Diamond 3.0

[KG7PFS]

Is it possible to order a *functional* (don't care if it's original, modified, reproduction, etc.) Diamond G.O.S. 3.0 cartridge? Where and how much?

[+Philsan]

You can put the rom on a multicart.

[KG7PFS]

5 minutes ago, Philsan said:

You can put the rom on a multicart.

I'll keep that in mind, but I'd rather do it the old fasioned way. Besides, I don't have a multicart.

[Goochman]

The only advantage to the original cart was its "pass through" in case you wanted to plug in another cart.  Original Diamond carts dont come up very often nor does anyone make a repro of it.

 

What Philsan said, the easier routeis to go to Atarimax.com and order one of their 8MB carts where you can load the Diamond ROM onto and wala you will have a Diamond GOS cart for about $60.

[+Philsan]

AtariMax is a good solution as mentioned by Goochman. You could buy the cheaper $25 AtariMax 1mbit version.

Maybe someone can burn a cheaper cart for you.

 

I would not pay a lot for a single cart, unless it is the original one. I would rather buy an AVGCart multicart. If you'd like, it can always start with Diamond GOS. But if you're tired of Diamond GOS, you can use the multicart to quickly load XEX, CAR and ATR (for full ATR compatibility you need the optional $12 SIO cable).

[8bitguy1]

21 minutes ago, Goochman said:

The only advantage to the original cart was its "pass through" in case you wanted to plug in another cart.  Original Diamond carts dont come up very often nor does anyone make a repro of it.

 

What Philsan said, the easier routeis to go to Atarimax.com and order one of their 8MB carts where you can load the Diamond ROM onto and wala you will have a Diamond GOS cart for about $60.

You can also run it from an Unocart which is usually a few dollars cheaper than that...  

Edited February 3 by 8bitguy1
"an" instead of "a"

[KG7PFS]

3 hours ago, Goochman said:

The only advantage to the original cart was its "pass through" in case you wanted to plug in another cart.

That's exactly what I want.

 

The first problem with the Atarimax Multicart is that it depends on a PC. That's almost as bad as using an emulator. I've never used an emulator and I'm not going to. I hate having the PC involved in the 8-bit network at all.

 

If I do give in and use Atarimax, there may be two more problems. I've been looking at the maxflash manual, and it tells how to install 8k cartridge images, but isn't Diamond a 16k bank switched cartridge?

 

If I'm going to set up a Multicart with Diamond, I'd also like to use OSS Basic XE, another pass though cartridge. Can Maxflash deal with bank swiched or pass through cartridges?

[_The Doctor__]

do a search for it on the atarimax forums and on AA someone probably already converted it and you won't need a pc etc... just run the flasher of it on the 8 bit and it will program the cartridge... then pull that disk out and reboot. Just think I've seen it over the years. could be wrong

[manterola]

What about the MIDI Maze cartridge by Dropcheck? Can the eprom be changed for one with diamond? 

[+Nezgar]

Looks like its a 64KB bankswitch ROM probably interchangable with the 27c512 in an original SDX cart, or modern replica/compatible PCB.

[+David_P]

51 minutes ago, manterola said:

What about the MIDI Maze cartridge by Dropcheck? Can the eprom be changed for one with diamond? 

I suspect not; the original Diamond ROM expects specific banking - designed to be a passthrough and properly share the bus with SDX, RTime 8 and the OSS/ICD language carts.

[kenames99]

On 2/3/2021 at 2:23 PM, KG7PFS said:

Is it possible to order a *functional* (don't care if it's original, modified, reproduction, etc.) Diamond G.O.S. 3.0 cartridge? Where and how much?

I have some reproduction cart boards that I did as a test. they are fully functional and work just like the original ones. Let me know if you would like to get one. they are HASL and not gold plated edge connector. so that part would wear quicker depending on insert and pull cycles.

 

Ken

 

[kenames99]

I have messaged Alan about this and am waiting for his reply. in the meantime, I would like to ask if there is any interest in seeing this produced. I will keep cost as low as I can. this can also usable for original spartados x and express cart. I have the gal logic for those too. any feedback welcome. Mike Hohman is also welcome to reply or message me.

thanks all.

 

Ken

 

[kenames99]

I forgot to say but these sdx carts are for 64K roms only. that means sdx up to 4.22 version or lower. I can do the Ken Jones upgrade to use the 128K roms but that will cost a couple extra dollars.

 

Ken

 

[Gunstar]

If anyone is looking for modern SDX carts, @Dropcheck is still selling the boards on her site, which can be flashed with the latest SDX and they also have battery backed RTC on board too. I've had one for several years and I love it. I use mine with MyIDE II piggy-backed on it and with FJC's MyIDE HDD driver it works great, which also allows one to use another cartridge, like OSS languages mounted in flash on MyIDE II instead of using that for SDX. Only one left in stock currently, but she accepts back-orders.

 

https://www.bitsofthepast.com/?product=super-spartados-pcb

 

 

[_The Doctor__]

I'm still glad to see them as Diamond 3.0 carts that's for sure.

The stand alone RTC carts have their uses as well.

The MIO diagnostic cart would be handy to have as an instant ready to go tool, as opposed to emulated carts etc.

I find most of the PASS Through selectable carts very desirable.

 

I'd certainly believe the Jones mod should be done for SDX carts, it's just so darn convenient to have as much in CAR: as possible especially with later SDX builds.

 

It's great to have such choices today,

Thank you @kenames99

 

_T D__

[Gunstar]

Yes, I was one of the very few that had the real Diamond 3.0 cart back in the day, unfortunately lost with all my original software when I made a move in the mid 90's. I've already talked to @kenames99 about getting one from him to replace my lost one. It will be fun to see if I can make it work in my pass-thru chain with SDX and MyIDE II. Has anyone used Diamond 3.0 with the newer 4.8/4.9 versions of SDX? Not a big deal if it doesn't work with them, I'll just set up another partition using Sparta 3.2/3.3 and MyIDE II without SDX if I have too.

Edited February 9 by Gunstar

[kenames99]

ok, boards ordered, all gold contacts.

 

yea, forgot to mention dropcheck's nice little boards/carts. those are nice.

also got a message back from Alan Reeve and he is fine with me making these cartridge boards with Diamond GOS.

 

Ken

 

Edited February 9 by kenames99
forgot some info

[_The Doctor__]

I knew you would.

[Mathy]

Hello Ken

 

4 hours ago, kenames99 said:

ok, boards ordered, all gold contacts.

 

Could you explain to me please what exactly it is that you ordered?

 

Sincerely

 

Mathy

 

[kenames99]

11 minutes ago, Mathy said:

Hello Ken

 

 

Could you explain to me please what exactly it is that you ordered?

 

Sincerely

 

Mathy

 

PC Boards for reproduction Diamond cartridge. drop in replacements if you have original shell or reproduction shell.

 

Ken

 

[Gunstar]

15 hours ago, kenames99 said:

ok, boards ordered, all gold contacts.

 

yea, forgot to mention dropcheck's nice little boards/carts. those are nice.

also got a message back from Alan Reeve and he is fine with me making these cartridge boards with Diamond GOS.

 

Ken

 

I noticed Alan was browsing the thread the other night when I was browsing.

[manterola]

I designed a PCB for PS/2 to Atari and Amiga mouse, based on an old design (not mine) using a PIC microcontroller. I tested it with Atari 8 bit (Diamond 2.0 and 3.0 OS, Centipede and Missile Command which it is super cool to play with optical mouse) and Amiga 500.

I am waiting to see if it is compatible with the Atari ST (and fit inside the niche under the keyboard). It works with both ball mice and the only optical PS/2 mouse I could get in a thrift store for $2, soon will be tested with more optical ps/2 mice.

If interested I will soon add an announcement, so stay tuned. This was initially designed for me, but given the results I thought I should share it with the Atari community, especially given the crazy prices of original Atari mice.

 

Edited February 10 by manterola

[kenames99]

hi everyone,

  BillC sent me this link for cart shells https://corei64.com/shop/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=67 so they should work fine.

 

Ken

 

[Mathy]

Hello Ken

 

21 hours ago, kenames99 said:

PC Boards for reproduction Diamond cartridge. drop in replacements if you have original shell or reproduction shell.

 

Ken

 

 

Can these only be used for Diamond GOS or for all ICD passthrough cartridges?

 

Sincerely

 

Mathy