Re: AE GS-RAM Card Questions - Update

["Henry" <apl2research(.a.t.)comcast.net>]

Thanks to everyone for uploading pictures of their GS-RAM cards.  I found a 
Revision D card also exists so I updated the Web Server with pictures.



Web Server: http://reactivecomputers.gotdns.com/GS-RAM%20Card/



After studying all the different versions of the GS-RAM card it seems that 
the Revision E card is the only card that really 'works' in a ROM3 IIgs, and 
even then the card MUST have the 'B' version of the 'GSE2' PLD.  Strangely 
enough the 'B' version of the PLD isn't backwards compatible with the 
ROM0/1.  For that you MUST have the 'A' version of the GSE2 PLD.  I also 
found a 'GSC' version of the PLD but since the 'E' version should have come 
after the 'C' version I didn't test it.  The 'C' version is probably also 
Revision D card specific.  Whether a 'B' version of that cards PLD exists is 
unknown at this time.  If someone does have a Revision D card with version 
'B' of the GSC PLD please contact me.



In summery...

If you have a GS-RAM Card with the GSE2A PLD and install it in a ROM0/1 it 
will work correctly.  If you install it in a ROM3 it will report 2 Megs of 
available RAM and can cause GS/OS and other programs to become unstable. 
Some cards like the MicroDrive/Turbo and the Apple II High Speed SCSI (DMA 
cards) can also have problems.



If you have a GS-RAM Card with the GSE2B PLD and install it in a ROM3 it 
will work correctly.  If you install it in a ROM0/1 it will report 2 Megs of 
available RAM and can cause GS/OS and other programs to become unstable. 
Some cards like the MicroDrive/Turbo and the Apple II High Speed SCSI (DMA 
cards) can also have problems.



For this reason I will list both versions of the PLD in the online Store and 
they will also be available for download from the Web Server for people who 
wish to burn their own copies.

These GS-RAM 1.5 Meg memory cards are good cards even if they are a little 
'quirky'.  I hope this research allows some uses to dust off old cards they 
may have thought were defective and give them another try.




-- 
Henry S. Courbis
www.GSE-Reactive.com
Legacy Hardware and Support - Come take a look at what we have to offer!