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Trap
Registered: Jul 2010
Posts: 223 |
What is Ultimax?
Just stumbled on this today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy4Gr11EXHM
... what is Ultimax? I can't really find any info on it. Maybe somebody here knows? Is it something I can play with using my Ultimate 64?
Thanks.
Trap |
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chatGPZ
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 11148 |
No, it has nothing to do with U64. Its one of the 3 PLA modes that is selectable on the expansion port, and which can be used to "feed" the VIC chip external data. |
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Copyfault
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 467 |
Maybe I'm on the wrong track, but iirc the U64 comes with a selection of carts that can be used (Retro Replay and the likes).
With one these installed, you can control the relevant expansion port pins and set up Ultimax mode.
@Trap: ultimax *is* interesting [VIC-II can see all RAM with no Char-ROM-mirror and such things in the way, but the cpu cannot acces memory >$1000 (not completely sure if this is the correct threshold value, but mem acess is limited!)]
Idea for a compo? Well, if there weren't enough already... ;) |
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chatGPZ
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 11148 |
Thats not what this video is about though - Laurents cartridge hack really feeds data to the VIC, similar to what the TC64 is doing (and i think the 1541U menu mode works like this too). |
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Copyfault
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 467 |
Quoting GroepazThats not what this video is about though - Laurents cartridge hack really feeds data to the VIC, similar to what the TC64 is doing (and i think the 1541U menu mode works like this too). Yes, you're right! Sorry, didn't follow the link and thus focused on the "...what is Ultimax?"-part of Trap's OP.
So the question transforms into: "Can you set up Ultimax mode on a U64 while still having full access to the data storage (=not limited to a D64)?".
Though basically interesting, it becomes too much non-vanilla-C64 for my personal taste this way. |
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Trap
Registered: Jul 2010
Posts: 223 |
Thanks. Well, I was mostly interested in just understanding what the deal was here. I think I somehow got it now.
thanks guys.
Trap |
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Oswald
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 5029 |
sorry I had to :) |
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Krill
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 2855 |
Quoting Trap... what is Ultimax? Seems like your actual question has been answered, but interpreting it literally, here's the answer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodore_MAX_Machine =D
So it's a predecessor to the C-64, which was designed to be as barebone as possible, with all the goodies coming in from cartridge.
This is why most of the address space is open, so cartridges can map things there, including directly displayable VIC graphics fed in externally.
When C-64 came out later, it was designed with backward-compatibility to existing Ultimax cartridges (not that there were a lot of them, mind), hence that special PLA mode.
For reference: Ultimax unleashed.. |
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Mr. SID
Registered: Jan 2003
Posts: 424 |
Also related: https://beamracer.net |
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Trap
Registered: Jul 2010
Posts: 223 |
That's like the first time ever I saw that meme, Oswald :D ;) |
