Eagle 450 Upgrade Instructions, Rev. A00
Chapter 1 - Introduction
The Eagle 450 is a powerful upgrade for certain Alpha Microsystems computers. Employing Motorola’s
new ColdFire technology, the AM-138 CPU board used in the Eagle 450 gives performance never before
available in an Alpha Micro mid-range computer.
The AM-138 board includes a Motorola ColdFire CPU, one or two memory SIMMs for up to 256MB of
memory, 10BaseT and AUI Ethernet interfaces, and either a narrow or Wide SCSI bus. It also offers
eight on-board serial I/O ports, a parallel port, and three I/O expansion slots for a total of up to 32 serial
ports.
The following computers can be upgraded with the AM-138:
•
Eagle 100, 300, or 500
•
AM-1600 in deskside chassis
The AM-138 board is supported only in the AM-1600/Eagle deskside chassis, either old or new
(introduced in the spring/summer of 1998) style.
Please contact your dealer or Alpha Microsystems for information on the different upgrade kits used for
each of these system types.
ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT
This document contains installation instructions for upgrading your computer with an AM-138 board.
Besides this introduction, its chapters include:
•
Chapter 2 talks about what hardware and software works with the Eagle 450 upgrade, and what
doesn’t.
•
Chapter 3 describes how to install RAM SIMMs and the AM-701 cache board on the AM-138.
•
Chapter 4 covers AM-138 jumper settings and connectors, SSD installation, and more.
•
Chapter 5 leads you through getting ready for the upgrade, updating your software, and
beginning the hardware installation.
•
Chapters 6, 7 and 8 contain specific instructions for each type of upgrade: Eagle 100, Eagle 300
or 500, and AM-1600.
•
Chapter 9 tells you how to test the new configuration and close the chassis.
•
Appendices discuss important SCSI bus termination issues and using the read-ahead and write-
caching options.
In addition to this manual, you should have received a copy of the Eagle 450 Installation and
Technical Manual, DSO-00216-00. Keep that book handy during the upgrade procedure; these
instructions refer to it several times. It also includes details on the features and performance of
the AM-138 board and Eagle 450, and environmental and electrical requirements.
