Denial

After the success of VICMEM, I decided that I was not above feature creep, so Jbevren, DDI and myself set about to "improve" the design Jim Brain made for me (Thanks Jim!)

so the new model features are:

Map RAM into blks 1,2,3 and 5 as well as standard 3k expander
Map 2764 ROM into Blk 1,2,3 or 5
Jumpers/Switches to enable disable RAM/ROM
Jumpers/DIP switches to enable RAM/ROM in selected BLKs
Reset switch (foot prints for two different types
LED (not a feature, per se, but cool, nonetheless)

These are high quality PCBs and are ENIG (Gold contacts)

image by markgladson, on Flickr

The cost is $32 shipped in the USA (contact me for other countries) and includes all parts except an eprom I will include one for $3 and can put any 8/4k program you want in it (provided you have the ROM image) or I can include Vicmon2, Basic 4 or Easyload+

I only have a few this round as these were my protos (fully working) so I am ordering more

if you have something you would like to release on Cartridge, this board can do it all. If you are a programmer and dont want to mess with hardware, I can help. these can be cost/part reduced for simple cartridges. Thanks!

I have added a few options for this cart.

You can now get wimbasic http://wimbasic.webs.com/ as an option (with full blessing from the author, thank you!)

and also Quick Brown Fox word processor. very handy with built in ram expansion (also works with 40/80 column boards)

Thanks!

Great product! You really shouldn't forget our 1112 carts though .

I am on that! Working on packaging right now, I took this week off to process the orders!

Hi dragos (or anyone who has one of these),

I'm playing around a little more with the one you sent me. I would like to know how to properly configure the jumpers.
It seems semi-obvious, but I don't want to blow things up.

For instance, if I want 32K+3K RAM, I assume I jumper all the four jumpers under the RAM label, PLUS jumper the one in the middle that reads +3K/BLK 5, and ALSO unjumper any jumpers under the ROM label.

I'm also guessing that the two RAM / ROM jumpers in the upper left corner enable/disable RAM or ROM on the board.

Could there be any possibility of electrica/physical damage to components or the VIC if both RAM and ROM were in conflict (i.e. jumpered to occupy the same space)?

But what should I do with the ROM/RAM jumpers in the upper left corner of the board?

I don't own this expander, but judging from the photo, it only carries a single 32K SRAM chip. That means, if you enable the +3K RAM expansion, it will be mirrored into BLK5 (more specifically, what you write in $0400..$0FFF will also appear at $A400..$AFFF, and vice versa).

In this case, crosstalk happens between those two memory areas "by design". If you only want the +3K RAM expansion by itself, this is in order, but you don't get "true" +35K RAM from it.

Edit: In the other thread concerning Bit Shifter's Z-code interpreter, I see you also have troubles with Mega-Cart. In any case, you wouldn't get this working with the RAM/ROM cartridge here.

You're right Mike,
I was hoping this solution would allow me to use it with the ZORK port.
Sound's like it will not be a true 32K +3K solution, then.

I also have a VIC-MIDI, which has an ULTIMEM function (which I've never used). Could that work in the way I want?

Hi, you are correct this is not a true 35k expander as is the limitation of using a 32k chip I was not even thinking about the ram in the I/O space when we decided on a feature set. So apologies if that confused anyone.

We are considering making one that can do +35k, but it doesn't really fit the original intent (which is jump start vic cart releases)

There will be some of these available soon from a friend of mine. I'll post here once he is ready to accept orders.

Thanks!

Hey Dragos,

Just curious - what ROM / EPROM chips are compatible with the ROM socket in these? Are the old 2716 and 2732 okay to use?
What about ROM chips removed from other VIC-20 cartridges?

2764 or compatible. I use 28c64b atmel eeproms. If you want ROM in more than one BLK then you would use a 27256, which would allow you to map 8k into eack blk 1,2,3 and 5 (or if you build the image correctly, any combination thereof)

If you could have the full capabilities of the ultimem + an SD card like the fe3 I'd be sold.

On a side note...
I have the midicart. When I received it I thought to myself that if the midicart could have an sd slot and the functions of the old video expander with an added audio expansion and anolog a/v outputs... This would truly be the ultimate expansion for the Vic.

this is in no way, shape or form meant to be what the ultimem or FE3 is. It is most definitely NOT a multicart. It was designed to be an inexpensive platform for VIC cart projects. So far only I have taken advantage of its capabilities.

If you wanted to put a VIC game on cartridge for sale, you definitely would not use ultimem to do it.