Non-functioning 130XE ... scavenge for parts?

[Synthpopalooza]

I have an Atari 130XE computer which does not work ... it doesn't turn on properly with the power adapter I have ... red screen.

 

I do also have a Atari 1200XL which is currently up and running. Is there any way that I can take the extra ram from my 130XE and add it to my 1200XL?

 

Alternatively, can the POKEY chip be harvested from the 130XE and soldered to the 1200XL for dual POKEY? Is the POKEY seated or soldered on the 130XE?

[+DrVenkman]

I have an Atari 130XE computer which does not work ... it doesn't turn on properly with the power adapter I have ... red screen.

 

I do also have a Atari 1200XL which is currently up and running. Is there any way that I can take the extra ram from my 130XE and add it to my 1200XL?

 

Alternatively, can the POKEY chip be harvested from the 130XE and soldered to the 1200XL for dual POKEY? Is the POKEY seated or soldered on the 130XE?

 

All chips on the 130XE's are soldered unless one of them failed during factory testing and had to be replaced on the line. Whenever that happened they install a socket, otherwise nada.

 

As for whether you can salvage the parts, it depends. Do you trust your soldering skills to be able to remove 16-pin to 40-pin IC's without damaging any of the legs? If so, then yes. And good luck!

 

You won't be able to use the RAM or POKEY in your 1200XL without rigging up some kind of PCB to mount them, wiring up a mod circuit for the memory to allow the system to bankswitch it as needed, and basically the same for the second POKEY. Unless you're a very dedicated hobbyist with whole lotta time and patience, it's easier in both cases to buy something like a U1MB and stereo POKEY board from Lotharek, or one of Dropcheck's 256K memory boards and some loose ram chips.

[Xebec]

Having just repaired a 1200XL, and being in the middle of repairing extended RAM that isn't working on the 130XE. A couple things to consider:

 

- Check voltage on the power supply.

 

- If it just RAM and nothing else, there are ways to flip which ram bank the XE uses as main ram. Here's the how-to -- you just swap where two resistors connect to and the middle RAM will be 0-64kB instead of 64-128KB.

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/218035-atari-130xe-ram-test-failure/?do=findComment&comment=2856697%C2%A0%C2%A0

 

- The XE is more easily *replacable* if something breaks during your attempts to fix it. However, beware how frail the PCB Is. I desoldered all 8 ram chips on the 2nd bank, and while trying to lift up two desoldered chips I inadvertently cut two traces. I'm working on fixing this.

 

- You probably already know this but the 1200XL ROM is incompatible with more software than either an 800 or 800XL/130XE, I understand it's the least compatible machine.

 

- I recommend the Ultimate 1MB If you're going to spend some money/effort on upgrading the 1200XL. It addresses both the ROM and the "I need more ram" issues quite well.

Edited July 22, 2017 by Xebec

[Mathy]

Hello guys

 

Try Jürgen's Sys-Check. It plugs into the XL (except the 1200XL) and XE (except the XEGS and those 65XE's that have no ECI) and tells you what's wrong. Jürgen often goes by the nickname tfhh or tf_hh.

 

Sincerely

 

Mathy