In this Retro4u episode, Neil assembles a 1MB Amiga 500 Plus Expansion, giving the system a practical memory upgrade. The build uses a PCBWay board and remains accessible to hobbyists with basic soldering skills.
Neil begins by showing the essential components: 330nF capacitors, 68Ω resistors, IC sockets, a 2×28 pin adapter, and DRAM chips. He trims a 2×40 pin header to fit the board perfectly. The PCB, sourced from PCBWay, comes from their shared projects section, where anyone can order boards or request assembly.
After highlighting PCBWay’s ordering options and color choices, Neil starts assembling. He solders the components quickly, creating a neat final product. Then, he prepares to clean off the leftover flux with an ultrasonic bath. This ensures the board looks as good as it performs.
The Amiga 500 Plus Expansion will join Neil’s custom 500 Plus build, which still needs its case. However, he must first install a missing pin header for the memory slot. Neil checks the correct orientation, confirming that the chips face upward to fit under the trapdoor. The black PCB matches his other hardware, including a TerribleFire 030 accelerator, for a consistent look.
In the next episode, Neil will fit the missing header, install the accelerator, and place everything into the case. He will then test the Amiga 500 Plus Expansion to confirm the upgrade works as planned.
