exxos's Atari, Amiga & retro forum

Higgy wrote: 03 Apr 2022 20:26 Once you upgrade to 64K (ROMs also?) and have a nice blue flashing cursor, you will then be typing everytime the command to get into 32k mode to play games :)

I don't know if it is still being made, but there was a floppy disk emulator. Same guy who did Amstrad 464 one.

(It's been a few years, but I think I always had to drop into 32k mode to play anything. Might have been due to the Dragon 64's initial boot ROM being different? Can't really remember).

Are you perhaps suggesting that the 64K upgrade may not be worth it?

rubber_jonnie wrote: 03 Apr 2022 21:54

Higgy wrote: 03 Apr 2022 20:26 Once you upgrade to 64K (ROMs also?) and have a nice blue flashing cursor, you will then be typing everytime the command to get into 32k mode to play games :)

I don't know if it is still being made, but there was a floppy disk emulator. Same guy who did Amstrad 464 one.

(It's been a few years, but I think I always had to drop into 32k mode to play anything. Might have been due to the Dragon 64's initial boot ROM being different? Can't really remember).

Are you perhaps suggesting that the 64K upgrade may not be worth it?

That’s how I read it. Have been thinking of upgrading mine but may hold off. Sometime more is not always better. “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it”

Icky wrote: 04 Apr 2022 08:32

rubber_jonnie wrote: 03 Apr 2022 21:54

Are you perhaps suggesting that the 64K upgrade may not be worth it?

That’s how I read it. Have been thinking of upgrading mine but may hold off. Sometime more is not always better. “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it”

Indeed.

And the BBC B managed just fine with 32K :)

I can only think that is's a situation like the C16. With that, the main machine was 16K and that was what everybody coded for, so when folks bought the RAM expansion, there were hardly any programs for it.

I guess most software was written for the Dragon 32, with the Dragon 64 being late to the party and not that successful, there probably isn't that much that will use that extra memory.

I don't think I ever saw a D64 in real life, and since the D64 was launched in 1983 and Dragon Data closed their doors in 1984, I can imagine that there isn't a huge software base for it.

Yes I would not bother with upgrading. The 64k allows you to run OS-9 but you will forever be dropping back into 32k mode to run games.

(I think maybe the ROM needs upgrading also for the ram to be allocated).

Best upgrade is digital joystick adaptor, save using those nasty vacuum formed plastic jobs I had, and just then use normal 9 pin ones .

Higgy wrote: 04 Apr 2022 13:05 Yes I would not bother with upgrading. The 64k allows you to run OS-9 but you will forever be dropping back into 32k mode to run games.

(I think maybe the ROM needs upgrading also for the ram to be allocated).

Best upgrade is digital joystick adaptor, save using those nasty vacuum formed plastic jobs I had, and just then use normal 9 pin ones .

@Icky

I'd already been looking at joystick adapters, so will do that instead of the 64K upgrade :)

Appreciate the advice.

Woo hoo, 6821s have arrived, so will go and fit the replacement when I've had lunch 😁

:dualthumbup:

All fitted and working, though I do need to test out the cassette saving/loading, but that won't take long :)

No more flashy artifacts when I use the keyboard, here is the obligatory test program :)


The keyboard had a few iffy keys, but the great thing is that when you pull off a keycap, the contacts are right there in front of you, so a little Electrolube applied and they are all working as advertised.

Interestingly, the replacement 6821s are from 1990, so a whole 8 years newer than the one it replaced. The original 2nd PIA is working just fine, so will stay where it is for now, and I do have a spare, just in case :)

Please ignore the slightly iffy screen, it's the display that's the problem, not the Dragon.

That green though, yuk!!

Yay!

stephen_usher wrote: 05 Apr 2022 13:40Yay!

:girldance: :girldance: :girldance: