Mrbombermillzy's box of delights

[rubber_jonnie]

IIRC, the author stated that booster mode skips some accuracy, so will probably not work with any highly timing specific SW. However, I will check for FW updates too.

What SW did you try?

Simons BASIC cart (This worked with the accelerator off), Seawolf cart (This wouldn't work) and various games off SD2IEC, including PETSCII Robots. Often lots of screen corruption. Stunt Car Racer loads and seems to work, but I haven't tried it properly yet but the game acceleration is on and looks to be working.

Well, looks like the screen colour problem is solved then. :)

Fabulous!

Indeed

[rubber_jonnie]

One quick note, the acceleration is very visible in SCR, but there is something wonky with the controls even with acceleration disabled.

Bit odd.

[mrbombermillzy]

Ok Jon...

The fact that you fitted the parts and they 'work' is all I ever expected from you and I am so grateful!

I think any kinks are really out of scope of what I needed you to do, so dont feel like you have to try and sort them out. I can work on that at a later date if need be.

However, I wont stop you if you feel the need to go further. :D

Of course, theres no rush to get the items back, so if you want to carry on and have a play around, please feel free.

Or you can call it a day, as the work is done.

Either way, Im already grateful for your work and do not expect any more effort on these C64s. :)

So its your call really.

[rubber_jonnie]

Ok Jon...

The fact that you fitted the parts and they 'work' is all I ever expected from you and I am so grateful!

Not a problem at all :)

I think any kinks are really out of scope of what I needed you to do, so dont feel like you have to try and sort them out. I can work on that at a later date if need be.

However, I wont stop you if you feel the need to go further. :D

I want to take a look at the SACK board and the dual shifter next, so I will likely stop on the C64's for now. These shouldn't take too long, however I think the D64's will be a more interesting proposition. If they are sorted quickly then I may go back to look at the C64s.

Of course, theres no rush to get the items back, so if you want to carry on and have a play around, please feel free.

Let me see how the other stuff goes before I make a call.

Or you can call it a day, as the work is done.

Either way, Im already grateful for your work and do not expect any more effort on these C64s. :)

So its your call really.

You're welcome, it's fun for me :)

Let me have a poke around with the other stuff and if I get a chance I'll revisit the C64, it may be interesting to see where the CPU booster goes.

[mrbombermillzy]

Well that sounds like a great plan of action.

Frustratingly, Ive not been in a position to really investigate or study up on these new C64 ICs, as my free time is pretty much at an all time low ATM.

Im praying once September comes and the little gremlins are not pestering me every 30 seconds I will manage to get far more done, other than answer PMs or send quick replies to posts (i.e. concentration span measured in minutes or even hours, as opposed to seconds!).

FYI, it goes without saying, but any extra tinkering around with any of the parts in the 'box of delights' will be duly noted and will accrue extra 'brownie points'. ;)

Anyway, have fun. I look forwards to seeing/reading what happens next. :dualthumbup:

[rubber_jonnie]

Well that sounds like a great plan of action.

That's what we'll go for then :)

Frustratingly, Ive not been in a position to really investigate or study up on these new C64 ICs, as my free time is pretty much at an all time low ATM.

Yeah, it happens, and I am not really the best person to talk to about C64's as I am more into Atari.

Im praying once September comes and the little gremlins are not pestering me every 30 seconds I will manage to get far more done, other than answer PMs or send quick replies to posts (i.e. concentration span measured in minutes or even hours, as opposed to seconds!).

Understood. I have a busy one today myself, so may not be very active.

FYI, it goes without saying, but any extra tinkering around with any of the parts in the 'box of delights' will be duly noted and will accrue extra 'brownie points'. ;)

Anyway, have fun. I look forwards to seeing/reading what happens next. :dualthumbup:

Understood, brownie points are always welcome :)

Right, better get on with work, lots on today and then I'm in London tomorrow.

[rubber_jonnie]

OK, so up next is the SACK board.

I found my Mega 1 that has the socket on the CPU and surprisingly, I'd forgotten it has a PC Speed 286 card in it. I also found my own SACK card, and all three are pictured here:

IMG20250812101932.jpg

So my AT Once Vortex 286 board on the left, my own SACK in the middle and @mrbombermillzy's on the right. First things first I need to boot up the Mega to be sure it all works as is, and what software I have on the HDD. I'm pretty sure I have whats needed, but it has been a while. I guess I'll need a DOS disk to boot from too.

[mrbombermillzy]

Heres the PC Speed SW just in case you need it:

PC-SPEED.1_5.zip

[rubber_jonnie]

Heres the PC Speed SW just in case you need it:

PC-SPEED.1_5.zip

Thanks. Failrly sure I have it but it'll be interesting to compare to my copy.

EDIT: Looks the same after unzipping, but I'll keep it handy.

[rubber_jonnie]

Just by means of a test that all is working, here is my At Once Vortex running:

IMG20250812150317.jpg

IMG20250812155216.jpg

And my own PC Speed:

IMG20250812154452.jpg

Which doesn't have the fancy load screen of the AT Once.

Sadly your PC Speed does not work, in fact the Mega won't boot with it installed, however I do at least have a platform to test it on and one that is know to work with my own PC Speed, so we are good for testing.

Can I ask how you know the CPU is bad? Just curious is all. Obviously I can replace the CPU quite easily with the one you provided, however one thing I noticed is that it does have a pair of GALs installed so I'm hoping they are good. The rest are just logic IC's and easy to replace, but I'm not keen on removing the GALs from my own to try and read the contents as they are all soldered in.