haven't played that since I had my first Commodore 128 years ago. Thanks for the help.