Tricking out the New built Atari ST

In this video, I take the H5 phoenix Atari ST recreation motherboard and tinker with it trying out a number of upgrades!
TF536 accelerator - 68030 @ 50mhz
TOS 2.06 Decoder
Blitter Chip
16mhz 68000 booster
#retrogaming
#vintagecomputing
#retrocomputing
#atari
#atarist

[@andrewf9041]

Thanks for this, I wish someone would do a reproduction of the Falcon, they come up on Ebay every now and then, but they're 2,3,4 grand.

[@ecdhe]

Very cool. Once you set up a new ST, it might be worth showing software which really takes advantage of the hardware. For example there are a few games which use the Blitter chip (Pacmania comes to mind, as its STE version is so different from the original version). As far as a 68030 at 16 MHz, I'm sure there are some software out there as well.

[@powerofvintage9442]

That's a great idea!

[@masterhoshi]

Such a cool project. I dream of mine was always to customize an ST or now days make a 33bit clean Falcon with an 040. Maybe someday.

[@masterhoshi]

And of course I did mean 32bit. But I’ve had loads of fun customizing my Mega STe with better hardware. I had considered a CPU upgrade but being the design of the system makes that complicated (cache and such) I didn’t do it. I’d payed attention to your CT60 (or was it a CT63?) video on your Falcon. If I pick up a Falcon I may try it!

[@andrewf9041]

@@masterhoshi Falcon yes please, for a few hundred quid or whatever, instead of the 3 grand when they come up on Ebay.

[@bobobear1977]

I once had a Shifter in a MSTE that went flaky with a HD Module grabbing the 16 MHz from it, so I put a crystal on the Module to make things work. Apparently, some Shifters don't like the extra load on the 16 MHz output pin.

[@powerofvintage9442]

I guess it shouldn't be surprising when using chips in ways they weren't really intended to 😁

[@1337Shockwav3]

Interesting board and like the clean design, but *really* weird choice to stick with 64 pin sockets for expansion. Then again my MegaST had up to 5 layers of PCBs stacked on top of each other (PuPla + PAK [030 @50MHz + Cache + TOS 3.06] + FRAK [64MB FastRAM] + Panther/2 [ISA + Mach32 GPU + NE2000 LAN] + c't IDE). Would love to see a fully powered up recreation board being made, but I'm pretty much done with Atari 16/32 and have only kept my maxed out 1040STE.

[@powerofvintage9442]

Sticking with the 64 pin sockets is to maintain compatibility with existing upgrades already available for original STs. This also keeps the super small market for these things as big as possible. I do get it that there are much more efficient and durable ways to do the same thing.

[@1337Shockwav3]

@@powerofvintage9442 I did get that, small adapter PCBs would be only slightly more expensive and way more flexible - but who am I to complain - it's not my project and if it serves most people it's good. Sticking with the ST "keyboard computer" design also is a mixed bag. Switchable "Personality modules" for switching between ST/STE/TT/Falcon would be awesome - but then again the Atari 16/32 community is let's say complicated (I left it when doing repros of the boards mentioned above for a number of reasons - only the c't IDE layout I did was shared to some extend).

[@powerofvintage9442]

@@1337Shockwav3 The idea of personality modules sounds super cool! I mean these computers are relics and all of these improvements / updates / replicas should be for fun in the end.

[@jrherita]

This is an awesome video! Really cool to see the 68030 and H5 board together. I look forward to more on the TF536. Are there any 68000/68010 + cache accelerators available for the ST? (like what the Mega STe comes with)

[@powerofvintage9442]

yes there is the DSTB1 that boosts to 16mhz with fastram, not cache though. However running in the fastram REALLY boosts performance. It is a hobbyist project at the moment. @thetechnoshed designed it and has some video content on it. I believe he's made it open source so anyone can build one (if you have the skills).

[@slaapliedje]

"not much use for the blitter' Poor ST, if it had come with one, people definitely would have used it more! As for the cache, it is less about TOS 2.06 working with it (it works great on the Mega STe), but some games don't expect a cache there (as the 8Mhz 68k didn't have the larger cache). On my old Mega STe, if I tried to run games from the desktop, my process was to usually 1) Test game, if crash, 2) disable cache, if crash, 3) lower to 8mhz, if crash 4) Boot floppy to TOS 1.04. If the last one didn't work, I gave up :P

[@mikecaster4612]

Thats what I wanted my Falcon to do - run ST programs but, it is not that compatible. It would make art, with Cyber Sculpt and CAD 3D run faster.

[@powerofvintage9442]

Many Atari ST programs (especially games) have been adapted / fixed in order to run on the Falcon. Not all, but I'm able to run a lot of them on my falcon.

[@regisdumoulin]

This is great... Now we just need a case! There are some new Amiga cases around to buy... What about some Atari ST cases ? In addition to my STe I also have an Atari 1040 STf with a damaged case I'd love to replace... Now, am I going to have to use a, oh sacrilege, Amiga 1200 case for it?

[@powerofvintage9442]

Agreed! There are a number of folks with 3D printable cases. This is a top case only here www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=6987, I've seen a full case another person had printed and sold. It just isn't to the level that the Amiga's have had.

[@regisdumoulin]

@@powerofvintage9442 Thank for the link... I'm going to have a look for a local FabLab with a suitable 3D printer (given I live close to Paris, this should be doable 🙂) . Alternatively I've found someone selling 3D printed ST cases but he's in Poland, so not that close to France where I live

[@DeadCat-42]

They are currently Unobtainable :( . i think the MB i have is beyond my skills to fix so I have a doner board) I had tried to install a 16MGhz upgrade when I was 16 with a radio shack iron. I got it working , but it's flaky and ugly.

[@powerofvintage9442]

Send me a message via email or check your Exxos forum mail (I just sent you a message there). I might be able to help you fix your board.

[@DeadCat-42]

@@powerofvintage9442 Wow, thank you. I messaged you on the forum.

[@amanvasamantino5368]

good morming

[@duzkiss]

Why not an external PSU?

[@powerofvintage9442]

Maybe at some point. As of now, I like the all in one completeness with the PSU internal.

[@madigorfkgoogle9349]

@@powerofvintage9442 maybe you should get a Meanwell PSU instead, it is closed, you just need to 3D print a cover bar over the leads to stay safe. I was feeling uneasy seeing you touching the PSU with cord connected.

[@powerofvintage9442]

@@madigorfkgoogle9349 Good point. I should probably say something about that. I'm very familiar with these PSU's having rebuilt many as well as rewired ST's with Meanwells. I'm not nervous at all around manipulating them in this way (as I know where I can touch and NOT touch), but I can totally see others thinking I'm crazy.

[@madigorfkgoogle9349]

@@powerofvintage9442 well, I worked with many many computers and many different types of PSUs over the decades, Im also very aware where to touch what and Im also 100% sure you know what to not touch to stay safe, but.... there is a big but in the form of tracing and debugging the rig and it happens that you look elsewhere searching for error while holding the power switch thinking you are safe, but since you do have to look elsewhere your fingers might slip. I got electrified by 240VAC so many times due to such stupid "slipping". Its simply too hard for me to watch and would appreciate if you would use more safe way for such a open bench top project like this.

[@shamon351]

Where TF do you buy these ??

[@powerofvintage9442]

I put the links in the description. They are not available, but with enough interest I’m certain more will be made available. www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=89&t=4476 And the store under “motherboards” www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/ Also a forum post asking what the next batch should look like www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=89&t=6655

[@botmsj]

"Interesting" is the new s?it.

[@powerofvintage9442]

Lol!

[@madigorfkgoogle9349]

you mean like Mr. Spocks "Fascinating"?