You can buy this mod (and the SIO2SD, as well as dual Pokey boards) from Lotharek:- www.lotharek.pl/ I paid for this mod - it wasn't a sample or review copy etc.
@@GadgetUK164 Yes, that's what I heard as well. One could says that Amiga was the successor to the Atari 800 and the Atari ST the successor to the C64 - considering that Atari employees worked for Commodore and Tramiel took over Atari.
See this bit here 6:15 3 little nuggets in a row here, I know a lot of people already know about stuff like this but a lot of people don't and little tips like this apply to all sorts of work on all sorts of different systems and this is why this kid is top of the pops.
SpartaDos is the best DOS for the Atari, which gave you a MS-DOS styled command line interface. The X version was cartridge based (past versions boot off disk). This didn't make the Atari MS-DOS compatible in any shape way or form, it just borrowed it's command-line syntax. Supports batch files, and uses the same commands. SpartaDOS did have it's own way of formatting disks, but still was compatible with AtariDOS (Except DOS 3, which was utter shit). When i saw your mod boot up and say SpartaDos X I was immediately jealous. :D
Yeah, I was quite surprised by how good that demo is - I cut it short on my video here. That demo also supports stereo Pokey setup - so I will cover it again in the next video.
So true lol! This is certainly one of those journey systems for me. I have enjoyed the journey, but not so much the destination - so far. ie. There are some gems on the Atari 8bit, and I am still new to the system, but its quite limited compared to the C64 for the more popular games of the era. That said, they are nice systems and as I said, there are some hidden gems on there!
I was wondering if it would be possible to build this as an PBI module for the 600xl/800xl/130xe? That wouldn't work for the 65XE or XEGS that doesn't have the PBI, but I'm wondering if it would be technically possible.
I don't see why not - it may depend on where the signals come from for the PBI - I've not looked at the schematics. It may be that the 65XE and XEGS use different chips, which might make it difficult to achieve. But I am sure in any case it could be done with a CPLD probably.
Hi Chris, I just brought a 65XE and tape unit for quite cheap. it has mixed colours on the keys so need to look at that and was thinking of making a SD Max as I have all the parts from other projects. I found this while looking for other 65xe videos.
@@GadgetUK164 I have so many projects going on that I hope to make vids on too. My current obsession is making my own Atari 2600 cartridge, but using my cheap CNC to mill double sided boards and is proving a challenge.
I think it probably would, but apparently you need at least 64Kb as your starting point before doing the mod. I would ask Lotharek before you order one for the Atari 400.
Hehe, yes it certainly is! Sometimes it can be painful lol! I had to remove a Megadrive cart socket yesterday but thankfully it was easy - I thought that was going to be a tricky one...
This seems like a lot of trouble and expense to be able to play 10 games.... There is the 'neat' factor, but aside from that, it seems rather pointless. Nice work though.
I wasn't very clear in the video - There are around 10 commercial games that have hacked versions that use 256K or 320K etc, but there's tonnes of homebrew and demos that use the additional RAM too. Including a lot of cart conversions I think that use that extra RAM.
The big advantage for an Ultimate 1MB board isn't just the extra ram. It's also got SpartaDOS X built in, a built-in real-time clock, four user-flashable OS slots so you can use whatever operating system you want (OS B, XL, XE, XEGS, Q-Meg, whatever ...) plus four user-flashable slots for BASIC or any 8K rom you want - I have Atari BASIC version C in one slot, along with Altirra BASIC, Atari PILOT and Atari Assembler/Editor. If you set a jumper on the U1MB board and use an XEGS operating system, you can also install four different user-selectable roms to use as the "built-in" XEGS game, not just Missile Command. If you flash the BIOS, SIDE load and PBI driver of the U1MB board with Jonathan Halliday's ("flashjazzcat") modified versions and use the U1MB with a Lotharek SIDE2 cart, you can put .ATR files on the SIDE2 cart CF card and use them just as if you had actual disks mounted or a separate SIO2SD or SIO2USB device. In other words, to me, an Ultimate 1MB board is just about the single most indispensable accessory for a modern Atari enthusiast.
It could also play zero games and I would still buy it, because to me using a computer to play games is pointless. It seems to me there is a divide on what the Atari represented that at times is quite wide. For some of us, the Atari was our onramp to the world of computing. SpartaDos X, realtime clock, alternate operating systems, allowing the use of the side cart as a hard drive, 1mb of ram which makes for a spacious ram disk, additional slots for programming languages - all these things make an atari 8-bit a bit of an ultimate Atari "computer". As for your game machine, maybe you don't need this device.
@@RobertD-v8d If this device was released in 1981, it might have been useful. As a computer, the Atari 8-bit line is pointless today. Rather than games on the 8 bit line being pointless, it's the only reasonable use of an Atari computer today. "Pointless" does not mean not fun. Hobbies are pursued for fun. Lots of people have a hobby of 8 bit computers, even programming them. So it's not like I discount that use case.
Great video thank you! Congrats! There is also a 320k Commando+ www.atarionline.pl/v01/index.php?ct=katalog&sub=C Supposed to have better music. If you spend time looking you'll find lots of fun games. Yes there are less games for A8 than the C64 but still a whole lot of enjoyment to be had. The early 80's games IMO are better on A8 like Fort Apocolypse and many others. Late 80's definitely C64 and Amiga.
Thanks =D Yes, I think I showed the 320K version in this video (cannot remember now lol)? I will check out Fort Apocolypse =D Any other good games you recommend? I do love the feel of the A8 games!
You're welcome. Haven't forgotten about your question. There are quite a few that are better on A8 than C64, and of course vice versa. Try these: Mr. Robot (much more colorful); Eidolon (framerate); BallBlazer; Gyruss (music); Robotron 2084 (dual stick. Never seen it on C64 but fantastic on A8); International Karate (minor difference - fills more of screen which is often the case on A8); 7CitiesofGold (native A8); Alternate Reality The City (much more colorful and native A8); Alley Cat (not on C64). There are many more I'm sure and I've forgotten many at the momnet. See this page for a top 100 games list for A8 www.atarimania.com/top-atari-game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-_G_8_V.html There are many more good/great games than on that list. Be sure to play: star raiders II, Zeppelin, Koronis Rift, Montazuma's Revenge (awesome), Rescue on Fractalus (native), Mule! (native), Shadow World (use XL translator for 400/800 compatibility or just emulate it with 800 ROMS), Blue Max, Dalas Quest (use a walkthru), Gauntlet (great shootem up, not the same as the arcade gauntlet) by Lebeau, Donald R...
You can buy this mod (and the SIO2SD, as well as dual Pokey boards) from Lotharek:- www.lotharek.pl/
I paid for this mod - it wasn't a sample or review copy etc.
these mods are appreciated thank you.
The ANTIC is a GPU - a graphical coprocessor. It has its own very simple programming language which controls the graphics and text modes.
Sounds a bit like the state machine in the Amiga Agnus chip - "Copper". Apparently the same people worked on the design!
@@GadgetUK164 Yes, that's what I heard as well.
One could says that Amiga was the successor to the Atari 800 and the Atari ST the successor to the C64 - considering that Atari employees worked for Commodore and Tramiel took over Atari.
My brother coded bomb jack for Atari :)
He did a great job =D It's sweet!
See this bit here 6:15 3 little nuggets in a row here, I know a lot of people already know about stuff like this but a lot of people don't and little tips like this apply to all sorts of work on all sorts of different systems and this is why this kid is top of the pops.
Thanks, much appreciated =D
SpartaDos is the best DOS for the Atari, which gave you a MS-DOS styled command line interface. The X version was cartridge based (past versions boot off disk). This didn't make the Atari MS-DOS compatible in any shape way or form, it just borrowed it's command-line syntax. Supports batch files, and uses the same commands. SpartaDOS did have it's own way of formatting disks, but still was compatible with AtariDOS (Except DOS 3, which was utter shit). When i saw your mod boot up and say SpartaDos X I was immediately jealous. :D
Thanks for the info there! I will have a play around with it next time I use the 65XE =D
That demo looked amazing!
Yeah, I was quite surprised by how good that demo is - I cut it short on my video here. That demo also supports stereo Pokey setup - so I will cover it again in the next video.
Ahhh... that tune starting at 00:08 . I know that but i cant remember the name. Help! Whats it's name?
No second prize!
Like most of these projects, it's about the journey not the destination. :)
So true lol! This is certainly one of those journey systems for me. I have enjoyed the journey, but not so much the destination - so far. ie. There are some gems on the Atari 8bit, and I am still new to the system, but its quite limited compared to the C64 for the more popular games of the era. That said, they are nice systems and as I said, there are some hidden gems on there!
I was wondering if it would be possible to build this as an PBI module for the 600xl/800xl/130xe? That wouldn't work for the 65XE or XEGS that doesn't have the PBI, but I'm wondering if it would be technically possible.
I don't see why not - it may depend on where the signals come from for the PBI - I've not looked at the schematics. It may be that the 65XE and XEGS use different chips, which might make it difficult to achieve. But I am sure in any case it could be done with a CPLD probably.
Hi Chris, I just brought a 65XE and tape unit for quite cheap. it has mixed colours on the keys so need to look at that and was thinking of making a SD Max as I have all the parts from other projects. I found this while looking for other 65xe videos.
Excellent! You should do a video on it!! When I get a minute I will do that NVRAM board video - I just haven't had time yet =/
@@GadgetUK164 I have so many projects going on that I hope to make vids on too. My current obsession is making my own Atari 2600 cartridge, but using my cheap CNC to mill double sided boards and is proving a challenge.
Great video as usual! This will be my next project ;-) I have to give just a bit of love to my Atari too :-D
Always enjoy your skills and vids! Have a great weekend
Thanks =D Hope you had a good weekend! Cannot wait for next weekend now as its bank holiday here in the UK next week.
would be C64 and atari 800xl/130XE ram are the same. can be swapped ?
I think for the most part yes - there maybe revisions that use different RAM. But the RAM I saw used on the 800XE is the same as breadbin C64.
Where in the UK can I get it fitted once I bought it. Thank you. I also I have the 130XE.
Jonathan Halliday can install the U1MB for you his page is atari8.co.uk
Its the same 65xe to 130xe?
Yes, when you increase RAM to 128K, its the same as the 130xe
I wonder if this would work in my Atari 400
I think it probably would, but apparently you need at least 64Kb as your starting point before doing the mod. I would ask Lotharek before you order one for the Atari 400.
The U1MB will not work in a 400, however you can buy and install a modern 48/52KB ugprade from tfhh he is on the Atariage forums.
Desoldering is so much fun isn't it :-)
Hehe, yes it certainly is! Sometimes it can be painful lol! I had to remove a Megadrive cart socket yesterday but thankfully it was easy - I thought that was going to be a tricky one...
Is that an old socket? Seems rare to see anything other than Dual Wipe these days
No, a new one from eBay! Plenty of sellers in China and Hong Kong - sometimes the quality is not great, but they work fine.
Almost awesome, but no demo of the thing that could use the 1MB (Maybe) the Atari 8 bit GUI. Hmmm Lol
I am not sure what there is that uses all of the 1MB tbh =/
Nifty! I'm imaging that it'd take over an hour for an 8bit to read 1mb of memory.
Haha , yes - it did take 5 mins or so to test all the RAM.
Wouldn't want to load in 1mb from tape that's for sure, would probably be a whole 90 minute casette.
Nor me lol! Works pretty quick from disk - maybe 2 or 3 minutes for a large game.
GOOD DEMO U DEFINITELY KNOW YOUR ELECTRONICS ... CHEERS FROM SYDNEY TECH
Thanks =D
It's not an Atari 65xe anymore, it's an Atari 1025ex :)
nice one
This seems like a lot of trouble and expense to be able to play 10 games.... There is the 'neat' factor, but aside from that, it seems rather pointless. Nice work though.
I wasn't very clear in the video - There are around 10 commercial games that have hacked versions that use 256K or 320K etc, but there's tonnes of homebrew and demos that use the additional RAM too. Including a lot of cart conversions I think that use that extra RAM.
The big advantage for an Ultimate 1MB board isn't just the extra ram. It's also got SpartaDOS X built in, a built-in real-time clock, four user-flashable OS slots so you can use whatever operating system you want (OS B, XL, XE, XEGS, Q-Meg, whatever ...) plus four user-flashable slots for BASIC or any 8K rom you want - I have Atari BASIC version C in one slot, along with Altirra BASIC, Atari PILOT and Atari Assembler/Editor. If you set a jumper on the U1MB board and use an XEGS operating system, you can also install four different user-selectable roms to use as the "built-in" XEGS game, not just Missile Command. If you flash the BIOS, SIDE load and PBI driver of the U1MB board with Jonathan Halliday's ("flashjazzcat") modified versions and use the U1MB with a Lotharek SIDE2 cart, you can put .ATR files on the SIDE2 cart CF card and use them just as if you had actual disks mounted or a separate SIO2SD or SIO2USB device. In other words, to me, an Ultimate 1MB board is just about the single most indispensable accessory for a modern Atari enthusiast.
Thanks and yes - lots of features I didn't go through in this video. I might cover some of them in a future video.
It could also play zero games and I would still buy it, because to me using a computer to play games is pointless. It seems to me there is a divide on what the Atari represented that at times is quite wide. For some of us, the Atari was our onramp to the world of computing. SpartaDos X, realtime clock, alternate operating systems, allowing the use of the side cart as a hard drive, 1mb of ram which makes for a spacious ram disk, additional slots for programming languages - all these things make an atari 8-bit a bit of an ultimate Atari "computer". As for your game machine, maybe you don't need this device.
@@RobertD-v8d If this device was released in 1981, it might have been useful. As a computer, the Atari 8-bit line is pointless today. Rather than games on the 8 bit line being pointless, it's the only reasonable use of an Atari computer today.
"Pointless" does not mean not fun. Hobbies are pursued for fun. Lots of people have a hobby of 8 bit computers, even programming them. So it's not like I discount that use case.
bro's gonna run boot loader at 120 fps 💀🤚
Great video thank you! Congrats! There is also a 320k Commando+ www.atarionline.pl/v01/index.php?ct=katalog&sub=C Supposed to have better music. If you spend time looking you'll find lots of fun games. Yes there are less games for A8 than the C64 but still a whole lot of enjoyment to be had. The early 80's games IMO are better on A8 like Fort Apocolypse and many others. Late 80's definitely C64 and Amiga.
Thanks =D Yes, I think I showed the 320K version in this video (cannot remember now lol)? I will check out Fort Apocolypse =D Any other good games you recommend? I do love the feel of the A8 games!
You're welcome. Haven't forgotten about your question. There are quite a few that are better on A8 than C64, and of course vice versa. Try these: Mr. Robot (much more colorful); Eidolon (framerate); BallBlazer; Gyruss (music); Robotron 2084 (dual stick. Never seen it on C64 but fantastic on A8); International Karate (minor difference - fills more of screen which is often the case on A8); 7CitiesofGold (native A8); Alternate Reality The City (much more colorful and native A8); Alley Cat (not on C64). There are many more I'm sure and I've forgotten many at the momnet. See this page for a top 100 games list for A8 www.atarimania.com/top-atari-game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-_G_8_V.html There are many more good/great games than on that list.
Be sure to play: star raiders II, Zeppelin, Koronis Rift, Montazuma's Revenge (awesome), Rescue on Fractalus (native), Mule! (native), Shadow World (use XL translator for 400/800 compatibility or just emulate it with 800 ROMS), Blue Max, Dalas Quest (use a walkthru), Gauntlet (great shootem up, not the same as the arcade gauntlet) by Lebeau, Donald R...