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| Hardware articles index > Jupiter Ace Rampacks |
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Ram packs are external memory modules that expanded the Ace's memory. Jupiter Cantab manufactured two size 16k and 48K giving the Ace a memory capacity of 19k or 51k respectively. Another manufacture of Ace rampacks was Stonechip Electronics with there Pace 16K expandable to 32k rampack. In the 1980's such rampacks were expensive and users resorted to make there own rampacks or use a ZX81 rampack. Below are the rampack images of the Jupiter Cantab 16K, and some home builds.
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Jupiter Cantab 16K Rampack. 
The RAM pack in its Poly packaging. Below, an image of how the case fits together with the plasic location tabs and slots in the top of the case. The case is tight neat fit and well made.
Component side of the pcb, using 4116 RAM chips.
 Solder Side.
Any one got a schematic for this rampack? The Instruction are here as a pdf. |
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Jupiter Cantab 48K Rampack. 
Can anyone help with a schematic for this rampack or instructions? |
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SH 16K Rampack. 
It also looks like this home build has a keyboard connector built into it as well. 
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IBM 16K Rampack. This memory board was made from part of an old IBM Memory Typewriter
(hence a lot of removed parts and some of the board cut off) it is basically
just 16K of Low Power Static Ram (8 Chips of 2K each) with addressing wired
to suit the Ace (mapped as per a ZX81 16K RAM Pack). Some circuitry which
was part of the original board will provide battery back up.
It was built specifically for the Ace. This is an item that I (Steve) now owns and is in working condition.
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Pace 16K Manufactured by Stonechip Electronics this rampack can be expanded to 32K with a daughter board. The ramppack also has a red LED to show that the pack in operation. 
 
Has anyone got a schematic for this? |
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Pace 16K daughter board. Manufactured by Stonechip Electronics this add on module when plugged into the Pace16K rampack increases the rampack capacity to 32K.     Has anyone got a schematic for this? |
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Pace 32K (16K rampack + 16K daughter board. 
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EB 96K Rampack For more details on this RAM pack see here   
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Woodvine 4K Rampack Made by Will Woodvine back in June 1984! Ace users used many different methods to get extra memory. The technique used in this home build was to "piggy back" two 6116 2K x 8-bit chips. This technique was also used with the ZX81, but this is the first time we have seen it on the Jupiter Ace RAM pack. The logic for the RAM chips is controlled by a 74LS138 decoder. The RAM pack is well built into plastic box with holes drilled thought the front face for the solder contacts of the edge connector. Then the edge connector was glued in place, red LED is also pressent to show power is on. On the back plate of the box is a simple schematic of the RAM pack.
 Front showing the LED top left.  Top of the veroboard showing the 6116's and the 74LS138 to the right. 
6116's "piggy back" close up. Note that the top 6116 has it's pin 18 bent out and the white wire soldered to it controls the logic 
Solder side of the Ram pack. 
Back Plate showing the schematic. |
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