Re: Upgrading my Zip

[o9938156@wsuaix.csc.wsu.edu (mark lyon)]

LEVENSJM@ctrvax.Vanderbilt.Edu () writes:
: I have a VERY old Zip GS in my computer.  The software which accompanied it
: was V. 1.0.  It seems that recently, a 14 mhz 65816 chip has made it to 
: the market, and this has sparked my interest...  looking around, I found
: that all I have to do is buy the chip and replace the oscillator chip on
: my Zip.  

Not quite true:  if you want to run at high speeds, the two 74Fxx
chips need to be replaced with 74ACxx chips.

: 
: However, it appears that my oscillator chip is soldered directly onto the
: card itself.  The chip has a metal casing, and the pins are soldered onto
: the board...
: 
: Pulling the old CPU is no problem for me, but soldering is since I have
: never soldered in my life...
: 
: I was looking inside a friend's powermac the other day, and it looked like 
: he had a small clip over his old oscillator chip, and a faster one mounted
: at the end of the clip, speeding up his computer.  I was wondering if
: these "clips" are commonplace, and would be a viable solution to my soldering
: dilemma...???

I haven't heard of this, but I would recommend removing the old
oscillator and soldering in a good 14 pin socket to make changing
oscillators easier. 

: 
: Also, what are the best chips to use to upgrade the cache ram?

I think the jury's still out on this one.  The Zip likes low power
chips, and all that I've been able to find are chips made by ISSI
that don't seem to work very well.  If anyone knows where to 
find working chips, post it please!

Also, you probably won't be able to find the wide (.6") chips
that are currently in your Zip, only skinny (.3") chips.  This
requires more soldering.  If you look between the existing 
wide sockets, there is a row of holes.  If you cut the wide
sockets' supporting bars, there is room to solder in a strip
socket, enabling you to use the .3" chips.

Since the soldering is necessary, I would recommend that you
find someone to do it for you, since the traces are quite
fragile, and this would _not_ be a good first soldering
project.

: 
: Thanks for any help...

You're welcome.

: 
: JML
: 
Mark Marr-Lyon
o9938156@wsuaix.csc.wsu.edu