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Vampire V500 2+ and ACE2

Robert Harrison

Posts 13
04 Apr 2019 21:02


I installed the ACE2 ram expander in my A500, now it no longer boots even when I change it back to the previous agnes and gary.  Does the Vamp need to be reflashed?  or other suggestions?
Rob


Rod March

Posts 119
05 Apr 2019 01:24


I'm using Vamp and ACE 2 in a 2000 with no issues. Could it be that the cards are physically touching? (Agnus and 68k expansions are somewhat overlapping in the 500 right?)

ACE 2 defaults to NTSC, don't know if that affects you?


Robert Harrison

Posts 13
05 Apr 2019 02:25


THanks for the reply, I actually worried about that beforehand and have the Vamp card on three risers.  I think my choices at this time would be:
1.  the mobo is bad, i have two others to swap out and check
2.  the gary chip is bad, same thing I'll try swapping it out
3.  the most expensive bad would be the Vampire card is bad, I'll reflash the rom and see if that works

That's all I can think of right now, any other suggestions?
Rob


Rod March

Posts 119
05 Apr 2019 07:22


I'd restore your original 68000 (without the risers) and original agnus/gary and see if the system boots, then add the ACE 2, then the Vamp, checking each time.

I haven't installed the ACE 2 into a 500 - check there aren't any mods you need to make to the motherboard first. From memory most A500's have to be capable of 1meg chip before you can take them to 2meg, which usually involves cutting a trace or two on the rev5, and jumpers on the rev6.

Also check your 68k socket, I suppose they don't get battery damage like the 200's do, but most of my A500 accellerator problems have been through bad connections.

I'm not a hardware guru though, please anyone more knowledgeable correct me if this is bad advice.


Robert Harrison

Posts 13
05 Apr 2019 19:50


OK update:
*  I reflashed the Vampire board all says good, no change with current mobo
*  tried in two other boards, one gives yellow screen at boot the other nothing
*  swapped out gary no change
*  nothing shows on the RGB output and nothing from the hdmi
*  keyboard light does come on
*  I don't have an extra 68000 to try in the socket?

So either bad momo or bad vampire.. guesses welcome?


Gunnar von Boehn
(Apollo Team Member)
Posts 6207
06 Apr 2019 06:33


Robert Harrison wrote:

* tried in two other boards, one gives yellow screen at boot the other nothing
*  I don't have an extra 68000 to try in the socket?

You mean that have 3 A500 mainboards and no 68K CPU for any of them?



Robert Harrison

Posts 13
06 Apr 2019 16:59


Yes, I am an old Amiga dealer andhave tons of old Amigas and parts lying around.


Rod March

Posts 119
08 Apr 2019 00:20


Pick up some 68k's off ebay for about a dollar each and try to get a known working motherboard.

Last time I got a yellow screen from an A500 mobo it was because I modded it for 1meg chip but hadn't soldered a pad properly.

posts 8