DK'tronics Upgrades

[steve]

If you look at modern software, it is many megabytes, even gigabytes in size, most of this is used for graphics and sound, so it would be easy to use up 4MB ram on a CPC, in fact there is a program or two already that is over 700KB in size, having that in memory would speed up the game as it would not have to pause whilst new segments load from disk.
Having 4MB available would enable digitised sound and optional speech using either synthesiser, these things might not be so easy with only 512KB ram, additionally it would make cartridge software development easier as the whole program and development tools could be held in 4MB ram.
A 4MB rampack is also cheaper per bit than a 512KB unit.
Of course, if you don't actually want to use the CPC for anything other than playing old games then a 4MB rampack will be of no interest.

[TotO]

Of course the software only comes when the hardware is available

As we can see on most systems, it's mainly because the hardware is available as standard (not an option) that programmers take advantage of it.
Looking from the consumer side, if he think it's not essential to get it because he got an alternative, then he don't buy it.

Why a sharp joystick/mouse, if my favorite programs can be run as well with a keyboard?
Why stereo speakers, if my favorite programs done mono sound?
Why an extended memory, if my favorite programs run on 64K?
...

If you can't answer to those questions, then the corresponding hardware stay useless for most users.

[TotO]

If you look at modern software, it is many megabytes, even gigabytes in size, most of this is used for graphics and sound

Modern softwares run on modern computers. Did the CPC got enough power to take part of that?

Having 4MB available would enable digitised sound and optional speech using either synthesiser, these things might not be so easy with only 512KB ram

Without CPU power, it's just a dream to use digit sound on programs. Amiga does because 68K and Paula. (with 512KB of memory)

A 4MB rampack is also cheaper per bit than a 512KB unit.

Managing more than 512KB require extra IC for banking. And may require more memory chips and PCB space too.

[TFM]

If you look at modern software, it is many megabytes, even gigabytes in size, most of this is used for graphics and sound, so it would be easy to use up 4MB ram on a CPC, in fact there is a program or two already that is over 700KB in size, having that in memory would speed up the game as it would not have to pause whilst new segments load from disk.
Having 4MB available would enable digitised sound and optional speech using either synthesiser, these things might not be so easy with only 512KB ram, additionally it would make cartridge software development easier as the whole program and development tools could be held in 4MB ram.
A 4MB rampack is also cheaper per bit than a 512KB unit.
Of course, if you don't actually want to use the CPC for anything other than playing old games then a 4MB rampack will be of no interest.

Thanks' you talk out of my heart. Why not using RAM for graphics and sounds. Compressed they even fit on a 700 kb 3.5" disc. Uncompressed in RAM they can be used during a game. But also applications would have a gain.

Well, I don't want to say anybody what to do. I'm just fascinated by the idea of a whole pack or RAM. 512 KB is good for 30 seconds of digitezed sound. So that ain't enough for me ;-) I dream of CPC games with video sequences and MP3 like sound (digiblaster f.e.), and that's consuming much RAM.