Autopsy:

123►

The Commodore PET 2001-N (the N was short for “New”) is a successor to the Commodore PET 2001, it has a bigger keyboard and 32KB dynamic RAM memory. The larger keyboard means that the first cassette drive now has to be an external unit.

from Wikipedia:

The Commodore PET (Personal Electronic Transactor) was a home/personal computer produced from 1977 by Commodore International. A top-seller in the Canadian and United States educational markets, it was Commodore’s first full-featured computer, and formed the basis for their entire 8-bit product line.

The PET 2001 was announced at the Winter CES in January 1977 and the first 100 units were shipped later that year in October. However, the PET was back-ordered for months and to ease deliveries, early in 1978 Commodore decided to cancel the 4 kB version (also because the user would be left with barely 3 kB of RAM).

Although the machine was fairly successful, there were frequent complaints about the tiny calculator-like keyboard, often referred to as a “chiclet keyboard” because the keys resembled the gum candy. The key tops also tended to rub off easily. Reliability was fairly poor, although that was not atypical of many early microcomputers. Because of the poor keyboard on the PET, external replacement ones quickly appeared.

In 1979, Commodore replaced the original PET 2001 with an improved model known as the 2001-N (the N was short for “New”). The new machine used a standard green-phosphor monitor in place of the light blue in the original 2001. It now had a conventional, full-sized keyboard and no longer sported the built-in cassette recorder. The kernel ROM was upgraded to add support for Commodore’s newly-introduced disk drive line. It was offered in 8kB, 16kB, or 32kB models as the 2001-N8, 2001-N16, and 2001-N32 (the 8kB models were dropped soon after introduction). Finally, Commodore added a machine-language monitor to the kernel ROM that could be accessed by jumping to any memory location with a BRK instruction. It did not include a built-in assembler and required the user to enter hexadecimal numbers for coding.

Sales of the newer machines were strong, and Commodore then introduced the models to Europe. The result was the CBM 3000 series (‘CBM’ standing for Commodore Business Machines), which included the 3008, 3016 and 3032 models. Like the 2001-N-8, the 3008 was quickly dropped. The change to CBM occurred because of a trademark dispute with Philips over the PET name.

source: wikipedia

Some new games (Cracked / Trained or Unrealeased) for Commodore 64 have been released from your favorites groups: Laxity, Mayday!, The Hidden Farts and Nostalgia.

Download:

• Star Commando HS (1057)
• Minit Man +5D [ntsc/pal] (1020)
• Waterline +3DF [ntsc/pal] (1120)
• Motocross! +2DHF [ntsc/pal] (1107)
• Knight\'n\'Grail 2 Preview 2 + [pal] (1058)
• Invaders HS (1066)
• ALF in the Color Caves +D (1059)
• Quod Init Exit +2HD [pal/ntsc] (1062)
• All Games in One Archive (2342)

source: csdb.dk

Nightfall Retro Gallery

Photo Gallery update of my Retro Collection / Retro Trash

Clicking on the photo will download the highest resolution version available (10708 x 5137).

Updates of the Nightfall Retro Collection:

You can see my Retro collection with a Virtual Tour, we hope one day to be able to expose my things to the public.

Many thanks to Andrea Schillani and Freddy Anselmo for the photos and graphic support.

CBM prg Studio Version 2.5.0 is released. There are a lot of new features in this version. I’d really appreciate it if you report any bugs you find or have any suggestions/comments.

CBM prg Studio allows you to type a BASIC or Machine Code program in using a nice Windows environment and convert it to a ‘.prg’ file which you can run on an emulator, or even a real C64 / VIC20 or PET if you’re feeling brave and have the right kit.

CBM prg Studio is the result of merging C64PrgGen and VIC20PrgGen. Adding new features and fixing bugs in two apps which were 95% similar was a bit of a nightmare so merging them made sense.

It was also a good opportunity for a face lift and to add some new features, such as:

• Programs are project based, meaning all related source files, sprite files etc. are kept in one place and multiple source files can be linked more easily.
• Tabbed MDI.
• Syntax highlighting.

What CBM prg Studio isn’t is a front-end for tok64, cbmcnvrt, bastext or any other tokeniser / detokeniser / assembler. It’s all been written completely from scratch.

New features:

• Some of the IDE’s colours can be changed (background, tab strip, selected and non-selected windows).
• Menu to control open windows.
• Warnings if invalid BASIC jump (goto, gosub etc.) destinations are detected.
• ZPOpt directive added.

Bugs fixed:

• Added ‘missing’ colours to VIC 20′s screen designer.
• Default project location not being saved if the target machine was not changed.
• Assembler not assembling mixed case text directive strings properly.
• Dark and light gray colours were switched.
• Opening a project after a project had already been opened would use ‘my documents’ rather than the project directory.
• Incbin failed when used screen designer files.
• No colours were visible when starting the screen designer without loading a previous file.
• CTRL+Z not scrolling to changed text.
• * not recognised for current address.
• Local labels not recognised in certain circumstances.
• Generation/import of prgs > 65k for C128 programs would fail.
• Missing BASIC 7 ‘RLUM’ keyword.

Download: CBM prg Studio v2.5.1 (983)

source: ajordison.co.uk

Gallery:

This is the preview of the Manosoft C64SD Infinity v2.0 Blue version. This version will be soon available for sale.

Here the full review of the Manosoft C64SD Infinity v2.0.

source: manosoft.it

Autopsy:

from Wikipedia:

The Power Mac G4 was a series of personal computers that was designed, manufactured, and sold by Apple between 1999 and 2004.

They used the PowerPC G4 (PPC74xx) series of microprocessors. They were heralded by Apple to be the first personal supercomputers, reaching speeds of 4 to 20 Gigaflops. They were both the last Macintoshes to boot natively into Classic Mac OS and the first to boot exclusively into Mac OS X.

The original Apple Power Mac G4, code name “Yikes!”, was introduced at the Seybold conference in San Francisco on August 31, 1999, with 400 MHz, 450 MHz and 500 MHz configurations available. In October 1999, Apple was forced to postpone the 500 MHz because of poor yield of the 500 MHz chips. In response, Apple “speed dumped” the processor speed in each configuration by 50 MHz but caused some controversy by not decreasing the price of the machines.

Another generation of Apple Power Mac G4s were introduced on August 13, 2002, featuring both a new Xserve-derived DDR motherboard architecture and a new case design, known as “Mirrored Drive Doors” (MDD). All models were available in dual processor configurations running at 867 MHz, 1 GHz or 1.25 GHz. As with the Xserves, the PowerPC 7455 CPU used does not have a DDR frontside bus, meaning the CPU could only use at most 50% of the new system’s theoretical memory bandwidth, providing no improvement over previous models. The rest was available to the graphics card and I/O systems. A dual processor 1.25 GHz model would be the last Power Mac G4 the company offered to the public after the announcement of the new Power Mac G5, introduced in June 2003.

source: wikipedia

SNK Neo Geo Universe Bios v3.1 released.

The UNIVERSE BIOS is for owners of MVS or AES hardware that want an easy way to change country region or between Arcade or Console mode on boot.

Also included are other features that are not possible using the standard MVS bios.

source: unibios.free.fr

Attitude is a disk magazine for the Commodore 64 computer. This edition is written in collaboration with the joint forces of Triad and Oxyron.

We hope you enjoy this issue as much as you did the previous ones!

Download: Attitude Diskmagazine #13 (1096)

source: noname.c64.org

This program works as a program launcher for Commodore machines. Even if it was originally intended for a device with sd2iec firmware, it works also with any CBM drive (without sd2iec functions of course).

It is a multi-system version derived from the discontinued sd2brwse v.0.6 by Hannu Nuotio (fork() of sdbrowse v.0.7)

The Vic-20 Mega-Cart Installer is based on sys.asm sources of mega-tools by Daniel Kahlin, sort routine by Michael Kircher.

Current supported machines:

• C64.
• C64DTV.
• Vic-20 unexpanded.
• Vic-20 +3K RAM.
• Vic-20 +8K RAM or plus (for FE3 use this version)
• Vic-20 with Mega-Cart.
• C16 / C116 / Plus4.
• C128 in 64 mode.

Changelog:

• v.0.1 – 01-Sep-2009 (Start of project, C64/C64DTV only)
• v.0.2 – 21-Oct-2009 (First working version for Vic-20 +8K RAM)
• v.0.3 – 06-Jan-2010 (Added memory config auto-detection for Vic-20 selected program)
• v.0.4 – 19-Jan-2010 (Added support for Vic-20 with Mega-Cart and manual start mode)
• v.0.5 – 10-Feb-2010 (Added support for Vic-20 unexpanded and Vic-20 +3K RAM)
• v.1.0 – 05-Mar-2010 (First public version, minor issues fixed, C64 and Vic-20 supported)
• v.1.1 – 22-Jun-2010 (Added support for D41 and DNP file images, sd2iec firmware v.0.9.0 or higher required)
• v.1.2 – 09-Oct-2010 (Added SJLOAD speed-up option to the manual mode of the Mega-cart version)
• v.1.3 – 31-May-2012 (Added support for C16/C116/Plus4, Sort directories, cosmetic changes)
• v.1.4 – 19-Jul-2012 (Added JIFFYDTV speed-up support for C64-DTV, Clear screen before RUN)

Download: CBM FileBrowser v1.4 (1388)

source: vic20.it/cbmfilebrowser

This is the story of a Commodore CBM (PET) 3032 recovered in a pitiful state.

The motherboard was covered of rust and many IC are in short circuit. I had to replace some IC (broken or full of rust), rebuild some paths of the pcb and clean very well.

I have also restored the inside of the case, using an anti-rust gel painting.

Photos and Description of the work made:

Read more…

Autopsy:

1234►

The Commodore CBM (PET) 3032 is a successor to the Commodore PET 2001, it has a bigger keyboard and 32KB dynamic RAM memory. The larger keyboard means that the first cassette drive now has to be an external unit.

from Wikipedia:

The Commodore PET (Personal Electronic Transactor) was a home/personal computer produced from 1977 by Commodore International. A top-seller in the Canadian and United States educational markets, it was Commodore’s first full-featured computer, and formed the basis for their entire 8-bit product line.

The PET 2001 was announced at the Winter CES in January 1977 and the first 100 units were shipped later that year in October. However, the PET was back-ordered for months and to ease deliveries, early in 1978 Commodore decided to cancel the 4 kB version (also because the user would be left with barely 3 kB of RAM).

Although the machine was fairly successful, there were frequent complaints about the tiny calculator-like keyboard, often referred to as a “chiclet keyboard” because the keys resembled the gum candy. The key tops also tended to rub off easily. Reliability was fairly poor, although that was not atypical of many early microcomputers. Because of the poor keyboard on the PET, external replacement ones quickly appeared.

In 1979, Commodore replaced the original PET 2001 with an improved model known as the 2001-N (the N was short for “New”). The new machine used a standard green-phosphor monitor in place of the light blue in the original 2001. It now had a conventional, full-sized keyboard and no longer sported the built-in cassette recorder. The kernel ROM was upgraded to add support for Commodore’s newly-introduced disk drive line. It was offered in 8kB, 16kB, or 32kB models as the 2001-N8, 2001-N16, and 2001-N32 (the 8kB models were dropped soon after introduction). Finally, Commodore added a machine-language monitor to the kernel ROM that could be accessed by jumping to any memory location with a BRK instruction. It did not include a built-in assembler and required the user to enter hexadecimal numbers for coding.

Sales of the newer machines were strong, and Commodore then introduced the models to Europe. The result was the CBM 3000 series (‘CBM’ standing for Commodore Business Machines), which included the 3008, 3016 and 3032 models. Like the 2001-N-8, the 3008 was quickly dropped. The change to CBM occurred because of a trademark dispute with Philips over the PET name.

source: wikipedia

12►

This is a Video RGB Hack for the console Sega SG-1000 II (Mark 2).

The Sega 315-5066 Video Chip inside the Sega SG-1000 II (Mark 2) used in the latest version of the console uses two video output formats: NTSC Composite video (converted to RF), and RGB (not connected).

The RGB Video is the stuff from which all other formats are born. Once your RGB is tapped it can be easily converted to Component or S-video, giving stunning output far superior to what the Sega SG-1000 II natively offers (only RF).

There are several caveats, of course. The biggest is the quality of the RGB output – it’s not very bright, and will result in an image without much contrast, so you will probably need to add an amplifier. Even on monitors that display a very good image without the amp you’ll sometimes find the sync signal needs an amp to generate a stable image.

I have used the same RGB/Sync Amplifier used on the PC-Engine, components and the Original schematic are shown below.

Schematic:

Components:

• 4 x 2SC1815 (Transistor)
• 4 x 220 μF 16v (Electrolytic capacitor)
• 4 x 10 μF 16v (Electrolytic capacitor)
• 4 x 75 Ω (Resistor)
• 8 x 10 KΩ (Resistor)
• 1 x 300 Ω (Resistor)

The three photos below show the connection between the RGB Amplifier and the PCB of the Sega SG-1000 II.

Some new games (Cracked / Trained or Unrealeased) for Commodore 64 have been released from your favorites groups: Laxity, Genesis Project, Onslaught, The Hidden Farts, Antarctica, Underground Domain Inc, Dinasours and Really Proud Lamers.

Download:

• The Mollusk Redux +8D 101% (1117)
• Interdictor Pilot &D (970)
• The Mollusk Redux +5D 101% (1019)
• Bizy-Beezzzz HS (951)
• Canyon Bomber 65% [english] (1153)
• Chicken Maze +3D (1009)
• Mr. Postman +3HI (975)
• Army Moves USA 100% + [ntsc] (994)
• Didi - The Game +2 [english] (1005)
• Baywatch Nights +2 (980)
• Hook Dodger + (988)
• All Games in One Archive (2309)

source: csdb.dk

Autopsy:

123►

TODO: Modify the console to support RGB output. When is ready i’m going to post the project.

from Wikipedia:

The SG-1000 (エスジー・セン Esujī Sen?), which stands for Sega Game 1000, was a cartridge-based video game console manufactured by Sega. This system marked Sega’s first entry into the home video game hardware business, and while the system was not popular, it provided the basis for the more successful Sega Master System.

The SG-1000 was first released to the Japanese market on July 15, 1983. Coincidentally, this is exactly the day that Nintendo’s Family Computer was released in Japan. The console reached minor success in that market and sold moderately well within Asia until 1985. The system was launched in New Zealand as released by Grandstand Leisure Limited, Australia by John Sands and in other countries, such as France, Italy, Spain, and South Africa. The console in its original form was never launched in North America.

In July 1984, Sega released an updated version of the console called the SG-1000 II. It is functionally identical to the SG-1000, but has a re-styled shell and the connector for the optional plug-in SK-1100 keyboard has been moved from the rear to the front. It was initially priced at ¥15,000. A computer version of this console, with a built-in keyboard, was called the SC-3000, which would go on to outsell the SG-1000.

The SG-1000 runs all SC-3000 games and applications, with the exception of Music and Basic Cartridges. The machine could be used just like the SC-3000, provided one had the keyboard attachment ready. In Japan the console also had an optional game card reader add-on called the Card Catcher that allowed for the use of Sega game card software. Card based software was exclusive to Japan, only cartridge based games were released in Europe and Oceania.

The Card Catcher would become built into the Sega Mark III, as well as the first version of the Master System.

source: wikipedia

Sorry, this entry is only available in Italian.