TITLE: Magnum ST card translation Hi all, Thanks to Harry you will have had a taster of the Aixit memory expansion card for STs permitting up to 14 or 15 MB. Harry used Ruftrade which produced, to my mind, only just comprehensible results. As he was kind enough to email me the original, I have now cleaned up the translation of his message and aixit's WWW pages and since there seems to be considerable interest in this project, I post them herewith for wider distribution. Regards Peter ================================================================== This is partly based on the sidcelery message 9995 of Feb 25 01:57 97 and partly on the German original WWW kindly sent to me by Sid and Derryck too. ########################################################################### FROM: aixit@aol.com (aixit@aol.com) Organization: AOL Bertelsmann Online GmbH & Co. KG http://www.germany.aol.com MAGNUM ST is a memory expansion board for Atari ST computers (excluding the STE). The Magnum board breaks the 4 MB limit. It works with a PS2-SIM module. The Magnum is very new. You will find more information (in German) about the Magnum board at: http://www.aixit.com There you can find the complete installing guide in html format. [NOTE: BOTH ARE TRANSLATED BELOW] Ordering information: aixit GmbH Hansmannstr. 19 D-52080 Aachen GERMANY Phone: +49(0)241-9519230 FAX: +49(0)241-9519225 www: http://www.aixit.com email: sales@aixit.com You can order via email at sales@aixit.com Inside Europe you have to pay cash on delivery Outside Europe you have to pay to our swift account You can get details for outside europe ordering via email from sales@aixit.com with best regards Fridolin ########################################################################### MAGNUM ST Up to to 15 MB for all ST models The superior memory management techniques of the aixTT and the Magnum Falcon card became now at last been succesfully transferred to the ST series. Now everyone can extend their Atari ST Computer in a very simple way up to 15 MB of memory. Forget everything you have heard previously about tending the main memory of the Atari Computer. Forget the 4 MB limit. Magnum ST is extremely good-value, simple to install and compatible. In which Atari Computers can the MagnumST be built in? The Magnum ST can be built into all Atari Computers according to the following list: Computer type Yes No 260ST x 260STFM x 520ST x 520ST+ x 520STFM x 1040ST x 1040STFM x Mega ST1 x Mega ST2 x Mega ST4 x 1040 STE x Mega STE x What is required for installing it? It's as simple as can be. The Magnum ST card is simply plugged on top of the processor (CPU). For this you need a 68-pin socket that you soldr on top of the processor loten. The Magnum is then simply plugged into it. Should your processor already be in a socket, things are still simpler. In this case you simply plug the processor into the Magnum card and this in turn into the now empty processor socket. This is naturally of special interest for all owners of accelerator cards. The Magnum has been tested with various accelerators, and neither the PAK, nor the more widely distributed HBS accelerators gave rise to any problems. Why can the Magnum go to more than 4 MB? From TOS version 2.05 the Atari operating system can manage more than 4 MB of RAM without problems. This feature is used by Magnum. Naturally sockets for TOS 2.06 Eproms are provided on the Magnum card. Alternativelly, of course, one can also use the MagiC operating system. If you do not yet have TOS 2.06 or MagiC you have to invest an additional DM 50,- for TOS 2.06 chips. Besides the capability of managing more than 4 MB RAM, TOS 2.06 has a number of other advantages over the older TOS versions. But the MMU can only handle 4 MB... The Magnum card, just like the Magnum Falcon and the aixTT, uses a newly developed MMU. This supplements the MMU built into the computer. Both MMUs share the work, so to speak. The old one undertakes the management of the existing memory, the new MMU manages the new memory. What does the Magnum ST cost? The Magnum cards distinguishes itself not only through extremely compact construction (due to the employment of PS/2-SIMS) but also through an extraordinarily low price. Make comparisons yourself, we are not allowed to. PRICES in DM Number Article description inclusive of VAT Excl. of VAT anzMag0 Magnum ST 0 MB 229,00 199,13 anzMag4 Magnum ST 4 MB 259,00 225,22 anzMag8 Magnum ST 8 MB 279,00 242,61 anzMag16 Magnum ST 16 MB 379,00 329,57 Where can I order the Magnum? [THE FOLLOWING REFERS TO A FORM ON THE WWW PAGE]: Well, just enter the desired amount in the number column, fill out the 'Absender' (From) fields and then simply click on the order SEND button. If you change your mind after you have already entered the data, you can delete it with the order LOSCHEN button. If you do not yet have TOS 2.06 or MagiC, you should order the TOS 2.06 Eproms in the same accompanying order. Number Article description incl. VAT excl. VAT anzTOS TOS 2.06 Eproms (German) 50,00 43,48 anzCPU 68000 processor DIL (German) 29,00 25,22 anzDIL64 64 pin CPU-version 6,90 6,00 ########################################################################### Magnum ST Installation instructions (abbreviated) Magnum ST installation instructions A 4 MB, 8 MB or 16 MB PS/2-SIMM-module can be plugged into the Magnum ST card. Basically the new memory from 4 MB will be included in the address space of the processor inserted so it ends at 14 MB. With computers with only 1 MB ST-RAM there is an option to include the Magnum ST's RAM from 1 MB. Summary of the expansion possibilities ST-RAM Fast-RAM Total 1 4 5 1 8 9 1 16 11/14* + 1** 2 4 6 2 8 10 2 16 12 + 1** 4 4 8 4 8 12 4 16 14 + 1** * 14 MB is only possible with an additional modification. ** 1 MB is available as 2 x 512KB Upper Memory Blocks. Required soldering experience? In case the processor in your computer is not socketed, you need to have reasonable soldering experience. If you do not trust your ability to perform the installation yourself, you can turn to aixit GmbH. Neither aixit GmbH nor the developers of the Magnum ST card accept liability for any damage caused if you do the job yourself. A few tips for the do-it-yourself installers You can identify the processor by the label 68000. The ROM-chips can be identified as being socketed and have 28 pins. You can recognise the Glue chip by the fact that it is square and sits in a socket. Should the processor not be socketed, it is better to buy a new processor from aixit and simply cut the old one off pin by pin. A new 68000 processor costs DM 29,-, which is appreciably better value than the vexation of desoldering the old one. The components of the Magnum ST [Drawing] Preparation First place the PS/2-SIMM-module in the socket of the Magnum ST card. There is no jumper for setting its size, because the Magnum ST card recognises the size of the SIM module automatically. Should you not yet have TOS 2.06 installed in your computer, put the TOS 2.06 ROM chips into the sockets as shown in the illustration. Note that the orientation of the processor and the TOS-Eproms is different. If you place the Eproms the wrong way round into the sockets, they will be destroyed. In case that you already have TOS 2.06 installed in your computer, you can set the Disable TOS jumper set and continue using your old TOS-card. In most cases it will be more sensible, however, to remove the old TOS-card and simply plug the TOS-EPROMS into the Magnum. If you have plugged a 16 MB SIMM-module into the card and have an Atari with 1 MB main memory, you can let the Fast-RAM start from 1MB by setting the Low Mem Start Jumper, and consequently extend the computer memory by 13 MB to 14 MB. For this, however, a further modification is necessary, that should only be carried out by experienced specialists. An exact description of this modification is not presently at hand. The installation Remove all cables from the computer. Open up the computer. If you have not previously installed TOS 2.06, locate the ROM chips and remove these. Solder a wire from the ROM dot on the Magnum ST card to the corresponding point in your computer. If you already have TOS 2.06 installed in your computer, set the disable TOS jumper. The wire described above does not have to be fitted. If the processor in your computer is socketed, remove it from the socket and plug in the Magnum ST card corresponding to the markings. Now plug the processor back into the top of the Magnum ST card. Should your processor not be socketed, solder the supplied socket to the top of the processor and plug the Magnum ST card into this socket. The different Atari models can be subdivided into four groups: Atari 260ST / 520 [Drawing] Atari 1040 ST old The ROM chips are located under the power saupply. At the right below the chips you can see following picture: [Drawing] Atari 1040 ST new The ROM chps are located at the left edge of the PCB. [Drawing] Atari Mega ST [Drawing] Software For installing the software, the driver program MAGNUM.PRG must be copied into the AUTO folder. If possible the driver program should run first, so that the memory for the following programs can be allocated from Fast-RAM. If you have fitted a Magnum card with a 16 MB SIMM chip you should copy the program HIMEM.PRG first into the AUTO folder and the Magnum driver program as last. This way the allocation requests of the AUTO folder programs that are started between the two driver programs can be satisfied from the two 512 kB-sized Upper Memory Blocks (UMBs) and the remaining Fast-RAM remains available as one large block. ########################################################################### This is a cleaned up version of a message originally posted in: atari.st/long.msgs #832, from sidcelery ----- TITLE: Magnum ST memory upgrades to 16Mb RAM - a translation: FROM: mr_ni@mbh.org (Hans Wessels) Organization: MBH (070-3605991) Magnum ST The first experiences. Through the announcement that aixit is now selling the Magnum ST, several cards were sold to Atari newsgroup readers. Some cards were built into computers in Aachen. The following experiences are of common interest: What is the difference between the Magnum ST and the card offered by Software Service Seidels? There is none. Both cards are from the same developer. How is the Magnum ST card built in? The Magnum ST card is plugged on or under the processor. So the processor has to be socketed or a socket has to be soldered onto the processor. Is further soldering in the computer needed? Only one extra wire has to be soldered. The point to which the wire has to be connected is printed in the manual for every computer type. Is there any soldering to be done on the GLUE/MMU? No. Except for the socket and the one wire, definitely no further soldering is needed. Which operating system is needed? On the Magnum ST, sockets for TOS 2.06 are provided. It's advisable to remove a possibly existing TOS-card and to plug the TOS-EPROMS into the Magnum card. Magnum ST doesn't come with the TOS-EPROMS. Magic users don't need TOS 2.06 EPROMS. How is the new memory detected? The card comes with a disk with a small program for the auto-folder. The program recognises the Magnum, detects the size of the used SIMM modules and after testing the memory it is 'announced' to the operating system. Compatibility Magnum ST and HBS 240. There are no problems. Unfortunately the memory of the Magnum card is used only at normal ST RAM speed because the HBS240 is only cached for the lower 4Mb. For reasons of stability the Magnum card has to be placed on the HBS. (The HBS240 is quite big because of the use of conventional components. The included socket suffices. No extra components are needed. Compatibility Magnum ST and HBS640 There are no problems. Because the HBS 640 caches up to 12 MB, the additional RAM is cached up to a maximum of 8Mb. An 8Mb Magnum card is the optimum in this case. The 8Mb anyway gives always the most bangs for the bucks. (Maximum memory without loss). Compatibility Magnum ST and Multiboard The combination of Magnum and Multiboard is not a sensible one. Compatibility Magnum ST and TOS cards Of course the Magnum ST can function together with a TOS 2.06 card, but it's more useful and safer to plug TOS 2.06 ROMS into the Magnum card and remove the old TOS card. Current prices of the available Atari memory cards (DM): > Magnum ST > > 0 MB 229,- ~£86 > 4 MB 259,- ~£96 > 8 MB 279,- ~£104 > 16 MB 379,- ~£141 > > Magnum Falcon > > 0 MB 229,- ~£86 > 4 MB 259,- ~£96 > 8 MB 289,- ~£108 > > TT030 > > 0 MB 179,- ~£67 > 16 MB 339,- ~£126 > 32 MB 489,- ~£182 > 64 MB 799,- ~£298 > (Other expansion size are available) Aachen, February 4th, 1997 > (c) 1997 aixit GmbH All rights reserved. This text is protected by copyright and may be copied only with explicit written permision of aixit GmbH. Any type of copying, and specially electronic storage and copying is explicitly forbidden. [FX: Oops!] (Note of the translator: why did they release this text into several Atari newsgroups? It will be copied and stored electronically then... It seems we all have to delete this text from our harddisk immediately, otherwise we are in for trouble with the copyright law enforcers!) Translation by: Hans Wessels, (Sorry for any spelling errors or grammatical errors, but my English is as bad as my German). Corrections by Peter West. ········································································ This translation has been cleaned up by Peter West from a word-by-word exchange from German documents, with some adjustments for German idiom, made with a registered version of Ruftrade2. ········································································ Through this announcement, that aixit sells Magnum ST, several cards were sold to Atari newsgroup readers. Some cards were built into computers in Aachen. How to build in the Magnum ST card? The Magnum ST card is plugged on or under the processor. So the processor has to be socketed or a socket has to be placed on the processor. Is more soldering in the computer needed? Only one cable has to be soldered. The point to which the cable has to be connected is printed in the manual for every computer type. Is there any soldering to be done on the GLUE/MMU? No. Except for the socket and the cable, definitely no further soldering is needed. Which operating system is needed? For the Magnum ST sockets for TOS 2.06 are prepared. It's advisable to remove a possible existing TOS-card and to plug the TOS-EPROMS into the Magnum card. Magnum ST doesn't come with the TOS-EPROMS. Magic users don't need TOS 2.06 EPROMS. How is the new memory detected? The card comes with a disk with programs for the auto-folder. The program recognises the Magnum, detects the size of the used SIMM modules and after testing the memory is 'announced' to the operating system. Compatibility Magnum ST and HBS 240. There are no problems. Unfortunately the memory of the Magnum card is used at normal ST ram speed because the HBS240 is only cached below the 4Mb. For reasons of stability the Magnum card has to be placed on the HBS. (The HBS 240 is quite big because of the use of conventional IC. The included socket is enough. No extra elements are needed. Compatibility Magnum ST and HBS640 There are no problems. Because the HBS 640 caches 12MB, the maximum cached additional RAM is 8Mb. This is optimal with a 8Mb Magnum card. The 8Mb is gives always most bang for the buck. (Maximum memory without loss). Current prices of the available Atari memory cards (DM): > Magnum ST > > 0MB 229,- ~£86 > 4MB 259,- ~£96 > 8MB 279,- ~£104 > 16MB 379,- ~£141 > > Magnum Falcon > > 0MB 229,- ~£86 > 4MB 259,- ~£96 > 8MB 289,- ~£108 > > TT030 > > 0MB 179,- ~£67 > 16MB 339,- ~£126 > 32MB 489,- ~£182 > 64MB 799,- ~£298 > > (Es sind auch noch andere Ausbaustufen verf~gbar) (Other expansion size are available) MAGNUM ST is an memory expansion board for Atari ST computers (without STE) The Magnum board breaks the 4MB limit. It works with an PS2-SIM modul. The Magnum is very new. You will found more informations (in German) about the Magnum board at: http://www.aixit.com There you can find the complete installing guide in html format. Ordering information: aixit GmbH Hansmannstr. 19 D-52080 Aachen GERMANY FON: +49(0)241-9519230 FAX: +49(0)241-9519225 www: http://www.aixit.com email: sales@aixit.com You can order via email at sales@aixit.com You can get details for outside europe ordering via email from sales@aixit.com