Upgrading a Mega ST 4

[kgilmore]

I’ve finally acquired a Mega ST 4, the machine which as a 1040 STFM and later 520STE owner in the late 1980s I always wanted because of its separate case / keyboard and internal expansion bus. I must admit I was disappointed it didn’t come with a 68020 with sockets for 68851 and 68881. Having finally got one, would this be a reasonable expansion pathway?

* internal UltraSatan hard drive
* ATW 800/2 primarily for graphics, secondarily for playing with Helios
* some form of Ethernet / USB port for file transfer
* a 68030 / 68881 expansion card with extra RAM, partly for MiNT, partly to see if I could get 68k Unix / Linux running.

Secondly, what would be the best 68030 / 68881 expansion card? The purist in me would like the 68020 / 68851, but the MMU coprocessor seems to be unobtainable, so 68030 it would be.

[Steve]

I'd probably go for an ST536 if it were in stock: https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/#0220
If not an ST536, go for a standard Amiga TF536 and flash it with the ST firmware... this'll give you 030 with fast-ram. (Perhaps the builder would flash it with ST firmware if asked, there are various different builders on this forum in the Amiga section)

And a NetUSBee for USB/Ethernet...

[DoG]

TF536 (does not have 68882) or even PiStorm. TF534 have 68882 but doesn't handle that much memory if I remember correctly (4Mb max?). PAK68/030 is hard to find with FRAK and PuPla. There is 68881 expansion card for the MegaBus made by Atari but they are also rare.

NetUSBee for Network/USB on the cartridge port. Otherwise Lightning-ST with a PicoWifi. Lightning-ST have IDE interface as well for HDD so you don't have to buy UltraSatan. Get a IDE2SD. Or Hydra on the cartridge port.

There is Nova for ISA gfxcard. But ATW800 would probably be more fun. Both uses the MegaBus.

[Darklord]

Does the NetUSBee work with the TF boards? Some accelerators don't work with it.

A NetUSBee won't work with the Pak 68/3 boards, for example.

I'm happy to report that the SidecarTridge does work with the Pak 68/3 though.

I'll second @Dog about the Lightning ST - I have one in my Mega ST4 and it's great.