ZX Format #07 05 декабря 1997

Железо

Iron - Information on a new project by Scorpion - motherboard expansion graphics and memory GMX.

 A little bit about GMX
 based on the firm Scorpio

music by MIDISOFT
_

Our company is constantly engaged in research and development 
aimed at empowering computer Scorpion (and when it is possible, 
and all Spectrum family of compatible computers), and 
eliminating the shortcomings due to which can be heard 
criticism from users, though mostly from other computers 
(Pentagon, Profi). Time flies very quickly, and life dictates 
new requirements for our good old Spectrum'u. First of all we 
are talking about improving the image characteristics of the 
computer, speed, memory size. On the other

hand, for various reasons today
the majority of computers manufactured by us
comes with a controller Kempston-mouse and
IBM Keyboard as they are easy to use, besides the usual ZX 
Spectrum keyboard is no longer available. Many bought and 
controller HDD (SMUC). Therefore, the end of 1997 will be the 
appearance of new board Scorpion. On this board will be

already installed those controllers that
today have become popular, and under which
've written a lot of software. This
IBM keyboard controller, and IBM mouse, which works on 
interface Kempston-mouse, and most importantly - the controller 
HDD + IBM slot. From my own experience I can say that,

who once worked with our HDD in
TR-DOS, but about IS DOS and say nothing,
As a rule, just forget about that
computer has a floppy drive, and also
remembers this, but when you have to rewrite the program from 
someone else or for someone else. The installation of these 
devices on the main board will free up space on the system 
connectors for new devices HardWare, as already commercially 
available, For example, General Sound, and planned for release. 
But most importantly, the cost of such fees will be much lower 
than Today there are all these devices, if you buy them 
separately. At the same time specifications of this board will 
be much higher and more will meet the requirements of today. 
Namely: 

 1. RAM from 256KB to 2048kBayt (in
30pin Simm as modules).
 2. Volume 512KB ROM.
 3. Graphics: 1 - standard ZX Spectrum
 2 - 640 * 200, 16tsvetov, apparatus inverse vertical scroller 
on ticking, to accelerate  work in text mode max.

 4. Clock Speed ​​5.3 / 7 MHz, and switching
   chenie both hardware and software.
 5. Additional features (most interesting).

 1. Ability to turn off all of the additional ports and transfer
 computer in standard mode
 ZX Spectrum. When you disconnect then Comrade, it also 
includes the standard PZU.To same, but additionally to fully 
emulate Xia time parameters scans  and signals an interrupt to 
the complex yutera Pentagon, as the main  computer used de 
model-builders. 

 2. Since the circuitry board
 done on a modern technical component level using
 programmable logical matrices (PLA) from Altera, and itself

  scheme "is stored in a system
 ROM, it becomes possible
 change the scheme for a PC,
  What is dramatically by
 simple replacement ROM or switching banks cheniem ROM. Last 
yea exists an opportunity to have one  board several options 
for schemes  computers, other than to measure at the various 
options that scans an hour - one for conventional 

  TV and CGA monitors
 another for VGA or EGA monitoring ditch. Field for an 
embodiment of distinct ideas more than enough. 

 _

All is well, tell the user
Scorpio, but what should I do with the computer that I bought 
and spent a lot of money on it? Therefore, in anticipation of 
these fair questions, we want to reassure the owners in advance 
of any scorpions. When creation of a new computer model, it was 
decided that all users of old computers should be able to 
refine your computer to your new.

It was always when there are new
Boards of Scorpio, so it will be this time.
Moreover, this time the possibility of revision of the old 
models to new Scorpio opportunities will be even earlier than

will begin production of the new board. With this
to now, our company develops and
ready for serial production cost
under the working title:
 GMX
 (Grafic_Memory_eXtension device for Scorpion 256)
Working copy of the controller was presented at Enlight_97.



This board performs all the functions on the expansion and 
modification of old boards Scorpio 256 to the level of the new 
board the Scorpion on the characteristics of graphics, RAM, 
ROM, Additional features for compatibility with the ZX Spectrum 
and the Pentagon, downloading and modification schemes, etc. In 
short, with any model of the Scorpion as a brand and the "left" 
can easily modify it to your new computer 

  by connecting the board GMX.

   Here you can speak briefly about the technical performance 
of the device. 

 1. Expandable memory up to 2MB. Among the various, both 
existing and potential variants of the organization, the choice 
fell to the version, which performed in Profi. Then

is done so that just 256KB address so zhe, as it was, through 
the usual skorpionovsky standard, and anything above

- Standard Profi - Port 0DFFDh. Since Profi maximum memory - 1MB
then we can work with all the memory from 0
up to 1MB standard Profi. Just physically, it will be more 
pages of memory. For example, you can download any

program for Profi, which uses memory
up to 1MB, and at the same time painless to use Shadow Service 
Monitor. Gradation of the capacity of memory: 256Kb, 512Kb, 
1Mb, 1256Kb, 2MB  - Simm-standard modules. And it is possible

set from one module volume
256KB (get memory Scorpio) to 2
modules 1Mb - shared memory will
2MB. At larger volume, we specifically
were laid due to the fact that
Firstly, it has become expensive,
secondly, after all few people want, and
to pay something in one degree or another have all, and, 
thirdly, by using Z80 CPU is very big memory does not

can be used effectively. Why
was chosen standard Profi? Reply
is simple: why invent new standards,
if you already have a computer with an extended
memory, and there are no technical restrictions on
use the same ports for its addressing. In addition, the chosen 
standard, addressing immediate work program of Profi, 
calculated on the extended memory. Again, the appearance of any 
new Standard memory expansion required for

at least time to poyavlenie programs for him, to him privykanie 
users. In this embodiment, this is not required. In addition, 
the use and additional addressing modes of upper memory, which 
can significantly increase performance when working with her. 
This is especially true for the Shadow Monitor Service (from 
the ROM!), And programs to use (recall "Winchester"). TM is 
experiencing significant challenges due to limitations imposed 
by the opportunity to address the extended memory only through 
a single window in the address space of the processor. Similar 
problems Experiencing all the programs, one way or another,

actively use the extended memory
for "transfer" of fragments from one
Anca in another.

 2. Graphic screen 640 * 200 (208) and plus
appartny scroller. Number of colors as
in the usual ZX Spectrum. On each byte
schedules - one byte of attributes. To
image to be colored, it is imperative the presence of 2 Simm-s, 
ie is, at least 512K. Addressing the graphical display starts 
with 40h, while completely linear, ie the first 80 bytes

- First line of the screen, the following 80 bytes
- Next, etc. The attributes of the screen is stored in one of 
the extended memory pages. Addressing them is the same. The 
main purpose of the enhanced graphics - Standard text screen 80 
* 25 characters (the symbol has a size 8 by 8 pixels) needed to 
work with text editors and mailers. For

accelerate the work in text mode used the hardware scrolling
up and down. To shift the image
vertical line on any number of pixels
it is only necessary to record two
byte in ports "scroller", which set
start address in video RAM
output. When you reset the computer
ports scroller is set to 0. To move the entire image
one pixel line up to the ports scroller write value
01. To move to one of familiarity
up - write the value 08 and so on.

  All other possible applications of the enhanced graphics seen 
as secondary, because nothing good at using the Z80 to handle 
such Graphics, in our view, to create did not succeed. Assume 
that many will not agree with this statement. Time will tell, 
but even if that our approach is wrong, then Further, due to 
the possibility of changing scheme by modifying the firmware 
ROM can be will introduce additional graphics

regimes. Why the choice fell on a graphical screen, rather than 
pure text. The reason is that the text-mode (with a hardware 
decoder) considerably difficult to implement, ideally, should 
be a downloadable character generator, and this is complicates 
the design. But still However, because there is an opportunity 
to radically change circuitry without changing the hardware 
(previously would have sounded like delirium), it is quite 
possible that the existing scheme will be added to an entirely 
different, with other graphic characteristics. The emergence of 
such a scheme depends on you, more of your programs, which will 
not take the existing hardware. Once again I want to note that 
even the serious and dramatic changes in the scheme requires 
only replacing the firmware ROM. In During the discussion of 
graphics capability GMX board with potential users of the 
resource we have plenty of tips and advice that you need to add 
in the scheme. In the first place was an additional graphics 
mode is 320 * 200 - each point in a different color. We are 
currently working to establish such a regime, And, once again, 
that this will only change the ROM. In addition, if possible, 
we plan to do something like a simple blittera: hardware 
shipment to one area of ​​memory in another, filling the area 
of ​​memory is the byte, and so on. 

 3. Career PZU040 (512K). When
development of software for current versions we have already
faced with restrictions on the amount of ROM
and RAM (256KB). Therefore, further development of embedded 
software will come only with the support of the expander GMX. 
It is planned to remake the Shadow Monitor the work in the mode 
640 * 200, Russify make further expansion integrated service 
capabilities of the shadow screen, primarily aimed at improve 
service functions when working with HDD, support for various 
operating systems (as part of the file organization), and

also support the opportunity to work with
HAYEs-compatible modems. All this requires considerable space 
in the ROM. Except This, in ROM, as mentioned, is stored and

circuit boards GMX. And it is made so that
of TM would be to radically change the scheme by downloading 
one of several possible options. Also do not forget that

ROM that has the large volume
advantageous price / volume. With regard to Prof.PZU for 
conventional boards, they are will change only if they found 
any mistakes in their work or add features fit into the 
existing hardware limitations. On Currently available version 
number 4.1. The most important and fundamental dignity of 
EEPROM installed on the motherboard GMX will be able to 
reprogram the user. First of all, it is As for programs - 
written in the ROM disc. The user can select the program to 
your own taste, he shape the content of your ROM drive, and 
upgrade the version of Prof. Rom in his place. This achieved by 
the application as ROM modern flash memory chips.


 4. Improved compatibility with the ZX Spectrum
and the Pentagon. To do this, click Shadow monitor introduces 
an additional menu bar Standart Spectrum. This disables all of 
the additional ports and also includes the standard ZX Spectrum 
ROMs 128 '& TRDOS. In addition, introduced vozmozh.nost install 
time parameters Pen, tagon-128 and Profi. In going into these 
regimes computer becomes totally standard ZX Spectrum or the 
Pentagon (can be done easily and Pentagon-512) or Profi, thus 
completely "forgets" of its additional features. To exit this 
mode, of course, only on the reset button. The introduction of 
such regimes is long overdue, and continues to remain relevant 
and to date, since Some programmers are stubborn in their 
desire to write the program as it wants them. Well in that 
case, "if the mountain will not come to Mohammed, then Mohammed 
will go to the mountain. "The main thing that was good for all. 
Mode standard Pentagon, as well as Pentagon-128 provides first 
, With full compatibility with computers class Pentagon on the 
timing diagram counters TV scan length and position of the 
signal INT, the absence of a signal Wait. This will allow some 
demo programs to work as they would work on Pentagone.


 5. Turbirovanie with acceleration factor 1.8-1.9. The board 
GMX integrated circuit Turbirovanie with increasing speed

-A 1.8-1.9 times the performance of programs
RAM. When working with ROM speed increases at exactly 2 times. 
Switching Turbo / Standard as well as now: and software, and

hardware. Users will be commissioned by
available version with a clock frequency
14MGts. But their value will be higher. For
through the use of more expensive chips and faster processors. 
More likely be possible to replace the simple

Boards GMX more powerful. At least we'll try to do so.

 6. Embodiment. As structurally executed this extender.
This, dress size 80 * 110 mm
inserted into the socket for the Z80 on any
Scorpio models. Better (better) if
instead of sockets you solder a standard
connector. In addition, the 10 points of the old
board soldered cable (supplied) through which the board
GMX via 10-pin connector serves / removed the following 
signals: R, G, B, Sync, Magic, RDR / - read ROM, CSR / - appeal 
to the RAM, +5 v, Earth. 

 7. Economic indicators. The estimated cost of fees GMX with 
512K of RAM - $ 35 - 40 (The price of the manufacturer.) For 
comparison: the cost of today turbirovanie old board Scorpion - 
$ 10, installation ProfPZU040 - $ 20. That is all the 
additional opportunities accrue to users for $ 5.10. If you 
want a little more to save - vypayayte more than half of IC 
with the main board. The list will be accompanied by

:-)

 8. Timing the start of series production and
sale. As always, it is difficult to give a specific time frame, 
since one then excuses for something that does not fit

in them. As such, it was with the controller
HDD, which was designed and prepared
more than two years. But nevertheless, still
work on it has successfully completed and the number of users 
of the HDD to summer 1997 has exceeded one thousand. At 
present, Day fee GMX is under PCB layout, so we hope

that mass production and sales will start towards the end of 
autumn 1997. Well time will tell how we are to accurately 
predict. 

 9. Using GMX on other models
Spectrum-compatible computers. We plan along with documentation 
on the GMX deliver complete all the information about how to 
modify the other computer before so that it could include GMX.

In fact, from any Spectrum-compatible computer using the Boards 
GMX required: support music coprocessor support controller 
TRDOS, Support keyboard port, recorder, joystick, printer, and 
some more irrelevant detail. All this is in almost every 
Spectrume and somehow You can use it.


Taking this opportunity I would like briefly to introduce 
readers to our ZX Format work for the past year, and also 
briefly tell us about the new peripherals, mass produced and 
sold, including the mail. 

   All this year our main efforts were aimed at supporting and 
developing Controller HDDiIBM-periphery

(SMUC-controller). This includes the completion ProfPZU up new 
opportunities and processing a large volume of applied and game 
programs in order to permit loading and operation of these 
programs on the HDD. Now we can talk about

that almost all software
through us - and this is more than two hundred games and system 
disks can work with the HDD. 

   New features include, for example, auto computer from any 
user-defined partition or disk, which in practice has proved 
very useful osoenno when working with the IS-DOS. To ensure 
efficiency HDD large volume - more than 528Mb, and faster the 
HDD has finally been finalized mode work with HDD standard LBA. 
In two words: in this mode, addressing data

HDD is not on the usual coordinates (cylinder / head / sector) 
and the absolute sector number. Transformation and selection

the desired sector to make themselves hard
disc. In this mode, work with the HDD speeds up to 1.5-2 times! 
True, the ability to make some older models of HDD do not 
support this mode. 

   Our firm is actively cooperating with various groups of 
programmers writing for the ZX Spectrum. As a result of such 
cooperation, there are various software applications that 
support HDD. These include a variety of copiers

and loaders to quickly work
with different partitions and disks to the HDD.
Imagine when you have at hand one hundred
or more disks and you need to quickly and effectively work with 
them. Find the file you want, copy it to another drive, rename, 
make the sample directory of all or some discs, etc. No easy

and effective programs to do this was
would be difficult. In addition, it should be noted that
Programmes at all these written "for the future"
- There is the possibility of support
Boards GMX, namely the use of graphical display and memory up 
to 2 MB of RAM. Sleduyuscheyperspektivnoy opportunity

SMUC controller is the ability to
the addition of various low-cost cards from
IBM PC. These primarily include fees HAYE-s-compatible modems. 
All the complexity lies only in the writing of software support 
for such modems. Over the past year the situation has changed 
for the better. There were programs made by different authors, 
allowing connected to SMUC internal modems, as

Ironically, running at speeds of 14,400 and
Even-33600. It now remains to write another
e-mail programs (for, parsing, writing and sending e-mail) and 
then will open the way for the exit in the e-mail system and 
you never jokes - on the Internet.


   For further details and detailed explanation of the fact 
what we are working, what is done in the past year, what 
programs and literature, we extend, on how all this order and 
receive by mail, send a request to:

 199048 Saint-Petersburg, PO Box 083
Zonov Sergey.

or by phone:
(812) 298-0653, 172-3117 (Order Department,
from 10 to 14) ,251-1262 (service center, with 10
to 19) or by e-mail address:

  FidoNet: 2:5030 / 529.16,
E-mail: sczs@spb.tsi.ru.

All deficiencies embedded software, as well as what features 
you would like to see therein, and in principle on a computer, 
you can Notify by telephone at (812) 130-1995, and

 better e-mail:
FidoNet: 2:5030 / 25.1,

  E-mail: moa@deeds.spb.ru.