Mega STe 1.44 floppy behaviour and 1772/AJAX

Update your old 720k to a 1.44 drive etc.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Mega STe 1.44 floppy behaviour and 1772/AJAX

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Pacman wrote: Thu Apr 15, 2021 11:27 pm
rubber_jonnie wrote: Sun Apr 11, 2021 3:12 pm Out of curiosity what revision mainboard do you have? If it's B or later then the jumper wire between the GAL (PAL) and the CPU isn't required according to the 1.44MB upgrade manual from Atari.
I desoldered the wire and checked for continuity between the same pins -there was none, so I assume my "revision 4.1" MSTE motherboard means it's earlier than "revision B" (photo of my PCB here).

On a sidenote there's a resistor connecting two pins underneath another GAL chip to be used with a 68881 co-processor upgrade and thanks to a photo on Troed's website (the first photo showing the empty co-processor PLCC socket) I noticed the excellent idea of putting it in a socket on the other side instead (meaning no need to disassemble the entire computer in case a 68881 is to be installed). Thanks Troed!
Apart from these two "solder side modifications" I don't think there's any other need to fiddle with the solder-side again.
Given you have the GAL mod solder side as well, that suggests to me a pre rev B board, as the board in mine simply has a jumper for the FPU, and it came with an Ajax and 1.44MB FDD as factory fit.

That difference when looking at the instructions for both upgrades suggests you have the earlier board.
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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...
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Re: Mega STe 1.44 floppy behaviour and 1772/AJAX

Post by Pacman »

I believe you're right.
There's no jumper here for the FPU GAL either, like yours.
I didn't know the MSTE was ever supplied with HD floppy drives and AJAX controller chips as a factory installation!
STe | MonSTer with dual IDE-CF memory card adapter | NEC Multisync 1990SXi | ST_ESSC | RSVE | Link '97 | Sony HD floppy drive/AJAX controller | Exxos HD floppy module | Battery-backed Ricoh realtime clock module | Discovery cartridge | C-Lab Unitor-2 | C-Lab Export | C-Lab Combiner | C-Lab Steady Eye | C-Lab Human Touch | Unicorn USB

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Re: Mega STe 1.44 floppy behaviour and 1772/AJAX

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Pacman wrote: Fri Apr 16, 2021 10:38 am I didn't know the MSTE was ever supplied with HD floppy drives and AJAX controller chips as a factory installation!
The FDD pal is soldered in and the HD drive has an Atari part number and proper bezel, doesn't look upgraded. Can't recall if the Ajax is soldered in or not. I also have an STE that has an Ajax by default.
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...
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Re: Mega STe 1.44 floppy behaviour and 1772/AJAX

Post by DoG »

I also got a MSTe with built in 1.44 support from factory. I got one without as well. I also got TT with and without 1.44 from factory. It depends if it's a early model release.
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