Just saw one of the videos from a tech show, the guy from Genesi (my guess) showing board to an american guy... He mentioned that it is possible to add 2 chips totaling 128MB (so we have 2 x 128MB) on the other side of (underneath) the board. Did I hear correctly? Is that true? I haven't heard any talk on that on any forum Even if possible, it doesn't look like it could be a backyard job

Yes, it's true. There are places for two additional memory chips on
Efika board. The problem is I don't know if it is enough to solder
them to the board. For example it could be necesarry to make some
changes in firmware, so Efika could configure the additional
memory. But this is only a speculation.

...mmm very nice speculation

There are places for two additional memory chips on
Efika board.

You will also have to add some resistor ladders and capacitors (of unknown capacity).

Very interesting.. 256mb would make a world of difference with Efika, especially in Linux.

256 would be a deal maker for me here! The 128MB fixed RAM is the only thing keeping me from getting one now.

Genesi, how about more info on this? I know a lot of people must be on the fence about getting an EFIKA and this would help a few more make the decision if it was something we could get done at home.

I was talkin to my mate who wonts to buy an efika for his new amiga 2 and only thing holding him back is the ram. He knows alot about solidering and eletrionics does it for a job he said it should be possible to unsoilder and resoilder 256ram on the board were the old ram was maybe?.

IMHO this 128MB ram was never a nice idea... even 256 can be proven little... 512+ MB is the way to go...

@insurgent

I have seen that too. Can you please post a link to the video?

Efika with expandable / more ram would make a fine server board IMO because of it's extreme low power consumption.

efika5k2memoryqg3.jpg

www.datasheetcatalog.net/cgi-bin/helo.pl?text=K4H511638C

www.semiconductor.com/resources/reports_database/view_device.asp?sinumber=11885

Bump! Has anyone done this? If not I might give it a try if seomeone here will purchase my Pegasos II 1GHz G4, 1GB, R9200 128MB, 10Gt HD, DVD-drive and PCI USB2.0 (ofcourse comes with a registered MOS 2.0). For a desent price :)

The best would be to ask the designer of the board. bPlan? Genesi?

adding 128mb would be useless as AFAIK the Efika OF doesn't handle more than 128.

Quote:

Is this a know fact or speculation? :( I just can't understand why they made it so limited on memory could someone modify the OF so that it would take up 1GB or even more? I have the tools at work to easily change the memory chips, but this bit of news is just sad if true

Well this is directly from bPlans page:

Quote:

http://www.bplan-gmbh.de/efika_spec_en.html

So it is possible, but it is not yet know wheter the current FW support 512MBs of memory. Well anyways I emailed them and let you guys know when I get the answer.

[ Edited by Painkiller on 2008/7/31 18:44 ]

While it is probably a pipe dream, I think it would be good if someone could come up with a way to use pendrives as ram. Kind of like the way the old a1200s could use pcmcia memory. That would eliminate a physical issue of ram for the efika, though, it would still have the Firmware limit.

Erm. Scratch that, the access times would be woeful.. Now having memories of actually trying to use 16bit memory on an a1200.... *shudders*

[ Edited by Targhan on 2008/7/31 11:02 ]

well the MPC5200b has a max address space of 512mb, and a two bit chip select, can work with a max of 4 memory chips (lots of restrictions on distance from the processor, bit address ranges etc etc). 256mb per chip select.

this is the first I've heard of the SF only handling 128mb of memory (I think thats a bogus claim).

Quote:

@Painkiller
Did you get a reply from BPlan regarding this? I have an Efika on the way, and would hope to upgrade the ram to 512MB.

@Thread
As an alternative, would it be possible to replace the existing two 64MB chips with 2x 256MB chips? (Assuming 256MB chips exist) That would get around the problem of having to guess values for the resistor/capacitor ladders.

ask to the MOS developers, if the key would be still valid after the mod.

The Key should be still valid as the key is bound to the MAC-Adress of the board.

not only to the MAC address (it would be too "easy" don't you?)

Anyway ask them.

@Framiga

So you're suggesting that users can't upgrade their RAM? Registered my Peg2 with 512M, got 1G now, still works...

ask them, period.

I have upgraded from 512 to 1GB Ram after registering MOS2 and i have no problems with the key or anything else. Beside that i have changed my GFX from Radeon 8500 64MB to a 9000Pro 128MB

[ Edited by ThePlayer on 2008/8/17 19:45 ]

on a peg it sounds quite obvious.

Are we still speaking about Efikas here?

i'm NOT saying it will break but before attempting a so huge modification, ask to the MOS developer IF it is possible. thats all.



[ Edited by Framiga on 2008/8/17 19:49 ]

this topic is about expanding the ram ... and I really see no reason why MOSdevs shouldn't upgrade your license if needed.