Well done Serge too this is proto 1 and it works perfectly.
If you guys want to buy up some compatible memory in advance, out of the 3 chip types I tried this worked:
Kingston ValueRAM KVR8X32-60ET/32. (selling for approx 15 euro per pair).

betamax80 wrote:

It works guys!!!! Took 3 different sticks to find a compatible SIMM but I have one. Even though it's a "Value" I have 28mb avai […]
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It works guys!!!! Took 3 different sticks to find a compatible SIMM but I have one.
Even though it's a "Value" I have 28mb available! Very cool, perhaps a code fix?

Actually I have a request guys - does anyone have AweVBank 98 or the "SFmaxx" that was supposed to follow? I found an old (1995) version on an AWE32 "The Musicians Guide" book companion CD but none of the download links work from archive.org (filename is supposed to be AweVBank98Install.exe)

I now intend to try previously recommended 28mb SF2 fonts:
GeneralUser GS v1.35: http://www.schristiancollins.com/generaluser.php
And possibly Chorium A (but people are saying the E-MU 8000 is not reading it properly).

Looking for a "smarter" utility to manage the soundfonts on board.

Sweet.

I'll check and see if I have any of those things you are looking for and get back to you.

What version is the one you have from the AWE32 Musicians Guidebook? I have that book and CD and am wondering if maybe there were different versions released.

There were different versions. I have one that states 1995 in the about box (first release?)
From Archive.org I can tell there was a '96 and a '98 release. There's also talk of an improvement between '98 v2.08 and v2.53 - which I think must be the final release of the program. It seems to work well as it allows working with the individual instruments in the soundfont but it has trouble communicating as it only knows the AWE32 in this release.

It's a cool book / CD though isn't it --- for curiosity!

*Standing Ovation*

*Gets in line to order one*

amazing effort all round,

will definitely buy a value edition should they become available

betamax80 wrote:

Even though it's a "Value" I have 28mb available! Very cool, perhaps a code fix?

That's expected isn't it? The value can use 28MB of a 32MB sim, and the Gold can use the full 32MB?

I get 28MB usable with my original Simmconn Value.

I would definitely want at least one.

badmojo wrote:

betamax80 wrote:

Even though it's a "Value" I have 28mb available! Very cool, perhaps a code fix?

That's expected isn't it? The value can use 28MB of a 32MB sim, and the Gold can use the full 32MB?

I get 28MB usable with my original Simmconn Value.

The maximum either card can use is 28MB, the original creative expansion module for both cards was 28MB. The reason for the differences in resulting capacity is the value card has I think 512KB onboard + 28MB expansion, and the gold has 2MB onboard + 28MB expansion = 30MB.

kithylin wrote:

gold has 2MB onboard + 28MB expansion = 30MB.

AFAIK gold has 4MB so it would fit as 32 together than...
But Value shoul be able to use 31,5MB in this case - interesting why it isn't... maybe it has 0,5MB used and 3,5 blocked somehow? Don't know...

betamax80 wrote:

There were different versions. I have one that states 1995 in the about box (first release?)
From Archive.org I can tell there was a '96 and a '98 release. There's also talk of an improvement between '98 v2.08 and v2.53 - which I think must be the final release of the program. It seems to work well as it allows working with the individual instruments in the soundfont but it has trouble communicating as it only knows the AWE32 in this release.

It's a cool book / CD though isn't it --- for curiosity!

So I was able to find:
AweVBank 2.49
AweVBank96 build 1100

They are shareware so I have uploaded them here:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bx6yUkEXCMV … YkduVnRtcFNLRUU

Batyra wrote:

AFAIK gold has 4MB so it would fit as 32 together than...
But Value shoul be able to use 31,5MB in this case - interesting why it isn't... maybe it has 0,5MB used and 3,5 blocked somehow? Don't know...

Thanks for the correction.. I thought I might be wrong on the values, was just shooting out of the back of my head half awake there.

Batyra wrote:

AFAIK gold has 4MB so it would fit as 32 together than...
But Value shoul be able to use 31,5MB in this case - interesting why it isn't... maybe it has 0,5MB used and 3,5 blocked somehow? Don't know...

Yes this is ringing some bells. The Gold can still access its 4MB onboard memory so you get 32MB usable, but the Value (and my Goldfinch) force you to choose b/w the 512 onboard DRAM or the memory expansion via a jumper. So the 512 onboard is 'turned off' and you can only access 28MB of the expansion.

IIRC the onboard ROM is also addressed within the total 32mb limit thus decreasing the maximum RAM.

Max addressable memory is 32mb, 4 mb for rom, 28 for ram

28mb is more than enough RAM on these things IMHO, given it takes about 60 seconds to fill it 😵

Awesome work!

Just an idea......How about we put this on two PCB's. An extension board that gets put at the end of the Awe64 and attaches to the SIMMcon Revival board. Or a cable? Frees up the slot next to it?

Something like this, but connects to the SimmConn Revival at the end of the AWE64, not the side of. http://free0.hiboox.com/images/0515/ee67683ce … dfb217a1930.jpg

Or have the SimmConn Revival long enough to go the the END of the AWE64, and have the memory clips hang off on the other side (BACK of the AWE64 card)?

Or you can tell me to shut up. Either way. Like I said, just an idea. 😎

It's actually a good idea, in that we don't need to be limited to the current outline of the adapter. We could extend the adapter toward the end of AWE64, for about the length of the AWE64 memory headers. Then the SIMM socket can 'lie down' and change from through-hole mount to straddle mount. It will 'carve out' a piece of the adapter and make it like an 'L' shape. The space between the two AWE64 memory headers will still allow component and routing. Once the SIMM is installed on the same plane as the adapter, the total component height will allow a card on the next slot.

If I understand your idea correctly, then you should also keep in mind the difference in length among various AWE64 models (longer CT4390 vs. shorter CT4540, for instance).

Yes. Make it look like an inverted and twisted AWE32 on steroids is the basic idea. Lots of work has already been done, and for many people the original (and revived) design concept works fine. But to have a free ISA slot could mean the world to a lot of vintage builders that want to stuff their motherboards to the limit. I'd gladly pay extra for that feature. Whether that means an extra PCB board to help extend the SimmConn past the end of the board, or an entire ONE-PCB SimmConn that does something similar.

Regardless, awesome work to revive the SimmConn! I have one for my GOLD, but not one for my umpteen AWE64 values i have stashed away.

Something along this line for TWO PCBs for the revival (extra PCB to hold current SimmConns as well as the current design)

Or this for an XL SimmConn

Or this, just a big square and no "L"

Anyways. Ideas. Very rough-draft, spitting ideas out of a brain running on 4 hours of sleep and LOTS of Dr. Pepper. You guys that do this so easily, I am thoroughly amazed.