Atari 1040 STF FPU upgrade

[sagan2]

Hello all!
I have one STF which I'd like to upgrade so I'm planning on Marpet RAM upgrade, TOS upgrade and FPU upgrade. FPU puzzles me since it does not have empty socket like Falcon or STE but only pad marked as "U66" which does have 68 pins just like 68881 or 68882...Is it possible to find PGA or PLCC sockets nowadays that could be soldered onto that pad?
I found some sockets in my local store but they are bit smaller in size and their pins cannot be exactly positioned over the U66 solder pad....I have spare both 68881 and 68882 and would also to get suggestions on which to use on STF....Thnx!

[Nyh]

I have one STF which I'd like to upgrade so I'm planning on Marpet RAM upgrade, TOS upgrade and FPU upgrade. FPU puzzles me since it does not have empty socket like Falcon or STE but only pad marked as "U66" which does have 68 pins just like 68881 or 68882...

There is no simple way to upgrade a 1040 STF with a FPU. The empty pad U66 is the place where a blitter could be installed. Not a FPU. The STe cant not be upgraded with a FPU either. That option only exists for the Mega STe and Falcon.

Hans Wesseks

[Shredder11]

I believe it is possible to do this on an STE but it takes a considerably huge amount of time, effort and knowledge to achieve. Buying a Mega STE is the best option in the end.

[Nyh]

I believe it is possible to do this on an STE but it takes a considerably huge amount of time, effort and knowledge to achieve. Buying a Mega STE is the best option in the end.

There are multiple 16 (or more) MHz upgrades with FPU support. The one of the best you can get is PAK68/3 board. Givimg you a 68030 + FPU up to 50 MHz.

Hans Wessels

[sagan2]

Thank you guys for the valuable info! I managed to upgrade RAM to 4 Mb and TOS to 1.04, machine works really nice now! I don''t think it really needs Blitter chip, but if I find one maybe I'll think about it again FPU is obviously mission impossible unfortunately...Empty modulator solder pads look tempting but I guess it is much easier to make an ST to SCART cable and enjoy some games on LCD or analog TV with SCART...

[DarkLord]

The one of the best you can get is PAK68/3 board. Givimg you a 68030 + FPU up to 50 MHz.

Hans Wessels

Agreed, with the understanding that these are almost impossible to find.

[frank.lukas]

Add a 68881 numeric processor to your ST, revised by Djordje Vukovic, includes schematics

http://atari4ever.free.fr/#other

[sagan2]

Well, this is for Mega ST I think...could be used on ST but I wouldn't like to fiddle that much...I feel lucky enough that 4 MBs of Marpet RAM worked immediately
I tried ICD Link with Yamaha 4416 CDR I found on an garage sale, but unfortunately it doesn't work because the Link lacks arbitration...Anyone knows if Link would work with simple CD rom device and Extendos? It would be really useful since I have lot of games backed up on CDs....

[Guest]

Add a 68881 numeric processor to your ST, revised by Djordje Vukovic, includes schematics

http://atari4ever.free.fr/#other

you can add an FPU easily to ANY ST

but as talked about before ??? why
there is very little ~ absolute zero software can or would use it
unless recompiled from heavily modded sources to take advantage of it


i think its not a good idea and would also slow down a st init or and ste init
costing mpu cycles each time it gets 'looked at' by the mpu

its a shame more people dont use mega machines to program for it for fear of problems with no fpu in older machines

bit of a c66 = 3X22 but thats the way programs are already made
it would be nice to add but man go buy a mega!!!!