Of Upgrades
Of all the great add-ons for the 464 Plus the most popular are the 64K RAM pack and the disk drive. They're also the most expensive... or are they? In the first part of a new series, PHIL CRAVEN tells you how to cut the cost of add-ons.
£10.72, you can save yourself at least £30 in the process!
It isn't widely known, but the main circuit boards of the 464 Plus and the 6128 Plus are identical, having identical circuit tracks and identical holes for the various components. The difference between the two models is that the 6128 Plus has the disk interface and extra 64K components fitted where the 464 Plus has holes and the 464 Plus has tape components fitted where the 6128 Plus has holes. So it doesn't take an Einstein to wonder if putting the extra 64k components into the correct holes in the 464 Plus' circuit board would produce a 128K computer - and it does! The same applies with the disk interface components (464 Plus) and the tape interface components (6128 Plus). But first - the extra 64K.
Assembling the upgrade kit is simple. There are ten components to buy and fit (see the parts list) but, before you rush to get them, take a little time to examine the task ahead and make sure that you are confident enough to perform it or that you know a man who is.
With all power turned off, remove all peripherals including the cartridge and tape from the computer and disconnect it from the monitor. Turn the computer upside down and remove all the screws from the underside. While you've got the underside up, notice the three catches - one in the centre of the front and one on each side. Turn the keyboard the right way up again and. with your fingers, undo the three catches. The front one pulls towards you and the side ones pull outwards. That done, press EJECT on the tape player to raise its lid and lift the top of the casing away from the keyboard. It will fold back but it is still connected to the circuit board by several wires so don't yank at it.
Whilst you're doing the job, the circuit board will be completely removed from the computer but, at this point, leave it where it is and leave
A RAM pack costs between forty and fifty pounds, and a disk drive about £160. There's no doubting their usefulness but there's no doubting their cost either.
So what if I were to tell you that you could have the extra 64K for only a tenner? You like that? And how about knocking, say. fifty to sixty quid off the cost of a drive? You like that too? Aaw, shucks. Sad to say, it can't be done. I'm sorry to be the one to tell you but, although we can get you the drive for a tweak over £100, the best we can manage the extra 64K for is £10.72, including VAT and postage, which is a massive 72p up on what I led you to think. You still want it? Oh, all right. If you've got money to burn, read on.
Until you actually buy one, you wouldn't know that the existing 64K RAM pack was designed to perch neatly on the back of the older 464 and. although it works fine on the 464 Plus, it doesn't exactly perch neatly anywhere. In fact it fits rather like a square peg in a round hole, and I don't just mean that they have different connectors. The RAM pack is too tall for the 464 Plus. The answer to this is to either raise the computer on a board or use an extension cable and let the RAM pack sort of flop all over the desk. The best solution is not to use the RAM pack at all but to put the extra 64K inside the computer where it couldn't be neater. Using a soldering iron, a solder sucker and this article you can upgrade your 464 Plus to 128K, the same as the 6128 Plus, and, because the parts cost a mere
Expansion connector
Expansion connector
Fig. 1 464 Plus main circuit board showing the positions of the 64k upgrade components
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