can I use any 68040 chip in a mac ?

From: Ethan Dicks <erd_at_infinet.com>
Date: Sat Jul 11 08:33:18 1998

Eric writes:

> ...a more generic question. It has a 68LC040 processor; I need a straight
> 68040 for NetBSD... is it possible to nab one of these from someplace and
> just put it in? besides any clock speed issues & whatnot, are they all the
> same "under the hood" ? or are they all different. I guess this applies to
> several other systems I have, since I'm interested in upgrading other things
> as well. any info appreciated. thanks!

I can's speak for the Mac, but I did upgrade the 68EC030 (no MMU) to
a full 68030 on my Amiga 4000/030. It has a daughter card with the CPU
and FPU that snaps into a so-called "Fast" slot. I removed the old chip
(QFP) and soldered on the new one. I do not receommend it unless you have
extensive SMT experience. It does, however, work.

The reason I can't say whether it will work for a Mac is that Apple is
picky. The Toolbox ROMs *might* expect certain things from certain models
of CPU, and freak out if the wrong processor is installed. I just don't
know enough about Mac firmware to say. The hardware, OTOH, will be fine.

-ethan
Received on Sat Jul 11 1998 - 08:33:18 BST