ROM SIMM Fun on Vintage Macs & News from VCF Midwest

[@JDW-]

Friends, I’m excited to report that Garrett’s Workshop has their amazing dual 8 MB ROM SIMM on sale as of July 2, 2024. The first batch is available on eBay at the following URL, with more to come soon. www.ebay.com/itm/256554602527

[@schardin2005]

Outstanding video by James as always and what an incredible set of tools for us to use! My thanks to @CayMac Vintage for all of his support for me personally and to all Mac aficionados. I restore these Macs for others to enjoy and this is going to make my life way easier as I am diagnosing issues, especially around board / component issues like with the SCSI subsystem. Being able to boot into an OS in 2 seconds is incredible! I already use most of CayMac's tools like the Mac-o-Meter on a daily basis and the ROMmate II will certainly get a lot of use going forward!

[@2dfx]

Really neat! Should give this a go in my IIfx when I get he motherboard repaired.

[@joethezombie-]

Awesome video! The production quality and history content is just soooo goood! I have the BMOW programmer and 2MB ROM SIMM, but an 8MB is now on order! I downloaded your archive-- very, very nice to have everything in one bundle! Thanks James!!!

[@CayMacVintage]

Be sure to get the updated software and firmware for the bmow unit. It’s the same product.

[@retrotechguy]

Nice, this makes me want to finally try out custom ROMs on my SE/30! 👍

[@FrankConforti]

Thank you for an amazing video! Your attention to detail is without equal. I have watched it twice now and only got a small bit of the information you have packed into this almost hour long video. I think the third time I watch it I’ll set playback to .5x! Shortly, I’ll be adding the programmer to my Mac tool box. Keep up the great work. I, for one, appreciate quality over quantity when it comes to videos (LTT comes to mind). Take as much time as you need to create your videos. This one will keep me busy for quite a while. Cheers!

[@JDW-]

Frank, you have been extremely kind to my channel in a number of ways. That's why I wish to thank you again for your very kind words, and also thank you for your understanding. It takes a huge amount of time to make videos, in part because I have a day job and family commitments, but also in part because video creation isn't easy, even for the experienced. This video especially took a lot of testing and conversations with people. Getting in touch with Gamba's sister was amazing, and happened only because I have the right connections. It was 7 weeks in the making. There are other videos I would like to do. They probably won't be blockbusters like the ROM SIMM video, but I think they have importance. For example, I've been planning to do a recapping video about the Apple HD20 external hard drive (both the spinning platter drive itself and the power supply) for a long while now. I've just allowed other video content to take priority because I knew more people would appreciate them. Sometimes a simpler video is still needed, especially since not a single person has done a recapping video on an HD20 before. It's odd because every single fluid filled capacitor needs to be replaced after about 25 years, and certainly after 37 years, which is how old the HD20 is now! I've also been prepping for a video about upgrading the Color Classic Analog board with bigger and more heat resistant components. I started filming that several months ago, but found it to be very hard to film my thermal camera and the computer too. I've put that video on hold, but it is coming. Lots more content for videos in the works too! Stay tuned!

[@WelcomeToMarkintosh]

WOW! That blows my mind! I'll have to watch this video a few times-then I'll TRY it! Thanks for another thorough video!

[@JDW-]

That's why I don't allow Ads on my channel, Mark. I make very long and detailed videos, and I personally would be a bit pissed off if I was hit with Ads every single time I went through the video again. Besides, Ads don't bring in much revenue for a small subscriber count channel like mine. I told myself I would never even consider Ads until I passed 10,000 subscribers. And who knows, even when I hit that number, I still might keep them switched off. KZbin dislikes that, of course. I think that's partly why they keep my channel small. More than 53% of people come to my videos from KZbin suggested videos, you see. And if you keep Ads off, KZbin has less incentive to recommend the video. But despite all that, I still think an Ad-free viewing experience benefits the view and leaves them far more satisfied in the end. I just want to make people happy with both the content and the overall viewing experience. It's hard to do that, but worth it.

[@WelcomeToMarkintosh]

I'm with you on that all the way, James! I intend to keep my channel Ad FREE as well.@@JDW-

[@jockelill]

Awesome video James!! This might be some of your best work ever! Highly enjoyed it!!

[@JDW-]

Thank you, but it was certainly due to your kind help and support! Keep up the great work!

[@Fred_Raimer]

Wow James, how do you continue to outdo yourself? This is an incredible effort and packed with useful information. And a bit of entertainment - I have to admit that I have replayed you wincing at using Windows a number of times! Thanks again for all you do!! Fred

[@JDW-]

The answer is: "by spending 7 weeks making the video"! 🙂 Seriously, it took me that long. But I will admit that much of that time was spent in testing, testing and re-testing. I cannot release a video until I know what I am saying is true, and a lot of that requires me to have all the items show in my video, tested on modern and vintage machines. The history segment took a long time because I had to get that info from people directly. Not all the details were written online. But thankfully all the people involved got back to me, and their names are listed in the ending credits. I was even able to speak to Gamba's sister about her wonderful brother! As to my feelings about Windows, I am a bit surprised that I am from a rather dying breed, or so it seems. A lot of people these days, even computer geeks, don't mind using Windoze (proper spelling). I am different in that I do mind. It's basically an inferior copy of MacOS from the mid-1980's. And while it has changed somewhat over the years, it's still very much Windoze! I'm guessing that a lot of Mac users today once were Windoze users and therefore don't feel as odd using it. But the first home computer we had in our home back in the 80's was the Macintosh 128K, when I was 13. I've been exclusively Mac ever since. So a bit of that shines through in the videos I make. (My T-shirt helps drive that point home, I think.) The upside to my being Mac-only is that I won't ever tell people to go out and buy a Windoze computer to do something. The best part of ROM SIMM FUN is that you can use your vintage Macs and modern Macs to do everything! In my eyes, that's INSANELY GREAT!

[@Fred_Raimer]

@@JDW- By the way, another thing I really liked about this was how you weaved in how the entire community was involved with the projects. The depth of knowledge and commitment made for another great story within the video. Very well done!

[@stephenperez3134]

This is great. Lots of detail.

[@humidbeing]

Wow this is a fantastic video! I especially liked the historical overview about the roots of the ROM projects. RIP Gamba. Subscribing and looking forward to future videos!

[@JDW-]

Thank you very much, Chad! More great content to come!

[@ncbreezy]

Sold out, I sure hope the programmer is available again soon! The custom ROMs make these vintage Macs so much fun.

[@JDW-]

They just sold out of the V1 Programmer, but the goodness is that their V2 Programmer is in stock. I updated the text description with the URL to that just now, but here's the link again for you: ko-fi.com/s/d6e7e4494d

[@ncbreezy]

@@JDW- thanks, I was able to scoop one up. The 8MB rom is elusive, I will have to keep looking!

[@CayMacVintage]

@@ncbreezy the roms available on the site.

[@JDW-]

​@@ncbreezy All the links are in the text description, including the link to the 8MB ROM SIMM, which currently is only sold by CayMac at this URL: ko-fi.com/s/d96c9076cc

[@ncbreezy]

@@JDW- I must be blind. I see it now.

[@NunesHR]

Awesome video. Excellent instructions. Even my cat can start programming now! 😊❤😂

[@JDW-]

Never underestimate the ingenuity of a feline! 😹. Seriously though, Doug Brown's new version app really makes the process easier than ever before. I strongly encourage you to give it a try.

[@JDW-]

Folks, I'm excited to report that PotatoFi has very kindly updated his ROM Clip designs to be compatible with the 2MB ROM SIMM from the SMC Group, sold by Kero's Mac Mods. You can read more about that in this thread on TinkerDifferent: tinkerdifferent.com/threads/se-30-rom-clips-v2.2951/

[@BigBadBench]

Phenomenal video JDW! Even I might be capable of programming one of these with your excellent instructions!

[@JDW-]

You absolutely are capable, and I strongly recommend you give it a try!

[@computerhobbyshop]

I used my ROM-inator just yesterday... Cool stuff, thanks!

[@JDW-]

Thank you! And don't forget to check out the text description under the video, as I packed it to the 5000 character limit with related info!

[@computerhobbyshop]

Thanks @@JDW- , I did read that and follow the links, but I'd guess you know many ppl never do unless it's about a cat unboxing video .

[@JDW-]

​@@computerhobbyshop I don't blame people for overlooking the text description. Honestly, I constantly get upset at other KZbinrs for putting a ridiculously scant amount of info there. And when you hardly find any good info in the text descriptions, you tend to stop looking. So I get it! I really do. HOWEVER, you can't link to everything in a video, so it is critically important that KZbinrs put related info in the text description. I know KZbin is about video, but I prefer to buck the trend by writing basically a short book of related info under my videos. I do that because that's really what I want to see other KZbinrs do. And that's another reason I started making videos here about 2017. I saw a need for something better, and I've been trying to fill that need as best I can. Sadly, my videos about topics other than vintage Macs get more views, but I'm not driven by Analytics. I couldn't care less if the average cat video triggers 10 million views. I prefer making videos about vintage Macs, even if that limits me to less than 2,000 views total per video.

[@drzeissler]

Ah now I get the purpose of this ROM Simms.. Thx!

[@JDW-]

I addition to HEARTING your comment, I wish to verbally say it too... This is what I LOVE to hear! For truly, that's the reason I made the video. Until now, there hasn't been a single video that takes people by the hand and walks them through the entire process. I love to make videos that I wish people had made for me, and that's why I provided all the detail I did. To be honest, I started out wanting to only review the CayMac Programmer. I was going to call it the Doug Brown Programmer until Doug told me not too because it's largely the work of CayMac, just with his input. But as I thought more about what kind of video that would be, I realized that I needed to talk about various ROM SIMMs too, in order to be fair and largely unbiased. But then I knew people would want to know more about the history, so I added a history segment, and that was wonderful because I even was able to speak to Gamba's sister by email. I then realized even that would not be enough because to truly enjoy these ROM SIMMs and the programmer, you need to know how to customize your own disk image, and there are various caveats. Those caveats led me to countless hours of testing, which is why my video took 7-weeks to make. And then Doug Brown and the CayMac team decided to make even more changes during the course of my video, which made everything even better in the end. Doug's version 2.0 (and newer) app is amazing because it's a turnkey solution. I does everything except for the Mini vMac part, which I think is amazing. It even generates the blank images for you now! So it's not a case of somebody having made something in the past but who now doesn't care about it. Doug is back into programming again, with a vengeance! And then Steve Chamberlin very graciously made some changes and now allows anyone to use his BMOW base ROM file on any vendor's ROM SIMM, which means anyone can take advantage of FC8 compression. That's why I said there's never been a better time to get into the custom ROM SIMM fun!

[@drzeissler]

My Q700 should have such a ROM-SIMM... excellent video!! Thx! Please make a video for a cool Q700 Rom option.

[@JDW-]

Can't make such a video yet because the CayMac team is still working on those. 🙂 And if any other ROM SIMM vendors come out with their own means of achieving that, I can include their work in a future video as well.

[@jasonbuchwald3337]

As always, great stuff! I watched as promised- and bought an 8mb SIMM too, to use with my older programmer. Seems much easier to use now than when I looked into this years ago. Do you know if there's cases for the older programmer model? TIA!

[@JDW-]

There will be a plastic case for the old BMOW programmer because I will be shipping my programmer to the CayMac team this week so they can modify their frosted case to be compatible with it. However, I have not heard from them about whether they would make a case for the older Doug Brown edition programmer, which is square. That would probably take more work. However, if there is enough demand for it, I don’t see why the CayMac team wouldn’t make one.

[@doogulass]

I think my last comment ended up being deleted because I posted a link, but Rob Braun’s site has STL files for a case for my original square shaped programmer. One option is you could download them and have it printed somewhere.

[@JDW-]

@@doogulass Email me the URL and I will post it here. I absolutely HATE IT when KZbin deletes something without my consent! This happens ALL THE TIME, and I've written them to complain, but they DO NOTHING to resolve it! I want people to post links, and I don't mind deleting SPAM manually because the links are important. But for now, the only reliable way to get links posted is if I post them, so again, email me the link, and I will post it in a new message here.

[@JDW-]

Folks, Doug Brown just emailed me the link… synack.net/~bbraun/mac3d/ Scroll down below the mouse ball cover to see Rob Braun's downloadable 3D files for the plastic case for Doug's original square-shaped programmer. Thanks, Doug!

[@jasonbuchwald3337]

That’s great to hear! I checked, mine is the red discontinued triangle BMOW model- so hopefully that will be easier to find a case for. Ironically, before BMOW was selling simms, Doug himself made a rom for me that also has a custom Chime. That’s the part I find tricky. How can I make a new rom with a custom Chime?

[@pocketscience911]

Very useful video James. It's just a shame the CayMac folks won't ship worldwide... US, UK or Canada only... :/

[@JDW-]

The good news is they actually ship worldwide. I will send you a PM over at Tinker Different with more info.

[@CayMacVintage]

We have added worldwide shipping option now to all items. We have programmers available and roms will be available to order on Monday Oct 9.

[@CayMacVintage]

V2 programmer are available online and at VCFmw.

[@michaelmullett7327]

JDW fantastic I am thinking of getting a SE/30 and doing everything I can to upgrade it can you imagine an SE/30 with OS 8.1 on it but my question is how much RAM can I put in if I do this and like other old Mac’s is there another board I can swop into this like you do in the Color Classsic?

[@JDW-]

You simply need 30-pin RAM SIMMs. There are 8 RAM sockets. You can see those at 33:45 & 36:09 in my video. A lot of the same ROM SIMM vendors also sell RAM SIMMs, although EBAY sells used SIMMs and new SIMMs too. You can take an SE/30 all the way up to 128MB, although there's not much use for more than 32MB unless you do Photoshop work on it. With a stock SE/30 ROM SIMM, it takes a long time to cold boot with 128MB of RAM, but with a custom ROM SIMM, the RAM checking is eliminated so it can boot fast even with a lot of RAM.

[@tenminutetokyo2643]

DOOD!

[@tekk9995]

What a great video! Any insights in the Carrera040 card and the custom ROMs? Ty

[@JDW-]

Unfortunately, I don't have that accelerator to test. I do know that @infinity5750 (Kay Koba of Kero's Mac Mods) owns one and he might be able to give the definitive answer. But I suspect there are no issues because it boots as an '030 from what I have heard. The DayStar boots as an 040, which is part of the problem, and the fact it modifies the stock ROM code in unusual ways.

[@tekk9995]

@@JDW- Thanks!

[@jockelill]

It works great with Carrera 040, both original and Bolles recreation (I have both and tested both in IIci and SE/30 both with and without cache). What makes the turbo 040 special is that it adds patches to the ROM it self. The carrera works different by using an extension that loads when the system loads.

[@MrPilot9198]

Could you edit the boot chime on the BMOW ROM with the programmer?

[@JDW-]

Although it's possible, it's only possible for coders/hackers at this stage. For example, Steve Chamberlin hacked the code to create a DOUBLE boot chime, as described here: www.bigmessowires.com/2016/06/10/rom-hacking-tutorial-with-rom-inator-ii/ As of right now, there’s no easy way to change the boot chime on custom ROM SIMMs, except for experienced hackers who can disassemble ROM code and write their own code (which isn’t most people). But I would like to mention that changing the boot chime is super easy with the original ROM-inator that I have installed in my Mac512, as I show here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYemnXaCnKegbM0si=nT9NjhuMoKtbniRd&t=2109

[@drzeissler]

If you are talking ROM's ...I would love to have ROM's for my LC1 to make it more compatible to the earlier software 68000/8/16. I am using 640x480 66Hz with TFT and have much issues not driving 512x resolution. Sierra AGI is hardly effect b&w and color.

[@JDW-]

I apologize for my delayed reply. I don't own an LC machine, but based on my observation of the logic board, that Mac has only RAM and VRAM sockets. There is no dedicated ROM SIMM socket, nor are there any pads into which you could solder a socket. There are other machines in the LC-series like the LC575 which do have pads into which you can solder a socket. But the design of the first Mac LC motherboard does not lend itself to easily modifying the ROM like you can on other Macs.

[@drzeissler]

@@JDW- Thx, you are right, there is no additional rom-slot, but the ROMS's on the LC1 are socketed. All later LC's (2...) do not have socketed ROM's. I think my Q700 has a ROM'slot, but it is not 6.x conpatible like the LC1 (and LC2) are. I don't like CRT's and therefore I do not own a compact AIO mac.

[@JDW-]

@@drzeissler My ROM-inator video shows a nifty product that Kay Koba of Kero's Mac Mods resurrected. It's basically a way to modify the ROM on the early Macs with socketed ROMs. I suppose if someone ever was to make one for the LC, that would be the best solution overall for you. Currently though, there is no existing product that can satisfy that need. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYemnXaCnKegbM0

[@LFOSyncToo]

@@JDW- I would love to see some LC, LCII, LCIII(+), LC 475 or even early beige PowerPC content from you. I don't know if you also are into these type of machines, but if you do, this would be for us a joy to watch knowing the quality you put into your filming and editing.

[@JDW-]

​@@LFOSyncToo I tend to film what I have. Sadly, I do not have any of the machines you mention. I do have access to a PowerMac 9600 at the office, owned by a co-worker, which is an interesting machine. I am also in the process of acquiring a IIci, which will appear in a future video. The big issue I have is that I live in Japan and don't have a lot of storage space. I don't have an enormous collection of old Macs as a result. I am also very picky about the old Macs I use, and I prefer to use all of them from time to time, rather than amass an enormous collection that is closeted mostly. Of course, it then becomes an issue of what I show next in a video, but there is an amazingly large number of topics I still have to cover. For example, I believe I will soon be shooting a video about the recapping of an Apple HD20 serial hard drive, both the Rodime drive itself and the SONY PSU, which no one has ever done a video on before. That's not to say I won't ever have one of the machines you listed, but it's not on my agenda right, now I'm afraid.