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Re: Digital Research Z80 "Gold Card"

On 06/03/2011 03:45 AM, AppleCPM wrote:

Hi!

On Jun 1, 1:01 am, Michael wrote:

That's my understanding, too.  "Gold Card" is just a re-branding.


     Sorry, Michael, but your understanding is wrong.  The "Gold Card"
is NOT a re-branding of an AppliCard.  They do seem similar at first
glance .  The cards are the same size and the eight 64Kx1 RAM chips
are arranged the same way at the left side of the card.  But, on the
AppliCard, the remainder of the chips are arranged horizontally
whereas on the "Gold Card" they're arranged vertically.  Also, the
"Gold Card" has chips that are not used on the AppliCard.  They are:
two 6116s (2Kx8 static RAM) and an HD46505 (CRT controller).
According to the review that Willi posted on the Yahoo Apple/CPM group, the Gold Card had its own on-board CRT controller! What a cool idea. I wish I had one of these (with the software, of course).
Willi, have you captured any scans of the card that are detailed enough to reverse-engineer the board? Does it use any programmable logic (PALs or PLDs)? 

Steve