RAM Cards
Contents
- 1 Apple II RAM Cards
- 2 Apple IIgs Ram Card Examples
- 3 Apple //e RAM Expansion Information
- 4 Apple //e Ram Card Examples
- 5 Apple ][+ / Slot 1-7
- 6 Apple //c - IIc Plus RAM Card Examples
- 7 Other Cards/Cards that contain RAM expansion
- 8 Misc. RAM Card Related Information & Problem Solutions
- 8.1 A //e type RAM Card Makes the Machine Lockup
- 8.2 Revision A Apple //e Motherboard Information
- 8.3 Were Sorry, but XXXXXXX Program Requires 128K
- 8.4 AppleWorks doesn't see my newly added memory
- 8.5 RAM Chip Types / Compatibility
- 8.6 256 x 8 - DIP 16 pin
- 8.7 256 x 8 - 30 Pin SIMM
- 8.8 1024K x 8 (1 Meg) 18 Pin DIP
- 8.9 1024K x 8 (1 Meg) 30 Pin SIMM
Apple II RAM Cards
Apple IIgs
Memory Expansion Cards for the Apple IIgs will ONLY work in a IIgs Memory Expansion Slot. These are for the most part, compatible with either the ROM 00/01 or 3 motherboards, with some exception on early Applied Engineering IIgs Specific cards prior to Rev. C.
Apple IIgs Ram Card Examples
The following is a description of the types of cards and what the limitations are.
Apple IIgs Cards that use 41256 - 256K( x 1) - 16 Pin DIPs
8 Chips make one bank of 256K
Card Name
|
Manufacturer
|
Capacity
|
| The Apple IIgs Memory Expansion Apple Computer. 1024K / 1 Meg. | ||
| DaynaRAM | MEXCEL | 1024K / 1 Meg. |
| RAMStak Plus | AST Reseach | 1024K / 1 Meg. |
| Super Expander GS | Price Busters | 1024K / 1 Meg. |
| MultiRAM GS | CheckMate Tech. | 1024K / 1 Meg. |
| GS RAM (Not GS RAM Plus) | Applied Engineering | 1536K / 1.5 Meg. |
| GS Juice (Not GS Juice Plus) | Applied Ingenuity | 1024K / 1 Meg. |
Apple IIgs Cards that use 44256 - 1024K (256K x 4) - 20 Pin DIPs
8 Chips make one bank of 1024K, as 256K x 4 each.
Card Name
|
Manufacturer
|
Capacity
|
| GS RAM Ultra | Applied Engineering | 2048K / 2 Meg. |
| GS RAM II | Applied Engineering | 4096K / 4 Meg. |
| RAMPak 4 GS | Orange Micro | 4096K / 4 Meg. |
Apple IIgs Cards that use 41024 - 1024K(x 1)
8 Chips make one bank of 1024K
Card Name
|
Manufacturer
|
Capacity
|
| GS RAM Plus | Applied Engineering | 6144K / 6 Meg. |
| GS Juice Plus | Applied Ingenuity | 4096K / 4 Meg. |
| S&S RAM Card | Silicon & Software | 4096K / 4 Meg. |
| Super Expander GS 4 Meg. | Price Busters | 4096K / 4 Meg. |
| Chinook RAM 4000 | Chinook Technology | 4096K / 4 Meg. |
| CV Tech 4 Meg. Card | CV Technologies | 4096K / 4 Meg. |
| GS RAM III (Uses ZIPs) | Applied Engineering | 4096K / 4 Meg. |
Apple IIgs Cards that use 1024K (1 Meg) SIMMs
SIMMs for Apple products are 'x 8' but can be 'x 9'. 2 and 3 chip SIMMs are generally incompatible.
Card Name
|
Manufacturer
|
Capacity
|
| OctoRAM | MDIdeas | 8192K / 8 Meg. |
| GS Sauce | Harris Labs | 4096K / 4 Meg. |
| Q RAM | Quality Computers | 4096K / 4 Meg. |
Apple //e RAM Expansion Information
Memory Expansion cards for the Apple //e can be for the Auxiliary Expansion Slot and these will only work with a //e, or clone, or they could be the Slot 1-7 type, also known as Slinky Cards. See below.
Apple //e RAM Cards Explained
The 'Extended 80 Column Card'
This is the most common memory expansion the //e has. It consists of an additional 64K added to the Apple //e. It is many times incorrectly called a '128K card', it is not. What it does is, when added to the Apple //e, the total memory available to most programs increases to 128K. 70% of all //e specific software knows how to use this card, where-as 15% of //e specific software knows 'about' any memory past the 128K. AppleWorks 3.0 & Publish-It 4 are two examples of programs that require ATLEAST 128K but will use more memory if it is available.
When a program says "Requires 128K" This is the card you need to make that run. Also, newer programs required an enhanced //e as well. This is not the same. In addition to the 80 col/64K card, an enhancement kit may be required.
Apple //e Ram Card Examples
These Cards are for the //e ONLY. All Cards mentioned under this header are installed in the Apple //e Auxiliary Slot.
The following is a description of the types of cards and what the limitations are.
Apple //e Cards that use 4164 - 64K( x 1) - 16 Pin DIPs
8 Chips make one bank of 64K
Card Name
|
Manufacturer
|
Capacity
|
| Apple Extended 80 Column Card | Apple Computer. | 64K |
| Maxview 80e | MicroMax | 128K |
| 80/64Ke | Apricorn | 64K |
|
Apple //e Cards that use 41256 - 256K( x 1) - 16 Pin DIPs
8 Chips make one bank of 256K
Card Name
|
Manufacturer
|
Capacity
|
| Super Expander E | Price Busters | 1024K / 1 Meg. |
| MultiRAM | CheckMate Tech. | 1024K / 1 Meg. |
| 512K Extended * | Ninth Wave / Baum Bros. | 512K / 1 Meg. Max |
| RAMWorks I * | Applied Engineering | 512K / 1 Meg. Max |
| RAMWorks II & III * | Applied Engineering | 1024K / 3 Meg. Max |
| RAMWorks I Expander | Applied Engineering | 512K (Piggyback Module) |
| 1024K Expander | Applied Engineering | 1024K (Piggyback Module) |
| Q RAM //e | Quality Computers | 1024k / 1 Meg. |
- *The AE RAMWorks cards use expander modules to achieve the maximum expansion. The RAMWorks I / Baum Brothers RAM cards are only compatible with the 512K module. The 512K, 1024K and 2 Meg Expander Plus modules are compatible with the RAMWorks II and III.
Apple //e Cards that use 41024 - 1024K( x 1)
8 Chips make one bank of 1024K
Card Name
|
Manufacturer
|
Capacity
|
| Q-RAM //e | Sequential Systems | 1024K (ZIPs / Soldered) |
| 2 Meg Expander Plus | Applied Engineering | 2048K (Piggyback Module) |
Apple ][+ / Slot 1-7
Cards for the Apple ][+ will work in a //e or IIgs as well, are usually known as 'slinky' (slot 1-7) RAM Cards and will not function the same as RAM cards for the RAM expansion connectors, meaning they will not be seen by the system as available RAM. Only on an individual software level will they be recognized.
Apple ][+ & //e Compatible RAM Card Examples
These Cards are mainly for the ][+ but will also work in a //e. Some even have special uses in the //e. All Cards mentioned under this header are installed in Slots 1-7. The EXCEPTION is the Language card type cards. (16K)
The following is a description of the types of cards and what the limitations are.
Apple ][/][+ Language Cards (Slot 0)
Cards that use 4116 chips. (16K x 1) - 8 chips make 16K. The same as what the ][ / ][+ motherboard uses.
Card Name
|
Manufacturer
|
Capacity
|
| Apple Language System | Apple Computer. | 16K. |
| SoftCard | Microsoft | 16K. |
| 16K Card | Computer Stop | 16K. |
| Various Pieces of Junk | Taiwan R.O.C. | 16K |
Slot 1-7 Cards that use 4164 - 64K( x 1)
8 Chips make one bank of 64K
Card Name
|
Manufacturer
|
Capacity
|
| 128 Expander | MPD/Price Busters | 128K |
| Saturn 128 | Saturn Systems | 128K |
| The Apple II Memory Expansion* Apple Computer. 1024K / 1 Meg. |
- The Apple II Memory Expansion (A2B2086) uses either 64K or 256K DRAMs. They can not be mixed. The Max with 64K DRAMs would be 256K while with 256K DRAMs it would be 1024K.
Slot 1-7 Cards that use 41256 - 256K( x 1)
8 Chips make one bank of 256K
Card Name
|
Manufacturer
|
Capacity
|
| The Apple II Memory Expansion* | Apple Computer. | 1024K / 1 Meg. |
| SMT Memory Expansion* | SMT Peripherals Ltd. | 1024K / 1 Meg. |
| Super Expander + | Price Busters | 1024K / 1 Meg. |
| MultiRAM | CheckMate Tech. | 1024K / 1 Meg. |
| RAMFactor | Applied Engineering | 4096K / 3 Meg. |
| SprintDisk | AST Research, Inc. | 1024K / 1 Meg. |
- The Apple II Memory Expansion (A2B2086) uses either 64K or 256K DRAMs. They can not be mixed. The Max with 64K DRAMs would be 256K while with 256K DRAMs it would be 1024K.
Apple //c
Cards for the Apple //c will ONLY work in a //c, either plugged to the motherboard or the RAM Expansion connector depending on card/computer type. The RAM cards that piggyback onto the MMU and IOU chips will work on either //c but the cards that have the memory expansion connector only work with the Apple //c with Memory Expansion connector, or IIc Plus with some exceptions.
Apple //c - IIc Plus RAM Card Examples
Apple //c Cards that use 41256 - 256K( x 1) - 16 Pin DIPs
8 Chips make one bank of 256K
Card Name
|
Manufacturer
|
Capacity
|
//c or IIc Plus
|
| Apple //c Memory Expansion Card | Apple Computer. | 1024K / 1 Meg. | //c * |
| Super Expander C | Price Busters | 1024K / 1 Meg. | //c |
| MultiRAM CX & CX Plus | CheckMate Tech. | 1024K / 1 Meg. | //c |
| Z-RAM Ultra I,II & III | Applied Engineering | 1024K / 1 Meg. | //c |
| C-RAM | Chinook Technology | 1024K / 1 Meg. | IIc Plus |
| C-RAM | Sequential Systems | 1024K / 1 Meg. | IIc Plus |
| RAM Express | Applied Engineering | 1024K / 1 Meg. | IIc Plus |
- *The Apple branded card does not work with the IIc Plus unless a PAL is changed. The Apple card is the same as the Chinook/Sequential Systems and Applied Engineering RAM Express with the exception of the PAL(s). The Sequential and AE cards are good for either //c or IIc Plus.
Apple //c Cards that use 41024 (1024K x 1)
8 Chips make one bank of 1024K
Card Name
|
Manufacturer
|
Capacity
|
//c or IIc Plus
|
| RAMExpress II | Applied Engineering | 1024K / 1 Meg. | IIc Plus |
Other Cards/Cards that contain RAM expansion
There are many peripheral cards available for the Apple that use RAM for themselves, but when not in use, the RAM may serve as a RAM disk or some other system related use. Also, for lack of a better category, we will list things that would need SRAMs here too.
Eg: AE PC Transporter, PCPI Appli-Card, ZipGS, AE TransWarp GS and ImageBuffer II
The following is a description of the types of cards and what the limitations are.
Cards that use 4164s
Card Name
|
Manufacturer
|
Capacity
|
| PCPI-AppliCard (Starcard/CPM) | PCPI | 64K |
| Saturn 128K | Saturn Systems | 128K |
Cards that use 41256s
Card Name
|
Manufacturer
|
Capacity
|
| ImageBuffer II (ImageWriter II) | Orange Micro | 128K |
Cards that use 44256
Card Name
|
Manufacturer
|
Capacity
|
| AE PC Transporter Rev E | Applied Engineering | 768K |
Cards that use 4464 ZIPs
Card Name
|
Manufacturer
|
Capacity
|
| AE PC Transporter Rev A-D | Applied Engineering | 768K |
Cards that use 6264 and/or 62256 SRAMs
Card Name
|
Manufacturer
|
Capacity
|
| Zip GS Model 1600 & up | Zip Technology | 8/16/32/64K |
| TransWarp GS (45ns or LESS!) | Applied Engineering | 8K |
Misc. RAM Card Related Information & Problem Solutions
A //e type RAM Card Makes the Machine Lockup
... but when the card is removed, the machine works fine. There are two reasons why this could happen:
1)A Defective card. (Less likely)
2)The Apple //e has a Revision A Main Logic Board. (More Likely)
The fix for a revision A board is, upgrade to a //e Revision B motherboard. This used to be upgraded at an Apple Dealer for FREE, 100% FREE. These days, having a Revision A. //e board might be somewhat of a novelty.
This is how you used to do it:
Call your local Apple Authorized Dealer/Service Center and get the Apple //e Revision B Logic Board Upgrade. Call Apple Computer @ 408/996-1010 and ask for the toll free 800 number for the Apple Assistance Center, if located in the U.S. From there, the AAC will help them in locating a dealer that will preform the upgrade, and if needed call the dealer and remind them that their contract with Apple Computer states the dealer must SUPPORT ALL Apple Customers, regardless of computer type. If the customer has had problems with a local Apple Dealer, the AAC is also a good place to complain. (Thats what it's there for!!)
Revision A Apple //e Motherboard Information
What having a Revision A. //e means is you can not do DHR (Double Hi-Res) Graphics and can not use most RAM expansion cards without removing the jumper or cutting the "bow-tie".
Were Sorry, but XXXXXXX Program Requires 128K
A memory card for the ][, ][+ (Slot 1-7) will not fix this. The software is looking for an Apple //e with 128K. You must use memory expansion cards for the Auxiliary Slot in the //e.
AppleWorks doesn't see my newly added memory
Depending on the RAM card, and the computer type, the fix for this may be either a disk that came with the card to patch AppleWorks needs to be booted to see the memory or card, this is also known as a 'Pre-boot Disk', or the disk may contain an AppleWorks patch utility to fix your copy of AppleWorks to support this particular RAM card.
RAM Chip Types / Compatibility
RAM Cards for the Apple use CAS before RAS chips. Generally this is not a problem. These cards can use either DRAM chips or SIMMs. However, if a chip type is not listed here. Please find on that is or check with someone for the possibility of another chip type being compatible. (In which case it should get added to the list below)
Known compatible chips include (But may not be limited to) the following:
256 x 8 - DIP 16 pin
Manufacture
|
Model
|
Revision
|
| Enter | ||
| Something |
256 x 8 - 30 Pin SIMM
Manufacture
|
Model
|
Revision
|
| Enter | ||
| Something |
1024K x 8 (1 Meg) 18 Pin DIP
Manufacture
|
Model
|
Revision
|
| Enter | ||
| Something |
1024K x 8 (1 Meg) 30 Pin SIMM
Manufacture
|
Model
|
Revision
|
| Enter | ||
| Something |