1 Mb Chip ram A500 rev 5.

When I first started my Amiga 500 (rev 5) after a long time of storage on the attic, I inserted a game disk and I got the message that I need more memory.

The need to upgrade the memory was born.
I searched for an a501 memory expansion board but couldn’t find one.
So I ordered 16 256k x 1 dram chips from futurlec, but a nice coworker found a old 386 pc with these chips in it, so I didn’t need to wait longer and could start the upgrade.

First, make sure you have the correct Agnus, it should be 8372.
The A500 rev5 was sold with the Agnus 8371, so it needs to be replaced with 8372.
Do this with a special chip removal tool

8371 Agnus
8371 Agnus

Pin 41 has another function on this new Agnus.
It is used to select pal/ntsc.
for me in a pal country this pin should be isolated from the socket as pin 41 of the socket is connected to ground, and this would select ntsc.

Isolate pin 41
Isolate pin 41

Place the Agnus into the socket, and check if the Amiga still starts up (if not check the orientation of the chip).

When the Amiga is still working we take our 16 256k x 1 Dram chips (e.g. nec 41256).
and cut of pin 4 (keep a part of the pin to connect a wire)

41256 dram with pin 4 cut
41256 dram with pin 4 cut

Now solder all chips over the 512k that is already on the mainboard (make sure pin 4 doesn’t make contact)

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Now take a wire and connect pin 4 of all new ram chips and connect it to pin 18 of U35
(RAS1 signal).
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We are now almost there…
Now we only need to cut the trace between the 2 lowest pads af JP2 and connect the upper 2 pads.
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Some descriptions on internet tel you to cut a trace near the expansion connector, but I skipped this part as I don’t expect to use it.

Moment of truth…
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868768 free memory.
(not a clear image, but the TV I use shakes when it’s not warmed up and I don’t have a Amiga DB23 to scart cable so it’s black and white)