Manufacturer “Brad Fowles”
2 expansions in database
Frances
Manufacturer
Brad Fowles, Canada
Date
1989
Amiga
A1000
Interface
special (see text)
    Memory Expansion
  • 4 MB FastRAM expansion for the on-board header of the Lucas A1000 processor expansion
  • 32 DIP sockets accept up to 4 MB RAM
  • possible configurations are 1, 2, 3 or 4 MB with 256k×4, 80 - 100 ns DIPs
  • DMA RAM controller chip: National Semiconductor DP8421AV
  • interleaved access
    Notes
  • Frances is an acronym for 'Fast Ram At Nominal Cost for Expanded Storage'
  • a public domain hardware hackers project, designed by Brad Fowles of Anakin Research
  • sold as a kit (only the PCB, programmed PALs and how to build documentation) all other parts had to be purchased separately
Photos
Brad Fowles Frances - front side
front side
Driver / Installation Disk

Lucas
Manufacturer
Brad Fowles, Canada
Date
1988
Amiga
A1000
Interface
68000 socket
  • Lucas is an acronym for 'Little Ugly Cheap Accelerator System'
  • a public domain hardware hackers project, designed by Brad Fowles of Anakin Research
  • sold as a kit (only the PCB, programmed PALs and how to build documentation) all other parts (CPU, FPU, RAM, capacitors, diodes, sockets, etc.) had to be purchased separately
  • it did not fill the RFC rules so it was not possible to sell it all in one
    Processor
  • 68020 @ 12 - 20 MHz
  • 68881 or 68882 @ 12 - 20 MHz
  • the first asynchronously clocked 68020 board
  • originally designed for 16 MHz
  • could be upgraded to 68030 using an adaptor board but the data caches are not supported (so no significant speed increase is possible)
    Notes
  • connects into the 68000 socket
  • no 68000 fallback mode
  • selectable wait states
  • on-board header for optional FastRAM memory board Frances
  • has to be fine tuned for specific A1000s (different timings) - this process is well documented
  • very noisy design, does not like 3rd party hardware connected to the side expansion port
Photos
Brad Fowles Lucas - front side
front side
Brad Fowles Lucas - front side
front side
Driver / Installation Disk
  • AmigaFrancesMemory-20.lha
    AFM v2.0 - replacement driver software for Frances
    61 kB
  • Frances.lha
    Frances - building instructions, schematics, PAL equations
    driver software
    280 kB
  • Lucas.lha
    Lucas - building instructions, schematics, PAL equations
    238 kB