Expanding pa800 with 256 MB

Elias · Post by **Elias** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 11:50 pm

Does anyone know if the Expansion Board EXB-M256 is expanding the RAM drive of 64 MB into 256 MB?

I just want to make shure this is the one.

BasariStudios · Post by **BasariStudios** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 3:41 am

May you clarify please what are you talking about? PA800 or 2X?

pcguy · Post by **pcguy** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 5:16 am

BasariStudios wrote:May you clarify please what are you talking about? PA800 or 2X?

The title of his post clarified it! it's a PA 800 he's talkign about.

Rob Sherratt · Post by **Rob Sherratt** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 6:36 am

Hi Elias,

The EXB-M256 board only works with the Pa2x, not the Pa800.

EMO Music in Turkey can modify your Pa800 to increase RAM to 128 Mbytes, but it's not something I would do to mine. I would sell the Pa800 and buy a Pa2x instead.

Regards,
Rob

Elias · Post by **Elias** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 10:22 am

Dear Rob,

I saw on the Korg Distributor list in Holland that they are offering this RAM memory for the pa800 and the pa2x.

Is there not another way to configur it than to let it do in Turkey?
How can I get in contact to Emo in Turkey to let it do for me or to download the software etc..

Rob Sherratt · Post by **Rob Sherratt** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 1:00 pm

Hi Elias,

Like I said it's not something I would do so I don't have the process and contact details sorted. The contact details for EMO in Turkey are on Korg's web site under Distributors.

Best regards,
Rob

Elias · Post by **Elias** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 1:53 pm

Dear Rob,

I will cal the distributor and ask it there.

Thank you.

Elias

sazistas · Post by **sazistas** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 2:02 pm

hello,

I am interested also to expand the ram of my Pa800. Anyone know if its a simple ram chip replacement or need any custom firmware to recognise the extra ram? If its a simple ram chip replacement I could find an expert here in my town and do the work ,........ Also I must find and order the 128mb chip.

Elias · Post by **Elias** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 2:06 pm

Hello Sazistas,

The RAM sample is a simple chip which you can put into your system.
I will inform you by sending a message on this forum when I know for sure that it also work for the PA800.
The distributor in Holland is offering the module for PA800 and PA2X for 150 euro.

Rob Sherratt · Post by **Rob Sherratt** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 2:17 pm

On the Pa800 it is not a simple chip swap. They are advertising the EXB-M256 board which is for the Pa2x only. You are being told incorrect information by the Distributor in Holland if they say it is for the Pa800 as well.

On the Pa800, the present 64 Mbyte chip is soldered to the CPU board. The address lines to address more than 64 Mbyte are not present. Changing RAM on the PA800 requires a chip to be desoldered, a new one to be soldered in, and some wiring has to be added to decode an extra address line.

It is not supported by Korg and it invalidates warranty and makes your Pa800 resale value very low. If you allow someone to modify your Pa800 in this way, you will regret it later. There is no way I would buy a Pa800 from anyone who had allowed this modification to be performed.

So, I don't recommend you do it. Instead sell your Pa800 and buy a Pa2x. It will be cheaper in the long run.

Regards,
Rob

sazistas · Post by **sazistas** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 2:47 pm

Rob Sherratt wrote:On the Pa800 it is not a simple chip swap. They are advertising the EXB-M256 board which is for the Pa2x only. You are being told incorrect information by the Distributor in Holland if they say it is for the Pa800 as well.

On the Pa800, the present 64 Mbyte chip is soldered to the CPU board. The address lines to address more than 64 Mbyte are not present. Changing RAM on the PA800 requires a chip to be desoldered, a new one to be soldered in, and some wiring has to be added to decode an extra address line.

It is not supported by Korg and it invalidates warranty and makes your Pa800 resale value very low. If you allow someone to modify your Pa800 in this way, you will regret it later. There is no way I would buy a Pa800 from anyone who had allowed this modification to be performed.

So, I don't recommend you do it. Instead sell your Pa800 and buy a Pa2x. It will be cheaper in the long run.

Regards,
Rob

hi Rob,
first of all I dont want to sell my pa800 and get a pa2x for many reasons, like weight,size,lack of speakers etc. Second, my pa800 is already out of waranty and I dont care also about resale value.(but I can think of many keyboard players here in my town that they will pay much more to get a used 'special edition' pa800 with 128ram) .So, there is no reason that I will regret it later.

The best I can think now is to find a schematic diagram about the procedure and order the 128mb chip from the company that produce the same 64mb chip.
any instructions on how to do them very welcome

thanks
George

macboy · Post by **macboy** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 9:52 am

I live in Holland. I will contact the local distributor and ask them to clarify this thing.

It says here is for both, I think it is just a mistake

http://www.voerman.nl/pricelists/BNL/Ko ... 022009.pdf

Rob Sherratt · Post by **Rob Sherratt** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 10:02 am

macboy wrote:I live in Holland. I will contact the local distributor and ask them to clarify this thing.

It says here is for both, I think it is just a mistake

http://www.voerman.nl/pricelists/BNL/Ko ... 022009.pdf

Hi Macboy,

Yes, they definitely made a mistake saying it is for the Pa800 as well. They need to correct this so if you can let them know, it would clear some of the misunderstandings on this thread up.

Hi George,

As far as I know, EMO music in Turkey and the Korg design team in Italy are the only ones who have the information on modifying the circuitry of the Pa800.

Regards,
Rob

macboy · Post by **macboy** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 10:43 am

MISTAKE !

I just contacted Korg Holland (Voerman) and they confirmed it was indeed a mistake. They will correct it on their website immediately and said they were sorry for the wrong information (i explained the reactions here on the forum).

So expansion board 256 mb is not for Korg PA800. Only for PA2x.

Sorry for the inconvenience guys

mrkorg · Post by **mrkorg** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 1:14 pm

It should be obvious, since the specs are clear 64 MB is maximum for the PA800.

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