Date   : Mon, 17 Jul 2006 14:12:26 +0000
From   : Jules Richardson <julesrichardsonuk@...>
Subject: Re: 6502 copro diagnostics?

Ian Wolstenholme wrote:
> Maybe the tried and trusted method of plugging it into a Beeb
> and seeing if the "Acorn 6502 Tube 64K" message comes up!!??

Yes, that's an obvious first test (well, after validating PSU lines!) - but 
does the on-board firmware do a RAM test as part of startup? Otherwise 
presumably all that message demonstrates is that enough of the memory's OK for 
the copro to initialise, but doesn't indicate whether there's a huge chunk of 
dead RAM in the middle of the memory map (say).

If no test exists then I'll just have to rely on the init message like 
everyone else, but if there's one out there I'd rather run it!

If I knew BBC BASIC I suppose I could write something to run on the copro...

> The Level 2 & Level 3 Econet file servers test the second processor
> memory before starting, so that would check the RAM is working OK
> and presumably if it passes, the Boot ROM & Tube host are working
> OK too.

Hmm, I wonder if that's my best bet then - BBC B with Econet and my L3 f/s 
Winchester along with the copro...

That or download a copy of TUBE Elite, I suppose :-)

cheers

Jules