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avatar_Chinnery

Unknown Romboard

Started by Chinnery, 11:32, 06 December 17

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Chinnery


Hi All,
I have this romboard to go with my CPC464, but can't find any info about it. The silk screen seems to have been deliberately scratched off so I can't do a search for it. Is anyone able to identify it?
There is a switch next to the 40025, which I assume will swap out the basic 1.0 rom and replace with the basic 1.1. There is a little push button switch next to that which I assume is a reset button. I can only assume these as I have not yet got my Amstrad up and running. There is a mass of patch leads all over it, if it weren't for the silk screen I would have thought this to be home built!
Does anyone have any info on this card, or at least an educated guess as to the function of the jumpers. Also, what's the cheapest way to go about burning eproms to go in it? I'd quite like to bob some games in sockets B-G
Cheers,

Bryce

Can't say who it was originally from, but obviously they got bought and marketed from a different company because any pics online seem to also have the name scratched off:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/andysretrocomputers/5328298228/in/album-72157607760086096/

The 7 jumpers will just be to disable each ROM individually.

Bryce.

rpalmer

The scratched of name might be "MICROSTYLE". as for the version it might be V1.0 or V2.0.

I can not be sure it is what i say but seems to be, but I think thats my best guess (see attached picture).

Rpalmer

rpalmer

#3
I just went to the cpcwiki and found that the board looks remarkably similar to the Super Power ROM Card (by Micro Power). 7 slots and very similar IC layout as well.

So my assertion that the first word "Micro" appears to be correct, so maybe it is a variant of the Micro Power ROM Card.

rpalmer

Chinnery

It could also be Microstyle. Reading their wiki entry on here (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Microstyle), and the companies reputation, it's easy to see why they scratched off Microstyle when they changed their company name to Avatar.

Chinnery

#5
Rechecking the photos, I think it started out life a a micro power rom card (The V being part of the W in Power), but has been modified to have the rom switch and push button on the top left. The holes for the switch have no traces going to them, only patch wires. This could be why it looks a bit home made. Also, the switch and button would make it not fit inside it's original case, which would explain it's nudeness :)


Small mystery solved!

Richard_Lloyd

Hi, bit of a long shot but I've got one of these. Mine has the 'Micropower' scratched off and has just a RODOS ROM in it. Did you ever figure out how it works? Cheers, Richard.
Richard
CPC464, CPC6128, PCW8512, PCW10, BSA & NSP

Chinnery

Um... it was a case of plug it in to the back of the CPC and roms present worked? Forgive me if I'm being a bit daft in not understanding your question.


If you plug it into the expansion port of the CPC, the roms become available.


RODOS information is available on the wiki at [size=78%]http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/RODOS[/size]


It'd probably be more fun adding other roms to the card - there are plenty of images available on the wiki that allow you to, for example, type |manicminer and you instantly get transported into manicminer :)


Richard_Lloyd

The RODOS ROM did not work in any socket and the switches appeared to have no effect which is why I posted the message. The CPC would not initialise with it in place - after the startup message the display would go haywire.


I have since found some paperwork with the following information on it.



ROMBOARD XTRA . . £20
Fits the 464 only. Has 6 standard rom sockets to take programs like Utopia Protext and, of course,
the rom based disc operating systems listed above. (RODOS, ROMDOS) 7th socket only takes
the 6128 rom to upgrade your 464 system. A 464/6128 selector switch is incorporated as is a
'hard' RESET button for those times when the 3 finger trick won't work.
6128 ROMS ARE STILL AVAILABLE. When bought with the Romboard Xtra..£19.50


Interesting prices!


I'm going to try some other ROMs but I'm beginning to suspect the thing is faulty.


Cheers, Richard.



Richard
CPC464, CPC6128, PCW8512, PCW10, BSA & NSP

GUNHED

Quote from: Richard_Lloyd on 19:43, 01 June 20
Hi, bit of a long shot but I've got one of these. Mine has the 'Micropower' scratched off and has just a RODOS ROM in it. Did you ever figure out how it works? Cheers, Richard.
You can read that here:
http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/RODOS

http://futureos.de --> Get the revolutionary FutureOS (Update: 2023.11.30)
http://futureos.cpc-live.com/files/LambdaSpeak_RSX_by_TFM.zip --> Get the RSX-ROM for LambdaSpeak :-) (Updated: 2021.12.26)

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