Which would you buy? FC3 or Megacart+UIEC

[dabone]

I want to get a nice add on for my vic, and don't know which would be the
better option. Can the FC3 do 99% of what the megacart does?
Can I create a custom game list using only NTSC games? (I'm in the USA)

I'm just a little confused at the option both carts give.
Can anyone sum up the differences?

Thanks,
later,
dabone

[Vic20-Ian]

Megacart is a great off the shelf multi cart with configurable memory expansion amounts and games and utilities preloaded. Easyloader is configured as well.

Final Expansion 3 is a build it yourself, 512k multiple mode configurable expansion with built in SD card reader (uIEC) to simulate disk drive with built in Jiffy support, real time clock, customisable Rom flash capability and reset switches.


FE3 firmware allows you to configure ram, switch the dos wedge on or off, make the cart invisible to other carts, flash configured files to rom. You can load disks through standard commands, dos wedge shortcuts or alternatively if you script each disk with a loader script that tells the cart the ram needed and the file to load via menu commands. Once scripted these files can be stored in flash rom meaning you can make your own custom flash rom cart via the menu.

I have bought both but use my FE3 most of all. Megacart is handy for a quick cart game but eventually will probably become surplus to my needs I think once I have created my disk scripts and fully loaded my rom with the software that I prefer.

Don't get me wrong it is a great cartridge which is why I bought it and the uIEC too but I prefer the tidier solution of the FE3 and the ability to write my own cartridge easily.

[Diddl]

Thanks Ian for this great summary and commendation for FE3.


> Can the FC3 do 99% of what the megacart does?
yes, in principle

and no, cause you must assemble and configure it yourself.


> Can I create a custom game list using only NTSC games? (I'm in the USA)
yes


MegaCart is great as a solution for anyone who wants to gamble. MegaCart is a ready to use solution, but you cannot change the contents.


FE3 is much more configurable and customizeable. But you have to do it yourself.

---

MegaCart is a wonderful "out of the box" solution. FE3 is wonderful tool for someone who want to use VIC-20 deeply.

[dabone]

Doing it myself is no problem, it only took me about 10 mins to assemble my easyflash. I've been soldering a long time. (And have the equipment to do it.)

Sounds like I'm going with the FC3.

Thanks for the info.

Later,
dabone

p.s.

Is this a translation error?

MegaCart is great as a solution for anyone who wants to gamble

Should gamble be game?

[Diddl]

Doing it myself is no problem, it only took me about 10 mins to assemble my easyflash. I've been soldering a long time. (And have the equipment to do it.)

Fine, so FE3 cannot be a problem for you.

Sounds like I'm going with the FC3.

It is called FE3 (final expansion).

FC3 is a freezer cartridge for a C64.

Is this a translation error?

MegaCart is great as a solution for anyone who wants to gamble

Should gamble be game?

sorry, my english is very bad.

I took this vocable from LEO dictionary: click here

It seems for me the english word for "zocken" or "spielen"?

[Mike]

It seems for me the english word for "zocken" or "spielen"?

Yes it is, but with the connotation of doing that in a casino.

[nbla000]

MegaCart is a wonderful "out of the box" solution. FE3 is wonderful tool for someone who want to use VIC-20 deeply.

I've a nice comparison to explain Mega-Cart and FE3 differences...

You may consider FE3 like Linux, and Mega-Cart like Windows, just plug and play

Btw I think that some user underestimates the Mega-Cart potentiality, many things read here are possible also with Mega-Cart, the main difference for me is the SD drive, but if you need you may use a uIEC/SD2IEC along with Mega-Cart without problems.

I'm writing a vic porting of SD2BRWSE (Is quite finished) for both FE3 and Mega-Cart that will simplify the load of custom items from an SD drive without any configuration files, just plug and play.

Things must be easy also for advanced user, this is my philosophy

[orion70]

I'm writing a vic porting of SD2BRWSE (Is quite finished) for both FE3 and Mega-Cart that will simplify the load of custom items from an SD drive without any configuration files, just plug and play.

This is GREAT news. Thanks in advance for this effort: I'm no advanced user, and all the more so SD2BRWSE would greatly enhance my experience with the FE3!

[Pedro Lambrini]

I'm writing a vic porting of SD2BRWSE (Is quite finished) for both FE3 and Mega-Cart that will simplify the load of custom items from an SD drive without any configuration files, just plug and play.

So, in theory, would this give the Mega-Cart the same functionality as the FE3 but with the advantage of easily replacing/upgrading the uIEC?

Also, how would this work? Do you flash the Mega-Cart with SD2BRWSE or do you place that on the uIEC itself?


PS: I don't know if you're aware but I thought I'd let you know that nojoopa has been looking for you:

http://tinyurl.com/yk4oh9a

I hope I'm not sticking my nose in here, I just thought I'd let you know.

[Diddl]

So, in theory, would this give the Mega-Cart the same functionality as the FE3 but with the advantage of easily replacing/upgrading the uIEC?

The µIEC?

No the µIEC can be updated by simply inserting a SD card with new firmware.

It is only a browser, which can show you content of disk and start programs.

Also, how would this work? Do you flash the Mega-Cart with SD2BRWSE or do you place that on the uIEC itself?

No - MegaCart is not flashable.

MegaCart has memory chips which are NOT erasable so you can flash it once.

[Pedro Lambrini]

So, in theory, would this give the Mega-Cart the same functionality as the FE3 but with the advantage of easily replacing/upgrading the uIEC?

The µIEC?

No the µIEC can be updated by simply inserting a SD card with new firmware.

I meant actually replacing the uIEC hardware itself (ie/ if a new and better unit was released) not just updating the firmware. Thanks for your answers though.

[Diddl]

I meant actually replacing the uIEC hardware itself (ie/ if a new and better unit was released) not just updating the firmware. Thanks for your answers though.

Ah I understand.

It is simple to change built in µIEC, since this µIEC is not connected to other parts of FE3.

Simply remove IEC connector and plug in this new replacement for µIEC for example a 1541u unit.

a FE3 == FE2 + µIEC (µIEC is completly split from the rest)


I'm a fan of this 1541u as a "better µIEC". But for a VIC-20 no more than a µIEC is nessecary cause nearly no software need more. Exceptions are Demos cause these programs often use software speeder which are incompatible with µIEC.

[nbla000]

So, in theory, would this give the Mega-Cart the same functionality as the FE3 but with the advantage of easily replacing/upgrading the uIEC?

I don't know what you mean/aspect, both Mega-Cart and FE3 have different features, this program will help users to easily load a program for any Vic memory configuration from a SD drive but also from a normal drive without any configuration file.

Also, how would this work? Do you flash the Mega-Cart with SD2BRWSE or do you place that on the uIEC itself?

The Mega-Cart version works in NVRAM so you need to load it once from the uIEC/SD2IEC and until you don't load 3k programs you may load any program even you switch off/on the Vic.
The FE3/8K+ version may be uploaded in flash rom or loaded from SD2IEC of course.

PS: I don't know if you're aware but I thought I'd let you know that nojoopa has been looking for you:

Yes, I'm in touch with him, currently I'm looking some small issues for the C64DTV version, I've just bought ones but I need to hack it for SD drive inclusion so I need to find an hardware expert for the job....

I'm using the Vice emulation for my C64DTV tests at the moment but I really wish to hack my real unit.

It is only a browser, which can show you content of disk and start programs.

MegaCart has memory chips which are NOT erasable so you can flash it once.

Yes exactly.

[SkydivinGirl]

I'm still in the process of assembling my FE3. I just need to attach the wires, battery and status LEDs and I'll be done. I also have the MegaCart but cannot make a comparison until I finish the FE3. They are both amazing. You should get them both.

Heather

My FE3 Card so far:

[Barney]

Where is the website to order the FE3? Thanks.

Barney