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Author Topic: Any C-128 users?  (Read 3747 times)

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Offline motruckerTopic starter

Any C-128 users?
« on: May 23, 2013, 03:02:59 PM »
The 64K VDC RAM board for the C-128 is being sold on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Commodore-128-64K-VDC-Video-Memory-Upgrade-/151045078573?pt=US_Vintage_Computers_Mainframes&hash=item232afcfe2d

Not my sale, but I have bought from this seller. Excellent seller.
True, you can solder in the new RAM chips, but this board makes it SO easy.
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Offline Louis Dias

Re: Any C-128 users?
« Reply #1 on: May 23, 2013, 03:24:31 PM »
When I had both the 128 and 128D, I did open both up and it looked like you could just solder in the extra memory chips on the 128 since it had the pads on the board for them.  Surface-mount back then was so large that you'd really have to have a nervous disorder in order to not be able to solder on the extra chips yourself.  I guess this is a more expensive but simpler solution...

What the 128 really needs is an upgraded 8563 VDC chip that increases the color cell density down to one pixel. ;) ...but then 64k may not be enough... ;) ;)
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Offline Louis Dias

Re: Any C-128 users?
« Reply #2 on: May 23, 2013, 03:29:08 PM »
I think back in the day, I wrote my own 128 mode MFM disk copier that used VDC ram as a buffer for disk copying...  Ah the good old days...
Of course it only worked in 40 column mode, otherwise you'd have a garbled 80 column display...
« Last Edit: May 23, 2013, 03:35:17 PM by lou_dias »
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Offline LoadWB

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Re: Any C-128 users?
« Reply #3 on: May 23, 2013, 03:34:49 PM »
Quote from: lou_dias;735800
When I had both the 128 and 128D, I did open both up and it looked like you could just solder in the extra memory chips on the 128 since it had the pads on the board for them.  Surface-mount back then was so large that you'd really have to have a nervous disorder in order to not be able to solder on the extra chips yourself.  I guess this is a more expensive but simpler solution...

What the 128 really needs is an upgraded 8563 VDC chip that increases the color cell density down to one pixel. ;) ...but then 64k may not be enough... ;) ;)


At 320x200 that's just at 64k.  Possible, I suppose, but doesn't the new VIC used in the D64TV (or whatever it's called) provide better video options?  Could make a nice drop-in for the 128/D, though I wonder how many 128/Ds are actually in use.

I used sockets to solder 64k into my old 128.  The 64k has a good number of uses besides the regular video duties.  One program used it as a buffer for copying disks, and ISTR a program for 64 mode which used the 64k as a RAM disk (much slower than the 1700 but still useable.)

I really like these types of projects.  Take an old hack and turn it into a pretty plug-in expansion.
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Offline yakumo9275

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Re: Any C-128 users?
« Reply #4 on: May 23, 2013, 03:46:29 PM »
i have a 128dcr, already has the 64k vdc, so its all good ;)
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Offline Louis Dias

Re: Any C-128 users?
« Reply #5 on: May 23, 2013, 04:00:09 PM »
Quote from: LoadWB;735802
At 320x200 that's just at 64k.  Possible, I suppose, but doesn't the new VIC used in the D64TV (or whatever it's called) provide better video options?  Could make a nice drop-in for the 128/D, though I wonder how many 128/Ds are actually in use.

I used sockets to solder 64k into my old 128.  The 64k has a good number of uses besides the regular video duties.  One program used it as a buffer for copying disks, and ISTR a program for 64 mode which used the 64k as a RAM disk (much slower than the 1700 but still useable.)

I really like these types of projects.  Take an old hack and turn it into a pretty plug-in expansion.


The whole point about 128 was the 80 column mode.  I was a 'power-user' and I would load a program that did some things like put me into 80x50 column mode by interlacing the 80 column display.  Since I was using a Magnavox monitor for 80 column mode, I was able to get a nice sharp 80x50 display.  640x400 with 1:1 pixel density would have made it a better business and game machine but 2Mhz was still limiting...  Now, CPM mode did run at 4Mhz using the Z80 processor, but there was not enough interest in that.  In fact the Z80 processor runs first when you turn on the 128 then based on the CPM button and the 40/80 column button it would put you in the appropriate mode, etc... :)  Yea, I used to be into it hardcore... :)
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Offline RobertB

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Re: Any C-128 users?
« Reply #6 on: May 23, 2013, 06:31:39 PM »
Quote from: LoadWB;735802
...doesn't the new VIC used in the D64TV (or whatever it's called) provide better video options?
The C64 DTV can provide up to 256 colors.
Quote
One program used it as a buffer for copying disks...
Maverick

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
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Offline RobertB

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Re: Any C-128 users?
« Reply #7 on: May 23, 2013, 06:35:28 PM »
Quote from: lou_dias;735804
640x400 with 1:1 pixel density would have made it a better business and game machine but 2Mhz was still limiting...
With a SuperCPU 128 running at 20 MHz., it was much better.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
July 27-28 Commodore Vegas Expo v9 -
http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex
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Offline Louis Dias

Re: Any C-128 users?
« Reply #8 on: May 23, 2013, 06:48:15 PM »
Quote from: RobertB;735818
With a SuperCPU 128 running at 20 MHz., it was much better.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
July 27-28 Commodore Vegas Expo v9 -
http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex


Well, I left the scene in 1994 when I got a CD32 + SX-1 ... of course I never learned to program an Amiga like I did a 128...

I still have the 128D (even added a 2nd SID) but now I get no display when I turn it on.  I'd put it on ebay, but shipping that beast would cost more than I'd ask for it...
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Offline Pentad

Re: Any C-128 users?
« Reply #9 on: May 23, 2013, 07:58:46 PM »
I loved that little computer.  I did all my high school basic programming on it until I got my Amiga 500 when I was a Senior.

I thought the 128 was an amazing computer!  It was easy to use, had tons of options, GEOS 2.0 was awesome on it with the 1351 mouse.

I loved my C64 too since it was my first computer, but the 128 was just so much easier to use with a fine array of features.

Sorry,  I had to get that off my chest.  

Cheers!
-P
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Offline AmigaClassicRule

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Re: Any C-128 users?
« Reply #10 on: May 23, 2013, 08:28:59 PM »
Quote from: Pentad;735829
I loved that little computer.  I did all my high school basic programming on it until I got my Amiga 500 when I was a Senior.

I thought the 128 was an amazing computer!  It was easy to use, had tons of options, GEOS 2.0 was awesome on it with the 1351 mouse.

I loved my C64 too since it was my first computer, but the 128 was just so much easier to use with a fine array of features.

Sorry,  I had to get that off my chest.  

Cheers!
-P

Apology accepted :) I love the C128 myself. I am thinking if I was ever getting a Commodore computer again it would be 128D...only for space reasons it is optimal for that!
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Offline Nostalgiac

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Re: Any C-128 users?
« Reply #11 on: May 23, 2013, 09:10:04 PM »
Quote from: Pentad;735829
I loved that little computer.

same here - got it when my C64 blew up thanks to some power surge. The C128 served me very well. Never bothered adding the 64k VCD mem though, cant remember why not.

GEOS ran extremely well on it with the 512K REU

in the loft these days :(

ta
Tom
« Last Edit: May 23, 2013, 09:10:40 PM by Nostalgiac »
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Offline otakui

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Re: Any C-128 users?
« Reply #12 on: May 23, 2013, 11:22:09 PM »
I've got a couple of 128's.  One of them has a switchable rom that can boot GEOS or BASIC 8.  I have a 128DCR as well, and it's the one I use from time to time.  It takes a long time to fire up, however.  Like 5 minutes.  It looks to all intents and purposes to be dead, but if left sitting there with the power on, it eventually boots.  I think it might need some new caps.
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Offline royalcrown

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Re: Any C-128 users?
« Reply #13 on: May 23, 2013, 11:42:45 PM »
128s were awesome, there should have been more software for 128 mode ! Kind of a gyp !
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Offline danbeaver

Re: Any C-128 users?
« Reply #14 on: May 24, 2013, 12:24:55 AM »
Quote from: royalcrown;735863
128s were awesome, there should have been more software for 128 mode ! Kind of a gyp !




Yep, I agree. There were a bit more applications than games available for it. I have a couple of 128D's I loved but haven't touched in years.
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