Re: SATURN 32K RAM BOARD

[mjmahon@aol.com (Michael J. Mahon)]

In article <fbb3caaf.0303201533.5ad23e88@posting.google.com>,
gabe123@freeshell.org (Max Smart) writes:

>mjmahon@aol.com (Michael J. Mahon) wrote in message
>news:<20030320135628.10901.00002265@mb-dh.aol.com>...
>> In article <fbb3caaf.0303191521.4e25d88c@posting.google.com>,
>> gabe123@freeshell.org (Max Smart) writes:
>> 
>> >"Redskull" <redskulldc@DESPAM.yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
>> >news:<fTWda.6046$L57.53631@news-server.bigpond.net.au>...
>> >> "Max Smart" <gabe123@freeshell.org> wrote in message
>> >> fbb3caaf.0303180855.213750c0@posting.google.com">news:fbb3caaf.0303180855.213750c0@posting.google.com...
>> >> > "Redskull" <redskulldc@DESPAM.yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
>>  news:<i5Bda.4437$L57.41352@news-server.bigpond.net.au>...
>> >> > > "Max Smart" <gabe123@freeshell.org> wrote in message
>> >> > > fbb3caaf.0303161311.5974b4@posting.google.com">news:fbb3caaf.0303161311.5974b4@posting.google.com...
>> >> > > > I have a Saturn 32k ram board for an apple ][+.  Can anyone please
>> >> > > > tell me how to use it.  It has a cable that also plugs into a ram
>> >> > > > socket on the apple ][ motherboard.
>> >> > >
>> >> > > Works exactly the same as a 16k language card except for:
>> >> > >
>> >> > > Selecting the different 16k banks is accomplished by accessing
>> >> > > C0N4 (first 16k bank)
>> >> > > C0N5 (second 16k bank)
>> >> > > when N is the slot number the card is in + 8.
>> >> > > ie. slot 0 = C084,C085.
>> >> > >
>> >> > > Larger saturn cards use C0N6,7,C,D,E,F aswell
>>  
>> >> > > Red
>> >> > which ram socket do i plug the cable into.  It won't reach the one in
>> >> > the back corner.
>> >> 
>> >> What model Apple 2 are you trying to plug it into?
>> >> 
>> >> Red
>> >An Apple ][+.
>> 
>> That's good.  Any Apple later than the ][+ requires a different kind of
>> memory expansion card.
>> 
>> The 16-pin connector plugs into the "nearest" 16K DRAM chip socket,
>> after removing the DRAM, of course, and relocating it to the empty
>> 16K DRAM socket on the 32KB card.  (Often, this socket will already
>> have a 16K DRAM in it, since the person who removed the card from
>> the system it came from didn't know enough to remove it and replace
>> it in the main board DRAM socket the card's jumper was plugged into.)
>> 
>> This hack provides the 32KB card with DRAM timing signals which
>> are not present on the slot connectors, and would otherwise have to
>> be generated on the card.  It was first used by Apple in the "Language
>> Card" 16KB card, which generally set the hardware standards for
>> memory expansion cards on the early ]['s--and the "chip jumper" hack
>> was one of the stunts that became semi-standard.
>> 
>> -michael
>> 
>> Check out amazing quality 8-bit Apple sound on my
>> Home page:  http://members.aol.com/MJMahon/
>
>
>I installed the card but i dont know how to use it.  I tried peeking
>and poking at those memory locations but nothing happened and
>sometimes it freezes and i have to reset.  Also, what does the swithc
>on the back of the card do?

In general, "you" _don't_ use it--it is used by system software and
a few applications to provide additional capabilities and additional
space.

For example, if you boot a DOS 3.3 System Master, it will automatically
load whichever BASIC is not on the main board into the first 16KB
bank of the card.  If you have a ][+, Applesoft is on the main board
ROMs, so this will give you Integer BASIC.  (This may or may not
be of much interest to you.)

You can also now use ProDOS version 1.x, which makes good use
of the first 16KB bank.  Pascal requires thr first 16KB bank (and was
the original reason for the "Language Card"s existence).

If you use some disk copy programs, they will find the extra memory
and use it to reduce the number of disk swaps.

It is unlikely that you would use Appleworks on a ][+ (there are some
extension packages that support it), but if you do, you will find that
your "desktop" is 16KB richer because of the _second_ 16KB bank
(ProDOS uses the first).  (Assuming that Appleworks has a memory
manager module that can use >16KB slot 0 cards--ISTR that it does.)

There are some "DOS relocators" which will load DOS 3.3 into the
first 16KB bank, giving you somewhat more memory for Applesoft
or other programs.

The card is not directly usable from Applesoft, but it is a useful
addition to a ][+, since much later software (particularly ProDOS)
requires it to run.

-michael

Check out amazing quality 8-bit Apple sound on my
Home page:  http://members.aol.com/MJMahon/