Difference between revisions of "CPC iRAM"

From CPCWiki - THE Amstrad CPC encyclopedia!
Jump to: navigation, search
(→‎CPC iRAM/1088)
 
(5 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 +
 
[[File:Iram640.jpeg|thumbnail]]
 
[[File:Iram640.jpeg|thumbnail]]
−
[[File:Iram640 builtin.jpeg|thumbnail]]
 
−
[[File:Iram640ramtest.jpeg|thumbnail]]
 
  
−
CPC iRAM is a series of open source, DIY friendly, internal RAM expansions for the CPC 6128 (later hopefully also for the 464 and 664).
+
CPC iRAM is a series of open source, DIY friendly, internal RAM expansions for the CPC 6128 and CPC 464/664 (later hopefully also for the Plus/GX4000).
  
 
The iRAM expansion sits in the CPU socket and requires no additional soldering inside the CPC.  
 
The iRAM expansion sits in the CPU socket and requires no additional soldering inside the CPC.  
Line 11: Line 10:
 
== released ==
 
== released ==
  
−
=== CPC iRAM/640 ===
+
=== CPC 6128 - iRAM/640 ===
 +
 
 +
<gallery>
 +
Iram640.jpeg|iRAM/640
 +
Iram640 builtin.jpeg|iRAM/640 built-in
 +
Iram640ramtest.jpeg|RAM Test
 +
</gallery>
  
 
* for CPC 6128 only
 
* for CPC 6128 only
Line 21: Line 26:
 
Status: Released - see https://github.com/etomuc/CPC6128_iRAM-640
 
Status: Released - see https://github.com/etomuc/CPC6128_iRAM-640
  
−
== currently in development ==
 
  
−
=== CPC iRAM/1088 ===
+
=== CPC 6128 - iRAM/1088 ===
 +
 
 +
 
 +
<gallery>
 +
iRAM1088.jpg|iRAM/1088 for CPC 6128
 +
</gallery>
  
 
* for CPC 6128 only
 
* for CPC 6128 only
Line 31: Line 40:
 
* perfectly fits into a CPC 6128, even with socketed ROM or RAM. In Schneider CPC 6128 the metal shielding needs to be removed or altered.
 
* perfectly fits into a CPC 6128, even with socketed ROM or RAM. In Schneider CPC 6128 the metal shielding needs to be removed or altered.
  
−
Status: Finished, will be released in late 2025
+
Status: Released - see https://github.com/etomuc/CPC6128_iRAM-1088
  
−
=== CPC iRAM/1024 ===
+
== currently in development ==
 +
 
 +
=== CPC 464/664 - iRAM/1024 ===
 +
 
 +
<gallery>
 +
iRAM1024.jpg|iRAM/1024 for CPC 464/664
 +
iRAM1024symbos.jpg|SymbOS on CPC 464
 +
</gallery>
  
 
* for CPC 464 and 664
 
* for CPC 464 and 664
Line 43: Line 59:
 
* easy to assemble, all through-hole components
 
* easy to assemble, all through-hole components
  
−
Status: working, PCB needs to be refactored to fit into 664
+
Status: Finished, final PCB design will be tested, will be released in late 2025
 +
 
 +
== considered ==
 +
 
 +
=== PLUS iRAM/1024 ===
 +
 
 +
* 1Mb upgrade for Plus series
 +
* less DIY friendly, probably needs more complex CPLDs (ATF1504)
 +
 
 +
Status: very early stage, still considering if it's feasible
 +
 
 +
=== GX iRAM/512 ===
 +
 
 +
* 512K upgrade for GX4000
 +
* less DIY friendly, probably needs more complex CPLDs (ATF1504)
 +
 
 +
Status: just an idea
 +
 
 +
== abandoned ==
 +
 
 +
=== CPC 6128 - iRAM/640s ===
 +
 
 +
* minified iRAM/640
 +
* for CPC 6128
 +
* size just a tiny bit bigger than Z80 CPU socket
 +
* TSSOP SMD components below Z80
 +
* requires good soldering skills and special tools to program SMD CPLDs
 +
 
 +
Status: fully designed, abandoned as it offers no advantage over DIY friendly version and would only benefit commercial sellers
 +
(Hint: Lotharek offers a similar expansion commercially for a good price)
 +
 
 +
=== CPC 464/664 - iRAM/1024s ===
 +
 
 +
* smaller than iRAM/1024, more similar in size to iRAM/640
 +
* for CPC 464 and 664
 +
* single 1MB SMD SRAM, upgrade to 1024K
 +
* [http://norecess.cpcscene.net/advancedmemoryusage.html C3 RAM banking] supported
 +
* easy to assemble, mostly through-hole components but one SMD SRAM
  
−
== paused / abandoned ==
+
Status: working prototype
  
−
=== CPC iRAM/576 ===
+
=== CPC 6128 - iRAM/576 ===
  
 
* for CPC 6128 only
 
* for CPC 6128 only
Line 56: Line 109:
 
Status: Abandoned in favor of the iRAM/640 which uses the exact same components but offers more total memory.  
 
Status: Abandoned in favor of the iRAM/640 which uses the exact same components but offers more total memory.  
  
−
=== CPC iRAM/512 ===
+
=== CPC 464/664 - iRAM/512 ===
  
 
* for CPC 464/664
 
* for CPC 464/664

Latest revision as of 18:49, 23 September 2025

Iram640.jpeg

CPC iRAM is a series of open source, DIY friendly, internal RAM expansions for the CPC 6128 and CPC 464/664 (later hopefully also for the Plus/GX4000).

The iRAM expansion sits in the CPU socket and requires no additional soldering inside the CPC.

The first 512K of expansion RAM follow the DK'Tronics addressing mode standard, giving up to 576K of RAM to legacy software. More modern software that supports the extended 1M-4M standard will be able to access all the provided RAM.

released

CPC 6128 - iRAM/640

  • iRAM/640

  • iRAM/640 built-in

  • RAM Test

  • for CPC 6128 only
  • 512K expansion
  • total accessible RAM of 640K in a 6128 (64K Base RAM + 512K RAM expansion + 64K secondary RAM bank of the 6128)
  • easy to assemble, all through-hole components
  • perfectly fits into a CPC 6128, even with socketed ROM or RAM. In Schneider CPC 6128 the metal shielding needs to be removed or altered.

Status: Released - see https://github.com/etomuc/CPC6128_iRAM-640


CPC 6128 - iRAM/1088

  • iRAM/1088 for CPC 6128

  • for CPC 6128 only
  • 1024K expansion
  • total accessible RAM of 1088K in a 6128 (64K Base RAM + 1024K RAM expansion)
  • easy to assemble, but SRAMs are in SMD packaging (SOP32) due to size constraints in the CPC 6128
  • perfectly fits into a CPC 6128, even with socketed ROM or RAM. In Schneider CPC 6128 the metal shielding needs to be removed or altered.

Status: Released - see https://github.com/etomuc/CPC6128_iRAM-1088

currently in development

CPC 464/664 - iRAM/1024

  • iRAM/1024 for CPC 464/664

  • SymbOS on CPC 464

  • for CPC 464 and 664
  • offers two sockets for SRAMs
  • upgrade to 576K (1 SRAM) or 640K/1024K (2 SRAMS)
  • first SRAM: Upgrade to 576K, following the DK'Tronics standard without support of C3 mode (like many other RAM expansions)
  • second SRAM: upgrade to 1024K (512K SRAM) or optionally also 640K (128K SRAM)
  • C3 RAM banking supported if both SRAMs are fitted
  • easy to assemble, all through-hole components

Status: Finished, final PCB design will be tested, will be released in late 2025

considered

PLUS iRAM/1024

  • 1Mb upgrade for Plus series
  • less DIY friendly, probably needs more complex CPLDs (ATF1504)

Status: very early stage, still considering if it's feasible

GX iRAM/512

  • 512K upgrade for GX4000
  • less DIY friendly, probably needs more complex CPLDs (ATF1504)

Status: just an idea

abandoned

CPC 6128 - iRAM/640s

  • minified iRAM/640
  • for CPC 6128
  • size just a tiny bit bigger than Z80 CPU socket
  • TSSOP SMD components below Z80
  • requires good soldering skills and special tools to program SMD CPLDs

Status: fully designed, abandoned as it offers no advantage over DIY friendly version and would only benefit commercial sellers (Hint: Lotharek offers a similar expansion commercially for a good price)

CPC 464/664 - iRAM/1024s

  • smaller than iRAM/1024, more similar in size to iRAM/640
  • for CPC 464 and 664
  • single 1MB SMD SRAM, upgrade to 1024K
  • C3 RAM banking supported
  • easy to assemble, mostly through-hole components but one SMD SRAM

Status: working prototype

CPC 6128 - iRAM/576

  • for CPC 6128 only
  • 512K expansion
  • total accessible RAM of 576K in a 6128 (following the DK'Tronics standard)
  • easy to assemble, all through-hole components

Status: Abandoned in favor of the iRAM/640 which uses the exact same components but offers more total memory.

CPC 464/664 - iRAM/512

  • for CPC 464/664
  • 512K expansion
  • total accessible RAM of 512K in a CPC, following the DK'Tronics standard and support of C3 mode.
  • or 576K without C3 support (512K_C3 / 576K selection per manual switch)
  • easy to assemble, all through-hole components

Status: Abandoned as CPC iRAM/1024 will fit into all 464s/664s and is more flexible

Retrieved from "https://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php?title=CPC_iRAM&oldid=126874"