››Supplied by the CHAOS BBS-›Reprinted From MICHIGAN ATARI›MAGAZINE by permission.››› UPGRADES ARE FOR EVERYBODY by Gary›Ferris with John Nagy (C.H.A.O.S.)››A great deal of attention has been›focused recently on the large number›of ATARI computer memory upgrades. ›This article is not intended to deal›with the technical aspects of the›various upgrades, but will try to›point out the reasons why you should›consider any particular memory›upgrade.››If you are seriously considering a›memory upgrade, by all means do it›SOON.  The price for memory chips is›about $35 to 60$ per 256K already,›and is expected to as much as TRIPLE›in the next few months due to import›trade regulations.››The most common usage of extended›memory is as a simulated disk drive,›commonly called a ramdisk.  The›advantage of this usage is its›incredible speed.  Its main›disadvantage is that the contents are›lost when the machine is turned off›unless first transfered to a real›disk drive.  Many additonal uses›(such as the fabulous BASIC XE from›OSS, Inc.) are continuing to surface›as extended memory becomes›commonplace.››THE "OLD 800" UPGRADES››Long before the XL series of›computers hit the scene, there were›several options available to ATARI›800 owners for additional memory. ›AXLON was one of several, and many›early applications programs (like›SYNFILE and SYNCALC) were written to›use the extended memory available›from this system.  The modification›was very easy (replaceing one of the›plug-in memory boards) but usually›cost several hundred dollars for each›increment in memory size.  Some of›these original boards (or new designs›based on them) are still available›today, and the price still tends to›be much higher per K than any of the›other system upgrades.››However, thanks to the inventive›spirit of ATARI owners, David Byrd›created the plans for the "800 PLUS›288K UPGRADE", with a parts cost of›around $30.  The REAL cost for this›upgrade is in man-hours assembling›it.  It should NOT be attempted by›beginners in electronic work,›although the plans (complete with›PICTURE FILES for help) are specific›enough to guide any reasonably›experienced solder jockey.  The mod›has two stages- if yo do only the›first part, yo can fully use the›extended RAM in about 2 1/2 hours of›careful work.  To complete the mod›and get "full" AXLON compatibility›takes another hour or so.››Note:  This mod IS NOT memory›compatible with the XE computers. ›You will NOT be able to use software›designed for the XE and XL upgrades›nor BASIC XE, but instead must use›AXLON type ramdisk drivers and›software.  This is a serious drawback›to this mod, but the RAMDISK›capability is still worth the›effort.››THE 400 UPGRADE››Although 48K upgrade kits for the 16K›400 computer have long been›available, the supply (and demand)›has just about disappeared.  The›effort and expense of this upgrade is›typically not worthwhile considering›the limitations of the 400 keyboard›and the price of NEW XL and XE›machines.››THE 800XL UPGRADES››One of the first upgrades for the XL›was invented by Claus Bucholz and›published in BYTE MAGAZINE.  His›original design was not compatible›with the 130XE, but since it predated›the XE there was no standard to›follow.  Claus soon modified it to be›XE compatible and placed the plans›and scource code for his RAMDISK›drivers in the public domain.  That›effort started the real avalanch of›upgrades.››At first a circuit board with the›neccesary support chips had to be›hard wired.  The circuitry on the›board depends on which ANTIC chip›your XL has.  Fortunately for the›sanity of the technical members of›user groups who were being asked to›do upgrades, several plug in boards›became available.  (I would›personally pay for a board out of my›own pocket before I could EVER be›persuaded to hardwire one again!!).››If you are fortunate, all the chips›will be in sockets.  If so, then›changing the required chips will be a›snap.  If not, then exercise great›care in desoldering the chips and›CAREFULLY inspect the double sided›board for damaged paths.  Repair any›damage and install sockets.  This›will make it far easier to change any›chips which may go bad in the›future.››THE RAMASTER››The Ramaster is the exact Bucholz›circuit on an excellently designed›plug in board.  This is the one I›have used on the XL's I have›upgraded.  The quality of the board›is good and it has the additional›circuitry on board which is required›for the old ANTIC chips.  You merely›place a jumper for the particular›chip you have.  This board is›available for about $30 w/o memory or›$50 (chip market pending) with›memory.  These boards may not be›available for too much longer.  For›more info contact ABC Consulting›(313) 261-7609.››THE RAMBO XL››No, this is not a tough guy computer›that goes out and blows up Commodores›at night.  It is an upgrade board by›ICD, makers of SpartaDos and many›fine pieces of hardware for the 8-bit›ATARIs.  I have no personal›experience with the Rambo XL, but›based on my experience with other ICD›products as well as reports from›other users, it is a good quality›product.  It is an XE compatible›upgrade with the added benefit of›being able to be used on a 1200XL! ›The installation is reasonably›straightforward, with some›significant addition of jumpers if›used with a 1200XL.  Base price›(retail) is $39.95.  For more info,›contact ICD Inc.  (815) 968-2228 or›your local ATARI dealer.››THE RAMCHARGER››This memory upgrade is a relative›newcomer.  It requires no›modification to the computer itself›and has the advantage of being able›to work with the original 800s since›it is plugged into the cartridge›slot.  It does cost substantially›more than the other upgrades though. ›The 256k cartridge is $150.  They›have a 512k version for $200 and 1›meg version for $300.  Included with›the cartridge is MyDos and it is›compatible with the Axlon upgrade to›give you 288k in SynCalc and›SynFile+.  For more info, contact›Magna Systems (718) 939-0084 or your›local ATARI dealer.››THE NEWELL UPGRADE››The upgrade board by Newell›Industries is not fully compatible›with any of the above upgrades but is›more nearly compatible to the actual›130XE in that it retains the ANTIC›enhanced mode.  (The 130XE allows you›to use the extra memory for the CPU›or as video ram (ANTIC).) Since there›is very little software which uses›the ANTIC mode this is not an›important consideration.  For more›info, contact Newell Industries (214)›442-6612 or your local ATARI dealer.››THE 600XL UPGRADE››After having done several 800XL›upgrades, someone asked about›upgrading the 16k 600XL to 64k.  I›thought, 'At last!  A use for all›those 4164's.' No such luck, where›the 800XL's use 8 64k by 1 bit chips,›the 600XL uses 2 64k by 4 bit chips. ›This means that pile of old chips›you've been saving is useless and›also that the 256k upgrades for the›800XL will not work on the 600 XLs. ›I don't know if there are 256k by 4›bit chips available or not.  If not,›then 64k is the practical limit for a›600XL.  It is an easy upgrade though›requiring only the new memory chips›and 3 jumpers.  Most clubs have these›plans available, or buy a kit from›COMPUTER SERVICE LAND for about $25. ›(703) 237-2950.››THE 320K 130XE››First, I'd like to thank Scott›Peterson for sharing the upgrade›instructions with ATARI users.  It's›a very clean modification since most›of the circuitry for bank selection›is already built in the XE.›››››To do the 320K upgrade is very simple›if you have any experience at all›with soldering.  I do make one›exception to his instructions though.› He recommends against solderwick and›I swear by it (I HATE›SOLDERSUCKERS!!!!) His reasoning is›that you may damage the circuit›paths.  If you use the commonly›recommended 25 watt iron you will›find he's correct.  This is not hot›enough to desolder components (33›watt is ideal) I also HIGHLY›recommend installing sockets in the›spaces where you removed IC's (8 16›pin and 1 40 pin socket) They are not›absolutely necessary but this is the›ideal opportunity.  If you ever have›a chip go bad in the future it will›be a lot easier to replace this way.››The entire 320k can be done in less›than an hour (most of this time being›in removing the old chips) Only one›chip is required in addirion to the›256k memory chips which are›substituted for the second 64k bank.››THE 576K 130XE››The 576K upgrade is quite a bit more›involved than the 320K.  I don't›recommend this for the novice.  You›have to undo some of the 320 upgrade,›add 2 additional support chips, and›piggyback 8 more 256K chips on the 8›previously installed.  This involves›a large number of jumper wires also. ›The additional time to do this mod›was about 2 hours (so a total of›about 3 hours to do the 576k at one›sitting).››You also lose your internal BASIC ROM›in the 576k mode.  A switch is added›which returns your internal BASIC but›only gives you use of 192k.  To use›BASIC in the 576K mode requires a›cartridge such as BASIC XE.››THE 1088K 130XE››This is the largest upgrade›documented to date.  It is reputed›that someone actually built one,›although even I wasn't that crazy. ›In all honesty, the only reason I›could see for doing it would be›oneupmanship (Ask all your IBM›friends how they can live with only›640k), although it may be useful on a›BBS.  I built the 576k mod and have›never come close to using it all in›normal use.  (I have filled it to see›how many files it would hold). ›Another potential problem is that if›you use items such as the XM301 and›PR Connection which take their power›from the computer, they may not work›properly do to inadequate power›supply capacity.››In my opinion, the best DOS›available, especially for upgraded›machines, is SpartaDos by ICD.  Their›RD.COM file will automatically format›the RAMDISK for whatever›configuration you have (up to 576K)›with the command RD Dn:.  To reserve›the extra 64K for Basic XE the›command is RD Dn:  /E (space between›:  / IS REQUIRED).  You can also›enable the Ramdisk without formatting›by RD Dn:  /N.  This would make it›possible to copy a program and it's›required data files to the ramdisk as›D2:(or whatever), and then turn off›the real disk drive and rename the›ramdisk as D1:››Information on most of these upgrades›as well as MANY different RAMDISK›handlers can be obtained by calling›the CHAOS BBS at (517) 371-1106 in›Lansing MI (home of Claus Buchholz!)›Upgrade text files and programs are a›primary focus of the CHAOS BBS, and›are online at all times.››››Supplied by the CHAOS BBS›(517) 371-1106››                                     ›