Kickstart Multi ROM

The SidecarTridge Kickstart Multi ROM emulates the Kickstart ROM of the Amiga 500, 500+, 600 and 2000: it runs any Kickstart version or custom ROM, such as DiagROM, without swapping chips. It is made of two boards, one on top of the other:

  • The carrier board plugs into the Kickstart ROM socket of your Amiga’s motherboard, in place of the original ROM chip. It connects the Amiga to the board above it and sets the OOPS Bug fix for your motherboard. With board revision 4, one carrier board fits the Amiga 500, 500+, 600 and 2000; board revision 3 came with a carrier board for each Amiga 500 or 2000 motherboard.
  • The ROM Emulator board sits on top of the carrier board and does the work: it stores your ROM images and serves them to the Amiga. It is the one with the USB-C connector.
The Kickstart Multi ROM kit with board revision 4, standing upright. The green ROM Emulator board is plugged into the blue carrier board and held with a screw. A small white enclosure at the top of the carrier board holds the OOPS Bug jumper; its positions are marked “>= REV 6” and “<= REV 5”. A two-wire RESCUE cable runs from the white connector marked RESCUE, at the bottom corner of the carrier board, to a red push button.
The Kickstart Multi ROM kit with board revision 4: the ROM Emulator board on its carrier board, and the RESCUE cable with its push button.

The ROM Emulator board has had two generations, its board revisions, and each one has its own guides. Choose yours to read the right ones.

Which board do I have?

Look at the ROM Emulator board, the smaller board on top of the carrier board, with the USB-C connector. Its board revision is the one that counts: the carrier board does not tell it.

Board revision 4: a short green card with a gold edge connector at the bottom, a USB-C connector on its left side, and BOOT and RESET buttons.

On sale

Board revision 4

RP2350B microcontroller, firmware v4.0.0.

  • A short card with a gold edge connector along its bottom edge, plugged into the carrier board.
  • USB-C connector on its left side.
  • INFO.TXT on its drive says Board variant: RP2350B.
Open the guides
Board revision 3: a long green board with castellated pads along both sides and a USB-C connector at the top.

Supported

Board revision 3

RP2350A microcontroller, firmware v4.0.0.

  • A wider board soldered onto the carrier by castellated pads.
  • Red power LED, plus green and orange LEDs.
  • INFO.TXT on its drive says Board variant: RP2350A.
Open the guides

Not sure?

Either of these tells you:

  1. Look at the ROM Emulator board on top of the carrier board and compare it with the photos above: board revision 4 is a short card plugged into a slot of the carrier board; board revision 3 is soldered onto it.
  2. Open INFO.TXT on the USB drive the board shows on your computer. Board variant: RP2350B is board revision 4; Board variant: RP2350A is board revision 3.

Firmware: current version and how to update

These guides keep two numbers apart: the board revision is the hardware you have, and the firmware version is the software that runs on it. Neither is an Amiga Kickstart ROM version. Find your board revision first (Which board do I have?), then its row:

Your boardCurrent firmwareHow to update
Board revision 4v4.0.0Install the file with rp2350b in its name: Firmware installation
Board revision 3, already on firmware v4.xv4.0.0Install the file with rp2350a in its name: Firmware installation
Board revision 3, still on firmware v3.xv4.0.0Replace the SWITCHER and the rescue switcher too: Upgrading to firmware v4.0.0

Firmware v4.0.0 goes with SWITCHER 4.0.0 and the rescue switcher 4.0.0. Which firmware is installed? Connect the board to your computer and open INFO.TXT on its ROMEMUL drive: the Version line tells you.

Where to get it: the downloads page, or install it straight from Chrome or Edge at webflash.sidecartridge.com. What changed in each version is in the Changelog.

Never install a firmware v3.x file on board revision 4: it does not check which board it runs on, and it would drive pins that are inputs on that board.

For every board

Reference

📘 Introduction

What the Kickstart Multi ROM is, what it is for, and how it works.

Guide

💲 Before You Buy

Find the kit that fits your Amiga motherboard.

Reference

🤝 Compatibility

The Amiga motherboards and the Kickstart and custom ROMs tested.

How-to

🛠️ Kickstart ROM Conversion

Convert Amiga Forever Kickstart ROM files for use with the Kickstart Multi ROM.

How-to

🧰 Diagnosing your Amiga with DIAGROM

Run DiagROM 1.3 from the board to diagnose your Amiga.

Reference

❓ FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

Reference

📝 Changelog

What changed in each firmware, application and board.

Archived guides for firmware v3.x, kept for reference: Getting Started (firmware v3.x) and User Guide (firmware v3.x).