Power Cartridge: Difference between revisions
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''Power Cartridge'' by '''K.C.S.''' (''Kolff Computer Supplies BV'', Holland) became available in Europe in the middle of 1986. Several companies distributed the ''Power Cartridge'' in various countries in the ''PAL'' domain but it seems the cartridge never was sold in the USA. In Europe however it was available for over 6 years | ''Power Cartridge'' by '''K.C.S.''' (''Kolff Computer Supplies BV'', Holland) became available in Europe in the middle of 1986. Several companies distributed the ''Power Cartridge'' in various countries in the ''PAL'' domain but it seems the cartridge never was sold in the USA. In Europe however it was available for over 6 years without any change. The ''Power Cartridge'' came without version number but used the year instead. The sprites at startup of the first version state "1985" which was before actual commercial release. ''KCS'' as a company moved on to Amiga but did a second production run of the cartridge about 4 years later which came with a slightly different hardware design.[[File:Power_Cartridge_KCS_Top.jpg|180px|left|border|Power Cartridge from top]] The ROM was edited for the ''1989'' edition but there were no code changes at all. The powerup sprites got changed as well as a copyright message at the end of them ROM. | ||
''' | |||
The manual situation is somewhat interesting | The manual situation is somewhat interesting. The [[Power_Cartridge_V1.0_Manual_Project64.txt|english translation]] of the "Nederlandse handleiding" is available as etext but no original english documentation was found as of yet (HELP!). ''Power Cartridge'' manuals we have seen were bundled as german and italian or as dutch and french where each language occupies half of the booklet. The back cover of the dutch&french booklet comes with an [[:File:Power_Cartridge_KCS_english_back_cover.jpg|english cheat sheet]] while the german&italian version appears to go by a [[:File:Power_Cartridge_KCS_german_back_cover.jpg|german cheat sheet]]. | ||
Apparently there is an english manual available which has the | Apparently there is an english manual available which has the picture changed to show a cartridge with some flashes towards the C64. We are not sure wether it it may contain a spanish back cover though. | ||
{{Infobox | {{Infobox | ||
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}} | }} | ||
16kb of ROM provide a solid base for the most important BASIC toolkit commands and a proper fastloader. The 128 bytes of RAM seem a little lost but RAM is indeed necessary for proper freezing. Looking at the cartridge board there are two places especially marked which allow to add an ON/OFF switch and | 16kb of ROM provide a solid base for the most important BASIC toolkit commands and a proper fastloader. The 128 bytes of RAM seem a little lost but RAM is indeed necessary for proper freezing. Looking at the cartridge board there are two places especially marked which allow to add an ON/OFF switch and a reset button demonstrating that ''KCS'' knew what else people might have wanted. | ||
The freezer is somewhat special. It appears to achieve better results than the ones from [[ISEPIC]] and [[Capture]] and due to its equal char packing algorithm the used disk space is considerably less than e.g. a ''Capture'' snapshot occupies. The ''Power Cartridge'' is '''required''' to restart a frozen program though since a special file format is used. There is no option to save the special loader required to run a back-up and what seems worst is that ''DLOAD'' as standard fastloader does not detect the frozen file but ''BLOAD'' needs to be executed. | The freezer is somewhat special. It appears to achieve better results than the ones from [[ISEPIC]] and [[Capture]] and due to its equal char packing algorithm the used disk space is considerably less than e.g. a ''Capture'' snapshot occupies. The ''Power Cartridge'' is '''required''' to restart a frozen program though since a special file format is used. There is no option to save the special loader required to run a back-up and what seems worst is that ''DLOAD'' as standard fastloader does not detect the frozen file but ''BLOAD'' needs to be executed. | ||
The frozen program is relatively easy to detect. The three files saved to disk are of type '''USR''' and should get the name of program last loaded with an extension each using a hash sign ('''#'''), a string sign ('''$''') and a percent sign ('''%'''). The default for the snapshot is BACKUP which may leave you with: | The frozen program is relatively easy to detect. The three files saved to disk are of type '''USR''' and should get the name of the program last loaded with an extension each using a hash sign ('''#'''), a string sign ('''$''') and a percent sign ('''%'''). The default for the snapshot is BACKUP which may leave you with: | ||
<pre> | <pre> | ||
80 "BACKUP#" USR | 80 "BACKUP#" USR | ||
| Line 91: | Line 90: | ||
</pre> | </pre> | ||
Additionally to this freezing behaviour the freezer allows entering the monitor but the frozen program cannot be restarted nor are the register values of the frozen program taken to the monitor register display. The possibly most annoying ''feature'' has to be mentioned towards the end though: ''the monitor '''beeps''' on every | Additionally to this freezing behaviour the freezer allows entering the monitor but the frozen program cannot be restarted nor are the register values of the frozen program taken to the monitor register display. The possibly most annoying ''feature'' has to be mentioned towards the end though: ''the monitor '''beeps''' on every error'' (next to the usual '''?''' output). This not only slows down input times slightly but turns out to be a real annoyance after some time. | ||
''Power Cartridge'' ROM is definately packed with feature and the average programmer will not want to miss it but the cartridge sure could have used a few smaller improvements over time. During quite a few years it was always mentioned | ''Power Cartridge'' ROM is definately packed with feature and the average programmer will not want to miss it but the cartridge sure could have used a few smaller improvements over time. During quite a few years it was always mentioned on tests with the big ones, [[Final Cartrige]], [[Action Replay]] and [[Super Snapshot]] but was surely outfeatured by many due to its smaller hardware dimensions and back then outdated ROM. | ||
There was no related software released so just the ROMs and CRTs are provided below. | There was no related software released so just the ROMs and CRTs are provided below. | ||
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[[Media:Power_Cartridge_KCS_binaries_rr.c64.org_2010-03.rar|Power_Cartridge_KCS_binaries_rr.c64.org_2010-03.rar]] contains just the C64 binaries: | [[Media:Power_Cartridge_KCS_binaries_rr.c64.org_2010-03.rar|Power_Cartridge_KCS_binaries_rr.c64.org_2010-03.rar]] contains just the C64 binaries: | ||
* | * KCS Power_Cartridge 1985 version .bin and converted .crt | ||
* KCS Power_Cartridge 1989 version .bin and converted .crt | |||
[[Media:Power_Cartridge_KCS_all_rr.c64.org_2010-03.rar|Power_Cartridge_KCS_all_rr.c64.org_2010-03.rar]] contains: | [[Media:Power_Cartridge_KCS_all_rr.c64.org_2010-03.rar|Power_Cartridge_KCS_all_rr.c64.org_2010-03.rar]] contains: | ||
* | * all of the above | ||
* A mirror [http://commodore.edkhome.nl/hwproj/kcspower/ Erik de Keijzer's Power Cartridge] - check the real site for most recent version! | |||
* Datasheets linked on Eriks site | |||
* [[Power Cartridge V1.0 Manual Project64.txt]] | |||
* [[:File:Power_Cartridge_KCS_english_back_cover.jpg|english cheat sheet]] and [[:File:Power_Cartridge_KCS_german_back_cover.jpg|german cheat sheet]] | |||
== Weblinks == | == Weblinks == | ||
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* [http://www.richardlagendijk.nl/cip/category/cartridge/power_cartridge Power Cartridge at the Commodore Info Page] | * [http://www.richardlagendijk.nl/cip/category/cartridge/power_cartridge Power Cartridge at the Commodore Info Page] | ||
* [http://www.retroport.de/C64_C128_Hardware.html Retroport.de] shows the Power Cartridge as well | * [http://www.retroport.de/C64_C128_Hardware.html Retroport.de] shows the Power Cartridge as well | ||
* [[http://www.elektronica-assemblage.nl/ KCS site]] - yes, they are still in business producing electronics! | |||
Revision as of 20:29, 26 March 2010
 Power Cartridge Screenshots | |
| Technical Info | |
|---|---|
| ROM | 16 kbyte |
| RAM | 128 byte |
| Hardware features | 1 Button Freeze optional: ON/OFF Switch and 1 Button Reset can be added |
| Manual | PDF: 42 pages - including cover cheat sheet |
| CRT ID | 2 |
| Programming | |
| Control Registers | $DE00 - mirrored at $DE80 |
| IO1 area $DE00 - $DEFF provides ROM mirror of $9E00 | |
| $DF00 - $DF7F has the Cart RAM accessible (possible mirror at $DF80) | |
Power Cartridge by K.C.S. (Kolff Computer Supplies BV, Holland) became available in Europe in the middle of 1986. Several companies distributed the Power Cartridge in various countries in the PAL domain but it seems the cartridge never was sold in the USA. In Europe however it was available for over 6 years without any change. The Power Cartridge came without version number but used the year instead. The sprites at startup of the first version state "1985" which was before actual commercial release. KCS as a company moved on to Amiga but did a second production run of the cartridge about 4 years later which came with a slightly different hardware design.
The ROM was edited for the 1989 edition but there were no code changes at all. The powerup sprites got changed as well as a copyright message at the end of them ROM.
The manual situation is somewhat interesting. The english translation of the "Nederlandse handleiding" is available as etext but no original english documentation was found as of yet (HELP!). Power Cartridge manuals we have seen were bundled as german and italian or as dutch and french where each language occupies half of the booklet. The back cover of the dutch&french booklet comes with an english cheat sheet while the german&italian version appears to go by a german cheat sheet. Apparently there is an english manual available which has the picture changed to show a cartridge with some flashes towards the C64. We are not sure wether it it may contain a spanish back cover though.
 Your Commodore 25, 10/1986 |
 Zzap!64 Issue 79, 12/1991 |
16kb of ROM provide a solid base for the most important BASIC toolkit commands and a proper fastloader. The 128 bytes of RAM seem a little lost but RAM is indeed necessary for proper freezing. Looking at the cartridge board there are two places especially marked which allow to add an ON/OFF switch and a reset button demonstrating that KCS knew what else people might have wanted.
The freezer is somewhat special. It appears to achieve better results than the ones from ISEPIC and Capture and due to its equal char packing algorithm the used disk space is considerably less than e.g. a Capture snapshot occupies. The Power Cartridge is required to restart a frozen program though since a special file format is used. There is no option to save the special loader required to run a back-up and what seems worst is that DLOAD as standard fastloader does not detect the frozen file but BLOAD needs to be executed.
The frozen program is relatively easy to detect. The three files saved to disk are of type USR and should get the name of the program last loaded with an extension each using a hash sign (#), a string sign ($) and a percent sign (%). The default for the snapshot is BACKUP which may leave you with:
80 "BACKUP#" USR 6 "BACKUP$" USR 80 "BACKUP%" USR
Additionally to this freezing behaviour the freezer allows entering the monitor but the frozen program cannot be restarted nor are the register values of the frozen program taken to the monitor register display. The possibly most annoying feature has to be mentioned towards the end though: the monitor beeps on every error (next to the usual ? output). This not only slows down input times slightly but turns out to be a real annoyance after some time.
Power Cartridge ROM is definately packed with feature and the average programmer will not want to miss it but the cartridge sure could have used a few smaller improvements over time. During quite a few years it was always mentioned on tests with the big ones, Final Cartrige, Action Replay and Super Snapshot but was surely outfeatured by many due to its smaller hardware dimensions and back then outdated ROM.
There was no related software released so just the ROMs and CRTs are provided below.
Notes
- A Power Cartridge Dumper is available here.
- 64'er Magazin May 1986 (german news article) interestingly had the first announcement we found for the Power Cartridge so far. There is no doubt about announcements on other magazines also during May '86 but maybe even earlier hints can be found somewhere?
Missing
- Control register information
- English PDF Manual Scan
- Schematics (this is being worked on)
Binaries
Power_Cartridge_KCS_binaries_rr.c64.org_2010-03.rar contains just the C64 binaries:
- KCS Power_Cartridge 1985 version .bin and converted .crt
- KCS Power_Cartridge 1989 version .bin and converted .crt
Power_Cartridge_KCS_all_rr.c64.org_2010-03.rar contains:
- all of the above
- A mirror Erik de Keijzer's Power Cartridge - check the real site for most recent version!
- Datasheets linked on Eriks site
- Power Cartridge V1.0 Manual Project64.txt
- english cheat sheet and german cheat sheet
Weblinks
- Erik de Keijzer's Power Cartridge analysis for C64EMU
- Power Cartridge at the Commodore Info Page
- Retroport.de shows the Power Cartridge as well
- [KCS site] - yes, they are still in business producing electronics!
