super expander load adresse

[dimebag]

Hello

i have the super expander dump file

if i load it in memory with a 16Ko expansion, where did it be loaded ?

i mean ,what is it loading adresse ? to make it run from ram

Cheers

Laurent

[srowe]

The Super Expander expects to run at $A000, you will need a RAM expansion that allows you to map to BLK5 to run it from an image file.

[dimebag]

hi

ok, so i need a 32k expansion !

cheers

Laurent

[Mike]

Alternatively, you might take a look at MINIGRAFIK. Minimum requirement is a +8K RAM expansion. Some client programs may need more RAM, though.

For graphics programming, it is in any case a better choice than the BASIC extension of Super Expander. And the non-graphics commands of Super Expander can usually be replaced by small subroutines at no loss and without any big hassle.

[tlr]

Someone could perhaps relocate super expander such that it works with "just" +16Kb?

[Mike]

Someone could perhaps relocate super expander such that it works with "just" +16Kb?

Here are the instructions how to do this.

[tlr]

Someone could perhaps relocate super expander such that it works with "just" +16Kb?

Here are the instructions how to do this.

Long time ago, but yes!

A cooler feature would be if it was made runtime relocatable. Then it could adapt to memtop of that particular machine. Maybe the layout of graphics mem makes using expanded ram hard though. Haven't looked at it myself.

[eslapion]

hi

ok, so i need a 32k expansion !

cheers

Laurent

If you have a 16k expansion then there must be switches in it which allow you to map the upper 8k to BLK 5 instead of BLK 2.

With 8k in BLK1 and 8k in BLK5 then you can use Super Expander nicely.

[dimebag]

ok !!

i'll try this !

Cheers

Laurent

[dimebag]

i have a vixen 16k expansion
what is his best configuration to load the Super expander rom ?

cheers

Laurent

[Mike]

i have a vixen 16k expansion [...] what is his best configuration to load the Super expander rom ?

Simply put: there is no "best" configuration. Unless you perform a hardware mod on the Vixen RAM expansion, not any of the four possible RAM settings (as per the DIP switches) provide RAM in BLK5 where you could load the SE dump into.

One possible way to mod the card is to:

- *open* the trace going to the edge connector pad of BLK3, and
- solder a new connection from the end of that trace to the edge connector pad of BLK5 instead.

Then there's one config on the Vixen which puts RAM in BLK1 and RAM in BLK5, and which works as Eslapion wrote.

...

Even though the Super Expander firmware now works, it behaves differently to the original RAM config (with extra RAM in $0400..$0FFF on card): when a graphics area is allocated the first time in a program, all the program variables are *cleared*! It's quite possible that some unsuspecting programs will fall over this.

If you really want to run that handful of old programs which really need SE, save yourself the trouble and buy an original cart on *bay.

Otherwise, and if you're really into graphics programming, just use MINIGRAFIK and its assorted tools instead.

[dimebag]

Bonjour François

J'ai essayer de charger en mémoire la rom du super expander, mais ça ne fonctionne pas

je charge simplement avec le basic l'image bon de la cartouche, et je fait sys 40960....... theoriquement A000...

je me trompe je pense.

Cheers

Laurent

[Mike]

ça ne fonctionne pas

C'est facilement la description d'erreur la plus précise que j'ai pu imaginer.

[dimebag]

LOL mike

that's what i say when my customer saids "this do not work...."

Ok, that's do not work work, but what do not not work ??

In my case:

I have now a working 37kb memory setup , i like to load the basic super expander rom and use it.

so i activate the BLK5, load the file, and type a sys 40960, right or i have missed something ?? ( i guess !!)

Cheers

Laurent

[eslapion]

Bonjour François

J'ai essayer de charger en mémoire la rom du super expander, mais ça ne fonctionne pas

je charge simplement avec le basic l'image bon de la cartouche, et je fait sys 40960....... theoriquement A000...

je me trompe je pense.

Cheers

Laurent

The original poster is asking for technical information in french so I will reply in french. Please notice me immediately if you feel this is a violation of forum policies.

Salut Laurent,
Le Super Expander est une cartouche qui s'auto-execute au même titre qu'une cartouche de jeux et aucune commande SYS n'est nécessaire pour le démarrer.

La ROM Super Expander se charge dans l'espace mémoire $A000-$AFFF (ou décimale 40960 - 45056) mais c'est aussi le cas de toutes les cartouches de jeux de 4k de ROM...

Ainsi, la seule commande SYS qui 'pourrait' démarrer le Super Expander est SYS64802 ou exécuter un redémarrage normal avec le bouton 'reset' qui est sur la cartouche.

Compte tenu du fonctionnement et des fonctionnalités offerte par le Super Expander, tu dois avoir de la RAM dans la région BLK 5 pour charger le code ROM mais aussi de la RAM dans BLK 1 ou la région de 3k RAM pour qu'il fonctionne correctement.