https://github.com/islandcontroller/mp602a
Re-creation of the Marpet Developments "MP602A" 1 MiB ChipRAM expansion for the Amiga 600..
https://github.com/islandcontroller/mp602a
a600 amiga amiga-hardware ram-expansion
Last synced: 4 months ago
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Re-creation of the Marpet Developments "MP602A" 1 MiB ChipRAM expansion for the Amiga 600..
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/islandcontroller/mp602a
- Owner: islandcontroller
- License: other
- Created: 2025-07-15T23:37:17.000Z (12 months ago)
- Default Branch: master
- Last Pushed: 2025-07-20T18:19:45.000Z (11 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-10-30T03:39:26.887Z (8 months ago)
- Topics: a600, amiga, amiga-hardware, ram-expansion
- Homepage:
- Size: 6.44 MB
- Stars: 0
- Watchers: 0
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
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README
# mp602a
*Re-creation of the Marpet Developments "MP602A" 1 MiB ChipRAM expansion for the Amiga 600.*
First traces of the original expansion card by Marpet Developments appear around mid-1993, in an advert in [Amiga Shopper Issue 25](https://archive.org/details/Amiga_Shopper_Issue_25_1993-05_Future_Publishing_GB/page/n97/). The card connects to the A600's trapdoor expansion port and features four 30-pin SIMM memory modules of 256 kiB each, totaling 1 MiB of extra Chip RAM.
This documentation effort contains re-created schematics and a somewhat similar PCB layout:
* 🌐 [`mp602a-sch.pdf`](https://github.com/islandcontroller/mp602a/releases/latest/download/mp602a-sch.pdf) - Schematics
* 🔍 [`mp602a-pcb.html`](https://github.com/islandcontroller/mp602a/releases/latest/download/mp602a-pcb.html) - Interactive PCB preview
### BOM
| Designator | Description | Example |
|-|-|-|
| `J1` | 80-pos. A600 trapdoor card-edge connector | 4UCON Technology Inc. `10156`
[Amigakit `CON80A600`](https://www.amigakit.com/a600-trap-door-connector-p-12698.html)
[Archi-TECH `C26E-805D0`](https://programatory.archi-tech.com.pl/en_US/p/EDGE-Connector-Amiga-600%2C-A600%2C-80pin/60)
[AMIGAstore.eu `A600-edge-connector-01`](https://amigastore.eu/en/783-amiga-600-trap-door-connector-for-the-edge-expansion-port.html)|
| `J2`, `J3`| Dual 30-pin SIMM socket, single-row, low-profile| Amphenol `821832-2`
Amphenol `821850-2`
*good luck finding one of those :'(*|
| `C1` | Electrolytic capacitor, ∅5 mm ⨯ 11 mm, 47 µF, 16 V | *Generic* |
The memory modules supplied with the MP602A pictured above are Texas Instruments `TMS4256HU8-15`. They should match the specifications of `TM4256GU8` mentioned in the [datasheet](doc/ti_tm4256hu8_datasheet.pdf), an exception being the missing `/PRD` pin (`NC` on the `HU8` variant).
### Notes
* Please note the the MP602A is not a good fit for the A600: the board with all four SIMMs fitted is too bulky for the trapdoor cover to close properly. The constant force pushing down on the memory modules causes contact issues and leads to memory access errors.
* The [`doc/`](doc/) folder contains additional documentation for the connectors and memory modules.
* The PCB layout ruleset is configured for manufacturing with [AISLER B.V.](https://aisler.net/de), however as the SIMM sockets are exceedingly difficult to source, I do not expect anyone to actually try build one of these.
## Licensing
If not stated otherwise, the contents of this project are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International Public License. The full license text is provided in the [LICENSE](LICENSE) file.
SPDX-License-Identifier: CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0