Ramdisk Info...
Andreas Magenheimer
here is the new version 3.5 of my RD Info text... (use ASCII or Courier
New or something similar for viewing). -Andreas Magenheimer.
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Subject 8.10: What kinds of extra RAM and RAMdisks can be installed?
(Version 3.5 from January 2004 by A.M.)
A) Atari 400/800 Ramdisks:
- Size: 64k XRAM (+ 32k RAM)
Banks: 0 thru 3 (total memory = 96k RAM)
Types: Axlon (=Atari) and compatibles;
- Size: 128k XRAM (+ 32k RAM)
Banks: 0 thru 7 (total memory = 160k RAM)
Types: Axlon (= Atari) and compatibles;
- Size: 256k XRAM (+ 32k RAM)
Banks: 0 thru 15 (total memory = 288k RAM)
Types: D. Byrd and other selfmade / Axlon-compatible RDs;
- Size: 512k XRAM (+ 32k RAM)
Banks: 0 thru 31 (total memory = 544k RAM)
Types: selfmade / Axlon-compatible Ramdisks;
- Size: 1024k XRAM (+ 32k RAM)
Banks: 0 thru 63 (total memory = 1056k RAM)
Types: selfmade / Axlon-compatible Ramdisks;
- Size: 2048k XRAM (+ 32k RAM)
Banks: 0 thru 127 (total memory = 2080k RAM)
Types: selfmade / Axlon-compatible Ramdisks;
- Size: 4096k XRAM (+32k RAM)
Banks: 0 thru 255 (total memory = 4128k RAM)
Types: selfmade / Axlon-compatible Ramdisks;
=> Note that all so-called Axlon "compatible" (256k-4096k) Ramdisks
normally do not homebank when RESET is pressed (a fix should be
available somewhere), whereas original Axlon Ramdisks do homebank
properly !! (Special thanks to Lee Barnes for this note !!)
B) XL/XE - 64k base RAM plus XRAM:
- Size: 64k (total = 128k RAM, 4 banks)
- Banks: E3, E7, EB, EF (block E = 1 block * 4 banks)
- Types: 130XE-Ramdisk, Turbo-Freezer-XL + 64k, selfmade-ramdisks...
- Size: 128k (total = 192k RAM, 8 banks)
- Banks: A3,A7,AB,AF,E3,E7,EB,EF
(blocks AE = 2 blocks * 4 banks)
- Types: Compyshop 600XL with 192k, Turbo-Freezer-XL + 128k,
selfmade-RDs...
- Size: 256k / 26AE (total = 320k RAM, 16 banks)
- Banks: 23,27,2B,2F,63,67,6B,6F,A3,A7,AB,AF,E3,E7,EB,EF
(blocks 26AE, = 4 blocks * 4 banks)
- Types: Compyshop 800XL RD., Compyshop 130XE RD.,
Peters/David Megaram 1, Peters/David Megaram 2,
Peters/David Megaram 3 with 256k, selfmade RDs...
- Size: 256k / 8ACE (total = 320k RAM, 16 banks)
- Banks: 83,87,8B,8F,A3,A7,AB,AF,C3,C7,CB,CF,E3,E7,EB,EF
(blocks 8ACE = 4 blocks * 4 banks)
- Types: Newell, Rambo-XL, Scott Peterson, Atari Magazin,
TOMS, selfmade-RDs...
- Size: 512k / 26AE (total = 576k RAM, 32 banks)
- Banks: 21,23,25,27,29,2B,2D,2F,61,63,65,67,69,6B,6D,6F,
A1,A3,A5,A7,A9,AB,AD,AF,E1,E3,E5,E7,E9,EB,ED,EF
(blocks 26AE = 4 blocks * 8 banks)
- Types: none (that I know of) at the moment - but possible!
- Size: 512k / 8ACE (total = 576k RAM, 32 banks)
- Banks: 81,83,85,87,89,8B,8D,8F,A1,A3,A5,A7,A9,AB,AD,AF,
C1,C3,C5,C7,C9,CB,CD,CF,E1,E3,E5,E7,E9,EB,ED,EF
(blocks 8ACE = 4 blocks * 8 banks)
- Types: Scott Peterson, TOMS, selfmade-RDs...
- Size: 512k / 02468ACE (total = 576k RAM, 32 banks)
- Banks: 03,07,0B,0F,23,27,2B,2F,43,47,4B,4F,63,67,6B,6F,
83,87,8B,8F,A3,A7,AB,AF,C3,C7,CB,CF,E3,E7,EB,EF;
(blocks 02468ACE = 8 blocks * 4 banks)
- Types: 1) upgrade / combination of 26AE and 8ACE ramdisk
types to 512k RAM or to *one* 02468ACE ramdisk;
idea by me, built by Bernhard Pahl (see his homepage
at http://www.b-pahl.de/atari8bit/ramdisk)
2) Upgrade of the Rambo XL to 512k by Dan Schmid
(see Pooldisk Too, Subdir ACE/ Acec202a.ATR and
Acec202b.ATR) and of course 3) selfmade ramdisks...
- Size: 1024k / 02468ACE (total = 1088k RAM, 64 banks)
- Banks: 01,03,05,07,09,0B,0D,0F,21,23,25,27,29,2B,2D,2F
41,43,45,47,49,4B,4D,4F,61,63,65,67,69,6B,6D,6F
81,83,85,87,89,8B,8D,8F,A1,A3,A5,A7,A9,AB,AD,AF
C1,C3,C5,C7,C9,CB,CD,CF,E1,E3,E5,E7,E9,EB,ED,EF
(blocks 02468ACE = 8 blocks * 8 banks)
- Types: Newell, Scott Peterson, TOMS, Satantronic`s 1MB-
PC-SIMM-RD, selfmade-RDs...
- Size: 1024k / 26AE (total = 1088k RAM, 64 banks)
- Banks: EF,EE,ED,EC,EB,EA,E9,E8,E7,E6,E5,E4,E3,E2,E1,E0
AF,AE,AD,AC,AB,AA,A9,A8,A7,A6,A5,A4,A3,A2,A1,A0
6F,6E,6D,6C,6B,6A,69,68,67,66,65,64,63,62,61,60
2F,2E,2D,2C,2B,2A,29,28,27,26,25,24,23,22,21,20
(blocks 26AE = 4 blocks * 16 banks)
- Types: Mathy van Nisselroy`s 1024k XEGS-PC-SIMM-Upgrade!
(with some changes probably also usable for XL and XE,
see also: http://www.mathy-van-nisselroy.nl)
- Size: 1024k / 8ACE (total = 1088k RAM, 64 banks)
- Banks: EF,EE,ED,EC,EB,EA,E9,E8,E7,E6,E5,E4,E3,E2,E1,E0
CF,CE,CD,CC,CB,CA,C9,C8,C7,C6,C5,C4,C3,C2,C1,C0
AF,AE,AD,AC,AB,AA,A9,A8,A7,A6,A5,A4,A3,A2,A1,A0
8F,8E,8D,8C,8B,8A,89,88,87,86,85,84,83,88,81,80
(blocks 8ACE = 4 blocks * 16 banks)
- Types: none (that I know of) at the moment - but possible!
- Size: 1024k / 0123456789ABCDE (total = 1088k RAM, 64 banks)
- Banks: blocks 0123456789ABCDE each with 4 banks
= 16 blocks * 4 banks (does not make much sense, but...)
- Types: luckily, none at the moment...
- Size: 1024k / ??? (max. memory = 1088k, 64 banks)
- Port-Bits / Control-Bits: $D301 = 2,3,6,7
$D600 = 0,1 (or switches);
- Banks: $D301: 23,27,2B,2F,63,67,6B,6F,A3,A7,AB,AF,E3,E7,EB,EF
$D600: F3,F7,FB,FF...
- Types: David/Peters Megaram 3 with 1024k RAM (and the switches
positioned to 1 x 1024k)
- Size: 2048k / 02468ACE (total = 2112k, 128 banks)
- Banks: 00,01,02,03,04,05,06,07,08,09,0A,0B,0C,0D,0E,0F
20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,2A,2B,2C,2D,2E,2F
40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,4A,4B,4C,4D,4E,4F
60,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,69,6A,6B,6C,6D,6E,6F
80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,8A,8B,8C,8D,8E,8F
A0,A1,A2,A3,A4,A5,A6,A7,A8,A9,AA,AB,AC,AD,AE,AF
C0,C1,C2,C3,C4,C5,C6,C7,C8,C9,CA,CB,CC,CD,CE,CF
E0,E1,E2,E3,E4,E5,E6,E7,E8,E9,EA,EB,EC,ED,EE,EF
(blocks 02468ACE = 8 blocks * 16 banks)
- Types: selfmade-Ramdisks...
- Size: 2048k / 0123456789ABCDEF (total = 2112k, 128 banks)
- Banks: 01,03,05,07,09,0B,0D,0F,11,13,15,17,19,1B,1D,1F,
21,23,25,27,29,2B,2D,2F,31,33,35,37,39,3B,3D,3F,
41,43,45,47,49,4B,4D,4F,51,53,55,57,59,5B,5D,5F,
61,63,65,67,69,6B,6D,6F,71,73,75,77,79,7B,7D,7F,
81,83,85,87,89,8B,8D,8F,91,93,95,97,99,9B,9D,9F,
A1,A3,A5,A7,A9,AB,AD,AF,B1,B3,B5,B7,B9,BB,BD,BF,
C1,C3,C5,C7,C9,CB,CD,CF,D1,D3,D5,D7,D9,DB,DD,DF,
E1,E3,E5,E7,E9,EB,ED,EF,F1,F3,F5,F7,F9,FB,FD,FF;
(blocks 0123456789ABCDEF = 16 blocks * 8 banks)
- Types: selfmade-Ramdisks...
- Size: 4096k / 0123456789ABCDEF (total = 4160k, 256 banks)
- Banks: 00,01,02,03,04,05,06,07,08,09,0A,0B,0C,0D,0E,0F
10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,1A,1B,1C,1D,1E,1F
20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,2A,2B,2C,2D,2E,2F
30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,3A,3B,3C,3D,3E,3F
40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,4A,4B,4C,4D,4E,4F
50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,5A,5B,5C,5D,5E,5F
60,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,69,6A,6B,6C,6D,6E,6F
70,71,72,73,74,75,76,77,78,79,7A,7B,7C,7D,7E,7F
80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,8A,8B,8C,8D,8E,8F
90,91,92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99,9A,9B,9C,9D,9E,9F
A0,A1,A2,A3,A4,A5,A6,A7,A8,A9,AA,AB,AC,AD,AE,AF
B0,B1,B2,B3,B4,B5,B6,B7,B8,B9,BA,BB,BC,BD,BE,BF
C0,C1,C2,C3,C4,C5,C6,C7,C8,C9,CA,CB,CC,CD,CE,CF
D0,D1,D2,D3,D4,D5,D6,D7,D8,D9,DA,DB,DC,DD,DE,DF
E0,E1,E2,E3,E4,E5,E6,E7,E8,E9,EA,EB,EC,ED,EE,EF
F0,F1,F2,F3,F4,F5,F6,F7,F8,F9,FA,FB,FC,FD,FE,FF
(blocks 0123456789ABCDEF = 16 blocks * 16 banks)
- Types: Newell, FTE, selfmade-Ramdisks...
Well, I will not go into details with the disadvantages and
software-problems with ramdisks beyond 512k RAM (Selftest, XL/XE
Basic,
RAM under the OS, separate Antic access, etc.). These problems mostly
occur with 1 Megabyte or bigger ramdisks and there are several hardware
and software solutions for them, alas not working correct with every
software or program. With 4 Megabyte extra RAM / Ramdisk, the PIA is
fully used/adressed, so that normally the base RAM at 4000-7FFF is not
available any longer. But again, there are tricks and solutions to
solve
this problem. Installing a second PIA for example makes it possible to
adress up to 256 Megabytes of extra RAM / Ramdisk - but who needs so
much
RAM on the Atari 8Bit computer ???
C) XL/XE - XRAM minus 64k Base-RAM:
- Size: 192k / 8AE (total = 256k RAM, usable = 12 banks)
- Banks: 83,87,8B,8F,A3,A7,AB,AF,E3,E7,EB,EF
(8AE = 3 blocks * 4 banks)
- Types: older Newell ramdisks (replace 64k by 256k);
- Size: 192k / ACE (total = 256k RAM, usable = 12 banks)
- Banks: A3,A7,AB,AF,C3,C7,CB,CF,E3,E7,EB,EF
(ACE = 3 blocks * 4 banks)
- Types: newer Newell RDs, newer Buchholz-RDs, Rambo-XL,
selfmade Ramdisks (replace 64k by 256k)...
- Size: 448k / 2468ACE (total = 512k, usable = 28 banks)
- Banks: EF,EB,E7,E3,CF,CB,C7,C3,AF,AB,A7,A3,8F,8B,87,83
6F,6B,67,63,4F,4B,47,43,2F,2B,27,23
(2468ACE = 7 blocks * 4 banks)
- Types: selfmade-RDs (replace 64k by 512k)...
- Size: 896k? / 0248ACE (total = 1024k, usable = 56 banks)
- Banks: EF,ED,EB,E9,E7,E5,E3,E1,CF,CD,CB,C9,C7,C5,C3,C1,
AF,AD,AB,A9,A7,A5,A3,A1,8F,8D,8B,89,87,85,83,81,
4F,4D,4B,49,47,45,43,41,2F,2D,2B,29,27,25,23,21,
0F,0D,0B,09,07,05,03,01 (0248ACE = 7 blocks * 8 banks)
- Types: Bob Woolley`s 1200XL 1MB Upgrade, selfmade-RDs
(replace 64k by 1024k)...
Allthough these RAM upgrades are relatively easy to build
(and to install into the computer), they make problems with
quite some software. Some programs tend to use the base RAM
as extra RAM / Ramdisk with these upgrades, which will most
often result in a crash of the computer. Next, most extra RAM
testers will show more extra RAM (or a bigger Ramdisk) than
there is really available (e.g. with a 256k upgrade you will
see 240k extra RAM, but there is only 64k base RAM + 192k
extra RAM). Alas, this is a typical hardware problem for these
upgrades and it cannot be solved or avoided with software...
D) XL/XE: Parallel-Bus-Devices:
(600XL/800XL = Parallel Bus, XE = Cart.-Port + ECI)
- Size: 64k / E (total = 128k RAM, 4 banks)
- Banks: E3,E7,EB,EF (block E = 1 block * 4 banks)
- Types: Turbo-Freezer-XL by Bernhard Engl with 64k XRAM
- Size: 128k / AE (total = 192k RAM, 8 banks)
- Banks: A3,A7,AB,AF,E3,E7,EB,EF (blocks AE = 2 blocks * 4 banks)
- Types: Turbo-Freezer-XL by Bernhard Engl with 128k XRAM
- Size: 256k / 9ABE (total = 320k RAM, 16 banks)
- Banks: 93,97,9B,9F,A3,A7,AB,AF,B3,B7,BB,BF,E3,E7,EB,EF
(blocks 9ABE = 4 blocks * 4 banks)
- Types: Turbo-Freezer-XL by Bernhard Engl with 256k XRAM
- Size: 256k / ??? (total = 320k RAM, 16 banks)
- Banks: unknown !!
- Types: Yorky-XL by Richard Gore / Derek Fern (from
GB/UK) with 256k XRAM
- Size: 256k / ??? (total = 320k RAM, 16 banks)
- Banks: unknown !!
- Types: Multi-Input-Output-Harddisk-Interface (MIO) with 256k
XRAM by ICD
- Size: 1024k / ??? (total = 1088k RAM, 64 banks)
- Banks: unknown !!
- Types: Multi-Input-Output-Harddisk-Interface (MIO) with 1024k
XRAM by ICD
E) XL/XE: RAM/Flash-ROM/... Cartridges:
- Rambox II with 256k RAM by JRC (Czech Republic; with special
Ramdisk drivers for TT-DOS and Bewe-DOS!)
- Ramcart 64k by LK Avalon (Poland)
- Ramcart 128k by LK Avalon (Poland; binaries of the Eprom and GAL
chips of this cart can be found on ABBUC magazine 64)
- Ramcart 256k by Zenon/Dial (Poland)
- Ramcart 512k by Zenon/Dial (Poland)
- Ramcart 1024k by Zenon/Dial (Poland)
(for some hints and pics see: www2.asw.cz/~kubecj/acarts.htm)
- Flash-ROM cart 128k / 1Mbit "Atarimax" by Stephen Tucker
(allthough they are not usable as extra RAM / Ramdisk at the moment,
I am quite sure that it is possible to write some drivers and thus
use the Atarimax Flash-ROM carts as extremely fast floppy drives!)
- Flash-ROM cart 1024k / 8Mbit "Atarimax" by Stephen Tucker
(for information and complete documentation plus software see:
www.atarimax.com/flashcart/documentation/index.html )
- and many others I do not know and I do not have any info about;
Even cartridges can be used as Ramdisks (= fast floppy drives),
especially RAM-carts or Flash-RAM carts. But they function like
most other Super- or Mega-Carts, meaning the bank-switching
techniques are also used there. Since the subject carts and
bank-switching carts is quite enormous, I will not discuss it or
present any information here. Just try to find a large description
by John K. Picken ("RAM/ROM Control on an XL/XE") if interested in that
subject (e.g. at Jindrich Kubec`s homepage: www2.asw.cz/kubecj/... ).
Finally thanks and credits for this subject and lots of (used /
borrowed) information therefore go to: Lee Barnes, Russ Gilbert,
Mathy van Nisselroy, Erhard Puetz, Mathias Reichl, Ron Hamilton,
Wes Newell, Guy Ferrante, XI of Satantronic, Bernhard Pahl, Walter
Lojek and Voy/Dial. Also thanks to John K. Picken who wrote an
excellent article about A8 extra RAM / Ramdisks and A8 cartridges and
their technique of bank-switching. Well, if you still find errors, bugs,
mistakes, etc. in this list, then tell me *nicely* or in a friendly
way. Any updates and corrections can be send to: a...@abbuc.de
-Andreas Magenheimer
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8.11 What programs support a Ramdisk ?
(This is version 3.5 from January 2005 by A.M.)
The following Atari 8Bit programs support more than 64k RAM, but still
work alright (with multiple loads / disk-swaps) on standard 64k
machines:
a) "TOOLS" that support more than 64k RAM:
A-Base (???, 64k Ramdisk, block E),
Alphasys-Sample Software (Mirage/ANG, 64k XRAM, block E),
A-Text (???, 64k Ramdisk, block E),
Atari Writer 80 (Atari, 64k Ramdisk, block E),
Atari Writer Plus (Atari, 64k Ramdisk, block E),
Basic XE (OSS/ICD/FTE, 64k XRAM, block E),
Bewe-DOS 1.x (Bewesoft, up to 1024k RD, all banks),
Bibo-DOS 5.x (Compyshop, up to 256k RD, E/AE/26AE/8ACE),
Bibo-DOS 6.x (Compyshop, up to 256k RD, E/AE/26AE/8ACE),
Datei 4.x (N. Schlia, up to 256k XRAM, E/AE/26AE),
Desktop Atari (HBSF, 64k Ramdisk, block E),
Diskworker (Petsoft, 64k Ramdisk, block E),
Diskcommunicator 3.x (Robert "Bob" Puff, if there is more than 64k
RAM, answer the startup question with "Y" to use it as XRAM or with "N"
to use it as Ramdisk; up to 256k XRAM: E/AE/ACE/8ACE; RD = DOS
depend.),
DOS 2.5 (Atari, original driver = 64k RD, block E;
other
drivers: up to 2x 128k Ramdisks, E/AE/8ACE),
DOS II+D Version 6.x (S. D., up to 2x 128k RDs,
E/AE/ACE/8ACE/26AE),
DOS XE 1.x (Atari, 64k Ramdisk, block E),
Extended Atari Basic (???, 64k XRAM, block E),
Extended Turbo Basic (???, 64k XRAM, block E),
Fampy 2.3 (Wolfgang Freitag, up to 128k XRAM, E/AE),
Fampy 6.1 (Wolfgang Freitag, up to 128k XRAM, E/AE),
Howfen DOS 3.x (???, up to 128k XRAM, E/AE),
Howfen DOS 4.x (???, up to 128k XRAM, E/AE),
Howfen Tape to Disk (???, up to 128k XRAM, E/AE),
Inertia 2.x (MadTeam, up to 256k XRAM, E/AE/8ACE),
Midi Mate II (Hybrid Arts, 64k XRAM, block E),
Midi Pattern Editor (Raster, 64k XRAM, block E),
Midi Player (I. Kuczek, 64k XRAM, block E),
Midi Recorder (I. Kuczek, 64k XRAM, block E),
Midi Sequencer (M. Sygit, 64k XRAM, block E),
MSC-IDE-Software (M. Belitz + S. Birrmanns, 64k XRAM, block E),
My-DOS 3.x (Wordmark, up to ???k Ramdisk),
My-DOS 4.x (Wordmark, up to 1024k Ramdisk, all banks),
Paperclip II (Batteries Included, 64k XRAM, block E),
Super DOS 2.x (P. Nichols, up to 2x 128k RDs,
E/AE/ACE/8ACE),
Super DOS 5.x (P. Nichols, up to 256k RD,
E/AE/ACE/8ACE/26AE),
The [Sparta DOS] Browser (Tom Hunt, up to 1024k Ramdisk, RD-driver
dep.),
The Sound Utility (Tom Hunt, up to 1024k XRAM?, bug-free only
under
Sparta/Bewe-DOS, one can choose between 64k/128k/256k/576k/1088k RAM,
alas
all setups with more than 64k RAM produced some strange sound noises on
my 576k XL when playing waves or samples...),
Theta Music Composer 2.x (Jaskier, 64k XRAM, block E),
Turbo DOS 1.x (Reitershan, up to 256k RD,
E/AE/ACE/8ACE/26AE),
Turbo-DOS 2.x (Reitershan, up to 256k RD,
E/AE/ACE/8ACE/26AE),
Top-DOS 1.x (R.K. Bennett, 64k Ramdisk, block E),
Top DOS Plus (R.K. Bennett, up to ???k Ramdisk),
Top DOS Prof. (R.K. Bennett, up to ???k Ramdisk),
Typesetter (XLent, 64k XRAM, block E),
X-DOS 2.x (S. D., up to 256k RD, E/AE/ACE/8ACE/26AE),
X-RAM 0.21 (Satantronic, tests up to 4 MB!, all banks!)
and most Text-Editors (e.g. Speedscript, Antic Writer, T-Edit, Page 6
Writer, Compyshop Editor,
Textpro, etc.) as long as they are running under a DOS 2.x (meaning a
DOS 2
derivative) or Sparta / Bewe DOS and the appropriate Ramdisk driver...;
b) "Games" that support more than 64k RAM:
Adalmar (Falk Buettner, 64k Ramdisk, block E),
A.R. The Dungeon (Philipp Price, 64k XRAM, block E),
Bop N'Wrestle (Mindscape, 64k XRAM, block E),
The Brundles (KE-Soft, up to 256k XRAM, E/AE/26AE),
Human Torch & the Thing (Questprobe, 64k XRAM, block E),
Megablast 1 (Thorsten Karwoth, 64k XRAM, block E),
Mental Age (???, 64k XRAM, block E),
[The Amazing] Spiderman (Questprobe, 64k XRAM, block E);
c) "Demos" that support more than 64k RAM:
ABBUC Magazine Intro 52 (Heaven, 64k XRAM, block E),
ABBUC Magazine Intro 55 (Heaven, 64k XRAM, block E),
Anime 4ever (Sente Software Group, 256k XRAM, 8ACE),
Grafik + Sound Demo (Peter Sabath, 64k XRAM, block E),
I. K. Plus Demo (???, 64k XRAM, block E),
Sweet Fantasy (Tight, 64k XRAM, block E),
The Top 3 Demo (WFMH, "Veronika Part", 64k XRAM, block E);
Thanks and credits for this subject go to: Bernhard Pahl, Russ Gilbert,
Ron Hamilton and Mathy van Nisselroy for sharing some information with
me.
- Andreas Magenheimer
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8.12 What programs require extra Ram or a Ramdisk ?
(This is version 3.5 from January 2005 by A.M.)
The following Atari 8Bit programs require more than 64k RAM, and thus
do not work at all (or not alright/bug-free) on standard 64k machines:
a) "Tools" that require more than 64k RAM:
128k Memory Testers (quite many programs, 64k XRAM, block E),
130XE Bank/Mem.-Testers (quite many programs, 64k XRAM, block E),
130XE Sectorcopiers (quite many programs, 64k XRAM, block E),
130XE Utilities (HAPS PD 0031, 64k XRAM, block E),
192k Memory Testers (some PD programs, 128k XRAM, blocks AE),
256k Memory Testers (Newell, ICD, etc., 192k XRAM, blocks ACE),
320k Mem. Testers 8ACE (Atari Mag., TOMS, etc., 256k XRAM, blocks
8ACE),
320k Mem. Testers 26AE (Compyshop, etc., 256k XRAM, blocks 26AE),
576k Memory Testers (Peterson, TOMS, etc., 512k XRAM, blocks
8ACE),
1088k Memory Testers (Newell, TOMS, etc., 1MB XRAM, blocks
02468ACE),
4160k Memory Tester (Newell, 4MB XRAM, blocks 0123456789ABCDEF),
APC Archiver 1.x (LBS/APC, 256k XRAM, 8ACE only!),
APC Packer 1.x (LBS/APC, 256k XRAM, 8ACE only!),
A. W. P. Super Menu (Ken Siders, min. 64k XRAM, block E),
A. W. P. XE Super Menu (Ken Siders, min. 192k XRAM, blocks ACE),
Audio/Studio Master (Mirage/ANG, 256k XRAM, 26AE only?),
Boot Majster (Electron, 64k XRAM, block E),
Boss X [Vers. 10.x] (M. Sobe, with any DOS min. 64k Ramdisk, block
E;
with MyDOS 4.x it supports up to 1MB RD, subdirs and up to 16MB HD
part.),
Boss XE [Vers. 8.x] (M. Sobe, with any DOS min. 64k Ramdisk, block
E;
with Turbo-DOS or MyDOS 4.5x it supports bigger Ramdisks, but no
subdirs!),
CAD XE (HAPS PD 0350, 64k XRAM, block E),
Diskettenverwaltung XE (ABBUC PD 86, 64k XRAM, block E),
Draw XE (ABBUC PD 387, 64k XRAM, block E),
Dream Vision (ABBUC PD 480, 192k XRAM, blocks ACE?),
Fraktale & Colorprint (P. Woetzel, 64k XRAM, block E),
Grafik Zeilen Editor (HAPS PD 0296, 64k XRAM, block E),
Hires Dump (ABBUC PD 113, 64k XRAM, block E),
Inertia 3.x (MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports up
to
256k XRAM, AE/ACE/26AE/8ACE with almost any
DOS),
Inertia 4.x (MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports up
to
1024k XRAM - all possible bank
combinations!),
Macro Assembler XE (T. Karwoth, 64k XRAM, block E),
Macro Assembler XE+ (T. Karwoth, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports
up
to 1024k XRAM - all possible bank
combinations!),
Masher XE (???, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports up to
256k XRAM: AE/ACE/8ACE),
Menu 130 (Les Howarth, 64k XRAM, block E),
Midi Mate III (Hybrid Arts, 64k XRAM, block E),
Monitors, Debuggers, ... (HAPS PD 0109, 64k XRAM, block E),
Multi DOS 130 (Kuchera/Excellent, 64k XRAM, block E),
Multi DOS 320 (Kuchera/Excellent, 256k XRAM, 8ACE only!),
Multi Tasking OS (???, min. 64k XRAM, block E),
MTOS 256 (Tom Hunt, 192k XRAM, blocks ACE),
MTOS XE (Tom Hunt, 64k XRAM, block E),
Neo-Tracker 1.x (Epi, min. 64k XRAM, block E; under MyDOS 4.5x
or Sparta DOS X cart. it supports up to 1MB XRAM, all bank
combinations!)
Newspaper Editor (HAPS PD 0294, 64k XRAM, block E),
Protracker 1.5 (MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports up
to
256k XRAM: AE/ACE/8ACE/26AE),
Rechnen fuer Kinder (ABBUC PD 85, 64k XRAM, block E),
Rund um die Ramdisk (ABBUC PD 383, HAPS PD 1084, contains info
texts
and pgms. for upgrading the 800 or XL/XE and testing its XRAM up to 1
MB;
the docs use english language and provide detailed information for
Axlon
compatible 800 XRAM and Newell/Buchholz/Peterson compatible XL/XE
XRAM),
Sample Art XE (Mozart/WSL, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports
up
to 1024k XRAM, all bank combinations, alas the program is
faulty/buggy!),
Shrink XE (P. Fitzsimmons, 64k XRAM, block E),
Snapshot (???, 64k XRAM, block E),
Tape Ramdisk Drivers (Pokey, SAG, etc., 64k XRAM, block E),
Text 130 (B. Russmann, 64k XRAM, block E),
Textpro "+" [e.g. 4.54+] (Ronnie Riche, 64k XRAM, block E),
Textpro 5.x (Ronnie Riche, 64k XRAM, block E),
The Code Cruncher 2.x (Soused Teat, min. 64k XRAM, block E),
The Code Cruncher 3.x (Soused Teat, min. 64k XRAM, block E),
The Cruncher 5.x (MSL/Magnus, min. 64k XRAM, block E),
The Small Printery (W. Lojek, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports up
to 1024k XRAM, all bank combinations!),
The [Sparta DOS] Wedge (Ed Bachmann, 64k XRAM, block E, sep. Antic!),
The Works (Tom Hunt, min. 64k XRAM, block E),
Wuerttemberger Disk (ABBUC PD 361, HAPS PD 1050, 64k XRAM, block
E;
mainly/only because side 2 contains the XE version of Gizmo's castle),
XL-2 (J.K. Picken, min. 64k XRAM, block E; under
MyDOS
or Sparta DOS it supports up to 1024k XRAM
!),
Zeitungsredakteur (ABBUC PD 121, 64k XRAM, block E);
b) "Games" that require more than 64k RAM:
Castle of Blackthorne (T. Graef, 64k RD, block E),
Cavepack XE (XE-version by K. Ezcan, 64k RD, block E),
Computer Baseball (D. Blackwell, 64k XRAM, block E),
Der Neffe (XE-version by ???, 64k XRAM, block E),
Gizmo's Castle (XE-version by M. Kugler, 64k XRAM, block E),
Kaiser II (128k version by C. S., 64k XRAM, block E),
Kaiser II (320k version by C. S., 256k XRAM, 26AE &
8ACE),
Minesweeper 1-4 (4 versions by J.R. Chicko, 64k XRAM, block
E),
Mister X (S. Soelbrandt, 64k RD, block E),
Oelbaron (XE-version by ???, 64k RD, block E),
Space Harrier (C. Hutt, 64k XRAM, block E),
Strategy Baseball (HAPS PD 0302, 64k XRAM, block E),
Yie Ar Kung Fu (???, 256k XRAM, blocks ??? - This game is a
real
shame [Such a Shame, Talk Talk], since it does not work on a real Atari
computer! Maybe it works on an emulator, maybe it does not work at all
?),
Zargon XE (ABBUC PD 611, HAPS PD 0485, 64k XRAM, block
E),
Please note, that hackers, crackers and pirates also made file versions
of (most of) the XE / XEGS 64k and 128k carts available. Due to cart.
bankswitching, a 64k XL/XE was enough for these super-carts; not so with
the file versions, they do (mostly) require more than 64k memory...
Next, there are also "un-official" (pirated, hacked, cracked, patched)
cart. versions of former disk-based games, that require XRAM, which
they
originally did not (example: Conan, the multi-stage disk-version by
Datasoft requires 64k RAM, whereas the single-stage version of the
Sunmark multicart. req. 128k RAM). Since Sunmark will continue producing
A8 carts and other programable / flashable carts (like the Atarimax
Flash
cart. by Steven Tucker) are on the market today, it is quite likely,
that
more games will occur in the Atari scene with the same behaviour...
c) "Demos" that require more than 64k RAM:
130XE Artshow (HAPS PD 0013, 64k XRAM, block E),
130XE Autoshow (HAPS PD 0637, ABBUC PD 191, 64k XRAM, block
E),
130XE Demo (S.A.G., 64k XRAM, block E),
130XE Impossible Demo (R. Haegemann, 64k XRAM, block E),
3D Scroll (Jaskier/TQA, 64k XRAM, block E),
American Natives (Fox-1, 192k RD, Ramdisk = DOS dependant),
Amiga Boink XE (B. Armour, 64k XRAM, block E),
Animkom. meet B. V. (Animkomials + B.V., 64k XRAM, block E),
(The) Asskicker (Shadows, 64k XRAM, block E; hold Select!),
Back to Life 2 (Jaskier/TQA, 256k XRAM, auto-setup!),
Base 33 (AIDS, 256k XRAM, hold SHIFT for setup!),
Bill Pie Demo (MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports up
to 256k XRAM: AE/8ACE with more frames),
BMW Animation (Mirko Sobe, 64k XRAM, block E),
Brull (Pin/Trs, 1MB XRAM for a sample demo),
CES XE Demo (full 580 sectors version by XANTH, 64k XRAM,
block E; includes the Swan-, Fuji-Boink- and Robot-Demo all in one
file!),
Cogito Demo (AIDS, uses blocks 8C, thus 8ACE only!),
Critical Sounddemo (Innovative, 64k XRAM, block E),
Danielle (Gr.9) Ani (B. Kendrick, 64k XRAM, block E),
DoXEpin (AIDS, 64k XRAM, block E),
Edelweiss Demo (A.R.+C.S.S.+S.V.L., 256k XRAM, 26AE only!),
Ergo Bibamus (Quasimodos, 64k XRAM, block E),
Extract Slideshow (Replay/Bit Busters, 64k XRAM, block E),
Fat Bottomed Girls (???, 64k XRAM block E for a Queen sample),
Forever 1ktro (New Generation, 64k XRAM block E for a 1k
demo),
Forsaken Love (New Generation, 256k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE; simply
delete "BANKS.DAT", reboot and create a new one for your kind of XRAM!),
Glasshead Demo (A.R.+C.S.S., 256k XRAM, 26AE only!),
Halle 1994: The Wormhole (Magic Arts, 256k XRAM, 26AE only!),
Hardware Demo (A.R.+C.S.S., 256k XRAM, 26AE only!),
Igor Demo (Side A) (MadTeam, 64k XRAM, block E - use 128k.BAT),
Igor Demo (Side B) (MadTeam, 128k XRAM, blocks AE - use
192k.BAT),
Igor Demo (Side A+B) (MadTeam, 256k XRAM, 8ACE only - use
320k.BAT),
Imperial Sounddemo (Innovative, 256k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE),
Impossible but Real (MacGyver, 192k XRAM, auto-setup!),
Incredible (Excellent, 64k XRAM, block E),
Inside Out (Taquart, 64k XRAM, block E),
Isolation Demo (M.E.C., 64k XRAM, block E),
Journey Demo (Boot version by Polynomials, min. 64k XRAM,
block E; supports up to 256k XRAM: AE/8ACE),
Journey Demo (File version by MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block
E; supports up to 192k XRAM: AE/ACE),
Journey into Sound (DGS / D. Garaghty, 64k XRAM, block E),
Khai Et (AIDS, 256k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE, SHIFT for
Setup!),
Killer Whales Ani (MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block E, supports up
to 256k XRAM: AE/8ACE with more frames!),
Landscape-XE Demo (Karl Pelzer, 64k XRAM, block E),
Manga Ani (MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block E),
Megablast Sounddemo (DGS / D. Garaghty, 64k XRAM, block E),
MTV's Danielle = Danielle (Gr.9) Ani,
Nascar Ani (M. Sobe, 64k XRAM, block E),
Nonjm Demo (Tight, 64k XRAM, block E),
Numen Demo (Taquart, 256k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE,
auto-setup!),
Ogluszacz Sounddemo (AIDS, 64k XRAM, block E),
Owca Demo (Animkomials, 64k XRAM, block E),
Owca 2 Demo (Animkomials, 64k XRAM, block E),
Pacem in Terris (Quasimodos, 256k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE,
auto-setup),
Parrot XMAS Demo (A. Ramos, 64k XRAM, block E),
Pedrokko Sounddemos (a collection of 10 disks / 20 sides by
Pedrokko,
the player program assumes a 64k RD, block
E),
Raving Vierpz (Pentagram, 64k XRAM, block E),
Raytracing Ani/128k (K. Pelzer, 64k XRAM, block E),
Raytracing 320k (Elsni / S. Elsner, 256k XRAM, 8ACE only!),
Raytracing 1088k (Solocoder of A.C.E., 1024k XRAM, works only
on
K.P. 1MB Megaram III, 8 bootdisks, loading time approx. 17 minutes !!),
Reditus Demo (Zelax, 192k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE, auto-setup),
Render Ani (MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block E),
Revenge of Hacker (Rasero Team, 128k XRAM, blocks AE),
Running Cow ASCII Ani (MadTeam, 64k XRAM, block E),
Sheol Demo (Bit Busters, 256k XRAM, 8ACE only!),
Shiny Bubbles (XE version by B. Paul, 64k XRAM, block E),
Stash 98 Demo (Rasero Team, 256k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE via a
buggy
setup: 1) for 8ACE XRAM press A in the 1st or 2nd menu, 2) for 26AE
press
B in the 1st menu and C in the 2nd menu; don't use the CS auto-setup!),
Starwars Demo (A.R.+C.S.S., 256k XRAM, 26AE only!),
The Wormhole (Magic Arts, 256k XRAM, 26AE only!),
Timekeep(er) (New Generation, 256k XRAM, 8ACE only! wait!),
Tit Demo (Mad Team, 192k XRAM, auto-setup!),
Too Hard 2 Demo (Animkomials, 64k XRAM, block E),
Too Hard 3 Demo (Animkomials, 128k XRAM, blocks AE),
Too Hard 4 Demo (Animkomials, 256k XRAM, auto-setup!),
Total Dazed (Tight, 64k XRAM, block E),
Trabant Demo (A.R.+C.S.S., 256k XRAM, 26AE only!),
Trip 6 (Shadows, 64k XRAM, block E),
Turtles Demo (Ultra Software, 64k XRAM, block E),
Ultra Demo (Taquart, 64k XRAM, block E),
Ultra 2 Preview (Taquart, 64k XRAM, block E, unfinished!),
Vengeance (Excellent, 64k XRAM, block E),
Vent XE (Exc.+Pentagram, 64k XRAM, block E),
WAF-Demo (W.A.F., diskside B = 64k XRAM, block E),
Worms Demo (Datri, 256k XRAM, 8ACE otherwise buggy!),
X-Demo (MadTeam, 256k XRAM, 26AE),
X-Files Ani (MadTeam, 64k XRAM, block E),
X-Files 2 (TV-Ani) (MadTeam, 256k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE),
Xyberscape XE (XE version by Bill Le Masurier, 64k XRAM, E),
Zero Demo (New Generation, 64k XRAM, block E);
Thanks and credits for this subject go to Russ Gilbert, Bernhard Pahl,
Ron Hamilton, Mathy van Nisselroy and Stephan Pollok for sharing their
information with me. Any corrections and/or updates are welcome...
-Andreas Magenheimer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greg.G...@family-news.org
I guess a large ramdisk would be fun to have, even useful.
And they have Protracker for the Atari 800? Guess I need to look into what
mods are like on the Atari8.
Doc Clu 800
> From: Andreas Magenheimer <mage...@students.uni-mainz.de>
> Hello Folks,
>here is the new version 3.5 of my RD Info text... (use ASCII or Courier New o
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> A) Atari 400/800 Ramdisks:
>often result in a crash of the computer. Next, most extra RAM testers will sho
> E) XL/XE: RAM/Flash-ROM/... Cartridges:
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
>also "un-official" (pirated, hacked, cracked, patched) cart. versions of forme
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
--- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-5
* Origin: FamilyNet Sponsored by http://www.christian-wellness.net (8:8/2)
Andreas Magenheimer
Protracker 1.5 is a program by polish group MadTeam. It is a nice MOD
player and editor that supports 4Bit Pokey playback as well as 8Bit
Covox playback of any MOD sounds. But it requires a minimum of 128k
RAM... -Andreas.
Mathy van Nisselroy
I've found an error in your list. My URL doesn't have dashes (this
character: "-"). Could you please remove them?
CU Mathy van Nisselroy
Andreas Magenheimer
your e-mail is not wrong typed there - it is spam-protected !! Hopefully
this works ok. Or do you want dozens (or hundreds) of spam mails ?!? You
know, the Ramdisk info list gets published here and in many other
places... -Andreas.
Mathy van Nisselroy
Ok then, thanks!
CU Mathy