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motrucker

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Posts posted by motrucker

  1. Posted · Edited by motrucker

    Right now I am using a C-128 that had 16Kb of video RAM, but has had the Chip Level Design board added, and it now has 64Kb according to all of the software I use with this computer. There is a cap on this board, that doesn't seem to be on the C-128 motherboard, but I am not 100% sure of that. I do know this board works. (The only chips on the board are two 41464 RAM chips.)

     

    Best way to answer any question about this, would be to ask Bil Herd, on his site.

     

    http://c128.com/

  3. Posted

    It should also be noted that JiffyDOS is still available from Jim Brain at Retro Inovations;

     

    http://store.go4retro.com/jiffydos-kernal-rom-overlay-ic/

     

    There are a couple of sellers on ebay who offer switchless versions, so you don't have to drill a hole in your computer,

     

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/Commodore-VIC-20-NTSC-switchless-JIFFYDOS-KERNAL-with-clips-NO-DRILLING/162712903434?hash=item25e271df0a:g:zwsAAOSwUuFWt4Zq

     

    aaascrapdogsunlimited is an excellent firm to deal with. (I have no connection with them).

     

     

     

     

     

  7. Posted · Edited by motrucker

    I am sorry my posts were so cut & pasted together, but right now my arthritis is so bad I can't hardly type at all.

    C-64 users are lucky these days, that they can get modern versions of the PLA (Look on "http://www.melon64.com/forum/index.php?sid=61ef32d5a71cf5672737f51f3279982a")and even the 8701 replacement for good prices.

    The C-64 hasn't had it this good in years.

    I personally use a 1764 PSU on my C-64, so don't worry about this aspect of the computer. But these are extremely hard to find these days.

  8. Posted

    I suppose an extensive case mod project to take a regular PC tower case, mount the C128D motherboard with proper holes in the case or rerouting things with internal cables, is out of the question? :) I've read online about some people who have tried to do that, though it isn't an automatic conversion by any means. Also I suppose the metal C128DCR (?? I never understand the difference between C128D and C128DCR, ordered per geographical region) might be a bit more suitable for standing on the side, as it is taller with straight sides.

    There have been more than a few projects putting a C-128D(cr) into a PC tower case. "redrumloa" (from amiga.org and lemon64.com) made at least one of these, that even included a Super CPU:

     

    http://www.amiga.org/forums/showthread.php?t=35343

     

    Interesting project. There might be another, newer idea in the works as we speak.

    • Like 1

  9. Posted

    I never said "the power supply will cook everything on the board". However, if the regulator goes out, it can sure take out all of the RAM chips, and maybe an IC or two. The following is a quote of Ray Carlen's site;

     "The worst and most destructive PS failure is caused by a bad regulator that shorts out internally so its input voltage (more than 11 volts) is passed directly to its output! Most semiconductors (transistors and IC's) inside the computer run at 5 volts DC and can withstand a minor voltage overload without damage... but some cannot. The eight RAM chips in a C64 are especially vulnerable to over-voltage damage. Those IC's have an "absolute maximum rating" of 5.5 volts and are quickly destroyed above that maximum level. I've seen several CBM bricks that always worked normally when cold but would output excessive voltage when warm. Those supplies went on to damage several users computers because the owners didn't realize the fault was repeatable. Any PS brick failure means it must be replaced, preferably with something better if available."

    I have worked with Commodore equipment since about 1982, and have seen more than a few C-64s suffer this fate. I live in the U.S., so all of 64s I have worked on were using North American type power supplies. These epoxy filled beasts are downright dangerous to use today, period.

     

     

  14. Posted · Edited by motrucker

    There are loads of 80 columns programs for this machine. Just use 128 and CP/M modes. There are ways to get to VGA, but the C-64 side doesn't like these at all. Very poor quality displays in most cases.

    The easiest display is to use an old Commodore monitor that was made for the C-128 - from the 1902, to the 2002, 1080, or 1084/1084S. These give a excellent 40 colum, C-64 display, and a very good 80 column display for 128 and CP/M. What ever you use, The Gnobes adapters are crap. You're throwing money away with these devices.

    The C-128 is a very interesting machine, from its BASIC 7, to many possible hardware upgrades.

  17. Posted

    Also some of the reader comments are so uninformed that I want to cringe, but then again you can't expect people hanging on Gizmondo.com to be knowledgeable about 30-35 year old technology.

    Some of the comments right here can make me cringe!

  18. Posted

    I don't know why so many people believe that the C-64c all have different motherboards than the breadbin model. They don't. The first C-64c machines had the same board, chip for chip as the latest model Breadbins. The same SID and all.

    There are cost reducing boards that were introduced, ending with the "short" board which is quite different.

     

     

  20. Posted · Edited by motrucker

    Can't stress replacing the PSU enough. In North American they are refereed to as the brick of death.

    The U1541 II is great, but there other options that work well too. It's still quite handy to have a disk drive on hand, something like the 1541 II.

    There are loads of hardware options for the C-64, so there are many opinions on what to use. A lot depends on what you want to do with the system.

    Check out www.lemon64.com too. Between these two sites you'll find everything you need.

  21. Posted

    Have to admit I just learned about indie retro news myself - what a site! Too bad much of what I've seen for Amiga stuff are dead. Software no longer being hosted by such and such a site. Oh well, nice knowing what you can longer get I guess. :lol:

     

    Or are archived by some unknown, little known, obsolete or otherwise PITA form of archiving where you have to download a special unintuitive unarchiver for your modern computer and hope to hell it works or doesn't make a mess of what you're trying to unzip... hey, now there's a concept: why not stick to a form of compression that everyone has and knows how to use? Anyway...

     

    There's also Kim Lemon's C= and Amiga sites too, which provide reviews and links all over the interwebs.

     

    www.lemon64.com

    www.lemonamiga.com

     

    ...and the Commodore Scene Database:

     

    http://csdb.dk

    Don't forget Melon64. It was started back when Lemon64 was down for a while, but has it's own identity. One of the best for tech stuff.

     

    http://www.melon64.com/forum/index.php?sid=61ef32d5a71cf5672737f51f3279982a

    • Like 1
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