From bc55552b987b42afbd0b55dc359e13d9c82c5ea3 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Stefan Koelle Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2026 01:56:19 +0200 Subject: [PATCH] Reframe Mega ST 2 as spare/test machine, not parts donor; add 4MB idea and history --- retro/atari-mega-st-fleet/index.njk | 2 +- retro/index.njk | 2 +- retro/mega-st2/index.njk | 11 ++++++----- 3 files changed, 8 insertions(+), 7 deletions(-) diff --git a/retro/atari-mega-st-fleet/index.njk b/retro/atari-mega-st-fleet/index.njk index 9e2590e..29f5009 100644 --- a/retro/atari-mega-st-fleet/index.njk +++ b/retro/atari-mega-st-fleet/index.njk @@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ parent: "/retro/"
  • The heirloom machine, kept as close to factory-original as possible, running the stock TOS 1.04 with a classic floppy drive and its own original Atari keyboard and mouse. Its job is to be a baseline reference: if something breaks on a modded machine, this one proves the fault isn't in the software.
  • The "Low" machine, a bargain-bin Mega ST 4 rebuilt with a Cloudy/Storm ST combo for TOS switching and extra FastRAM, a Gotek floppy emulator, an UltraSatan hard disk emulator, a SidecarTridge multi-device for ROM, floppy, and Wi-Fi tricks, and a Wi-Fi modem for dialing into BBSs. It uses an original Atari keyboard and a mouSTer adapter with a USB mouse. This is the demo- and game-machine, optimized for fast disk-image swapping rather than serious productivity.
  • The "High" machine, the workstation build. A MonSTerBoard adds 8MB of AltRAM, IDE storage, and flashable TOS (currently TOS 2.06), running Geneva for real multitasking. An ET4000 graphics card drives a dedicated monitor for higher resolutions. A NetUSBee adapter, an Eiffel interface for a PS/2 keyboard and mouse, and a new STPSU for clean, stable power round it out.
    • -
  • The spare Mega ST 2, a reserve and donor machine, kept in largely original condition, used to safely test upgrades before they go into the "real" machines.
    • +
  • The spare Mega ST 2, a reserve and test machine, kept in largely original condition, used to safely test upgrades before they go into the "real" machines.

    • Extensions Not Yet Installed

    diff --git a/retro/index.njk b/retro/index.njk index 6a5f8b0..2028adc 100644 --- a/retro/index.njk +++ b/retro/index.njk @@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ sections: summary: "My father's original Mega ST 4, kept factory-original as a baseline reference." href: "/retro/mega-st-heirloom/" - title: "🔧 Mega ST 2" - summary: "The spare, test and parts donor machine for the rest of the fleet." + summary: "The spare and test machine for the rest of the fleet." href: "/retro/mega-st2/" - title: "⚡ ET4000 in the Mega ST" summary: "Adding higher resolutions to the Mega ST 4 'High' via a STGA adapter and an ET4000 card, and what it took to get it working." diff --git a/retro/mega-st2/index.njk b/retro/mega-st2/index.njk index 10e6b2f..6193a03 100644 --- a/retro/mega-st2/index.njk +++ b/retro/mega-st2/index.njk @@ -1,12 +1,12 @@ --- -title: "The Mega ST 2: Spare, Test and Donor Machine" +title: "The Mega ST 2: Spare and Test Machine" section: "retro" tags: "retro" -description: "The Mega ST 2 that serves as a spare, test and parts donor machine for the rest of the Atari fleet." +description: "The Mega ST 2 that serves as a spare and test machine for the rest of the Atari fleet." layout: base.njk parent: "/retro/" --- -

    The Mega ST 2: Spare, Test and Donor Machine

    +

    The Mega ST 2: Spare and Test Machine

    The Mega ST 2 was given to me a while ago and today serves as a spare and test machine for the rest of the fleet.

    @@ -14,12 +14,13 @@ parent: "/retro/"

    Current State

    It runs on original TOS with the internal RAM configuration, without the separate 4 MB expansion, which was removed for testing purposes and now sits set aside.

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    Role as Parts Donor

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    The original power supply was moved to the Mega ST 4 "High" during its rebuild, and the Mega ST 2 now runs with the network hardware that used to be in the "High" machine. It serves as a safe platform to test upgrades and expansions before they're installed in the production machines, such as reinstalling the 4 MB expansion, trying other bus cards, or testing ROMs.

    +

    History

    +

    Everything in this machine was moved over to the Mega ST 4 "High" that I was given, including its original power supply. It's not really a parts donor though, it's simply the spare machine now that the new Mega 4 carries the main setup. Back then it had an intermittent fault: after being on for a long time it would eventually show a white screen on boot. I suspect it was again a poorly soldered CPU socket, though I never fully confirmed the cause. With the current setup it runs stably, and the socket in question isn't in use anymore.

    Ideas for This Machine

    A few possible directions for the Mega ST 2, none of them decided yet: