★ HARDWARE ★ AMSTRAD DMP 2000 printer: 8K buffer kit ★ |
Imprimante Divers - Amstrad Dmp 2000 Printer - 8k Buffer Kit (Amstrad Action) |
Do you count the cracks in your ceiling while waiting for a document to print? If you own an Amstrad DMP 2000 or 3000 printer then you certainly will know what I mean. The buffer contained in these printers is very small. A print-buffer is an area of memory built into the printer where tex: is stored while waiting to be printed - handy because the computer always sends text to the printer much faster than the printer can get it onto the page. With a large enough print-buffer, the computer can send data to it and get on with other, more important, tasks. The print-buffer comes in the form of a static RAM. The DMP printers contain a 2k RAM. Most of it is taken up by the printer's operating system, leaving you with approximately 0.5k to play with. When you consider a page of text is roughly equivalent to 1.5k. you realise why you wait such a long time for control to return to the computer. With Goldmarks upgrade kit you can increase the 2k RAM to a more sensible 8k. Of course the printer's operating system will still use 1.5k, but 7.5k (roughly five pages of text) should be enough for your requirements. If you're not too concerned at the prospect of undoing a few screws or possibly dipping your fingers into solder, you should have no trouble with the upgrade kit. All instructions are detailed on a single sheet of paper - so simple that even my mother could follow them. Don't panic if you have never picked up a soldering iron or read instructions before in your life; if you take your printer and the upgrade kit to a local TV repairman, he should be able to knock it into shape within ten minutes, Once the printer's casing has been opened (by taking several screws from underneath the printer) you must discern which printer version you have. There are three types - two involve a drop of solder, and the other entails repositioning a link. That's it, apart from having to take out the 2k static RAM and replace it with the supplied 8k one. The butter upgrade kit is cheap, easily installed and has clear pictorial instructions. It will considerably decrease time spent growing a beard.
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