Epyx FastLoad: Difference between revisions

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#REDIRECT [[Fastload]]
__NOTOC__
{{Infobox
 
|image        = [[File:Epyx_FastLoad.gif|alt=Epyx FastLoad Screenshot]]
|imagestyle  =
|headerstyle  = background:#ccf;
|labelstyle  = background:#ddf;
|datastyle    =
|caption      = Epyx FastLoad Screenshot
|captionstyle =
|header1 = Technical Info
|label1  =
|data1  =
|header2 =
|label2  = ROM
|data2  = 8/16 kbyte (C64/C128)
|header3 =
|label3  = RAM
|data3  = '''None'''
|header4 =
|label4  = Hardware features
|data4  =
|header5 =
|label5  = Manual
|data5  = [[:Media:Epyx_FastLoad_Manual.pdf|PDF: Epyx FastLoad Manual]]<br>
[[Epyx FastLoad Manual Project64.txt]]<br>
[[:Media:BetterWorking_Turbo_Load_and_Save.pdf|PDF: Turbo Load and Save Manual]]
|header6 =
|label6  = [[CRT ID]]
|data6  = 10
}}[[File:Epyx_Fast_Load.jpg|180px|left|alt=FastLoad by Epyx]]
[[File:Epyx_Product_Catalog_17_Fast_Load.jpg|right|alt=FastLoad]]
''FastLoad''(tm) by Epyx was released in 1984 and quickly became very popular in the USA. It supplies all basic functions and speed ups a user _really_ requires and is said to be quite compatible towards original software. Makes us wonder why there are several documentations found on adding an ON/OFF switch to the cartridge. Especially since there is a software option to disable the cartridge.
''FastLoad'' was designed by Scott Nelson who also did the Vorpal utility kit, loading and protection system for ''Epyx''. A C128 version of the ''Epyx FastLoad'' is also available. [http://www.retroport.de/C64_C128_Hardware.html www.retroport.de] notes over 650.000 sold units without a source though. Would be interesting to know the origin of that number.
 
''Spinnaker Software Corporation'' released the '''BetterWorking Fast Load and Save''' cartridge in 1986 which is hardware compatible to the ''Epyx FastLoad''. Therefore manual and binaries are included below.
 
Nowadays there are clones available going by e.g. ''Epyx FastLoad Reloaded'' and alike. This [https://www.lemon64.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=67460 Lemon thread] discusses a problem which might arise from the use of replacement parts.
 
 
==Functionality==
* Fast serial I/O (1541 floppy disk drives)
* DOS wedge
* Monitor
* Disk and file copy
* Basic disk editor
 
[[File:The_Everything_Book_for_Commodore_Computers_1988_Spring_EpyxFL.jpg|right|thumb]]
[[File:Epyx_FastLoad_Schematics_large.png|right|alt=FastLoad Schematics]]
[[File:Ahoy_Issue_17_1985_May_Epyx.jpg|right|thumb]]
 
 
==Trivia==
* [[:File:Epyx_FastLoad_cover_back.jpg|There is a hippo on the package back.]]
 
 
==Tech==
As usual ripped from [https://sourceforge.net/p/vice-emu/code/HEAD/tree/trunk/vice/src/c64/cart/epyxfastload.c epyxfastload.c] from the [http://sourceforge.net/projects/vice-emu/ VICE emulator].
 
<pre>
    - 8kb ROM, mapped to $8000 in 8k game config (if enabled)
    - last page of the rom is visible in io2
 
    The Epyx FastLoad cart uses a simple capacitor to toggle the ROM on and off:
 
    the capacitor is discharged, and 8k game config enabled, by
    - reading ROML
    - reading io1
 
    if none of that happens the capacitor will charge, and if it is charged
    then the ROM will get disabled.
</pre>
 
 
== Binaries ==
[[Media:Cartridge_Speeder_all_rr.c64.org.rar|Cartridge_Speeder_all_rr.c64.org.rar]] contains:
 
* ''Epyx FastLoad'' .bin and converted .crt for three versions
* ''Epyx FastLoad Charger Hack'', ''Express Hack'' and ''Jet Load Hack'' .bin and converted .crt
* [[:File:Epyx_FastLoad_Manual.pdf|PDF: Epyx FastLoad Manual]]
* [[Epyx FastLoad Manual Project64.txt]]
* [[:File:The_Transactor_Vol07_04_1987_Jan_EpyxFastloadSwitch.pdf|Epyx FastLoad ON/OFF switch howto]] by The Transactor April 1987
* [[:File:Commodore_Mag_Jan88_Epyx_Fastload_on_off.pdf|Epyx FastLoad ON/OFF switch howto]] by Commodore Magazine Januar 1988
* [[:File:Epyx_FastLoad_Dumper.rar|Epyx FastLoad Dumper]] by Markus Brenner
* High resolution pictures of the ''Epyx FastLoad'' board
* [http://www.sys64738.net/ddifl/ddifl.htm Epyx FastLoad PCB Files, partslist, etc.] by a mirror of sys64738/DDI's page
* [[:File:Epyx_FastLoad_Schematics_large.png|Epyx FastLoad Schematics]] by ALARD EALES ( BitBlaster66 )
* [https://github.com/svenpetersen1965/Epyx-FastLoad Epyx FastLoad Schematics] by a git clone of https://github.com/svenpetersen1965/Epyx-FastLoad
 
* ''BetterWorking Fast Load and Save'' .bin and converted .crt along with the [[:File:BetterWorking_Turbo_Load_and_Save.pdf|english Manual]]
 
Thanks to Alard Eales (BitBlaster66) for the schematics!
Thanks to Pete Rittwage from [https://c64preservation.com C64 Preservation Project] for the early 'v1' version without the file menu and the ''BetterWorking Fast Load and Save'' dump.( [https://www.lemon64.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=645579 lemon] ).<br>
Also thanks to sys64738/DDI for the files required to clone your own FastLoad Cartridge - see [http://www.sys64738.net/ddifl/ddifl.htm www.sys64738.net/ddifl/ddifl.htm]
 
 
==Weblinks==
* [[wikipedia:Epyx_FastLoad|Epyx FastLoad]] at english wikipedia
* [http://n2dvm.com/carts/epyx/epyx.html Epyx Fastload] DMackey's www.n2dvm.com site
* [http://noname.c64.org/csdb/release/?id=20561 Epyx FastLoad] (ripoff?) at CSdb (in T64 format - very funny)
* [http://csdb.dk/release/?id=117893 '''Multi Easy''' by ''Lord Crass'' at CSDb] contain an Easyflash3 version of Epyx FastLoad
* [http://www.retrohackers.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=440 retrohackers.com] has a thread and the original '''''schematics''''' archive
 
[[Category:Cartridge Speeder]]

Latest revision as of 23:00, 6 September 2022

Epyx FastLoad Screenshot
Epyx FastLoad Screenshot
Technical Info
ROM 8/16 kbyte (C64/C128)
RAM None
Manual PDF: Epyx FastLoad Manual

Epyx FastLoad Manual Project64.txt

PDF: Turbo Load and Save Manual
CRT ID 10
FastLoad by Epyx
FastLoad

FastLoad(tm) by Epyx was released in 1984 and quickly became very popular in the USA. It supplies all basic functions and speed ups a user _really_ requires and is said to be quite compatible towards original software. Makes us wonder why there are several documentations found on adding an ON/OFF switch to the cartridge. Especially since there is a software option to disable the cartridge. FastLoad was designed by Scott Nelson who also did the Vorpal utility kit, loading and protection system for Epyx. A C128 version of the Epyx FastLoad is also available. www.retroport.de notes over 650.000 sold units without a source though. Would be interesting to know the origin of that number.

Spinnaker Software Corporation released the BetterWorking Fast Load and Save cartridge in 1986 which is hardware compatible to the Epyx FastLoad. Therefore manual and binaries are included below.

Nowadays there are clones available going by e.g. Epyx FastLoad Reloaded and alike. This Lemon thread discusses a problem which might arise from the use of replacement parts.


Functionality

  • Fast serial I/O (1541 floppy disk drives)
  • DOS wedge
  • Monitor
  • Disk and file copy
  • Basic disk editor
The Everything Book for Commodore Computers 1988 Spring EpyxFL.jpg
FastLoad Schematics
Ahoy Issue 17 1985 May Epyx.jpg


Trivia


Tech

As usual ripped from epyxfastload.c from the VICE emulator. 

    - 8kb ROM, mapped to $8000 in 8k game config (if enabled)
    - last page of the rom is visible in io2

    The Epyx FastLoad cart uses a simple capacitor to toggle the ROM on and off:

    the capacitor is discharged, and 8k game config enabled, by
    - reading ROML
    - reading io1

    if none of that happens the capacitor will charge, and if it is charged
    then the ROM will get disabled.


Binaries

Cartridge_Speeder_all_rr.c64.org.rar contains:

  • BetterWorking Fast Load and Save .bin and converted .crt along with the english Manual
Thanks to Alard Eales (BitBlaster66) for the schematics!
Thanks to Pete Rittwage from C64 Preservation Project for the early 'v1' version without the file menu and the BetterWorking Fast Load and Save dump.( lemon ).

Also thanks to sys64738/DDI for the files required to clone your own FastLoad Cartridge - see www.sys64738.net/ddifl/ddifl.htm


Weblinks

Retrieved from "https://rr.pokefinder.org/rrwiki/index.php?title=Epyx_FastLoad&oldid=5783"