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Macintosh Portable - A couple questions (RAM!)

GregorHouse

Well-known member
Dear Mac enthusiasts,

Finally I could figure out what was wrong with my Mac Portable backlit model and I brought it back to life yesterday afternoon. Not a really big deal, just a broken path, but it was under a chip, so it was quite difficult to find.

Anyway, now that it works fine I have a couple questions:

-First: when should the screen backlight turn on? I thought it came on at the same time I turn the computer on, but for some reason it doesn't until it loads the first extension. I don't really care, as it works perfectly fine, it's just curiosity.

-Second and more important: I have an official 1MB external RAM card that prevents the mac from booting. It gets in a boot chime loop and, if I press the interrupt switch I get a sadmac error 03001300 // 00001FFA or 03001382 // 00001FFA.

I assume I have a bad RAM card, but reading the thread about @techknight 9MB project (incredible work, so sad it's no longer available) I seemed to understand that RAM cards were different for models M5120 and M5126, so maybe I have a wrong card. I leave a picture here, in case someone may check it.

I looked in Ebay, but currently there is nothing available. I'd appreciate if someone have one laying around that may want to sell it to me.

Thank you!!!!!

IMG_6115.jpg

IMG_6116.jpg

 

Papichulo

Well-known member
The powerbook 100 does the same thing with backlight not lighting up until it starts booting and makes a cracking sound in the speaker. The portable is alot like the 100.

 

GregorHouse

Well-known member
The powerbook 100 does the same thing with backlight not lighting up until it starts booting and makes a cracking sound in the speaker. The portable is alot like the 100.


It doesn't bother me, it's just curiosity, as in all videos I have seen the backlight starts right away.

Well, I found the same card I have on Ebay, and it's stated as a M5126 model, so I guess I have the correct one. So now I'm checking the J11 RAM socket on my board comparing to the schematics. I found there is no continuity in pin nº28 "AS". According to schematics it should connect to U12D 68K processor pin nº6 "AS". But as the schematics are for M5120 and I'm aware there were some differences between the two models refering to RAM, I'm not sure if I really have a problem here. I couldn't find it connecting to anywhere, and J10-28 and J12-72 are in fact connected to AS in the CPU, which matches the schematics.

Any help here?

 

GregorHouse

Well-known member
Nah, J11-28 is connected to a couple of logic gates on the left side of the board, so it doesn't look like to follow the schematic from the M5120. I'll try to get a new RAM board and see what happens.

 

techknight

Well-known member
That RAM card is for the 5126 Backlit. 

Maceffects will have some RAM cards back on the market hopefully soon. 

 

GregorHouse

Well-known member
That RAM card is for the 5126 Backlit. 

Maceffects will have some RAM cards back on the market hopefully soon. 
Finally the guy on Ebay answered and he’s sending me the card. By the way, can I solder the RAM chips, assuming they’re OK, from the old card to the new one? Would that increase its capacity?

 

glay78

Well-known member
Finally the guy on Ebay answered and he’s sending me the card. By the way, can I solder the RAM chips, assuming they’re OK, from the old card to the new one? Would that increase its capacity?
Hi great work there. To answer you my M5126 also turn on it’s backlight when extensions are loaded but sometimes it will boot with backlight. So I don’t really bother too. Anyway did you install the backlight control panel which allows you to adjust the brightness?

Also I’m keen on the memory card too, can you link me the seller? 

 

GregorHouse

Well-known member
Hi great work there. To answer you my M5126 also turn on it’s backlight when extensions are loaded but sometimes it will boot with backlight. So I don’t really bother too. Anyway did you install the backlight control panel which allows you to adjust the brightness?

Also I’m keen on the memory card too, can you link me the seller? 
Sure!

https://www.ebay.es/itm/293500755673

Anyway, stay tuned to @maceffects, as they will be soon selling technight’s design, which is 8MB for the backlit.

About the backlit behavior I think it’s just its normal way, to light up when the control panel is loaded (yep I installed it). Because if the computer crashes and I press the reset button, or if I remove the battery and the backup 9V for a while, then the light turns on as soon as a key is pressed.

 

glay78

Well-known member
Sure!

https://www.ebay.es/itm/293500755673

Anyway, stay tuned to @maceffects, as they will be soon selling technight’s design, which is 8MB for the backlit.

About the backlit behavior I think it’s just its normal way, to light up when the control panel is loaded (yep I installed it). Because if the computer crashes and I press the reset button, or if I remove the battery and the backup 9V for a while, then the light turns on as soon as a key is pressed.
Oh I usually don’t put the 9v batt in. I thought the 8mb is release. I got 2mb on now, wish to have more.

 

GregorHouse

Well-known member
Oh I usually don’t put the 9v batt in. I thought the 8mb is release. I got 2mb on now, wish to have more.
Actually 9V is absolutely needless, unless you want to change battery while thr computer is running (in sleep mode). Or in case you run out of battery power and the computer shuts itself down.

You can solder the chips for three cards onto the same card. That will give you 3MB in the slot plus 1MB on board, 4MB. Whic isn’t bad. It’s easier to find three card rather than the chips alone.

Macaffects card will be 7MB for the backlit and 8MB for the original, giving a total RAM of 8MB on the backlit and 9 MB on the original. Last post about it, they showed a prototype and claimed they would have the “commercial” version very soon. I’d like to buy one of those anyway. 

 

glay78

Well-known member
Actually 9V is absolutely needless, unless you want to change battery while thr computer is running (in sleep mode). Or in case you run out of battery power and the computer shuts itself down.

You can solder the chips for three cards onto the same card. That will give you 3MB in the slot plus 1MB on board, 4MB. Whic isn’t bad. It’s easier to find three card rather than the chips alone.

Macaffects card will be 7MB for the backlit and 8MB for the original, giving a total RAM of 8MB on the backlit and 9 MB on the original. Last post about it, they showed a prototype and claimed they would have the “commercial” version very soon. I’d like to buy one of those anyway. 
Yes I’m keen if they have the 8mb version too, hopefully affordable 

 

GregorHouse

Well-known member
Techknight’s design has a jumper to activate or not the last MB, and so fits both portables, 5120 and 5126 each at its maximum RAM capacity

 
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