AtariMax 8mbit Flash Help

[Illtiger1]

Just got an AtariMax 8mbit flash cart for Christmas and have no idea what to do with it. I just want to put roms on it to play conversions, homebrews, and roms rather than getting carts out all the time for my XEGS. Is this possible with this cart or is it just for programming? Is there another cart that is capable of holding roms like an SD card version? Thanks and I apologize ahead of time for my complete lack of knowledge in this department.

[gozar]

You'll need a way to program the cart, which can either be an A8 computer or the AtariMax USB programmer.

 

To use an A8 computer you would almost have to have an SIO2PC device.

 

Did you get anything else with it or just the cart?

[Illtiger1]

I just have the cart and an Atari XEGS. The cart is the non-USB one.

[+Larry]

You really need to go to the Atarimax forum and register if you are not already a member. Go to the forum index and select the 8 Mbit images. Browse and select a collection. The collections should come as an ATR flasher. So as mentioned, you need an SIO2PC cable/software in order to flash it. If you don't have an SIO2PC setup (or the Flash Studio) then you have a problem.

 

But if/when you get an SIO2PC, then put the flasher 8 Mbit image in the D1: slot and insert your cart. Boot the system and the flasher should take over and recognize the cart. Follow the screen prompts.

 

AFAIK, you cannot put a real rom image on an Atarimax flash cart. You can put "broken" roms that are now XEX (Atari executable) files. You can do that with a MyIDE-II cartridge. At any rate, creating a new flasher is not for the faint of heart, and you are better off starting out with pre-made flashers.

 

If you do not have an SIO2PC setup, you will be extremely limited as to what you can do with an Atari. You really should plan on getting one if you are going to do much useful with your A8.

 

-Larry

[Illtiger1]

Larry thanks for the info. Is there an easier way to get roms to play on an A8? If I returned the cart and upgraded to the usb cart would this process be easier or do I still need a SIO2PC cable? Is there a SD flash cart for the A8?

[+JAC!]

I'd really recommend to keep the cartridge and get this in addition.

http://lotharek.pl/product.php?pid=98

 

The cartridge gives you instant access to your favorite games and allows you to carry them with you easily.

The SIO2PC allows you to run any disk based game as it would runs from a real disk and allows for data transfer between the Atari and the PC/Mac via AspeQt.

[phaeron]

An SIO2PC cable/device is the most flexible solution as a lot of cartridge software was either also released in disk form or was, uh, converted to disk form. You can run the vast majority of Atari software out there with an SIO2PC cable. It'll be a bit slow to load bigger games, though, and you'll need a PC tethered to your Atari.

 

Regarding USB -- if you get one, make sure you get the USB programmer and not the USB cartridge. The USB cartridge isn't likely to be useful, but the USB programmer is very useful as it'll program a MaxFlash cartridge in seconds.

 

The AtariMax cartridges have a very limited capability to emulate other cartridges. It'll work if the cartridge is a small 8K cartridge like BASIC or Missile Command, but anything more than that and you can't just add the cartridge to your flash cart. It has to be a version that's made for or has been converted to run on the MaxFlash cart specifically, or a disk-based version that the MaxFlash studio software can cram into the flash cart. Probably easiest just to see if someone's already made a mega-cart image that contains the games you want.

[Paul Westphal]

Go with the Atarimax MyIde II, and go to atarionline.pl for all you .xex files. Watch the video to set it up. Piece of cake.

[+Larry]

Larry thanks for the info. Is there an easier way to get roms to play on an A8? If I returned the cart and upgraded to the usb cart would this process be easier or do I still need a SIO2PC cable? Is there a SD flash cart for the A8?

 

You're very welcome. If you absolutely don't want to get an SIO2PC cable, there are other options that use SD cards or CF cards. As Paul mentions, the MyIDE-II is a good choice. It uses CF card(s) so you can swap cards if you choose. The MyIDE-II will come programmed, but I'd ask Steve (Atarimax) to make sure that the cart is programmed with at least MyBios 4.8.06 or if he will, MyBios (Beta) 4.9.08. And also, ask to make sure it has the latest firmware. I've been using 4.9.08 for a over a month, and it is very well-behaved and polished. You will hear occasional grumblings from some folks here that "it uses a custom operating system." (As if the other 20 or so modified A8 OS's were not custom in one way or another.) The MyBios OS is very good and compatible. Another strong point is the support from the Atarimax forum and especially Mr-Atari. Mr-Atari has continually updated the MyBios making it faster, more compatible, and easier to use. And it is a snap to update -- you update it into the FAT-32 on the CF card. There are alternatives, but to me this is the most flexible *single* solution. If you really want turn-key (and don't mind paying extra), ask Steve about sending you a completely formatted cartridge + CF card -- all you would need to do is to add your games via a CF card reader/writer from the PC. Are you going to have to learn to use some of its features -- absolutely. Is it very difficult -- absolutely not.

 

Here's the correct page:

http://www.atarimax.com/myide/documentation/

 

And check out this thread for the pics of the control screens at the end of the thread in post #69:

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/228959-mybios-49b6-released-for-myide-altirra-and-stand-a-lone/page-3

 

That USB cart that you saw at the Atarimax site is either a programmer cart with nice Windows software -or- the other one is a (IMO) half-way attempt to allow the Atari to use USB devices directly. Steer clear of that one!!!

 

Whatever you choose, good luck, and folks here (and the Atarimax forum) are very good at helping.

 

-Larry

[FULS]

Hi,

I agree with Larry 100%. The MyIde 2 cart should be your first choice until you get an SIO2PC cable.

This is the order I would buy if I had limited patience or a limited budget:

 

1. MyIde 2 cart

2. SIO2PC cable that JAC! posted the link too or this one by atari8warez http://www.atari8warez.com/

(also use AspeQt or Ape with your cable) Free!

3. The!Cart (This is my favorite) http://atariage.com/forums/topic/215811-thecart-new-128mb-flash-cartridge/

Edited December 28, 2014 by FULS

[Illtiger1]

Thank you all for the helpful information. I'm not familiar with Atari 8 OS, programming, or flashing so I guess I need to do some further reading and research.

[Illtiger1]

Thank you all again for taking the time to respond. I returned the 8mbit flash cart and received the MyIDE II cart in the mail today. Going to pick up a CF and give it a shot via the AtariMax YouTube video instructions soon. Upon request, Steve was nice enough to put MyBios (Beta) 4.9.08 and the latest firmware on it for me as Larry suggested.