Color Classic

[LarBob]

I received this Color Classic earlier today and after replacing the HD and adjusting the CRT, it works great. Too bad I can't even open the Stuffit 5.5 installer because it only has 4 mb of RAM. If anyone has an img of Stuffit 4.0.2 let me know because I can't find one online (I'm writing the floppies on my Windows 10 machine using winimage). I got it for $60 not including shipping.

https://youtu.be/uGjuIYXe0LM

Where can I even get RAM for this thing? I've read it supports a max of 10 MB (well, 12, but only 10 is addressable either way...).

 

[bibilit]

Ram is pretty common, same found on most Compacts (30 pin)

 

[omidimo]

This will do the trick for you : http://www.ebay.com/itm/142293920010(solid seller)

 

[EvilCapitalist]

Just about any 4MB SIMMs should work, but if you're concerned definitely use the link omidimo posted.  I've bought a bunch of stuff from that seller and never had any problems.

 

[LarBob]

I bought the RAM. This is going to be a nice machine!

 

[omidimo]

If it does not have an FPU, get one, helps with some apps/games. http://www.ebay.com/itm/361796628220

 

[LarBob]

If it does not have an FPU, get one, helps with some apps/games. http://www.ebay.com/itm/361796628220

Would this one work? http://www.ebay.com/itm/MC68882FN16A-Original-New-Motorola-Math-Coprocessor-68-Pin-PQCC68-32-BIT-/401048060467?hash=item5d6053c233:g:Um0AAOSw~otWgvQT

 

[rsolberg]

Yup. That's the right one.

 

[LarBob]

Yup. That's the right one.
 

Thank you!

So with a network card, FPU, and memory, it'll be at the best configuration possible (besides Mystic, Takky, etc.), correct?

 

[jsarchibald]

Well, you can do the LC 550 logic board swap, which essentially makes it a Color Classic II, and the ports at the back line up so the cover plate still works.

Or you can buy an upgrade, I just got a Sonnet Presto card that has a full 68040 on it running at 25MHz, an FPU and an MMU, or you can go the Presto Plus, which I think give you up to 40MHz.  There are also other options too.

 

[omidimo]

550 motherboard is the easiest upgrade, but the 575(Mystic) is beefier that needs a little ResEdit work.

Getting the motherboards is not as easy as it used to be, so you have to be patient. The quickest way to get one to buy a cheap/broken model like this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/172577238451, use the motherboard and sell everything else back as scraps. 

 

[LarBob]

Well, you can do the LC 550 logic board swap, which essentially makes it a Color Classic II, and the ports at the back line up so the cover plate still works.

Or you can buy an upgrade, I just got a Sonnet Presto card that has a full 68040 on it running at 25MHz, an FPU and an MMU, or you can go the Presto Plus, which I think give you up to 40MHz.  There are also other options too.

Thank you, I meant besides swapping the logic board. Aren't the Sonnet cards pretty rare?

 

[omidimo]

Unicorns. 

 

[jsarchibald]

They pop up, I got mine from a fellow user last month, but that was a Presto, not the coveted Presto Plus.  Will need to pop it in mine to see how it runs, the benchmarks look impressive and it's running 7.6.1 so it needs all the horsepower it can get.

 

[rsolberg]

The other upgrade you might want to consider is taking the VRAM to 512KB by adding a 256KB module. The same seller as the RAM has some listed: http://r.ebay.com/wpnmId

The CC has 256KB on board and one slot adjacent to the two RAM slots that can accept a 256KB 68-pin 100ns or faster VRAM module. 512KB enables 16-bit/thousands of colours instead of 256 colours. If that slot's populated, you already have the full 512KB.

 

[EvilCapitalist]

My CC came with a Presto originally and it was noticeably faster with it installed versus stock, especially at things like pulling down menus and screen redraws.  The only downside was that the original Presto couldn't be installed when the extra VRAM was present.  Keep a look out on eBay for Prestos though.  Very occasionally they'll pop up for sale.  I haven't seen the elusive Presto Plus on eBay in quite some time though so you'd have to be content with the original flavor.

I'd also recommend the 550 board for the same reasons as jsarchibald, and recapping for everything if that hasn't already been done.

 

[EvieSigma]

I saw your post on LEM so I went on there myself looking for a CC...wish me luck!