dreamblaster wrote:

cyclone3d wrote:

I already have one reserved. Should I go ahead and send payment or are you waiting for finalization of the universal one before they can be built?
I will probably be interested in getting 2 additional on top of the one I already have reserved.

RIght now I only need to have an idea how many of which kind are needed.
I will pm all of you individually with details, once all components and the PCB's are in.

Ok, I'd like to reserve an additional 2 universal. So 3 universal total.

vetz wrote:

I'd like to reserve one, universal preferred, gold if not.

OK

cyclone3d wrote:

Ok, I'd like to reserve an additional 2 universal. So 3 universal total.

OK

wylda wrote:

Please count with me for another TWO fully soldered SimmConn GOLD. Thank you.
PS: Is it technically possible to have flash mem instead of RAM, so it keeps the content between reboots? Like Dreamblaster X2?? (just asking, I know it had to be completely redesigned)

OK thanks.
--> not possible to use flash memory. sorry.
I hope to come with more banks for X2 and X3M this year.

I'd like to reserve one if that's still OK, preferably either universal or value.

KCompRoom2000 wrote:

I'd like to reserve one if that's still OK, preferably either universal or value.

Okay, reserved 😀

Just wanted to report another success story with the Value version and corresponding AWE64 (32MB SIMM) .
Everything works beautifully .

I can now "retire" my tie-wrapped AWE32 CT3670 with damaged SIMM sockets (although it was cool to have it flashed as an AWE64) to my spare collection .

Hi, I already have one fully soldered Gold reserved and I would like to add another fully soldered univeral.

Thank You

okay reserved.
I've ordered parts, PCB's, for maximum 50.
I will solder them by hand.
As it appears universal is working fine with 32mbyte on both value and gold, this maybe be a more elegant solution than a socket (which I cannot solder by hand).
if someone is still interested in simconns from this batch, pm me, >60% of the batch is reserved now.

Hello all. I can confirm that the SIMMconn universal is also working well!

I have a question for those of you more seasoned to having an expanded AWE64 though, what is the trick to having MIDI support back under DOS mode games? Does the original soundfont need to be installed or a specific one? I have the 8mb gs/gm one and it does not seem to be working for me. I have soundblaster effects but no MIDI. I've moved the computer however in recent times.... do I have a connection issue? I ask as it's going to be awkward to unwire the system now.

I had previously tested the Value board on a CT4500, I can now report it works with a CT4520 as well.

Hello - OK I''m now properly testing the new Simmconnn universal. I can confirm (as user above) that it works 100% with the final OEM CT4520 board using 32mb memory. I'm using some Kingston ValueRAM 32mb EDO as I think I mentioned above and this is performing well.

I was having some issues under DOS with the previous "value" board but now with the universal 2 positives:
a) DOS / ROM access is not altered and is visible to DOS applications - big win!
b) Under Windows / Windows Setup UI no longer complains that it cannot find onboard ROM fontset like critical error.

It seems as though the initial Value / Gold firmware (I know its only about 2k) switched off the ROM set on the Value boards, where as this one can still access it?

Whichever.... it's all working VERY well.
Not sure if there are other font sets around but I've had success with the General User v1.35 set as also posted above.

Thank you for this hard work Serge!

I am wondering what sound bank you are all using with the expanded ram? Where did you get the file?
Have there been any problems uploading bank to expanded ram?

One fully soldered universal for me, please.

Additionally, what's the difference between the three models other than exclusivity vs universality?

corgiest wrote:

One fully soldered universal for me, please.
Additionally, what's the difference between the three models other than exclusivity vs universality?

OK reserved.

Many thanks to 'simmconn' for this project, Universal = the 'All' version of his PAL software.
It is his project, I am only doing the 'revival' part for you guys n girls

Componentwise all these versions are the same, only the programmed PAL code differs.

Practical differences:
Value works on Value,with 32mbyte SIMMS and also some smaller (Depending on dip settings) -> recommended to use with 32mbyte of course
Gold works on Gold, with 32mbyte SIMMS and also some smaller (Depending on dip settings) -> recommended to use with 32mbyte of course
Universal works fine on both Value and Gold cards, but as tested so far only with the largest SIMM size (32mbyte).

GeneralUser v1.35 http://schristiancollins.com/soundfonts/
Make sure you grab the old 1.35 version as it's the one designed for AWE cards.

The general user 1.35 soundfont has the advantage of being small enough to fit in AWE64s 28mb limit but it is an incomplete soundfont. You will hear no crash cymbals in Doom e1m1 for example (unless the AWE64 can substitıte it from ROM in which case you have 8bit mono crash cymbals).

With a cap of 28mb you can not go wrong with Unison. Merlin GM is a close second.

Chromium is always my favorite 28 MB SoundFont. Compatible with AWE64 via Win9x software loading and sounds great in all ms-dos games played through win9x. https://www.pistonsoft.com/soundfonts.html

Forgot I had this old part in my web server still. Doom II Level 1 (Entryway) on AWE64 Gold on Chromium soundfont: www.outfoxed.net/mp3/chorium/Doom2-Leve ... m_RevA.mp3

Interesting, thank you Appiah.
(ad.) Yep, tried Chorium, love it!

With a great thanks to Dreamblaster, I had an opportunity to test Gold and Universal SimmConn Revival on my AWE 64.

In the beginning I tested memory modules 4-16MB on both Revival and "Original" SommConn's. Due to some differences with detecting theese memory modules on all three of SimmConns, I decided to focus olny on 32MB sticks. (I don't think that anyone using SimmConn on AWE64 would like to use 8mb if 32mb modules are very common)

I used 6 different 32MB modules (double sided):
- HYUNDAI HY5117400C J-60
- LGS GM71c17400AJ6
- SIEMENS HYB5117405BJ-60
- OKI M5117405A-60SJ
- MIT 417409DJ EDO-60
- M.tec TBE1604A2A60

I took all different 32mb sticks and tested all 6 of tchem on:
- AWE64 Gold CT4540 with Gold SimmConn - all 6 worked
- AWE64 Gold CT4540 with Universal SimmConn - all 6 worked
- AWE64 Value CT4520 with Universal SimmConn - all 6 worked
- AWE64 Value CT4500 with Universal SimmConn - all 6 worked
- AWE64 Value CT4380 with Universal SimmConn - all 6 worked

So all 30 tests were 100% succesfull! Of course each time I uploaded soundfont to see it the memory is fully "usable".

It seems that SimmConn Revival Gold and Universal works! And it should works with most of, if not all 32MB duble sided memory sticks.

In my opinion there should't be any jumpers setings etc. Just fixed 32mb - but as I said - that's my point of view.