morelenmir Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 This does RAM - period. If you just want half a meg of plug-in RAM, what could be better? Ultimate, meanwhile, provides the same RAM upgrade plus a plethora of other stuff which is well-documented, so the decision should be pretty easy, based on whether you need the other stuff or not. A plug-in 512KB upgrade is "better" if you don't want to do any soldering and want a portable upgrade. Yeah, I know what you mean - but sometimes its nice to go with a sharply delineated feature set. I really like this mod and will be watching it closely. This and a good floppy replacement like the ABBUC 'SIO2USB' would in some ways be a superior, more authentic system in my opinion. Also - the cartridge pass through is a real jewel of a function and that the "Ultimate1MB"/"SIDE2" badly lacks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flashjazzcat Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 Also - the cartridge pass through is a real jewel of a function and that the "Ultimate1MB"/"SIDE2" badly lacks. Ultimate/SIDE2 lacks a cartridge pass-thru because by inserting SIDE2, you have occupied the cartridge slot. This is exactly the same as placing a cartridge into the RAM320XE's pass-thru connector and then complaining that RAM320XE badly lacks a cartridge pass-thru. Ultimate 1MB (the RAM upgrade you're comparing with RAM320XE) does not occupy the cartridge slot, ECI or PBI connector at all. I'd be interested to know how an internal upgrade which does not occupy the cartridge slot could be improved by vacating the cartridge slot. Since RAM320XL (excellent RAM upgrade though it is) does not provide PBI HDD host adapter capabilities (as provided by the Ultimate/SIDE pairing) unless used with a third-party HDD adapter which may or may not provide cartridge pass-thru facility at the end of the chain, the comparison is - to say the least - apples with oranges. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morelenmir Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 Ultimate/SIDE2 lacks a cartridge pass-thru because by inserting SIDE2, you have occupied the cartridge slot. This is exactly the same as placing a cartridge into the RAM320XE's pass-thru connector and then complaining that RAM320XE badly lacks a cartridge pass-thru. Ultimate 1MB (the RAM upgrade you're comparing with RAM320XE) does not occupy the cartridge slot, ECI or PBI connector at all. I'd be interested to know how an internal upgrade which does not occupy the cartridge slot could be improved by vacating the cartridge slot. Since RAM320XL (excellent RAM upgrade though it is) does not provide PBI HDD host adapter capabilities (as provided by the Ultimate/SIDE pairing) unless used with a third-party HDD adapter which may or may not provide cartridge pass-thru facility at the end of the chain, the comparison is - to say the least - apples with oranges. Okay, well... I have bought my crap, fitted it and used it for a couple of months pretty much non-stop - so I feel like I have paid my dues to the 'have an opinion on the Ultimate1MB club'!!! At some point I'll have bought this new device as well. Going from my own experiences and the practical uses I have discovered for my rejuvenated system I personally think a RAM-only expansion of this type coupled with a fast SIO device fills all my needs. A dedicated hard drive, swappable OS ROMS and the rest is - for me - not proving to be especially useful, although I think I would probably miss the real-time clock. Certainly if I ever buy that much wished-for 130XE in the sky then I will fit it with a "RAM320XE" and a "SIO2SD"/"SIO2USB". Those will provide two sides of my 'upgrade triangle' while also leaving my cartridge slot free for a multicart to draw the remaining hypotenuse. That would be my advice to anyone coming to the Atari upgrade scene completely fresh - horses for courses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flashjazzcat Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 It it fulfils your needs, good. I used to have a RAM320XL and it was great. You have a right to an opinion, but the cart pass-thru argument is misleading. If a hard disk is not important (as appears to be the case), then SIDE2 is not a relevant part of the discussion. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marius Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 My philosophy is: if it is made for atari 8bit, it is good and I need (ehm. ... want) it. I love the simplicity of it so I ordered five. But when it comes to external ram upgrades I love the Turbo Freezer 2011 more. It's battery back upped and it comes with amazing other features. U1mb is fabulous too, and offers superb features. I don't understand your point about the cartridge port. U1mb gives the feature of having sdx and a cart in same time and as soon side2 is hooked up the cart port is occupied in any situation. ... also with 320xe upgrade. What you complain about is a downside of side2. That's why I prefer ide+ 2.0 which somes with a cart port. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morelenmir Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 My philosophy is: if it is made for atari 8bit, it is good and I need (ehm. ... want) it. I love the simplicity of it so I ordered five. But when it comes to external ram upgrades I love the Turbo Freezer 2011 more. It's battery back upped and it comes with amazing other features. U1mb is fabulous too, and offers superb features. I don't understand your point about the cartridge port. U1mb gives the feature of having sdx and a cart in same time and as soon side2 is hooked up the cart port is occupied in any situation. ... also with 320xe upgrade. What you complain about is a downside of side2. That's why I prefer ide+ 2.0 which somes with a cart port. I agree ProWizard. I guess at the end of the day if you are not using a hard drive very much and get more use from *.ATR's then unplug the thing and.. voila - a cartridge slot is available! It was more pressing before I got an "SIO2SD" as I found I was constantly trying to shoe-horn floppy disk drive functionality from the "SIDELoader" and 'MATR' - which neither quite fulfilled. Now I find I can fairly easily do without the hard drive. The "IDE+ 2.0" is damn nice... The only reason I didn't go in that direction was the fact Lotharek no longer stocks them and I saw a scary figure of ~£100 from a third party. At the time a VBXE seemed more pressing for the superior quality display. No doubt I will try to pick one up at some point. Anyway, so far as this excellent mod goes I am a total "RAM320XE576" convert. I think its the LED's that do it!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marius Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 Ask Simius. They are not that expensive. Cheap enough to donate one to my closest friends here on Atariage. Although I would have paid over £100 for him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebiguy Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 Hi citrad, I would like to get 3 complete RAM320XE/576 cards in enclosure. No Covox and no ECI pass thru. BTW, do you still have the XL version ? Thank you very much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
576XE Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 I'm happy with my RAM320XE/576Any news from Ctirad? Are there new projects? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Westphal Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 Is there anything that uses the covox speech yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
576XE Posted September 8, 2015 Share Posted September 8, 2015 Hi, Paul. I hered some demos with speech but using COVOX as speech engine... I'd like to ask is there right software for the matter? $D600 is a key too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpolak Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 Hi, if you have one more I'll take it with all the options. I sent you PM. Thanks a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 bumping this mainly as curious as to any updates on 1] more 576/320xe produciton 2] new run of 576/320XL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctirad Posted November 30, 2015 Author Share Posted November 30, 2015 1) No problem with RAM 320XE/576 production. I have a plenty of cards ready to send. 2) I have some general stability problems with the prototype of 576XL. I had no time so far to debug it precisely with an oscilloscope and a logic analyser. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plyr0 Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 Hi, citrad By any chance, would You have RAM 320XL full version (not 576+) for sell? Sorry for offtopic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gambler172 Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 Hi Ctirad any complete sets available? If yes pleae pm me greetings Walter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KLund1 Posted December 1, 2015 Share Posted December 1, 2015 Dose anyone have the 'manual' for the RAM320XE. I seem to have misplaced mine. I know I had some docs for it when I got it, but I can't seem to find them. Anyone have them handy to post here? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctirad Posted December 3, 2015 Author Share Posted December 3, 2015 Manual is included here: RAM320XE_english_unfinished_v3.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctirad Posted December 3, 2015 Author Share Posted December 3, 2015 Hi, citrad By any chance, would You have RAM 320XL full version (not 576+) for sell? Sorry for offtopic. I have single unit left somewhere but it does need to be fixed first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plyr0 Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 I have single unit left somewhere but it does need to be fixed first. If You would like to fix it and sell me - I would be grateful, please pm me then. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KLund1 Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 Thanks for posting the manual. !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elwood Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 I'm hoping that you'll have the XL cards sorted out soon. Will buy as soon as they are available. BTW maybe you have one more spare 320XL card laying around? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hergoth Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 Hello, I need one to my Atari 65 XE. The complete RAM320XE/576 card in enclosure 1200 CZKCovox audio +200 CZKECI pass-through connector +50 CZK and ship to Spain. Ctirad, could you tell me payment info? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctirad Posted December 9, 2015 Author Share Posted December 9, 2015 PM sent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hergoth Posted December 15, 2015 Share Posted December 15, 2015 (edited) Hi. I have just paid you with PayPal. PM sent. Thanks. Edited December 15, 2015 by hergoth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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