Flash ROM adapter?

This is the right place to discuss on how to implement hardware vsync, adding a VIA or AY chipset, puting multiple roms, or how to design a new flash expansion card.
User avatar
tingo
Pilot Officer
Posts: 68
Joined: Sat Jul 11, 2009 11:30 am
Location: Oslo, Norway

Flash ROM adapter?

Post by tingo »

Has anyone made a Flash ROM adapter for the Oric machines?
Torfinn
JamesD
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 358
Joined: Tue Nov 07, 2006 7:38 am

Post by JamesD »

Are you wanting to use Flash to replace the ROM(s) or use it as a storage device?

I haven't seen either but the first is fairly easy.

Since the Oric didn't have cartridge based games a "FLASH Cart" like you can find for many machines isn't particularly useful unless you want to patch a lot of games.
User avatar
tingo
Pilot Officer
Posts: 68
Joined: Sat Jul 11, 2009 11:30 am
Location: Oslo, Norway

Post by tingo »

I want to use Flash to replace the ROMs, yes.
Then it would be easy to test various bug fixes and enhancements.
Torfinn
highwayman
Flying Officer
Posts: 148
Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:08 pm

Post by highwayman »

forget flash, it's obsolete.

use Feroram.
(made by ramtron)

it's like sram but nonvolatile - you just write to it like normal.

it comes like ram - 8k, 32k, 128k etc.
so use a 32k and bankswitch the last addressline.
(could be a lifesaver if you keep one bank original incase of crashing the other. :)
JamesD
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 358
Joined: Tue Nov 07, 2006 7:38 am

Post by JamesD »

You could set it up so you could disable the writes in hardware to prevent corrupting the ROM area.

BTW, Flash is cheaper.

If you use boot block FLASH you just write a command to the FLASH and the first 16K is protected. The startup code could enable the protection unless you press a key on startup.
highwayman
Flying Officer
Posts: 148
Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:08 pm

Post by highwayman »

flash is cheaper, but only comparing £3 to £7
and it's getting harder to find flash that is in a dip package and not just tsop.
JamesD
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 358
Joined: Tue Nov 07, 2006 7:38 am

Post by JamesD »

I'd be more than happy to sell some 256K PLCC FLASH chips for that price!
http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resources/prod ... OC1017.PDF

Too bad the shipping from the US would be more than the chip.
highwayman
Flying Officer
Posts: 148
Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:08 pm

Post by highwayman »

plcc is no better than tsop for prototyping on stripboard.

besides, the ferro price i listed was u.k. - if you source from the u.s. then it's about £3.70
JamesD
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 358
Joined: Tue Nov 07, 2006 7:38 am

Post by JamesD »

highwayman wrote:plcc is no better than tsop for prototyping on stripboard.
And there are DIP adapters on ebay.
User avatar
Twilighte
Game master
Posts: 819
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2006 12:07 am
Location: Luton, UK
Contact:

Post by Twilighte »

JamesD wrote:Since the Oric didn't have cartridge based games a "FLASH Cart" like you can find for many machines isn't particularly useful unless you want to patch a lot of games.
Not strictly true, Fabrice Frances demonstrated a 16K Oric cart at a CEO some years back. I think the game was Painter :P
Post Reply