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Non parity modules on SE/30
Posted by: toples50 on 2020-01-27 01:04:27
I want to upgrade my SE/30 to 32MB of ram.I have found 8 modules 4MB 30 pin ram but are all non parity.Will they work or not?

Posted by: jessenator on 2020-01-27 07:58:13
As far as I'm aware, all 68k macs ignore parity, so you should be good to add it in. Simply follow the general bank install guidelines for the SE/30, and it should work just fine.



edit: of course, this is the official Apple guide, so you can use I think up to 16MB modules for 128 max RAM w/ a new ROM or MODE32.

Posted by: Bolle on 2020-01-27 08:08:44
all 68k macs ignore parity


The IIci and IIfx were supposed to have BTO options to support parity.

Not sure if it ever made it to actually be an option but there are open spots for a parity generator on both the IIci and IIfx logicboards.

I have yet to see a logicboard where those spots are filled though.

Posted by: toples50 on 2020-01-27 08:19:00
Worth updating the ram to 32mb or 16mb?

I want to use Mac OS 7.5

Posted by: jessenator on 2020-01-27 09:18:58
IMO 16 MB is bare minimum for a useable experience in 7.5.x in general. I have 32 for my SE/30, but I'm still running 7.1 Pro at the moment. I might try a newer version when I get my PowerCache installed, but I may just live without it. 

Out of curiosity, why do you want to run 7.5.x?

Posted by: Crutch on 2020-01-27 11:00:31
FWIW I run 7.5.5 on my SE/30 with 8MB fairly often semi inadvertently, because for a long time I was running without a PRAM battery and it kept losing the 32 bit addressing setting even though I have 128MB in there  ... anyway for most things it’s really fine. WriteNow, SuperPaint, basically all black and white games. Just don’t try to run 4 apps at once and it’s entirely usable and pleasant. 

Posted by: SE30_Neal on 2020-01-29 14:44:59
I brought 128mb from owc for about £45 ($70) new about 18 months ago, that included uk shipping, I believe it was faster than the 60ns rating or something like that from memory worth every penny.

found it https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/30PS16MB/ratings?fullDetails 

Posted by: NECyclone on 2020-01-29 15:52:55
Question?  If you have 128md installed but you don't have an upgraded ROM, and Mode 32 is off, will the Mac SE/30 still start up and at least run?  Thanks.

Posted by: Crutch on 2020-01-29 16:23:28
Yes, with only 8MB accessible. 

Posted by: SE30_Neal on 2020-01-30 05:40:28
Yes, i use the standard rom but mode 32 and i see all 128mb ok so the memory check adds 20 seconds to boot up with that setup. I have the big wires custom rom but it didn’t like 7.5.5 with afresh install via 7.5.3 first. Basically to much hassle and i wasn’t prepared to wipe it and loose my config at this stage. I will at some point do it properly 

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