Mac 512kE to 1MB Upgrade. Opinions, should I do it, or not?

[jimjimx]

I’ve been thinking of it, on and off, for a few years.

I would use the method, starting on p27 of:

http://www.ccadams.org/se/classicmac2.pdf

I know that some people think that only “plug in” mods should be made, and that soldering chips onto the logic board ruins the whole thing, and kills the experience, and value, etc.

But as we all know, if the price of RAM at the time allowed it, they would have done it!

I can get this done for under $20.

Plus It’d be fun to back up a disk, with only 1 swap!

Load a bigger system... Type more, before it asks me to "Insert Disk".

Maybe somebody reading this did this upgrade, and can tell me how they like it, or any problems they had.

I’m just looking for thoughts, opinions, ideas, hate or love.

 

[Byrd]

Personally I'd just get a Plus board, and store the 512KE board away.

 

[jimjimx]

I thought about that, but I don't want more stuff, and the upgrade is only $20, vs the cost of a Plus....

And then I'd be looking to upgrade the Plus to 4MB. Ha ha.

 

[CharlieFrown]

Personally I'd just get a Plus board, and store the 512KE board away.

you'd still need Plus back case to fit newer serial port. 

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Successful limitation of the number of Compact Macs in a collection to a value of two after an increase to that level has yet to be reported. [)] ]'>

 

[Gorgonops]

Successful limitation of the number of Compact Macs in a collection to a value of two after an increase to that level has yet to be reported. [ ) ]

Hah! I have only two (a 512k-no-E and a Plus) and it's stayed at that level for four years now. What do I win?

Re the original subject, I've pondered doing the same modification to my 512k (I have a pile of the appropriate memory chips lying around, courtesy of an Apple IIgs with a blown motherboard), although mine being a non-E model it's probably slightly less justified. 512k Macs aren't exactly "rare" so it's not as if you'll be destroying a priceless artifact by cutting a couple motherboard traces on one, so if your focus of enjoyment in the hobby is "reliving the old days" verses curating a museum piece, well, why not? Worst case you'll have to blow a few bucks on eBay for a new board.

The trick about this sort of modification is to keep all the wiring as short and neat as possible. The Mac isn't fast enough for signal skew to be a *huge* issue, but it's still a consideration. (And messy wiring can also act like antennas, both broadcasting and receiving glitch-inducing hash.)

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Hah! I have only two (a 512k-no-E and a Plus) and it's stayed at that level for four years now. What do I win?

Another Mac Plus, pm your address. [}] ]'>

 

[jimjimx]

Forget the whole "Plus" section, If I wanted a Plus, i'd go get one. 'Nuff said......

Wait.... What? 

I asked for ideas, thoughts, comments, experience, on doing this to a 512kE.

If I had a Plus, I wouldn't want the extra RAM to copy floppy disks....

it's already there..

I'M NOT TRYING TO MAKE THIS A MACINTOSH PLUS. 

JUST A HAPPIER 512kE.

 

[bigmessowires]

If you're looking for opinions, I would say no. Each machine represents an interesting snapshot in time, with less capable machines before it and more capable ones after. Unless you're trying to use a 1985 computer for practical every-day work, I don't see the value in modifying it for an "upgrade". Let it be what it was meant to be.

 

[jimjimx]

Gorgonops ....... You just put me over the top. Thank You!

I"m gonna do it!

if Apple could have done it for $20, they would have...

I can do it for $20, so I will....

I NEVER mentioned that I wanted to make this a Plus, just add more RAM.

I love this 512kE, and will show respect to it, by upgrading it to 1MB!

FXXK! I bought it for $17, on 1/2 price Monday at a thrift store, in a 3rd party carry bag, with "Mac Bottom", external floppy drive, network cables, modem cable, Key & mouse, etc......

when I left the store, i left quick, thinking they were going to grab me for theft, at that price.....

I've put a new gear in the floppy, and it"s all happy again.

And when friends type on it, they say "everything else disappears", referring to the rest of the world, all distractions, and people that start every sentence with the word "hashtag".....

 

[jimjimx]

If you're looking for opinions, I would say no. Each machine represents an interesting snapshot in time, with less capable machines before it and more capable ones after. Unless you're trying to use a 1985 computer for practical every-day work, I don't see the value in modifying it for an "upgrade". Let it be what it was meant to be.

 Thank You for contributing to my inquiry. I appericeate it much!!

I just want to let you know that I've decided to do it, because as I've said, Apple would have done it, if they could have done it for $20

I don't use this as a "Look what I got" computer, I actually use it. I spend the time to do triple backups on it, and a file with all my passwords is on the disk, as it's not going to be hacked, or looked at by invaders.

And I still hope to read more comments, ideas, love & hate, and experience, about this idea......

 

[jimjimx]

 I've pondered doing the same modification to my 512k (I have a pile of the appropriate memory chips lying around, courtesy of an Apple IIgs with a blown motherboard), although mine being a non-E model it's probably slightly less justified. 512k Macs aren't exactly "rare" so it's not as if you'll be destroying a priceless artifact by cutting a couple motherboard traces on one, so if your focus of enjoyment in the hobby is "reliving the old days" verses curating a museum piece, well, why not? Worst case you'll have to blow a few bucks on eBay for a new board.

Yes. I agree. If it was't an 800k, I don't think I'd have the question......   Although.... 1MB..... 400k..... Hrrrmm........  It's only $20, and it'll be fun!!!

Imagine the extensions that could be loaded..

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Sorry for jumping on the Plus tangent without replying. Got mixed up, I'd replied to the SCSI upgrade thread, not yours.

Go for it, definitely! Every Mac does have it's niche in the product line to be enjoyed for what it is. For me that means packed with every upgrade, expansion a/o acceleration product or hack with which any given Mac is compatible. Most of the time my collection is about pushing beyond those limits wherever possible, however improbable.

Hack it and enjoy your expanded play zone. [] ]'>

 

[bigmessowires]

a file with all my passwords is on the disk, as it's not going to be hacked, or looked at by invaders.

Ah yes. I've thought about doing something similar with one of my old Macs. It's funny - although vintage computers are mainly of interest to tech geeks as curiosities, I see increasing interest and value in using them for privacy reasons. If you're super paranoid about spyware, and need a computer where you can be totally confident there's not some hidden NSA process watching you, a 30 year old computer fits the requirements nicely.

I have this vision of a day when the entire internet and every modern computer is brought down by some global malware pandemic. It'll be chaos everywhere, with society verging on the brink of collapse, until someone emerges from the smoke and rubble holding a Mac 512Ke still running System 3. The world is saved!!

 

[BadGoldEagle]

I have this vision of a day when the entire internet and every modern computer is brought down by some global malware pandemic. It'll be chaos everywhere, with society verging on the brink of collapse, until someone emerges from the smoke and rubble holding a Mac 512Ke still running System 3. The world is saved!!

I'd watch that! Now all you need to do is write the script...  |)

I think you should do it. Just be careful with the traces you have to cut, don't cut too much! Everything will be technically reversible... you would just have to add a couple of jumper wires that's all

 

[Gorgonops]

If you're looking for opinions, I would say no. Each machine represents an interesting snapshot in time, with less capable machines before it and more capable ones after. Unless you're trying to use a 1985 computer for practical every-day work, I don't see the value in modifying it for an "upgrade". Let it be what it was meant to be.

As a counterpoint, I'd point out that some of the most interesting machines in my personal collection are ones that were obviously owned by "power users" who weren't afraid to sink a few bucks and some elbow grease into cheap hacks to push a computer to the next level verses following the official upgrade path. I frankly find it sort of mystifying/depressing how many people when presented with (what was) a 128K Macintosh fitted with awesomely clever expansion boards that make it the equivalent (or better) than a Plus using the original motherboard are more interested in lobotomizing it back to its original (near useless) state verses appreciating the machine for what it is. (IE, a real workhorse that was well used and possibly well loved well into the 1990's. A pristine 128K is almost certainly one that spent 30 years in a closet.)

 

[jimjimx]

Yeah. No. Gorgonops. As I said: we all know that if Apple could have done it for $20, they would have. And/ or, if they knew people would buy it, for what it cost at the time, they would have done it.

256k DRAM is under $0.80,  and the demultiplexer is the same.

A few $0.20 resistors & caps, bam, it's done.

The hard work was given to me, and I just need to follow directions, and as I always comment to my co-workers, neatness counts!!

Stand on the shoulders of the people that came before you, not their head, breaking their neck!

I've already decided to do this, although I probably won't start the physical work for another 4 - 5 months, as, I'd like to dedicate space and time, so that I can do it in a single day, I'll be ordering the components  (and checking the speed of the current RAMs so that I match the speed!)

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

It's about time someone documented a cool hack to an early Mac around here. Can't wait to see how it goes. [] ]'>