How different are the A and B boards?

[willrandship]

I know the technical specifications. What I\'m really asking is this: Could a skilled solder junkie take a model A and add some of the model B features? Note that I didn\'t say all. I don\'t want to mess with that RAM module, but adding an ethernet port would be nice.

Don\'t take this the wrong way: I\'m getting a model B for sure, because I want that extra RAM. I just have a tinkerer\'s curiosity. Adding unintended functionality has been my thing ever since I first had my own graphing calculator. (Which, by the way, actually runs BBC Basic Thank R.T. Russel and Ben Ryves for that.)

[Warringer]

Good luck, but you would be better off just getting the Model B instead of trying and upgrading a Model A.

[dhb]

How skilled? With what specialized rework equipment?

Reworking boards has already been discussed and I wouldn\'t say you couldn\'t, but I\'m confident most of us wouldn\'t have the equipment or skill.

[abishur]

Well, one of the main things here is that the boards get their ethernet via the lan9512 chip. You can get the 9512 here at mouser for about 6 USD (ignore the photo that says lan9514, it\'s really the 9512).

But this thing is WAAAAY small, you might be able to surface mount it, but by the time you pay for shipping you\'ve almost paid the missing 10 dollars from buying the model B outright *AND* you\'re down half the RAM while you\'re at it!

[willrandship]

Okay, okay I was just curious how much of a difference the actual hardware was, and now it seems I have my answer: 1 more ram module, 1 USB Lan chip and 1 LAN connector, plus the extra USB Header.

[jojopi]

[quote]Quote from willrandship on December 9, 2011, 04:33
1 more ram module, 1 USB Lan chip and 1 LAN connector, plus the extra USB Header.[/quote]

Plus three LEDs, polyfuse and diode pair, quartz crystal, quite a number of resistors and capacitors. Minus the two 0R links to connect the USB to the 2835 instead of the 9512.

[Bacan]

BUT, he\'ll miss the smell of solder in the morning.

Get a Gert Board and Hack together some neat project, and share the plans with the others here at the forum.

[willrandship]

I can get plenty of solder fumes from salvaging SRAM modules off of ancient Video Cards

I figure if they\'re old enough not to work with XVesa, I will never touch them, ever again.

[RaTTuS]

You\'ll never upgrade the memory.... not unless you use the force , it\'s not done as moduels..

[Narishma]

[quote]Quote from willrandship on December 9, 2011, 04:33
Okay, okay I was just curious how much of a difference the actual hardware was, and now it seems I have my answer: 1 more ram module, 1 USB Lan chip and 1 LAN connector, plus the extra USB Header.[/quote]

There are no RAM modules. The RAM is mounted on top of the CPU in a Package on Package module, so you can\'t upgrade it.