TF536 and Mega ST

Other boosters or variants.
Post Reply
Markus608
Posts: 12
Joined: Tue May 03, 2022 4:22 pm

TF536 and Mega ST

Post by Markus608 »

Hi,

A few days ago i introduced myself because of the TF536.
I should have posted earlier , but i was busy doing a lot other things besides of messing around with my Mega ST.

But pictures first. It may be interessting to others tat an ET4000 Graphics adapter, 4 via software switchable TOS, 8 MB ALT-RAM, IDE and USB are fitting well together with the TF536 into a Mega ST.

TF536_1.jpg
TF536_1.jpg (416.34 KiB) Viewed 1465 times
TF536_3.jpg
TF536_3.jpg (233.94 KiB) Viewed 1465 times

On the CPU-socket the cloudy/storm ST combi-pcb is placed. Then a relocator on top of the cloudy to come clear of the STGA.
then the Lightning ST (IDE/USB-board) is placed on the relocator. Finally the TF536 now is sitting on top of everything.

534_536_PAK.jpg
534_536_PAK.jpg (324.26 KiB) Viewed 1465 times

Generally the setup is working very well.
In certain combinations (TOS-Versions and agranlund's tools) USB and/or the floppy drive stopped working.

But i have to check this again without changing too much at once.



greetings

Markus
User avatar
exxos
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 23495
Joined: Wed Aug 16, 2017 11:19 pm
Location: UK
Contact:

Re: TF536 and Mega ST

Post by exxos »

Isn't that a 534 ?
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/ All my hardware guides - mods - games - STOS
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/ - All my hardware mods for sale - Please help support by making a purchase.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1585 Have you done the Mandatory Fixes ?
Just because a lot of people agree on something, doesn't make it a fact. ~exxos ~
People should find solutions to problems, not find problems with solutions.
User avatar
agranlund
Posts: 777
Joined: Sun Aug 18, 2019 10:43 pm
Location: Sweden
Contact:

Re: TF536 and Mega ST

Post by agranlund »

Nice! Impressive stack of things in that machine :)
Markus608
Posts: 12
Joined: Tue May 03, 2022 4:22 pm

Re: TF536 and Mega ST

Post by Markus608 »

Uuuh, YES sorry,

of course that's the TF534...

but the TF536 looks the same:

536_32.jpg
536_32.jpg (101.16 KiB) Viewed 1404 times

Looks like the TF536 has got a problem today. The system is freezing after about 15 minutes. It was running for days before without any problems before... DAMIT

Markus
Oldskool
Posts: 51
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 12:23 pm

Re: TF536 and Mega ST

Post by Oldskool »

Hello Markus,

Were did you get that relocation board from? Or did you make it yourself.
Steve
Posts: 2570
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2017 11:49 am

Re: TF536 and Mega ST

Post by Steve »

It's probably crashing because of that plastic 030 CPU. As far as I know you need a ceramic to safely reach 50mhz. It probably also needs a little heatsink.
User avatar
stephen_usher
Posts: 5578
Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2017 7:19 pm
Location: Oxford, UK.
Contact:

Re: TF536 and Mega ST

Post by stephen_usher »

Steve wrote: Mon Jun 13, 2022 10:29 am It's probably crashing because of that plastic 030 CPU. As far as I know you need a ceramic to safely reach 50mhz. It probably also needs a little heatsink.
Other people have found the opposite re: CPU type. It very much depends upon the specific die, revision and whether the oven operator had a cheese sandwich that week. Overclocking is always a hit and miss affair, otherwise the chip would be marked for that speed by the manufacturer.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
Markus608
Posts: 12
Joined: Tue May 03, 2022 4:22 pm

Re: TF536 and Mega ST

Post by Markus608 »

Well...

The actual CPU is only clocked at 40 MHz, but i think i have overdone it trying different mainboards...
In an unmodified Mainboard the TF was running, but unreliable especially after a hard reset.
The second mainboard has pullups and reset line modified and the TF was running very stable and only crashing when starting certain software (when i was testing what software was running, doing some benchmark using gembench and testing differences when using agranlund's tools). The only thing i noticed is that the ET4000 was getting warmer than the other two cards i am currently using.
I decided to install the TF into a third mainboard that has additionally the LS244 and LS373 replaced by F-types. The grapics card seems to work cooler but at this point the "freezes" started.
After moving the board back to the second board the problem still is the same. For this reason i think i may have caused a damage to the TF.

Anyways, im looking for a 50MHz CPU and maybe a TF536 that has 128MB installed.

The TOS-Board, IDE and USB are running fine with EMU-TOS. even the IDE mapped to "1" seems to work. (meaning that i now have the possibility to install 4 IDE devices ?!?

very fascinating to experience a now nearly 40 years old machine that can still be very usefull...

btw..

thy for all the replies...
Post Reply

Return to “EVERYTHING ELSE”