Tag: period upgrade

Period 5 MHz 8088 coprocessor card with optional fast memory and an 8087 socket.

This is a period product obtained used. The AD8088 has 2K of onboard RAM expandable to 8K; larger programs need the separate AD128K in a nearby slot, and the AD128K cannot operate by itself. The original package included FTL math acceleration and the MET event timer. CP/M-86 and MS-DOS support depended on separately supplied operating-system software. A system needs at least 48K, a Language Card or equivalent, a disk drive, and a display. An 8087 may require extra cooling or an empty adjacent slot.

Period slot memory and bootable RAM-disk card with optional expansion and battery backup.

This is the original period product, distinct from modern RamFactor-compatible cards. Used examples vary by board revision, installed memory, expander, ROM, and included software. It normally uses a peripheral slot other than slot 3; an Apple II Plus must not use slot 0. The IIgs treats it as RAM-disk storage rather than fast system memory. Verify any RamCharger, cable, and old battery hardware before applying power.

Period 3.6 MHz accelerator with a 65C02, 256K of high-speed memory, and optional 16-bit processor upgrades.

This is a period product obtained used and is distinct from TransWarp GS. Confirm the exact card revision, installed processor, diagnostics, and slowdown behavior before buying. The brochure says it works with most DMA cards, but a mixed vintage system still needs card-by-card verification.

Period internal Apple IIc card combining 256K or 512K of memory with a Z80 processor for CP/M.

This is a period internal card obtained used. The original package included RAM-disk software, a Z80 operating system, and CP/M documentation; verify that software and installation material are present. Opening the IIc and installing the board is required.

Adds a battery-backed real-time clock to Atari XL and XE computers as an internal module, pass-through cartridge, or circuit inside another cartridge.

The project page publishes a parts list, clock and address-decoder schematics, battery and rechargeable-cell backup circuits, and an ARC handler archive. It recommends internal installation because the pass-through and inside-another-cartridge forms may cause more problems. The page does not provide a step-by-step bus-wiring guide: an internal build must source D0-D3, A0-A7, R/W, phase 2, power, and D5xx cartridge-control signals, while a cartridge build uses the cartridge connector. No explicit project license or current assembled seller was verified.

Period SIO floppy drive adds double-sided, double-density 5.25-inch storage and faster double-density transfers to Atari 8-bit computers.

Find a complete used drive with the correct AC adapter and SIO cable. The bundled DOS 2.5 supports single and enhanced density but not the XF551's full double-sided, double-density capacity; use DOS XE or compatible third-party software for that mode. Most drives use a Mitsumi mechanism with a rectangular activity LED, while later Chinon examples have a round LED and stricter flippy-disk limitations. The 300 RPM mechanism can also conflict with a small amount of speed-sensitive copy protection.

Adds 1 MB of banked RAM to an Atari 1200XL or 800XL with a 30-pin SIMM and custom refresh and bank-selection logic.

The archived article provides the circuit discussion, 1200XL connection table, SIMM pinout, and software notes but describes the 800XL only as having similar connection points. It is an advanced historical wire-and-perfboard build. The author reports that the SpartaDOS cartridge does not function with this configuration and that ordinary SpartaDOS and much commercial software see only a 320XE-style subset; MYDOS 4.5.1M or newer needs the documented page sequence.

Period cartridge interfaces connect a C64 or VIC-20 to PET-style parallel disk drives, printers, modems, and other IEEE-488 equipment.

These are original period interfaces to find used or reconstruct from archives, not current products. Match the cartridge to the exact computer and verify its ROM. The original C64 software occupies part of the $C000 area and disables serial IEC; Andre Fachat's separate modified C64 KERNAL can retain both buses, but it is not part of the cartridge.

Expands a 16 KB Atari 600XL to 64 KB with two 41464 DRAMs and three wiring changes.

The archived instructions call for two 41464-10 or compatible DRAMs, hookup wire, soldering tools, and optional sockets. Chips may need desoldering, several pins and resistor leads must be isolated, and fine motherboard traces are exposed; the author explicitly says to attempt it only if the diagram is understood and at the builder's risk. This is a historical modification guide, not a current kit.

Period 68040 accelerator originally made for a Macintosh IIci cache slot and usable in an SE/30 only through a specialized adapter.

Use only a proven SE/30-to-IIci cache-slot adapter and the patched software. Never insert this card into a PDS slot or PDS pass-through: the connectors fit but are electrically different, and a wrong connection can destroy the accelerator.

Adds IDE hard-disk storage through cartridge, internal flash-OS, and original Atari 800 DIY implementations that predate MyIDE-II.

The official Atarimax page said the interfaces were in stock and extended its sale through 2026-07-31 when checked on 2026-07-27; verify that short-lived offer before ordering. The family has been superseded by MyIDE-II but remains functionally distinct because it accepts IDE devices rather than providing MyIDE-II's onboard CompactFlash and FAT32 loader. The cartridge requires a 64 KB XL or XE. Internal installation ranges from an OS-ROM socket plus three signal wires in an 800XL to extensive socket, jumper, MMU, BASIC, and wiring changes in a 1200XL. Mr. Atari's original 800 version is an advanced personal-use DIY design with schematic and firmware files but no complete build instructions or bill of materials.

Adds a vintage 1 MB banked-memory board to an Atari 800XL or 1200XL with several selectable PIA banking configurations.

Only archived installation instructions and the used market were verified. Installation requires the original Newell board or a faithful equivalent, memory devices, extensive motherboard wiring, isolated IC pins, and model-specific changes; a 1200XL also needs three address-trace changes. The recommended banking method preserves OS control and ANTIC banking but repurposes other PIA bits and may require BASIC and diagnostic switches. The top RF shield may no longer fit.

Period accelerator that upgrades a 4.77 MHz 8088 IBM PC or XT with an 8 MHz 80286 processor and 8K of cache.

This is a period product obtained used. The documentation project cannot produce a working clone until the original PAL devices are reverse engineered.

Period CompactFlash and IDE mass-storage card that preceded the USB-capable CFFA3000.

The original CFFA production runs are sold out, so acquisition is through the used market. Verify the exact board and firmware revision, included cable or media, and CompactFlash compatibility. CFFA v1.2 runs 1 through 3 have an ATA timing bug that needs CPLD logic 1.4 and three jumper wires. The published Revision 2.0B schematic omits a 33K pullup from U5 pin 27 to Vcc that was added during assembly. These generations are ProDOS mass-storage cards and do not mount DOS 3.3 floppy images.

Emulates writable Atari XL and XE floppy drives from SD storage using the original ATmega8 SDrive design or the NUXX packaging variant.

The original GPL-3.0 hardware, firmware, Atari-side software, documentation, and source remain public. Its 2009 documentation specifies cards up to 2 GB with FAT16, while the repository also contains a later 2012 SDHC-supporting source revision; match the firmware, media setup, and documentation deliberately. The NUXX archive is frozen as of 2020 and says its function is identical to original SDrive, but adds a different PCB, enclosure, connector options, and optional STK200-style parallel-port programmer. No current assembled seller was verified.

Uses a 1 MB 30-pin SIMM and GAL controller to add switchable Compy Shop or Newell/RAMBO banked memory to Atari XL and XE computers.

The Polish project page publishes a schematic, GAL JEDEC file, utilities, parts list, full 800XL and Freddie-equipped 800XLF instructions, startup tests, and timing troubleshooting. Installation is highly invasive and may require trace cuts, lifted or bent IC pins, motherboard timing changes, and RAS-delay tuning for a particular machine. The page groups the 600XL and 1200XL with older 800XL memory-control hardware but does not provide separate step-by-step guides for those models. No explicit project license was verified.

Period high-speed SCSI controller with an onboard processor, DMA, cache, and ROM-based disk utilities.

This is a period controller obtained used. Confirm whether the board is Revision C or D and which ROM it runs. Revision D does not use DMA in a IIe, while Revision C needs its documented IIe switch setting. SCSI ID, termination, terminator power, cable length, drive power, and backups all require care. Compatibility problems are documented with some accelerator and memory-card combinations; ROM 3.01E and 3.01EZ have a tape-restore bug corrected in later firmware.

Period 5 MHz 65C02 CPU replacement for the Apple II, II Plus, IIe, and IIc.

This is a period upgrade obtained used. The floppy-controller slot must run at 1 MHz or a diskette can be damaged; slots 5 and 6 default to 1 MHz, while other slots default to full speed. Slow DMA and some CP/M cards may need additional slowdown settings. Do not cache Apple SCSI, RamFactor, bank-switched ROM, or other hardware that the manual excludes. Installation requires removing a socketed CPU, and an Apple IIc must be disassembled.

Period enhanced SwinSID replacement adds configurable 6581- and 8580-style sound, readable oscillator and envelope registers, analog input, and paddle or mouse support.

Production ended in 2018 and no current maker or build path was verified. Buy used only with the original manual and configuration software. The documented 6581-board installation recommends disconnecting the 1K output pull-down, while EXT IN needs the specified termination. This is unrelated to current Commodore 64 Ultimate hardware despite the old product name.

Documents period DIY memory conversions that give an Atari 400 48 KB plus a banked 16 KB or an Atari 800 a 288 KB SuperRam configuration.

These are historical, invasive board-level modifications rather than current kits. Both require extensive disassembly, trace cuts, soldering, stacked or perfboard logic, and staged electrical testing. The authors release the instructions for public use with attribution. The Atari 800 text lists six 41256 DRAMs, while human review found only one 41256 in its rough circuit sketch. The contradiction remains unresolved: do not treat the Atari 800 parts list or sketch as an authoritative build package without reconstructing and checking the circuit.