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+--- Thread: Adding extra PCG RAM to 32K Microbee. (/thread-1006.html)
Adding extra PCG RAM to 32K Microbee. - kgilmore - 21-03-2026
While my old 32k Personal Communicator Microbee no longer works I would like to get it functioning again, and part of that repair process would be to try to add more PCG RAM so that all 512x256 monochrome bits would be addressable, eliminating the old “out of PCG RAM” error message.
Is this technically possible, and would this require any patching of any ROMs? Secondly, would one be able to colour convert such a modified Bee?
RE: Adding extra PCG RAM to 32K Microbee. - Graham72 - 22-03-2026
(21-03-2026, 11:54 PM)kgilmore Wrote: While my old 32k Personal Communicator Microbee no longer works I would like to get it functioning again, and part of that repair process would be to try to add more PCG RAM so that all 512x256 monochrome bits would be addressable, eliminating the old “out of PCG RAM” error message.
Is this technically possible, and would this require any patching of any ROMs? Secondly, would one be able to colour convert such a modified Bee?
To answer last question first : MB1217 daughter colour board provided high/low intensity RGB signals. There were two variants and another type that allowed addition of diskdrives to a ROM microbee.
Back to your original question, you would need a PCG Ram expansion 16-32K , probably by upgrading your Communicator to a Premium. ROM upgrades would be included I am sure.
OR
I am not sure of exact details but I believe there are also 3rd party beeboard upgrades also .
Good luck!
RE: Adding extra PCG RAM to 32K Microbee. - kgilmore - 24-03-2026
(22-03-2026, 06:22 PM)Graham72 Wrote:(21-03-2026, 11:54 PM)kgilmore Wrote: While my old 32k Personal Communicator Microbee no longer works I would like to get it functioning again, and part of that repair process would be to try to add more PCG RAM so that all 512x256 monochrome bits would be addressable, eliminating the old “out of PCG RAM” error message.
Is this technically possible, and would this require any patching of any ROMs? Secondly, would one be able to colour convert such a modified Bee?
To answer last question first : MB1217 daughter colour board provided high/low intensity RGB signals. There were two variants and another type that allowed addition of diskdrives to a ROM microbee.
Back to your original question, you would need a PCG Ram expansion 16-32K , probably by upgrading your Communicator to a Premium. ROM upgrades would be included I am sure.
OR
I am not sure of exact details but I believe there are also 3rd party beeboard upgrades also .
Good luck!
Thanks for that. The colour board variant that allowed disc drives sounds interesting. What sparked my PCG RAM question was a vague memory of a do-it-yourself project to add PCG RAM to a pre-1985 Bee in ETI, though I would imagine there would be a considerable amount of trace cutting involved.
RE: Adding extra PCG RAM to 32K Microbee. - Graham72 - 25-03-2026
[quote pid="3404" dateline="1774346507"]
Thanks for that. The colour board variant that allowed disc drives sounds interesting. What sparked my PCG RAM question was a vague memory of a do-it-yourself project to add PCG RAM to a pre-1985 Bee in ETI, though I would imagine there would be a considerable amount of trace cutting involved.
[/quote]
Yes your memory is correct. Adding PCG RAM is in the 4/84 ETI magazine. Whilst looking for that I found details of colour upgrade in 6/84 ETI.
Both articles are in the repository >PUBLIC>MAGAZINES>Electronics_Today_International>1984 folder.
cheers Graham
RE: Adding extra PCG RAM to 32K Microbee. - Graham72 - 27-03-2026
interesting speed drop with color mod
https://www.microbee-mspp.org/wiki/tiki-index.php?page=Microbee+General+Reference