Modded 128k - restore or keep as is?

#1 Mon, 16 Apr 2012 - 17:23 68kMLA

So I finally picked up a dirty unloved 128k Mac on eBay for $200 - a crazy price, but what the hell.

Anway, turns out it has a Macs-a-Million upgrade installed which involves a bunch of soldering, Mac Plus ROM chips etc

What would you do? Try and remove the upgrade and restore it to stock or keep it as-is?

I'd need to find some 64k ROM's of course...

#2 Mon, 16 Apr 2012 - 17:57 68kMLA

This subject often comes up. Those upgrades are hard on the aging under-rated components as it is, so removing the upgrade is probably the best thing to do, unless you risk lifting traces or otherwise damaging the board. I'm not familiar with that particular upgrade. However, most of these upgrades require 512K base RAM on the board, so even with 64K ROMs it will not exactly be "stock". Although, if the board is providing the extra RAM decoding, the Mac may only recognize 128K on its own. And depending on how that add-on board is connected to the logicboard, key chips may be missing and have to be replaced. Take some pictures ...

#3 Mon, 16 Apr 2012 - 19:29 68kMLA

i would leave the board as is, and just try to find a un moded 128k board,

just keep an eye out , i'd think you would be able to find something for a reasonable price,

and the 128k mac's are going for a good hunk now adays, 200 does not seem abbynormal...

#4 Mon, 16 Apr 2012 - 20:11 68kMLA

What's worse is that I see a lot of modified/upgraded 128k Macs on eBay these days without any mention that they have been messed with and the sellers want original-spec prices for them. Caveat Emptor, indeed.