Best Memory Upgrade for 1200xl

[yorgle]

I would like to upgrade the ram in my 1200xl to at least 256K. From searching these forums and elsewhere on the internet, I gather that there are many different ways to do this. I'm wondering:

 

1) Are certain upgrades only compatible with software written for that upgrade?

2) Is there a preferred method?

[MEtalGuy66]

I would like to upgrade the ram in my 1200xl to at least 256K. From searching these forums and elsewhere on the internet, I gather that there are many different ways to do this. I'm wondering:

 

1) Are certain upgrades only compatible with software written for that upgrade?

2) Is there a preferred method?

 

My preferred method is to rip out the 1200XL motherboard, drop in a 130xe motherboard, and then rewire the keyboard to work with the new motherboard.

 

But.. Since you probably want to keep your 1200XL motherboard.. there are quite a few options..

most require replacement of the 1200XL antic with the later 800XL antic which has the capability to refresh a full 256k. Once thats done, its just a question of dropping in 8 256kx1 DRAMs, and adding the additional multiplexed adress line.

 

there are quite a few expansion "designs" out there. All with slight differences in compatablity. Some people use true 130xe compatability as a standard to judge ram expansions, but in reality, most of the apps, games, and demos that have been written for 256k machines work with a wide range of "well behaved" ram expansions.

 

The only commercially marketed ram expansion I ever saw for the 1200XL was the ICD RAMBO XL, which was the design equivelant of a popular "do it yourself" 256k upgrade designed by Claus Bucholz back in the 80s.

Edited September 26, 2007 by MEtalGuy66

[+remowilliams]

Check with Steve (classics here at AA) over at Atarimax. He has a 256K upgrade for the 1200XLs thats 130XE compatible (with the exception of the separate Antic access mode). It is a 'RAMBO' style banked upgrade and replaces the onboard RAM and gives you 64K + 192K extended memory.

 

You can see the expansion PCB here in the lower middle portion of the picture.

 

[Beetle]

Not really the common way (in numbers) because relatively new is the 512 SRAM

developed by BigBen and produced by Mega-Hz. It brings your 1200XL to

full 576k of RAM.

 

It is 130XE compatible, including seperate CPU/ANTIC access (in the

"256k Compyshop mode"), and can be configured to be non-volatile

by using a lithum cell or rechargable cell. Besides the compyshop mode, it is

Rambo compatible as well. The RD is even able to be writeprotected.

 

It uses SRAM, so refresh is not an issue, your stock ANTIC will do just fine.

Its also completely removabled within seconds, not traces to cut or bending up of

chips legs.

 

Only drawback will be the shipping costs to the US

I am not sure if the 800XL MMU was nessecary or not.

 

 

This is the RAM upgrade mounted on my 1200XL board (inside my 1250XLD).

The only wires to solder are the ones between the upgrade's PCBs. You simply

pull your PIA, ANTIC an MMU out of their sockets and push them into their new

ones on the PCBs.

Edited September 26, 2007 by Beetle

[mos6507]

That looks like a nice piece of work.

[yorgle]

Not really the common way (in numbers) because relatively new is the 512 SRAM

developed by BigBen and produced by Mega-Hz. It brings your 1200XL to

full 576k of RAM.

 

It is 130XE compatible, including seperate CPU/ANTIC access (in the

"256k Compyshop mode"), and can be configured to be non-volatile

by using a lithum cell or rechargable cell. Besides the compyshop mode, it is

Rambo compatible as well. The RD is even able to be writeprotected.

 

It uses SRAM, so refresh is not an issue, your stock ANTIC will do just fine.

Its also completely removabled within seconds, not traces to cut or bending up of

chips legs.

 

Only drawback will be the shipping costs to the US

I am not sure if the 800XL MMU was nessecary or not.

 

 

This is the RAM upgrade mounted on my 1200XL board (inside my 1250XLD).

The only wires to solder are the ones between the upgrade's PCBs. You simply

pull your PIA, ANTIC an MMU out of their sockets and push them into their new

ones on the PCBs.

 

How would I go about ordering such a setup for my xl?

[Beetle]

How would I go about ordering such a setup for my xl?

 

Write a PM to Mega-Hz.