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Commodore 64 Scene Diskmags Assortment
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DMBBS_Bi-Monthly_Magazine_5_1990-06-01_Sledge.d64
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5.1
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2023-02-26
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TURBO Master CPU
4.09 MHz Accelerator Cartridge
Brief Product Description
Turbo Master CPU is a sophisticated yet
easy-to-use cartridge which includes an
on-board replacement microprocessor
(CPU) and simply plugs into the
expansion port to give your C64
computer four times faster processing
speed. Thus your software actually
runs four times as fast. In fact, the
processing speed is nearly twice as
fast as a standard IBM-PC/XT clocked at
4.77 MHz! In addition, Turbo Master
CPU includes 'turbo' disk routines in
ROM for five times faster disk Load and
Save, and a convenient DOS 'wedge' in
ROM. (However, Turbo Master CPU should
not be confused with other so-called
accelerator cartridges or Kernal ROM
replacements which merely speed up the
disk drive. Turbo Master is much
more.)
What to Expect
Quite simply, your programs will fly.
Screen graphics (including GEOS
screens) are greatly accelerated. Word
processors scroll, search-and-replace
and insert much faster. 'Number
crunching' and spreadsheet
recalculation take one-fourth the time.
At first you won't believe your eyes.
Then you'll get 'hooked' and be unable
to compute without Turbo Master CPU.
Price and Guarantee
The introductory price is only $199,
shipping prepaid to US addresses.
Order directly by telephone or mail.
Visa and Mastercard accepted. Ten-day
satisfaction or money back guarantee.
Order now.
Softare Compatibility
Turbo Master CPU is compatible with
nearly all Commodore C64 software.
This includes programs written in
Basic, machine-language programs, GEOS,
programs which move screen memory, and
bit-mapped graphics screens. The main
limitation is that the few
assembly-language programs which use
'illegal' or undocumented 6502 op-codes
will not run because Turbo Master CPU
uses an enhanced 65C02 microprocessor
in which many previously undocumented
op-codes are now officially assigned as
useful instructions. Fortunately such
programs are rare.
Computer Compatibility
Turbo Master CPU is intended for
Commodore 64 and 64C computers. It
also works with the SX-64 portable, as
well as the C128 (in C64 mode). The
'turbo'disk Load and Save routines are
for a 1541 disk drive, or close
compatible. The 'turbo' disk routines
can easily be turned off if you are
using a different drive, and you will
still have the benefit of the four
times faster processing speed.
Cassette tape cannot be used with Turbo
Master CPU. (The slow cassette tape is
inconsistent with anything 'turbo'.)
Turbo Master CPU can be used with
Schnedler Systems data acquisition and
control interface boards. Turbo Master
CPU is compatible with the GEORAM 512k
Memory Expansion from Berkeley
Softworks when used with a cartridge
expansion motherboard and a replacement
power supply.
Physical Size
Turbo Master CPU is nearly exactly the
size of a Commodore 1764 Ram Expansion
Unit. Is has a metal case
approximately 4 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches,
with a gold-plated circuit board edge
connector extending about 1 1/2 inches.
Technical Details
In addition to a Rockwell R65C02P4
microprocessor clocked at 4.09 MHz,
Turbo Master includes its own 64k of
fast static RAM (120 ns) and a 32k
EPROM. The on-chip port on the regular
6510 processor in the C64 is emulated
with TTL logic for bank switching.
There are 16 ICs in total. In fact,
Turbo Master CPU is practically a
complete 64k microprocessor, lacking
only a keyboard and screen. During
operation of Turbo Master CPU, the 6510
microprocessor in the C64 is completely
bypassed, while the VIC (video) chip,
Sid (sound) chip, keyboard and serial
bus port are all accessed by Turbo
Master CPU and operate normally. The
6526 CIA timers in the C64 continue to
be clocked at their usual 1.0225 MHz
rate. Speed change between the
standard 1.0225 MHz processor clock
rate and the fast 4.09 MHz clock rate
can be accomplished either manually
using the switches, or by software.
(The software speed switches Bit 7 of
memory address $00.) Assembly-language
programmers can use the full enhanced
65C02 instruction set, and we have a
65C02 assembler available (MAE).
ROM 1 / Rom 2 Switch
You will notice a switch for selecting
either ROM 1 or ROM 2. These are two
versions of the C64 Kernal. ROM 1 is a
'feature' ROM. The cassette tape
routines have all been removed and
replaced by fast disk Load and Save
routines and by a DOS wedge. ROM 1 is
highly compatible with most programs.
ROM 2, which is a 'compatibility' ROM,
is nevertheless provided. The cassette
tape routines are present, but are
disabled. ROM 2 does not have any
extra features compared to a standard
C64 Kernal ROM, but you still have the
benefit of four times faster processing
speed.
JiffyDOS Compatibility Option
An excellent disk speed up that works
well in combination with the Turbo
Master CPU processor accelerator to
give you the best of both worlds is
JiffyDOS from Creative Micro Designs
(P.O. Box 789, Wilbrahan, MA 01095;
telephone (413)525-0023). JiffyDOS
differs from a simple 'turbo' disk load
and save in that it also speeds up disk
operations from within programs.
JiffyDOS does not require cables, but
it does require you to replace ROMS
inside your computer and inside your
disk drive. Here's the deal: If you
have or are buying JiffyDOS from
Creative Micro Designs, tell us and we
can supply a Turbo Master CPU with a
JiffyDOS-compatible ROM in the 'ROM
1'switch position in place of our
standard 'feature' ROM at no additional
cost. Note that you must have the
basic JiffyDOS system from Creative
Micro Designs for this option to be of
benefit; otherwise you will not have a
fast loader at all without our
standard ROM 1.
Manual and Disk
Operation of Turbo Master CPU is quite
simple and nearly self-evident. A
single sheet of instructions would be
enough. Nevertheless the manual is 24
pages in length, in an attempt to place
in your hands all the information you
might need. A disk is included with a
few demo and utility programs, as well
as text files for assembly-language
programmers documenting the enhanced
65C02 instuction set.
Address and Phone Number to Order:
Schnedler Systems
25 Eastwood Road
P.O. Box 5964
Asheville, North Carolina 28813
1-(704)274-4646
Shipment from stock within 24 hours via
UPS.
{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}
My Comments
We have tried it and as far as
speeding things up, it does work well!
But when used with the bbs, when the
board resets the send and receive
lights flash and the modem never resets
or you get a 'no modem' message. If
there is any change or we do get it
working i will update my comments on
the cpu...
Well thats it for this month. I hope
you enjoy it and we'll see you again
next month.
{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}
If there is anything that you would
like me to check out or put in leave me
mail explaining what you would like to
see.
{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}{CBM-Y}
Angelo
The Commodore Den
201-341-0945
New Jersey Info Line