Re: RAM for IIGS ram card

[wbdesnoy@acs1.acs.ucalgary.ca (Byron Desnoyers Winmill)]

Bruce Baker (Bruce.Baker@juge.com) wrote:
:                               ...  I just bought a stock //gs rom 1.  It has
: a card in the "slot 0" with lots of empty memory chip "bays".  I'd like to get
: some chips to fill it there.  I imagine if they can be found, they are cheap
: now.

The cheapest way is to find an old XT or 286 PC and pop out the chip memory
from that.  The chips you want will have 16 pins, and include "256" in the
part number.  (This should mean that a bank of 8 chips gives you 256kb of
memory.)  The last two digits of the part number should give you the access
time.  Look for "-8" or "08", but "10" may work as well.  (I forget what
units this is measured in.  Something like ms, us or ns.)

Be warned: this memory is *cheap* inside of obsolete computers, but bloody
*expensive* when bought new.  But RAM is safe to buy second hand provided that
you are careful in handling it.  Namely, avoid handling or mutilating the pins
themselfs as they are sensitve to static electricity.  To pull the chips out,
I suggest a small flat headed screwdrive (this tool usually ends up with bent
pins), or a mildly flat and triangular needle which is used in sewing canvas
and sails (at least that is what the kit claimed).  Just slip the selected
tool between the chip and socket, the pry gentely.  Things usually work a bit
better with the needle though, since it is a tool that can slip between the
gap and push the chip straight up (uniformly).

But Supertimer is correct, more than a Mb of memory would be nice on a IIgs.
Unfortunately, some of us simply can not afford it.  That is, of course,
unless the newer memory cards start selling for $5 or so.  ;-)

Byron.