Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
I was going to look at a different project tonight, but that was before I started looking at the Saturn Card clone on Dave's stream yesterday.
Let me back up: I am nearing completion of my restoration of COMPUTER, the name I have given to my Apple ][+ clone made by MCA of Japan... that is, if the silk screen on the motherboard can be trusted. And I'm going for a restoration here, with exceptions made for adding a Super Serial card and any expansion cards needed to make the ones that were included work.
And the Saturn 128K RAM card was a 128K RAM expansion board for the Apple II series of computers from Saturn Systems. It features 128K of RAM, and, when installed in Slot 0, can take the place of the Language Card for loading Integer Basic. It also features its own DRAM refresh circuit, so a connection to the RAM chips on the motherboard is not needed.
COMPUTER included a clone of the Saturn 128K RAM card, with MCA branding, so I really want to get it up-and running... despite having a clone from Garrett's Workshop that is more power efficient. During Dave's stream, I found that the card has a bad 74LS02 chip, as well as at least 4 bad DRAM chips.
I guess we better get bust Retro Chip Tester MemTesting to potentially complete this restoration tonight!
Will I find at least half of the DRAM chips to be bad? Do I have enough 4164's to replace any bad DRAM chips I find? And will the memory card pass MECC Computer Inspector after replacing the bad chips? You'll have to watch to find out!
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**
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I was going to look at a different project tonight, but that was before I started looking at the Saturn Card clone on Dave's stream yesterday.
Let me back up: I am nearing completion of my restoration of COMPUTER, the name I have given to my Apple ][+ clone made by MCA of Japan... that is, if the silk screen on the motherboard can be trusted. And I'm going for a restoration here, with exceptions made for adding a Super Serial card and any expansion cards needed to make the ones that were included work.
And the Saturn 128K RAM card was a 128K RAM expansion board for the Apple II series of computers from Saturn Systems. It features 128K of RAM, and, when installed in Slot 0, can take the place of the Language Card for loading Integer Basic. It also features its own DRAM refresh circuit, so a connection to the RAM chips on the motherboard is not needed.
COMPUTER included a clone of the Saturn 128K RAM card, with MCA branding, so I really want to get it up-and running... despite having a clone from Garrett's Workshop that is more power efficient. During Dave's stream, I found that the card has a bad 74LS02 chip, as well as at least 4 bad DRAM chips.
I guess we better get bust Retro Chip Tester MemTesting to potentially complete this restoration tonight!
Will I find at least half of the DRAM chips to be bad? Do I have enough 4164's to replace any bad DRAM chips I find? And will the memory card pass MECC Computer Inspector after replacing the bad chips? You'll have to watch to find out!
*
Ways to Support the Channel:
☕️ Tips or Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/jdmcs
🈷️ Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/jdmcs
📦 Amazon Wishlist: jdmcs.net/wishlist
... or simply do the YouTube things: Like/Dislike, Comment, Subscribe, Enable Notifications, and participate in the Chat. These things help the channel, too!
**
Read Computerized Start™, my Official Blog: jdmcs.net/myblog
Follow me on Instagram: jdmcs.net/myinstagram
Follow me on Twitter: jdmcs.net/mytwitter
![The Apple ][ Plus Clone: The Desolation of Sockets... as I Attempt Repair (Computerized Start™ Live)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BkyfY4LIXzg/mqdefault.jpg "The Apple ][ Plus Clone: The Desolation of Sockets... as I Attempt Repair (Computerized Start™ Live)
Ive launched a merch shop: https://shop.jdmcs.com - use code JUSTINTIME for 5% off all Computerized Start™ merchandise through at least June 30th!
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I bought an Apple IIe Clone Motherboard on eBay (the place where I buy the things I later regret™) knowing full well it was an Apple ][ Plus clone motherboard and missing some chips. Yes, COMPUTER was jealous at first, but then COMPUTER realized I needed practice on a similar motherboard before I continue removing sockets, so were good...
Last time I worked on this board, I replaced enough capacitors to satisfy my concern that there wasnt enough capacitance on the board for proper operation. I was able to confirm the original 6502 was working by swapping it into my Apple ][ Plus. I also removed a few sockets that looked like they had too much solder. Still, the board powers up to garbage. I resigned to ponder the schematic.
Tonight, I am going to replace the rest of the capacitors, then I will commence The Desolation of Sockets. I have identified a few components that could prevent the CPU from running code, and I will be removing sockets for those components if they look questionable underneath. Well go from there.
Will I find issues under sockets? Will I get the board to do something by the end of the stream? Youll have to watch to find out!
*
Ways to Support the Channel:
☕️ Tips or Support via Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/jdmcs
🈷️ Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jdmcs
📦 Amazon Wishlist: https://jdmcs.net/wishlist
... or simply do the YouTube things: Like/Dislike, Comment, Subscribe, Enable Notifications, and participate in the Chat. These things help the channel, too!
**
Read Computerized Start™, my Official Blog: https://jdmcs.net/myblog
Follow me on Instagram: https://jdmcs.net/myinstagram
Follow me on Twitter: https://jdmcs.net/mytwitter")
