I knew they looked familiar, just couldn't think why.Icky wrote: Wed Nov 15, 2023 1:42 pm So one RAM and one Flash Memory chip for upgrading my Z88
512K SRAM internal upgrade
512K Flash Memory internal upgrade
You will not be able to post if you are still using Microsoft email addresses such as Hotmail etc
See here for more information viewtopic.php?f=20&t=7296
See here for more information viewtopic.php?f=20&t=7296
Icky Projects
Re: Icky Projects
If it ain't broke, test it to Destruction.
Re: Icky Projects
Well that is the RAM chip (front and centre) desoldered. I'll do a separate topic on this Z88 upgrade.
- rubber_jonnie
- Site Admin
- Posts: 12961
- Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
- Location: Essex
- Contact:
Re: Icky Projects
Looking good so far.Icky wrote: Mon Nov 20, 2023 6:18 pm Well that is the RAM chip (front and centre) desoldered. I'll do a separate topic on this Z88 upgrade.
IMG_3299.jpeg
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
Re: Icky Projects
I have a sort of love / hate relationship with these types of upgrades. They are pretty simple to do but half the time I end up plotting how to build a board with a SMD Flash ROM and RAM chip combined that would just plug-in with a couple of fly leads.
- rubber_jonnie
- Site Admin
- Posts: 12961
- Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
- Location: Essex
- Contact:
Re: Icky Projects
LBH These things don't always work out as planned, as long as it works in the endIcky wrote: Mon Nov 20, 2023 7:10 pmI have a sort of love / hate relationship with these types of upgrades. They are pretty simple to do but half the time I end up plotting how to build a board with a SMD Flash ROM and RAM chip combined that would just plug-in with a couple of fly leads.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
Re: Icky Projects
That’s true. I did have a glitch before I started the upgrade and put it down to low batteries.
The LCD was all blue and after doing a hard reset the screen came up with the menu and low battery sign.
I then went ahead with replacing the RAM chip and am faced with the all blue screen again and hard reset doesn’t fix. Yes, I have used different batteries as well.
This, @rubber_jonnie you are right it’s not always as planned.
The LCD was all blue and after doing a hard reset the screen came up with the menu and low battery sign.
I then went ahead with replacing the RAM chip and am faced with the all blue screen again and hard reset doesn’t fix. Yes, I have used different batteries as well.
This, @rubber_jonnie you are right it’s not always as planned.
- rubber_jonnie
- Site Admin
- Posts: 12961
- Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
- Location: Essex
- Contact:
Re: Icky Projects
Damn, that's annoying, but I'm sure you'll figure it out. Reminds me I need to get back to my dead HX-20.Icky wrote: Mon Nov 20, 2023 9:36 pm That’s true. I did have a glitch before I started the upgrade and put it down to low batteries.
The LCD was all blue and after doing a hard reset the screen came up with the menu and low battery sign.
I then went ahead with replacing the RAM chip and am faced with the all blue screen again and hard reset doesn’t fix. Yes, I have used different batteries as well.
This, @rubber_jonnie you are right it’s not always as planned.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
Re: Icky Projects
Oh my I am getting rusty and old.
I haven't been doing much electronics for well over 2 years now due to various reasons and finally I yesterday I decided to tackle a upgrade I wanted to do on my OSSC which involved a very simple remove a SMT 0603 resistor and ptut a fly lead from one of the pads to a SMT chip with a fine pitch. Easy right.
Absolutely not. Eyesight failing, shaking hands, and out of practice contributed in me pulling the 0603 pad off the pad that I actually needed to use.
Long story short I am back in the saddle with fine hardware work after getting hold of a 4K USB microscope and a jig to help with steading for soldering. Stripping back the line from the pad and soldering onto that line.
The OSSC is now upgraded to 1.12 and working fine. https://junkerhq.net/xrgb/index.php/OSSC#v1.12
Now I am back in the saddle you may start to see me becoming more active again in the hardware perspective on the forum. It's been quite a hiatus.
I haven't been doing much electronics for well over 2 years now due to various reasons and finally I yesterday I decided to tackle a upgrade I wanted to do on my OSSC which involved a very simple remove a SMT 0603 resistor and ptut a fly lead from one of the pads to a SMT chip with a fine pitch. Easy right.
Absolutely not. Eyesight failing, shaking hands, and out of practice contributed in me pulling the 0603 pad off the pad that I actually needed to use.
Long story short I am back in the saddle with fine hardware work after getting hold of a 4K USB microscope and a jig to help with steading for soldering. Stripping back the line from the pad and soldering onto that line.
The OSSC is now upgraded to 1.12 and working fine. https://junkerhq.net/xrgb/index.php/OSSC#v1.12
Now I am back in the saddle you may start to see me becoming more active again in the hardware perspective on the forum. It's been quite a hiatus.
- rubber_jonnie
- Site Admin
- Posts: 12961
- Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
- Location: Essex
- Contact:
Re: Icky Projects
Glad to have you back, I can totally relate to the shaking hands and eyesight issues, I have to use at least a magnifying glass for all soldering work now.Icky wrote: Fri Jun 06, 2025 10:13 am Oh my I am getting rusty and old.
I haven't been doing much electronics for well over 2 years now due to various reasons and finally I yesterday I decided to tackle a upgrade I wanted to do on my OSSC which involved a very simple remove a SMT 0603 resistor and ptut a fly lead from one of the pads to a SMT chip with a fine pitch. Easy right.
Absolutely not. Eyesight failing, shaking hands, and out of practice contributed in me pulling the 0603 pad off the pad that I actually needed to use.
Long story short I am back in the saddle with fine hardware work after getting hold of a 4K USB microscope and a jig to help with steading for soldering. Stripping back the line from the pad and soldering onto that line.
The OSSC is now upgraded to 1.12 and working fine. https://junkerhq.net/xrgb/index.php/OSSC#v1.12
Now I am back in the saddle you may start to see me becoming more active again in the hardware perspective on the forum. It's been quite a hiatus.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
Re: Icky Projects
Thanks @rubber_jonnie, I now need to get myself up to speed with where I left off some projects with @exxos and @ijor to re-ignite some of them.rubber_jonnie wrote: Fri Jun 06, 2025 10:29 am Glad to have you back, I can totally relate to the shaking hands and eyesight issues, I have to use at least a magnifying glass for all soldering work now.