Ultimate 1MB Upgrade FJC FIRMWARE

Description

Oh The ultimate memory upgrade for Atari XE/XL 8-bit computers.

Ultimate is one of the best ATARI 8bit internal upgrades ever, invented by my great friend, Sebastian Bartkowicz aka Candle’o”Sin –  http://spiflash.org/ . Installation of this upgrade takes me approx. 5 minutes and even a rookie can handle it at home – without finding a professional technician and extra costs!

It’s easy, it’s simple, it’s FUN! Also, in the present version, some fixes were applied in comparison to the initial release. Now it’s 100% “safe and sound”. Of course, what would be a bundle of wires without software support?

Features

• As solderless as possible (only RW, PHI2, HALT and RESET lines need soldering when MMU and OS ROM are socketed)
• fully flashable SpartaDOS-X with up to 320kbytes for its purposes
• Real-Time Clock module for SDX with battery backup and NVRAM
• fully flashable 4 OS ROM slots
• hardware WRITE PROTECT for the whole Flash array
• configurable memory expansion with 4 modes of operation (disabled, 320k RAMBO, 578k COMPY SHOP, 1088k RAMBO)
• customizable BASIC and MISSLE COMMAND slots (also flashable)
• compatible with all XL/XE machines (600XL needs 64kB of RAM first)

INSTALLATION STEP BY STEP:

• locate  MMU (20 pins) and OS ROM (28 pins) and their pins no1

The general rule of pin identification – click for a larger picture

 

• If Your chips are in sockets:
  • Remove  MMU (20 pins) and OS ROM (28 pins) chips from their sockets
  • Insert flat cable with “chip-adapter” side into MMU and OS ROM sockets ( RED STRIPE  cable indicates PIN 1 of the removed chip)
  • Make proper 4wire connection of ULTIMATE with CPU  – CLICK 
  • Connect flat cables with “IDC-side” to the ultimate board ( RED STRIPE cable indicates PIN 1 ultimate connector)
  • Fix ULTIMATE PCB inside Atari
• If Your chips are not in sockets:
  • desolder MMU (20 pins) and OS ROM (28 pins) from Atari PCB
  • Solder sockets into Atari PCB (sockets are not supplied by me)
  • Insert flat cable with “chip-adapter” side into MMU and OS ROM sockets ( RED STRIPE  cable indicates PIN 1 of the removed chip)
  • Make a proper connection with supplied 4wire cable between ULTIMATE and  CPU  – CLICK 
  • Connect flat cables with “IDC-side” to the ultimate board ( RED STRIPE cable indicates PIN 1 ultimate connector)
  • Fix ULTIMATE PCB inside Atari

READY!  You can power on Atari, enter setup (HELP + RESET) and adjust all you want!

Videos:

 

Files:

Links are hosted by FJC.  All below updates shall be considered as 3rd party and not supported by me.

http://atari8.co.uk/firmware/ultimate-1mb/ 

• Ultimate firmware
• Ultimate 1MB and Incognito BIOS and XEX Loader: User Manual (PDF)
• Ultimate BIOS Technical Documentation and Developer Guide
• PBI BIOS v.1.0 for Ultimate and Incognito

 

Disclaimer: 

• If you are not familiar with soldering or you do not have proper tools, please LET a pro technician do it for you.
• Please remember – wrong tool usage or low skills may damage atari and ultimately; any damage/harm to your hardware is NOT subject to any kind of warranty.
• Installation is easy, but inexperienced hands can do a lot of damage.