GS-RAM Plus

The GS-RAM Plus is a RAM Board for the Apple IIgs computer made by Applied Engineering (aka - AE). The GS-RAM Plus board had a few revisions and required certain GAL revision in order to work in either the ROM1 or ROM3 IIgs, however no one GAL revision existed which allows the RAM board to work in both IIgs systems.

History

Henry from ReActiveMicro received a GS-RAM Plus from the Washington Apple Pi users group when they were cleaning out their Apple II connection back in 2006. Henry was in the process of studying PALs and GALs at the time and found that the GS-RAM Plus board worked in some IIgs units but not others. After a lot of research Henry discovered the revision of the GSPLD1 mattered, and is what ultimately allowed for the board's correct operation depending on the ROM revision of the IIgs the GS-RAM Plus was installed.

The PLDs however were secured and were unable to be read or copied directly. Luckily the PLDs were early GALs which could have their code extracted using a Run-Fei RF-2148USB IC programmer. The software for the programmer allows for some early PLDs with security issues to be copied regardless of the security bit being set. Henry was in luck and was able to read and duplicate all the PLDs for this board.