Which ROM Board?

[opticpow]

Hi All,

From my reading, this might be somewhat of a emacs / vi question  , but I'm after advice on which ROM board to get. I have a classic 464 & 6128, and I have a 464+ on the way. I don't want to do mods to the original hardware, so I believe I'll need something that supports lowerrom to replace AMSDOS with PARADOS etc?

It looks to be that the main options would be the x-mem or the megaflash? Will both of these support replacing AMSDOS, or will I still need Bryce's lowerrom board as well?

Thanks,

Wayne.

[CraigsBar]

Well... For the 464+ the xmem and c4cpc.

The xmem does not replace amsdos on any CPC, but in the plus AmsDOS is stored in the cart anyway, so replacements are easy enough.

Also for the CPC 464 the ddi-1 has amsdos socketed, so you only need to undo 2 screws and swap the chip, if you want one I'll can program it for you. So again the xmem is what you need.

The CPC 6128 is different however as only very few allow for amsdos to be externally overwritten, and as such you really need to put it in slot 6 and hope nothing resets ROM 7, or do an internal mod to remove amsdos and fit a socket + parados. Then the xmem will handle everything else.

Craig

[Duke]

The CPC 6128 is different however as only very few allow for amsdos to be externally overwritten, and as such you really need to put it in slot 6 and hope nothing resets ROM 7

Anyone having that issue could try out the patched lowerrom I did (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/imgs/f/f7/Lower6128_mod.zip) should work fine with Xmem & parados too.
Just put parados in slot 6.

[Bryce]

Just to clear things up a little. ROM0 is divided into two ROMs. The LowerROM which contains the computer Firmware and the Upper ROM0 which contains Locomotive BASIC. ROM7 is where AMSDOS is stored. Only plus machines are designed to allow this to be replaced with external hardware, Classic CPCs can't do this without internal modifications.

Bryce.

[Audronic]

@opticpow


My thoughts are Go for the X-Mem and MotherX4 and Purchase or make 2 Leads to suit the MotherX4 for the 464/6128 and 464Plus
CPC Boards

Good luck    Ray

[opticpow]

Thanks for everyone's comments. @Bryce thanks for clearing that up. I've been lumping the firmware and amsdos together in my mind. I should have realised that a 464 has firmware and no DOS, lol 

@CraigsBar Cool. I haven't opened up my DD1 yet, so sounds like a goer. I have an eeprom burner so it should be no worries, but thanks for the offer.  Just need to get the correct size eeprom. pretty sure my stock are all too large...

Off to check my bank account to fund an X-MEM and that cool board of @Duke 's that I've been reading about.....

[opticpow]

Well... For the 464+ the xmem and c4cpc.

The xmem does not replace amsdos on any CPC, but in the plus AmsDOS is stored in the cart anyway, so replacements are easy enough.

Also for the CPC 464 the ddi-1 has amsdos socketed, so you only need to undo 2 screws and swap the chip, if you want one I'll can program it for you. So again the xmem is what you need.

The CPC 6128 is different however as only very few allow for amsdos to be externally overwritten, and as such you really need to put it in slot 6 and hope nothing resets ROM 7, or do an internal mod to remove amsdos and fit a socket + parados. Then the xmem will handle everything else.

Craig

I picked up a couple of erproms from the local Jaycar store (Novelty farting toy shop that happen to also stock the odd component here in Oz), which was a total ripoff btw, but I couldn't wait for a OS delivery. I Successfully got the dualos rom to boot 

[attach=2]
[attach=3]

Off to see if I can wire up an adapter so I can hook up my 3.5" drive without modding the cable.

Wayne.

[Bryce]

Oooo, a Hameg HMO, nice scope

Bryce.

[opticpow]

Oooo, a Hameg HMO, nice scope

Bryce.

Oops, sorry I flashed you. 

You're meant to me looking at Arnold 

Wayne.

[Bryce]

I noticed the CPC464 afterwards My eyes always head for the test equipment first

Bryce.

[CraigsBar]

I picked up a couple of erproms from the local Jaycar store (Novelty farting toy shop that happen to also stock the odd component here in Oz), which was a total ripoff btw, but I couldn't wait for a OS delivery. I Successfully got the dualos rom to boot 

[attach=2]
[attach=3]

Off to see if I can wire up an adapter so I can hook up my 3.5" drive without modding the cable.

Wayne.

but why parados 1.1 when 1.2 is available?

Edited to keep Dr sarcasm happy

[Bryce]

but why parados 1.2 when 1.2 is available?

Yeah, coz ParaDOS 1.2 is much better than ParaDOS 1.2

Bryce.

[opticpow]

@CraigsBar That's the version that that was part of the dual rom file from the wiki. My main consideration was to get the 3.5" drive working correctly, now I can tweak 

Wayne.

[CraigsBar]

Yeah, coz ParaDOS 1.2 is much better than ParaDOS 1.2

Bryce.

Thank you @Bryce for pointing out the obvious typo