AP501 INTERNAL 512K MEMORY UPGRADE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FOR THE AMIGA 500 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ INTRODUCTION. This product provides a 512k memory upgrade, with battery backed real-time clock option, for Amiga 500s. The board plugs into the A500's internal expansion port. The memory is fully auto-configuring, and so is recognised automatically by the computer. It includes a switch to disable the AP501, as some programs, especially early games and utilities do not function correctly with any expansion memory. The AP501 is less than half the size of the Commodore A501, but is fully compatible with it. Using the latest CMOS 1 Megabit chips it uses far less power than older designs based on 256K Chips. INSTALLATION. Installing the AP501 board is a very simple procedure. MAKE SURE YOUR Amiga 500 is SWITCHED OFF when installing the board. Disconnect the computer from all peripherals, etc, and turn the computer upside down, keeping the keyboard toward to front. In the lower-left corner of the Amiga 500 is the internal expansion port. It is covered by a clip-in cover, which can be unclipped by inserting a 1˘ coin (or similar object) in the slot in the left hand side of the cover, and prising it upwards. At the right hand side of the slot is a row of pins. Insert the memory board into the expansion slot with the COMPONENT SIDE AWAY FROM YOU. Gently ease the board over the pins, until the pins are totally obscured by the memory board. Firm pressure may need to be applied, but check that the connector is lined up correctly with the pins. IT IS VERY EASY TO POSITION THE CONNECTOR ONE ROW OF PINS DOWN, SO CHECK THIS CAREFULLY. The memory switch may be positioned in three ways. The simplest and easiest is to leave it free inside the expansion slot. This poses no serious problems other than that you must take the cover off every time you wish to switch the memory on or off. If you use this option leave the switch in the small plastic bag provided to prevent it from creating any short circuits. Another possibility is to cut a small groove in the cover of the expansion slot, and lead the switch out of this. The switch may then be positioned anywhere convenient, providing the wire is long enough. The third option is to lead the switch through the computer, and drill a 1/4 inch hole on the back panel next to the joystick sockets, behind the disk drive. Mount the switch in this, being careful that the switch does not interfere physically with anything inside or outside of the computer, such as the mounting bolts of the computer's cover. Replace the expansion slot cover, reconnect the computer, and power on. IF THE HAND & DISK SYMBOL DO NOT APPEAR IN THE THE NORMAL TIME, SWITCH OFF IMMEDIATELY AND RECHECK YOUR INSTALLATION, DO NOT LEAVE THE A500 POWERED UP WITH AN INCORRECTLY INSTALLED MEMORY BOARD. If after rechecking your installation you are unable to get it to work consult your dealer or ring Phoenix MicroTechnologies, PTY. LTD. on 08-2938752. When Workbench is loaded, the total amount of free memory should be close to 900k (depending on programs loaded, other expansion memory, etc). Whatever the figure, the amount should indicate the presence of an extra 512k of memory. If this is not the case, power off and flip the memory switch the other way and reboot. The position of the memory switch is only noticed on power-up, and so you must repower the computer for any changes to take place. If the memory is still not recognised, turn all the power off, and check that the memory board is plugged in correctly. Being careful of static, feel the components on the board for any sign of heat. If some components are getting unduely hot, or the board just does not function, contact Andrew Wilson. This is unlikely though, as all boards are tested before they are sold. _ |ŻŻŻŻŻ| // ===| | // | |ŻŻŻ|// ­­­­­­­­­­­===| | |/ Memory Switch is ON | |___| ­­­­­­­­­­­===| | |_____| |ŻŻŻŻŻ| ===| | | |ŻŻŻ| ­­­­­­­­­­­===| | |\ Memory Switch is OFF | |___|\\ ­­­­­­­­­­­===| | \\ |_____| \\ Ż Note that some of the newer Amiga 500s have the new Obese Agnus graphics chip, which supports 1 megabyte of chip RAM. If this is the case, the AP501 can be configured as chip RAM, allowing more memory for graphics applications. This involves the cutting of a number of jumpers inside the A500 and instructions are available on Megadisc 12 or from your local User Group. USING THE CLOCK. The optional battery backed clock is 100% compatible with the clock on the Commodore A501 memory board. To set the battery backed time, open a CLI or SHELL window, and type : DATE ? You will now be prompted to enter the time and date. Enter these in the following format HH:MM:SS DD/MMM/YY eg 13:30:29 03/Mar/89 Once this is set, type SETCLOCK RESET SETCLOCK SAVE From now on, to set the system time from the battery backed clock, type SETCLOCK LOAD It is a good idea to include the above line in your startup-sequence. The standard startup-sequence as found on Workbench disks already contains this. Another way to set the battery backed clock is to set the system time from the Preferences program, and choose the save option. As well as setting the system time, this also sets the time in the battery backed clock. ***************** NOTE ******************* Despite persistent rumors, there is no such thing as a "Clock Virus". Although it is fairly easy to write a program that will alter the contents of the clock. ***