DRAM control circuits

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1024MAK
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DRAM control circuits

Post by 1024MAK »

In this thread I offered to provide some details on how some of the other non-Sinclair designs of RAM packs use standard 74LS TTL chips to interface DRAM chips.

As Aurel (makeit2day) has asked for this info, here it is in the attached zip file.

Included are one version of the Memotech 16k RAM pack circuit, the PANDA 16k-byte RAM pack circuit, a circuit from an unknown make (because when I got it, it was uncased) and finally the circuit that Memotech use in their MTX computer.

In all cases each data line (D0 to D7) goes to the data line (input and output) connections on each DRAM chip. Address lines A0 to A13 (for ZX81) go to two 74LS157 "two to one line selector" chips. The outputs from the 74LS157's go to all the DRAM chips. Note that the Z80 address lines A0 to A6 have the address for refresh on them, so these must be the lines selected by the 74LS157's and routed to the DRAM chips when /RAS goes active to logic low, so that the DRAM chips can refresh correctly. Other than that, the order of the address line connections is non critical.

As far as I know the details provided are correct, but as all the ZX81 RAM pack details have been reverse engineered, if you find an error or something does not make sense, please let me know :mrgreen:

Mark
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Re: DRAM control circuits

Post by RetroTechie »

Curious to know where you found the Memotech MTX info... :?: Got a schematic of that machine somewhere?
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Re: DRAM control circuits

Post by 1024MAK »

RetroTechie wrote:Curious to know where you found the Memotech MTX info... :?: Got a schematic of that machine somewhere?
Yep, in the manual that was supplied with it! :mrgreen:

Mark
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Re: DRAM control circuits

Post by RetroTechie »

Reason I asked is because I never, ever saw a (downloadable) schematic for the MTX anywhere. So if that exists, quite some people might be interested. Or if there's complete schematics on paper just not scanned yet, I'm sure some folks would like to see that put under a scanner...

Sorry to drag this off-topic... notice the /CAS-before-/RAS control in the MTX circuit btw (which doesn't require a row address). Only makes sense for 64K*something and larger RAM, as older/smaller DRAMs don't support that refresh method. Another good example is the ZX Spectrum's upper 32K control. Have successfully used that once in a 256K memory mapper for MSX machines (using 2 pcs. 256K*4 DRAMs).

Generic Z80, really. :geek: Basically: /MREQ low -> /RAS low -> short delay -> flip address multiplexers -> short delay -> /CAS low. Those delays sometimes implemented using Z80 clock, sometimes with simple RC delays (both methods have pro's and cons). And many variations on that theme (with /CAS-before-/RAS refresh being one).
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